Chapter 19
Chapter
Nineteen
Liv and I set down our trays and sit across from one another in the hospital cafeteria. The table we found is as isolated as possible. It seems that no one is looking to sit close. Thankfully, being a bit after the lunch rush, our quest was successful.
People of all ages are scattered throughout the large room, their minds filled with their own concerns.
There are healthcare workers, as well as family members and friends of patients.
Conversations originating from every direction create a din of murmurs.
There are a few who sport tired smiles, perhaps celebrating the birth of a baby or the success of a surgery.
Other diners are more solemn, their chins down with creases of concern lining their expressions.
The floors above the cafeteria house a variety of cares.
As I peer about, the colors surrounding these people are varied, blues and pinks, orange and green.
We’re a part of a never-ending kaleidoscope spinning with emotions, much like the dropping of colorful chips to create a new and different image.
Each one is representative—happiness, sadness, growth, loss, hope, and despair.
As I stood moments ago near the salad bar, compiling my lunch and making important decisions such as blue cheese versus ranch dressing, I thought about Echo’s advice.
Could any of the other people in this place have a loved one who experienced something like Julie?
How many incidents like that have occurred?
Did they reach the news platforms or were they hidden by family, not wanting the world to know?
“I think I piled too much on this,” Liv says as she pokes her fork into her mountain of lettuce, spearing a piece and dipping it into her small cup of dressing.
In only a short time, Liv and I have reverted to the closeness we once shared.
It’s unspoken and at the same time as evident as a neon sign.
Of all my siblings, I’ve been closest to Olivia.
With only a little over a year separating our births, we grew up as nearly twins.
“Irish twins,” my grandmother used to say.
By definition we don’t qualify. Irish twins are siblings born less than a year apart.
The two of us are twelve months and four days.
Nevertheless, there are albums filled with pictures of the two of us dressed alike.
Easter celebrations were always a production, wearing white hats, gloves, and frilly dresses.
We shared a room until Dad built a fifth bedroom in the basement. Our interests were similar as were many of our friends. She’s the sibling I speak with the most. Our calls vary from frequent to infrequent as our personal agendas permit.
It’s true that time and opportunity caused separation. Yet life has brought us back together. The bond we once felt seems as strong as it always was. Not even snapping at one another can cause it to sever.
I look over at her salad, back to mine, and smile. “Yeah, I think I overdid too.”
The family decided, or our mother did, that we would work in shifts, never leaving Julie alone. She and Dad were with our sister throughout the night. I only passed them briefly in the hospital parking lot. While Mom hugged me, Dad didn’t say a word. In their defense, they both looked exhausted.
Ollie and Sandy—the latter his good friend, as she was introduced, who I’ve never met or remember hearing about—are with her now.
It isn’t difficult to understand that while Liv and I stay in touch, my other siblings have full lives that don’t include me.
Our brother isn’t a fan of social media.
He has all the accounts, but barely posts.
Information on Ollie and Julie usually comes from my mother.
For as long as I can remember, Mom wouldn’t mention a significant other until she’s convinced that person will be around for a while.
Since I’ve never heard of Sandy, meeting her today without previous introduction must mean that Mom isn’t certain that she’s a keeper.
“Tell me about Sandy,” I prompt.
Liv shrugs. “Nice girl. She’s from Lawton.”
“How long have they been dating?”
Liv’s lips come together as she stares out the window, swallowing a bit of salad. When she turns, her eyes are narrow. “I honestly can’t say. I think it’s a few years.”
“And I’ve never heard of her?”
“She’s quiet.”
“Does she live close?”
Liv smiles. “If Ollie’s place on Bloomfield Lake is close, then yes.”
“What?” I lower my fork to the tray. “Are you serious? Ollie is living with her or she’s living with him?”
“I’m living with Matt.”
“Yeah, but you’re older.”
“Jillian, Ollie is twenty-two.” Her voice lowers to a whisper. “Sandy is only twenty, and yeah, Mom isn’t thrilled.”
I shake my head. “I guess we all have our skeletons.” I take a drink of my iced tea. “Does Julie?”
When Liv’s gaze meets mine, I can see the sadness in her blue eyes.
All four of us have blue eyes, which is to be expected with two blue-eyed parents.
Yet the colors aren’t all the same. Liv’s are lighter, like our dad’s, while mine are darker like Mom’s.
We also share the red hair. It makes it easy to spot a Thorne.
“You know, another time, I might expound on a few of her issues,” Liv says. “Now it doesn’t feel right.”
I nod. “I get it. I’m not trying to gossip. I’m trying to put pieces together. Someone hurt her. Was she the target? If so, why? Or was she simply” —I think of my conversation with Echo— “a victim of opportunity.”
Liv leans back against her chair. “Either one leaves too many questions.”
“Such as?”
“Well, let’s be clear. I wish she wasn’t a victim. Period.”
“Given.”
“If Julie was targeted, that means this was done with malice, for what...revenge?”
“And,” I say, “if she is simply a victim of opportunity, there’s some pervert out there, and he could do this again.”
“Yeah,” Liv replies downheartedly. “Neither is a good scenario.”
Quiet settles over us as we both eat and silently wrestle with our thoughts and fears. Having an opportunistic criminal on the loose is a frightening possibility. Finally, I look up. Trying to lighten the mood, I say, “I met Keith Gilbert.”
“Oh, that’s Coach’s brother,” Liv says as her eyebrows dance. “Nice looking. I met him at the dinner after the funeral.”
I push the salad around on my plate as I recall Keith, his dark blond hair, those brown eyes that change from dark to soft, and his nice build. You were feeling me out. Those words return warmth to my cheeks. “He isn’t ugly. Did you know he’s a cop? A detective in Marquette.”
“No. I barely spoke to him. He was a bit bombarded by the students and recent grads, girls mostly, wanting to express their condolences.”
“He mentioned he’s heard many.”
Liv takes a bite of her salad followed by a drink of her iced tea.
“You know, now that I think about it, I recall thinking it was weird that he wasn’t staying with Mrs. Coach or either set of Joey’s grandparents.
I think they all sat together at the funeral, but as soon as it was over, he was up and away. ”
“Hmm, not that you were watching him.”
Liv smiles. “Okay, he was a handsome distraction. Just because a woman is committed doesn’t mean she’s blind.”
“Not calling you out, sis.”
“Well, it wasn’t a huge deal. I just noticed. I think Mom talked to him for a while.”
“She did,” I confirm. “She told me that he was staying out at the old Iverson place.”
“Right. That’s where you are.” She grins. “Don’t you think we should call it the Harrison place now?”
“Sure. It’s the Harrison place, off Ninth Avenue.”
Liv shakes her head, her smile growing. “No, stop. That’s just too much change for Blue Gil.”
A moment of merriment comes and goes, blown away by the winds of uncertainty. There’s a strange sensation to having a moment of happiness when the world would question your sanity. Both of our smiles fade as fast as they came.
“Shit,” I say.
Liv puts down her fork and lays both hands upon the table. “God, Jillian, someone raped Julie with a gardening tool.” Her eyes glaze with unshed tears. “I can’t stop thinking about how crazy sick it is.”
“It is. What’s Sheriff Manes doing? I mean, of course they need to look for Marty, but what about looking for the psycho guy who did this? Is someone trying to put a profile together? Has anyone questioned Mom or Dad?”
Again, my sister shakes her head. “I haven’t heard anything. I’ve avoided social media and as for my friends who have called or texted, I only text them the generic response we were told to send. You know, Julie is stable, and we’ll know more in the future.”
“Yeah, that’s what I sent to Becky, too.” It isn’t what I told Echo, but she isn’t an insider. I don’t need to worry about who she might tell.
“Has Becky mentioned anything?” Liv asks. “What do people know?”
“I haven’t talked to her. She’s one of those we don’t lie to one another people. I’m afraid if she asks—”
“You’ll spill,” Liv says, finishing my thought. “I know exactly what you mean. It’s why I haven’t returned Beth’s calls.”
“Keith mentioned something.” I try to recall. “He said, and I’m paraphrasing, that he hopes my sister recovers from whatever happened and will help locate Marty.”
“How would he know she needs recovery?”
“Maybe he figures since she’s in a hospital...?”
Liv closes her eyes for only a moment. “You said he’s a detective?
Maybe he can help. Sheriff Manes is busy looking for Marty.
” Her lips gape. “Oh my God, what if the sick dude who hurt Julie and locked her in that shed has Marty? Maybe we need to be more open with the people of the town so they have an idea what to look for or what they might find.”
“Why did he—this assailant,” I clarify, “hurt Julie and take Marty? Why not the other way around?”
“Maybe he was going to come back and get Julie? Like, he couldn’t take both at the same time.” She pauses. “Doesn’t it go with the intent?”
“Yes. They both could be opportunity.” My mind starts to swirl. “If they were both unconscious, he would have had to carry them.”
“Maybe he was waiting for nightfall to go back for Julie?” Liv suggests. “Dad said that the sheriff talked about blood. What if it’s not all Julie’s?”
It’s my turn to close my eyes. My head falls forward. “I feel like I’m brainstorming a show.” My chin snaps upward. “But Liv, it’s not a show. This is our sister.”
Liv reaches over and lays her hand on top of mine. “I’m glad you’re here. I’ve missed you.”
“Thanks,” I say softly.
“Not every day,” she says with a grin. “So don’t get a big head. I know you didn’t miss us or you’d have been back.”
“That’s not exactly true. I miss you more now because I am here, and I know I need to go again. The staying away, I never really analyzed it, but maybe it was to avoid this.”
“When will you go?” Liv asks.
“I talked to my supervisor today. When I told her about Julie, she said I could take as much time as needed within reason.”
“You told her? Everything?”
“I told her more than Becky. After all, Echo isn’t here. She’s not part of the Blue Gil rumor mill and honestly, I misled her a bit about why and where I was going. I had to come clean.”
“Was she upset?”
I scoff. “She didn’t fire me.”
“If she had, you could move back.”
“Oh, now that’s a nightmare.”
“Mom likes having us all together.”
“Maybe,” I say. “But Dad will never forgive me for leaving.” That isn’t my only sin in his eyes, but as far as I know, it’s what Liv knows.
“Dad is quiet.”
“Did you notice yesterday afternoon how we were all asking questions and he was answering everyone’s but mine?”
Liv shakes her head. “No, you’re imagining things. Dad is worried about Julie.”
Was I imagining?
“Are you ready to go relieve Ollie and Sandy?” Liv asks as she places her dish on the tray.
I help her collect our things. “So, tell me about Sandy.”
After we place the tray on the conveyer belt, sending it back to the kitchen, Liv reaches for my arm. “Like I said, she’s only twenty. They met...”