Chapter 14
Fourteen
Since Carly had taken the bed from her room to the apartment when she moved out of her parents’ house, she was sleeping in Cate’s old room, which was now outfitted for grandchildren.
A crib occupied one corner along with a narrow twin bed with Disney characters on the sheets where Carly was pretending to sleep.
As if she could sleep.
Every time she closed her eyes she saw Alicia Perry’s battered body.
She had been on her back with her legs splayed open to ensure that the person who found her would be certain to see what she’d been through.
That Alicia’s killer had arranged for her to be the one to find the girl was a thought Carly had yet to fully process. The ramifications were so overwhelming.
And that she had screamed, actually screamed, when she found the body was another thing she couldn’t quite believe.
She’d just opened her mouth and done what anyone else would’ve done in that situation.
Apparently, she had screamed loud enough to attract the attention of people way off in the distance, people who’d come running to see what was wrong.
In the melee of police and chaos that followed the grim discovery, Carly hadn’t tested her voice again to see if the scream and the words she’d said to those who had come to her rescue were a one-time thing or a miracle in the midst of disaster.
On the order of the FBI agent in charge of the investigation, a female Granville Police officer had driven her to her parents’ home and explained the situation to her overwrought parents.
Through the wall, she could hear them in their bedroom talking about her the way they had after the accident.
Her mother was crying. “She’s in danger, Steve. I just know it. Why would he pretend to be Michael Westbury and lure Carly to the place where he’d left that poor girl? Why Carly?”
“I don’t know, honey, but Michael’s been saying all of this is connected to the accident. I have to admit I wondered if he was so desperate to clear Sam’s name that he was creating a link to the accident. But now it certainly seems possible.”
“And he’s in the hospital, with maybe a heart attack,” Carol said. “It’s all so unbelievable.”
Hearing that, Carly got up and went to their room, her own heart beating so hard it echoed in her ears. She had wondered why he hadn’t come to the lake earlier, but no one had mentioned his name.
“Honey?” Carol sat up when she saw Carly standing in the doorway. “What is it?”
Carly looked at her parents and said, “What’s wrong with Chief Westbury?” Her voice was hoarse from lack of use, but she wasn’t about to complain.
“Oh!” Carol cried, flying out of bed. “Oh my God! Steve! Did you hear that?”
“I sure did,” he said, his own voice catching with emotion. “Do you think maybe you could say it again?”
“Did he have a heart attack?” Carly asked.
Carol broke down as she wrapped her arms around Carly. “Listen to you! Your voice is deeper and more mature, but it’s you, all right. Oh, it’s definitely you!”
Steve joined them in a group hug, and the three of them stood there like that for a long time.
Finally, Carly drew back from them. “I want to know what’s wrong with him.”
“They don’t know, honey.” Carol cradled Carly’s face with her hands. “He collapsed at the office, and they took him to Rhode Island Hospital. That’s all we know.”
“Can we call Mrs. Westbury?”
“It’s kind of late,” Carol said.
“I don’t care! I need to know he’s all right.”
“I’ll go call,” Steve offered, his eyes glued to Carly as if he was afraid he might be dreaming.
Carol led Carly to the bed and urged her to get in.
With her head resting on her mother’s shoulder, Carly reveled in the comfort.
“When did you realize you could talk again?” Carol asked, combing her fingers through Carly’s long curls.
“When I saw Alicia under the willow and I screamed. I can’t stop thinking about her. There was blood everywhere . . . between her legs, on her chest . . .”
“My poor baby. What an awful thing to see.”
“Mom?”
“Hmm?”
“I used to make love with Brian under that willow.”
Carol’s hand froze, and she sat up.
“I know that’s probably something you don’t want to know, even now, but—”
“He put her there on purpose! He’s telling you he knows you two used to go there!”
“I think so, too.”
“Oh, God, Carly. God.”
“I’m scared,” Carly whispered.
Carol tightened her arms around her daughter. “Nothing’s going to happen to you. We won’t let it.”
Steve came back.
“What did she say?” Carly asked. “Is he all right?”
“It wasn’t a heart attack, but they’re keeping him overnight for some tests.”
Carly and her mother exchanged relieved glances.
“There’s one more thing you should probably know,” Steve said hesitantly.
“What?” Carly asked.
“Brian’s home.”
A nameless, faceless man who wanted to hurt her haunted Carly’s dreams. She ran until her chest ached and her legs threatened to buckle beneath her.
He chased her through town to the lake, where he pushed her inside the willow tree.
She fought him, and the branches slashed at her face.
Then all at once she was a little girl. Brian was there, and he was in danger.
She wanted to warn him but couldn’t speak.
A car was on fire. Inside was her family, the family she’d had with Brian.
Her children were in that car. Frantic, Carly rushed toward them, but someone held her back with strong arms that didn’t feel friendly.
The bad man returned, and this time he had Zoe.
Again Carly was under the willow, but instead of Alicia, it was Zoe she found lifeless and beaten.
Carly awoke with a muffled scream, and the sound coming from her own mouth startled her.
Her body was bathed in sweat, her heart pounding.
She was still in her parents’ bed where she had slept with her mother.
Forcing herself to take deep breaths, she managed to eventually slow her heart rate.
As she lay there recovering from the vivid nightmare, an image of Alicia Perry under the willow flashed through her mind.
Alicia’s killer had made sure to leave Carly with an image that would haunt her forever.
She hurt for Alicia’s family and friends, including Zoe. They were waking up today without the hope they’d clung to since Alicia’s disappearance. She knew that feeling. She knew it all too well.
And then she suddenly remembered.
Brian is home.
Was he really just seven hundred and eighty-six steps from her at that very moment?
The idea filled her with the kind of comfort and contentment—and anticipation—she hadn’t experienced since the day he left.
She wondered if she would see him. You can’t be disappointed if you don’t.
He’s here to take care of his father. But would he really come to town and not see me?
Especially after what happened yesterday?
I guess I’ll find out. Maybe I’ll even see him today.
Her heart literally skipped a beat at that thought. Stop it, Carly.
“Are you awake?” her mother whispered from the door.
Carly began to nod and then remembered she didn’t have to. “Yes.”
“It didn’t go away overnight,” Carol said with a smile as she came into the room and perched on the bed. “I was afraid it would.”
Carly was unaccustomed to the sound of her own voice and the odd rumble in her throat. “I sound weird.”
“You sound like a grown-up. Your voice is rusty from lack of use, but we’ll take it.”
“I feel bad that Dad got bounced out of his own bed.”
“It was for a good cause. He didn’t care.” She took Carly’s hand. “How are you feeling?”
“Sort of guilty.”
“Why guilty?”
“Because all I can think about is that Brian’s home. Isn’t that awful when there’re so many bigger things going on right now?”
“If I were you, that’s my first thought today, too.”
“It wasn’t my first thought,” Carly said. “But it was my second, third, fourth, and fifth thoughts.”
Carol chuckled and then sobered. “I don’t want you to get your hopes up.”
“I was just giving myself the same lecture. Don’t worry. I know. I might not even see him.”
“I’m sure he’s upset about what happened to you yesterday.”
Carly shrugged. “Maybe.”
Carol held out her arms, and Carly sat up to hug her mother. “I can’t tell you how good it is to be sitting here talking to you. If you want to know my first thought this morning, that was definitely it.”
Carly absorbed the comfort of her mother’s embrace for a long moment. “Have you talked to Cate? How’s Zoe?”
Carol shook her head with dismay. “Terrible. She was up all night.”
“I want to see her.” Carly got out of bed. “If anyone understands what she’s going through, it’s me.”
“I went over to your place earlier to pick up some clothes and a few other things I thought you might need,” Carol said. “It’s all in the kids’ room.”
“Thank you. I know I should be too old to want my mother taking care of me, but it sure feels good right now.”
“I’m glad you feel that way, because Dad and I want you to stay here with us until they catch this guy.”
“Before yesterday I would’ve argued with you, but not anymore.”
“Good. Then it’s settled. Why don’t you take a shower and get dressed while I make you some breakfast?”
“I need to call Molly.” Carly stopped herself. “I can’t believe I can call Molly—like anyone else would.”
Carol hugged her daughter. “It’s a miracle—a true-blue miracle. And don’t worry about Molly. She called earlier and said not to come to work until you feel up to it.”
“That’s nice of her. She’s been so good to me.
” Carly hesitated before she asked, “Do you think maybe I’ve been able to talk for a while and didn’t know it?
I haven’t tried very often, in fact, not since I tried to call 911 when I found the notes when you were in Europe. So it’s possible I could, isn’t it?”
“You would’ve known,” Carol assured her.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Carly said, but she wasn’t entirely convinced.