30. Chapter 30
July 7, 2011
12:45 pm
Today was the first day Hailey had gotten out of bed. Her sides and abdomen were sore, and bruises covered her body. It hurt to move. But more than that, her heart was heavy. Their friend was dead, and she was to blame.
Carter had dashed into the house, chasing Ryan out the back door. The sound of gunshots had collided with the thundering of fireworks. She could hardly tell them apart. She had wanted to get up, to see what had happened just beyond the door frame, but she couldn’t move.
Then, Gavin had rushed in and carried her outside.
It wasn’t until she saw the body bag that she had realized she’d never seen Carter come back inside.
She had laid in bed for the last two days, staring at the ceiling as she wondered if they made the right choice in re-opening her mother’s case, Trey’s concern growing. Hailey tried to put on a brave face for Trinity, but even that was difficult.
There had been so many casualties. And for what? Nothing. They weren't any closer to figuring out what happened that night any more than they were the day she had watched the video. And now, people were dead.
Early this morning, she had finally dragged herself out of bed and stood in front of the mirror in Trey’s room. She had studied her bruises and cuts and scrapes. She hated them, hated what they represented: secrets, lies, pain, death. They were a reminder that Ryan had hurt her again.
But Hailey had held her head high, her reflection gazing back at her. This time, she wore her bruises like a badge of honor. And instead of being a reminder of the horror she survived, they would now be a reminder of the sacrifice Carter made. And she wouldn’t let that be in vain.
She was going to get the truth and expose the secrets that caused such turmoil.
Now, she sat in the medical examiner’s office with Trey as they sought answers. Hailey rubbed her arms, trying to get warm and steady her nerves.
“I can get you my jacket from the truck,” Trey offered.
“No, I’ll be fine,” she said kindly.
The doctor entered the room and took a seat behind his desk. Trey extended his hand, and the man shook it. “Hey Doc., Sorry to be meeting again.”
The M.E. was slightly goofy looking with bush eyebrows and a nose too big for his face. He had kind eyes though, and that put Hailey at ease.
“Yes, well, I’m getting tired of seeing you, Chief. No offense.” He said as he lifted his hands as if in surrender.
Trey smiled sadly. “None taken.” He then motioned toward Hailey who was sitting next to him. “This is Hailey Gallagher.”
Dr. Johnson shifted behind his desk and pursed his lips. “David Gallagher’s daughter?”
“Yes, sir,” Hailey replied.
He nodded. “You look an awful lot like your mother, may she rest in peace.”
Hailey smiled. She found comfort in hearing she resembled her mother. She often worried that one day Morgan’s face would disappear from her memories. That she wouldn’t be able to recall her beautiful brown hair and bright red lipstick, or the scar near her jaw that she so desperately tried to cover with makeup.
Once again, her heart broke. She wished her mother was here to hold her one more time, to tell her it would all be okay as she brushed Hailey’s hair out of her face. But she couldn’t, because she was dead. She had been ripped away from the people who loved her, and a deep void took her place.
“We’re actually here about Morgan’s case,” Trey said.
Furrowing his brows, the M.E. said, “What about it?”
“We have some questions concerning the original autopsy report.”
The man sat back in his chair and sighed. His mouth was turned down at the corners as he hung his head. “I was wondering when someone would figure it out.”
“Sir?” Trey said.
Dr. Johnson continued, “You wouldn't be asking for an original report if you thought the one in the file was the original.”
“Doc, if you say anything incriminating, I’ll have to file a report and arrest you.”
The man held up a hand. “Son, I’m dying of liver failure. I have about six months to live. So even if you do arrest me, I won't live long enough to go to jail by the time the trial is over. If I even make it to trial.”
“I’m so sorry,” Hailey said.
Dr. Johnson shook his head. “It’s my punishment for sending an innocent woman to jail.” He looked at Hailey. “Your sister is innocent.”
Hailey froze. “What did you just say?”
The man held her gaze, shame filling his eyes. “Your sister is innocent. And both Elijah and I knew about it.”
Hailey nearly cried. For the first time, someone admitted Sara’s innocence. She was both shocked and relieved. For the last week and a half, it felt as if they were chasing a ghost, as if their theories and evidence were meaningless. Now, she knew she wasn’t chasing something that didn’t exist.
But that relief was overcome by anger as she realized this man had been the reason for her sister’s strife. How could this man live with himself knowing what he’d done?
Hailey opened her mouth to curse the doctor, but Trey said, “What the hell happened that night?”
Dr. Johnson stood and walked over to a filing cabinet that sat in the far corner of the room. He pulled at the handle and retrieved a manila folder from the back of the metal box. He walked back to his desk and laid it down in front of him as he sat down.
He stared at the folder, getting lost in memory. Finally, he said, “Years ago, before any of this, I lied about something on the stand during a trial. It wasn’t anything that would sway a verdict. It was a personal matter that I didn’t want on record, so I lied about it. David had proof that I lied and threatened to take it to the board if I didn’t do what he said, which mostly consisted of gaining information he could use against people.”
He looked at Trey, shame filling his eyes. “You’d be surprised what people divulge when they’re grieving over a loved one.”
Hailey was disgusted. How could someone manipulate grieving families like that? How could someone exploit them while their hearts were shattered into pieces, likely sobbing in this very room unaware they were being preyed upon.
“As soon as I got the call that night, I knew it would cost me. I got there and looked over the crime scene, did my work, and left. The next day, I had just finished the autopsy when Washington came and asked what the cause of death was. When I told him, he begged me to change the report. He said if we made it look like an accident, as if Sara had accidently killed her mother, then she could potentially get off with a slap on the wrist and very little jail time.
“So, I changed it. Our goal was to either get her off or at least get a reduced charge of manslaughter.” He scoffed. “Lot of good that did since she took a plea deal.”
Trey shook his head. “Why didn’t Eli just refuse to arrest Sara? Why even go through all this trouble if he knew she was innocent?”
“Because David had Eli in his pocket. Eli didn’t just bend the rules for David, he completely shattered them. And David kept proof. If Eli ever went against David, he would have been thrown in prison. Plus, Eli is loyal to a fault. I think that’s the only time he ever went against David’s demands. Not that it mattered.” He looked at Hailey. “Your father still got away with it.”
“Wait,” Hailey interrupted. “What are you saying?”
“Your father killed your mother,” he said matter-of-factly. “Then he called Washington to cover it up and blamed it all on Sara. He set your sister up to take the fall for your mother’s murder.”
Hailey closed her eyes. After all this time, she’d finally found the truth. And she was devastated by it. She’d expected this moment to bring her closure, maybe even peace. But all it did was amplify the turmoil she already felt.
All her father ever did was bring pain to her life. And this moment hurt the worst.
“Do you have proof?” Trey asked.
Dr. Johnson tapped the folder in front of him. “I have the original report. But that’s all. I kept it because I figured there may come a time when I needed it.”
“Would you testify in court against David?”
Testify? Trey was already thinking of a trial? Hailey could hardly process what was happening in this moment, let alone a future trial.
“Yes, I will. I would like a deal though.”
“I’ll talk to the D.A.”
Hailey wanted to protest, to demand justice, but she knew she would never get it. This doctor was just as bad as her father and deserved to spend the rest of his miserable life in jail. But he would never see the inside of a cell.
Maybe liver failure was karma’s justice.
Hailey asked, “Do you know why he killed her?”
Dr. Johnson’s eyes softened. “I didn’t ask. The less I knew the better.”
Trey chimed in, “Is there anything else you can tell us that might help us get some evidence? Everything we have is circumstantial and I doubt it’ll hold up in court.”
The M.E. shook his head. “No, nothing off the top of my head. Any physical evidence found could easily be tossed because of an unreliable chain of custody. You’ll likely need a confession from David himself, along with eyewitness testimony of those who were there that night and whom he blackmailed.”
Hailey had suspected her father may have killed her mother, but it was somehow far more distressing to have it confirmed. But what unsettled her the most was how believable it all was.
Hailey needed some fresh air. She felt a migraine coming on and the room seemed to shrink. She stood to leave but Trey took her hand.
“What about the cause of death? What was on the original report?” Trey asked.
“I thought Washington already told you?”
“No sir, he wouldn’t divulge any information.”
“Well, then I suppose it’s time for the truth to come out.”
Hailey held her breath.
“Morgan Gallagher was strangled.”
Hailey was back at her father’s house, but this time Trey was with her. David was still MIA. His lawyers claimed he was away on business and Lauren couldn’t shed any light on where he could be. So, if they couldn’t talk to him, then they would talk to her.
Of course, Trey was angry when Hailey refused to let him come inside, but she knew Lauren wouldn’t tell Hailey anything if Trey was there. Lauren saw Trey as David’s enemy and she would treat him as such.
So, Hailey sat in the living room alone with Lauren, eager to see what the woman could tell her. Hailey was certain she knew more than she let on. If Lauren had information about the affair and Ryan, she likely knew about other secrets David was harboring.
“So, you’re telling me you have proof the police didn’t investigate properly, and Sara is innocent?” Lauren said. The woman didn’t bother to hide her frustration and Hailey couldn’t blame her.
Hailey said, “Yes. We found evidence and eyewitness statements to corroborate it. We also know my father was blackmailing people.”
Hailey let her words permeate between them. She would tell her stepmother about David’s guilt, but first she wanted to see how much Lauren knew.
Lauren didn’t even blink, confirming Hailey’s suspicions. “You knew he was blackmailing people.”
Lauren shook her head and looked down at the coffee mug placed between her hands. “I had an… impression that he did, but I knew better than to ask questions or make accusations.”
Hailey ran a frustrated hand through her hair. “So, letting people suffer is okay? You knew he was hurting people, and you did nothing . He may not have physically hurt them, but what he did is inexcusable.”
Lauren put a hand up. “I never said it was, Hailey. But I couldn’t tell anyone because then everything your father worked for would be gone. His name, his legacy…all of it would be torn to shreds and I refuse to be the one to blame for it. His name is everything to him. So, I’m sorry that people have suffered, but they also made their choice to give into the blackmail.”
She was right. Any of those people could have chosen the high road but instead, they went along with it. But it didn’t change the fact that what David did was illegal.
The man played dirty.
So, Hailey would too. She said, “You realize I have to tell Trey, right? That means, not only will my father be investigated, but you will be too, for conspiring with him. I think they call it accessory after the fact.”
Lauren’s mouth gaped open, and Hailey continued, “And when they look into that, they'll have no choice but to arrest him. Eventually, the truth will come out that he killed my mother.”
Lauren’s color drained from her face, and she tightly grasped Hailey’s hand, making her jump. “Hailey, please, you can’t do that. Your father may have blackmailed people and manipulated them, but he didn’t kill your mother. He’s a lot of things, but he’s not a murderer.”
The fear in the woman’s eyes was real. She didn’t want her whole world to come crashing down. Hailey felt bad for Lauren. She was being dragged into family drama that had started long before she became a Gallagher. But it didn’t change the fact she was waist deep now.
Lauren leaned in closer and peered intently at Hailey. “Your father was with me the night your mother died.”
If Hailey hadn’t been sitting, her buckling knees may have landed her on the floor. “Were you having an affair with my father?”
Lauren shook her head quickly. “No, not at all. My car had a flat tire and he happened to drive by and helped fix it.”
“Why would my father blackmail the police then? That makes no sense if he was innocent.”
Lauren hesitated. “I really don’t think-”
“If you give me information that can prove he didn’t do it, then I won't tell Trey you knew about the blackmail.”
Lauren clenched her jaw, angry that Hailey was cornering her. Then she sighed as she said, “He saw it as a fool-proof plan to teach your sister a lesson. I don’t agree with it, but it’s what he told me. We all know your sister was off the handle by that point and she needed to be brought down a few pegs.”
Hailey shook her head. It was just like her father to prey on Sara’s vulnerabilities. And it would make sense that Lauren would never bring it up as she wasn’t part of the picture until after Sara had gone to jail and Hailey had moved away.
“Why didn’t you say something when I first came to you?” Hailey asked.
“Would you have believed me?”
That was fair. Lauren truly had no reason to confide in Hailey.
Now, Hailey didn’t know what to believe. Both Lauren and the medical examiner seemed to be telling the truth. Could the doctor be mistaken? For now, she decided to play into Lauren’s story, gathering as much information as possible in hopes that it would help bring justice to her mother.
“Is there anything else you can tell me? Anything that might help me figure out who did do it?” Hailey asked.
Lauren thought for a moment. “Nicole hated your mother and did everything she could to antagonize her. I think a part of her hated David too, as much as she loved him. You know, ‘lovers scorned’ and all?”
Lauren’s distaste for Nicole was clear, though Hailey felt the same way. The woman had ruined her life and her family.
Lauren continued, “It didn’t help that she was constantly getting death threats from another mistress too.”
Hailey tilted her head and scrunched her brows. “What are you talking about?”
Lauren bit her lip and looked around, unsure if she should divulge that information. “There was someone else your father was seeing aside from Nicole.”
How could this case get any more complex?
Hailey’s mouth fell open but Lauren ignored her gesture. “Once your mother found out about Nicole, she was devastated so David stopped seeing her for quite a while. During that time, he saw other women.” She shook her head. “One mistress in particular became obsessive and sent your mother death threats.”
“What was her name?” Hailey asked.
Lauren hesitated.
“What was her name ? You can either tell me or I’ll walk out to the car right now and tell Trey about your complacency in my father’s crimes.” Hailey meant it, too. She was done with all the secrets.
Lauren narrowed her eyes but said, “Her name is Hannah Rowland. She’s a local realtor who had fancied your father for years.”
Lauren shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Hailey pitied her stepmother. It must be hard picturing your husband with other women. Hailey wondered if Lauren ever suspected David of being unfaithful to her as well.
Lauren poured more coffee into her cup from the pot that had been sitting out. She didn’t drink it, though. Instead, she held it in her hands, ushering its warmth to her body.
She continued, “It was just a fling for your father, but Hannah started to get clingy and wanted him to leave his family. At one point she began stalking him. Eventually, he took out a restraining order because she was threatening to harm your mother.”
Hailey perked up. “What did she say?”
Lauren shrugged. “I don’t know. All he said was that Hannah claimed she would harm Morgan if David didn't leave her.”
Hailey nodded, the wheels in her head turning. Lauren may have just handed them the name of their killer. While David definitely had a motive, and the M.E. claimed he was to blame, it sounded like this woman did as well, possibly even stronger than David’s. Or perhaps she was simply more willing to act on that motive.
Could the M.E. be wrong about David’s involvement? If Hannah killed Morgan and used the affair as blackmail to manipulate David into helping her, David would do it in a heartbeat. He would rather cover up his wife’s murder than have his name tarnished.
It was obvious David was pulling strings and Sara happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now they needed to figure out which strings he was pulling.
“Did my mother ever confront Nicole or this Hannah woman?”
Lauren thought for a moment. “I don’t think so. I think your mother just tried to act like she didn’t exist, but…” Lauren paused, and Hailey sat silently, on the edge of her seat. “But I think I saw Nicole and Hannah talking one day. Recently, actually. They were outside that little pizza place Nicole works at. They seemed to be in a heated argument, and I thought it odd that two of David’s…lovers…were arguing.” Lauren spat out the word ‘lovers’ as if it carried a bitter taste in her mouth. Hailey assumed it did.
“Was my father seeing Nicole when my mother was killed?”
Something flickered behind Lauren’s eyes.
“What?” Hailey asked.
“It’s nothing.”
“Don’t stonewall me. If my father is innocent, I need to know all the facts.”
Again, Lauren contemplated Hailey’s words. Hailey never realized how loyal Lauren was. If she didn’t hate her father, Hailey would appreciate it.
“I don’t know this for a fact, but I think he and Nicole started seeing each other again shortly before your mother died. He’s never outright said it, but there’s just something in my gut that tells me he did.”
That corroborated their theory that Morgan was leaving David because he’d gotten back with Nicole. And it could also support the theory that Nicole killed Morgan in order to be with David.
“What about Hannah? Did she stay away?”
“I doubt it. I mean, she was obsessed with David so she probably got as close to him as she could without violating the restraining order. I assume she blamed your mother.”
“Do you think either of them could be capable of killing my mother?”
Lauren looked at Hailey with sad eyes. “Oh, Sugar, people are capable of anything when it comes to the people they love. I don’t know either of them personally, for obvious reasons, but nothing surprises me anymore.”
Hailey nodded and the two women sat silently for a moment.
Though she initially thought Lauren had married her father for his money and stability, this conversation proved that she was actually deeply in love with him.
But those who loved David seemed to end up hurt or dead. And that was unnerving.
The question remained: was David to blame for his late wife’s death?
It seemed to be the most likely explanation, though Lauren claims he had an alibi. But Nicole and Hannah certainly had a huge motive. And where did that leave Ryan?
She felt as if she was back to square one but had more pieces than she originally started with.
“Listen,” Lauren said, “I wasn’t around much before your mother died, but if I hear of anything, you’ll be my first call.” She looked at her watch. “But if we’re done, I need to go to the hospital and deliver flowers to Eli.”
“Has he come out of his coma yet?” Hailey was hopeful the man would regain consciousness.
“No, but the doctors said he’s stable. I feel bad no one is around to check on him now that Loretta is gone.”
Hailey nodded. “I really appreciate you talking to me about this. I know it isn’t easy for you.”
Lauren stood and Hailey followed. Lauren said, “I know you still suspect your father had something to do with your mother’s murder.”
Hailey opened her mouth to explain, but Lauren held up her hand. “I get it. He can act suspicious sometimes and I know he wasn’t always kind to you and your sister when you were kids. But I know he didn’t do this. I’m sorry if your sister was wrongly convicted, truly I am. But David isn’t guilty either. He loved your mother enough to leave a son behind.”
Lauren crossed her arms over her chest as the two walked toward the front door. Trey was already standing at the truck with the passenger door open, assessing their surroundings for any threats.
Lauren waved kindly to Trey, but Hailey didn’t miss the disdain that remained in her eyes. It was sad that her father had tainted Lauren’s view of Trey all these years. Maybe once all of this had blown over, they could start over. Hailey was really beginning to like Lauren, even for her flaws.
Lauren looked at Hailey with concern and gently touched her arm. “I know we’re not close, but be careful, Hailey. It’s clear someone doesn’t want you finding out the truth.”
Hailey didn’t respond, just simply nodded. Lauren went to close the door, but Hailey stopped her. “Do you think my mother should have left him? At first, I thought she was a good woman for sticking it out, but now I'm not so sure she was who I thought she was.”
“Yes, I do. Your father needed a certain type of woman that your mother couldn’t be. She was a good woman, just not for him.”
Then, she closed the door.