Chapter Two #2
Taking advantage of his pain, Cora quickly got into the SUV, locking the doors.
With her left hand she hit the garage door opener.
It took her three tries to successfully put the key in the steering column and start the car because her left hand was shaking so much and it was awkward using her non-dominant hand.
A fist banged on the window beside her head, startling her, but Cora hit the gas, moving forward, out of the garage and onto the street. Thankfully the suburb was quiet and there were no cars on the road as Cora didn’t even look for traffic as she pulled out.
Her heart beating frantically, Cora made it to the four way stop, slamming on the breaks.
Her seatbelt. She needed to put on her seatbelt and get her purse off the floor so it didn’t get jammed behind the brake pedal.
These thoughts raced through her head as Cora looked in the rearview mirror to see Nate running down the road.
He was yelling something, one had out towards her, the other on his chest as he faltered.
Cora watched, spellbound, as Nate slowed, taking stumbling steps before he leaned over, both hands clutching at his chest. Suddenly, he fell to the ground.
What was he doing? Was he playing dead so that she would come back and he would grab her again? Never had Nate tried that sort of tactic. Cora kept watching in the rearview mirror, but he didn’t move.
She didn’t know how long she sat at the stop sign, shaking and watching Nate’s still body. Anyone could come along at any moment. Or one of the neighbors could see and wonder why she wasn’t moving, why Nate was lying on the road.
“It’s going to be okay,” she whispered, trying to reassure herself. Putting the vehicle in reverse, Cora hissed as her wrist touched the steering wheel, sending a jarring pain up her arm. The limb was already black and blue. Cora knew from experience it was likely fractured.
Carefully backing up, she pulled into a driveway and made the turn so that Nate would be on her side of the vehicle. Rolling down her window, she kept her foot poised and ready to hit the gas.
“Nate?” she whispered. Then more strongly Cora called out her husband’s name but he didn’t move.
What should she do?
To get out of the vehicle could put her in danger. To leave the scene might get her wanted by the police. What happened if the neighbors noticed? What if they thought she had run her husband over with the vehicle?
“Nate!” she whisper-screamed at him but he didn’t flinch. Cora didn’t think he was breathing.
Slowly Cora put the SUV into park. She grabbed her phone, dialing 911 but leaving her finger near the button to connect the call. “If you grab me, I am going to report you to the police. You broke my arm, Nate. I’m done having you hurt me. I have the phone ready to call the police.”
If he grabbed her, what she had said was likely an empty threat.
He was bigger, meaner, and more fit than her.
Putting the phone on the dash, Cora grabbed a book she had been reading from the passenger seat.
The tomb was at least four hundred pages and heavy enough.
Throwing it with her left hand through the window was tricky but she managed to hit Nate’s head.
He barely moved. No way was Nate not getting up after she had hit his head with the corner of a book. He would be incensed, livid with her for fighting back. Even he couldn’t play possum that long. It wasn’t in his nature.
Carefully, Cora grabbed the phone and got out of the car. Approaching Nate, she nudged him with her foot but he barely budged. Nate was strong, muscular, and healthy. He was currently a deadweight.
Jerkily moving downward, Cora felt for a pulse.
There was none…
“Mrs. Ramesly ,” Kepler’s terse voice brought her back to the baby store. “Did you hear me? I said your husband did not die from a heart attack.”
“Of course he died from a heart attack,” whispered Cora as she jerked her thoughts back to the present moment. “I was there. He was running on the road and I found him. What else could it possibly be?”
“That’s what I would like to ask you,” mentioned Kepler. “I think we should go down to the local precinct and have a discussion.”
“Not without her lawyer, you aren’t,” came Addison’s crisp voice.
Just how much of the conversation had Addison heard? wondered Cora. She fumbled in her purse, looking for her phone. “I’m going to call Henry.”
“Really, there’s no need to get the lawyers involved. It’s just a simple chat about what happened the day Nate died,” cajoled Kepler, even as his forced smile did not reach his eyes.
“She’s getting her lawyer and I will come with her,” decided Addison. “I’m calling my husband, Lincoln Waters. He will want to know what is going on.”
Agent Kepler already knew Addison was married to Lincoln. It was just Addison’s way of reminding him she could buy the best lawyers money could afford.
Cora swallowed hard. She couldn’t find her phone for some reason and it gave her anxiety. Unfortunately the emotion came through in her voice. “I told you everything I know. What possible use could questioning me have?”
It was a lie. She had amended the truth of that fateful day. Cora only hoped it wouldn’t hurt her in the long run.
“We won’t know until I question you, will we?” asked Kepler, ice in his blue eyes. “Please come along. I would hate to have to put handcuffs on you and cause a scene.”
Addison dropped her magazines into the unpaid shopping cart, choosing to abandon it. “I hope you have a good lawyer, Agent Kepler, because I am going to sue you.”
“I’m just doing my job Mrs. Ramesly-Waters. I can’t be sued for that,” stated Kepler as he took hold of Cora’s elbow. “This way, please.”