Chapter 17 June #2
Lucy nodded once, then spoke carefully, as if choosing the wording that would be accurate and not alarmist.
“She had an odor on her clothing that didn’t fit the scene.
Her pupils weren’t responding the way I expected for that type of trauma alone.
I ordered a toxicology screen because something felt off, and when the initial results came back, there were traces consistent with chloroform exposure.
” Lucy’s eyes narrowed slightly as she told June what she’d found.
June went still.
“Chloroform,” she repeated quietly, as if saying it softer would make it less real.
Lucy’s eyes held hers.
“Yes,” she confirmed with a slight nod. “There were only small traces, but present. It isn’t something you want in someone’s system.”
June’s mind raced.
“So Judy was not only hit on the back of the head but drugged?” June mulled that over in her mind.
“It’s likely,” Lucy confirmed. “Whether it was to subdue her, or to move her, or to keep her from fighting…” She exhaled slowly. “It’s likely.”
June’s hands curled into fists.
“Then why hit her on the head at all if she’d been drugged?” June asked because it was the part that didn’t make sense.
Lucy’s expression tightened.
“My best guess,” Lucy explained, “is that she woke up. Or she started to come around. She may have struggled, and the person panicked.”
June felt sick. “Did you find any signs that Judy fought back?”
Lucy nodded. “Yes,” she said. “There were abrasions on her wrists. Bruising that suggests restraint. And her nails…” Lucy’s mouth tightened. “I’ve taken evidence from beneath her nails and will send it through to Holt along with my report.”
“So you found skin cells beneath her nails.” June’s brows rose. “What did Judy go through?” She felt horrified thinking of how frightened Judy must’ve been to scratch someone so deeply. “So we need to watch for someone with scratches.”
“Yes.” Lucy nodded. “That’s exactly what I thought.”
June stared at her friend, the doctor, the twin, the mother, the woman who had held this town together more times than anyone ever acknowledged, and June felt a wave of protectiveness hit her so sharply she almost had to brace.
“How are you holding up?” Lucy asked quietly. “Knowing that we’re targets now too.”
“I’m fine,” June lied automatically, forcing a smile, and then corrected herself because Lucy deserved honesty.
“Well, rather, let me say that I’m managing.
” She swallowed. “Holt and I are investigating the fires and all the accidents, so it feels like there will be an end to his madness at some point.”
“All you need is that one lead that reveals the entire thing.” Lucy’s mouth softened into something that looked like a real smile for the first time in days. “One good thing to come from this darkness is how it is to see you and Holt working together.”
June felt her cheeks threaten to warm, and she hoped it wasn’t obvious.
“It is,” June admitted. “We always did make a great investigative team back when I would help him with test cases.”
Then she shifted the conversation before it could drift into territory June didn’t want to examine while standing in a hospital corridor.
“How is it going between you and Tom?” June asked.
Lucy’s eyes warmed, and for a moment she looked almost shy. “Good. Actually, very good,” Lucy answered honestly. But the light in her eyes quickly dimmed under the weight of everything else. “But he’s worried.”
“About everything that’s happening in the town?” June watched her friend intently.
Lucy’s gaze dropped for a heartbeat, then lifted.
“June, due to everything that’s happening, and it looks like everything that happened to Lacey was meant to be me…” Lucy swallowed, her eyes darkening with worry and fear. “Tom told me,” she admitted, lowering her voice. “About the car. About his son. About how it looks.”
June’s throat tightened because Lucy still didn’t know everything, and she felt like a traitor to her friends and family right now.
“I know,” June said softly, letting sympathy carry what truth couldn’t.
“It’s hard, you know.” Lucy exhaled and gave a tight smile. “It’s hard to feel happy with Tom and me finally being together when all of this is happening, and…” Her eyes darkened. “And with Lacey.”
June’s heart clenched.
“How is she?” June asked. “Can she have visitors yet?”
“Lacey’s improving,” Lucy updated June on her sister's progress. “But she still can’t have any visitors beyond close family and Dean, of course.”
June nodded, accepting it even as it hurt a little.
“Please send her my love.” June gave Lucy an encouraging smile. “Tell her I’ll come the moment you say she can have more visitors.”
“I will,” Lucy promised.
“You know, Lucy.” June’s eyes caught her friends.
“You’re allowed to capture moments of happiness, especially during this time of uncertainty and fear.
You just don’t know what’s going to happen.
” June reached over and gave her friend’s arm a warm squeeze.
“Don’t feel guilty about that. I think it’s what helps to keep the light shining through all the dark. ”
“Thank you, June,” Lucy said. “And maybe you should try and reach out for some of that happiness too,” she smiled. “Fate might not give you another chance.”
“I don’t know,” June said, and a noise down the hall caught her attention. “I’d better go and get your two discharged patients home.”
“Thank you for taking them,” Lucy said again.
June hesitated, then leaned in slightly. “Lucy,” she said softly, “please be careful.”
“You too,” Lucy responded.
“I mean it,” June continued. “Maybe you, Lacey, Dean, and Tom should go stay at my house in Miami when Lacey is fit enough to travel again.”
Lucy’s jaw tightened.
“No,” Lucy said with vehemence. “I’m not being run out of my hometown.”
June held her gaze for a moment, not at all surprised by her friend's stubbornness.
“Then please be careful,” June repeated.
Before Lucy could reply, her beeper went off. Lucy glanced at it, then back at June.
“I’m so sorry, June, but I have to go,” Lucy stated apologetically.
“Of course.” June nodded and stepped aside. “I’ll get Margo home.”
Lucy squeezed June’s arm briefly, then hurried out.
June watched her go, and for a second, she felt the full weight of what they were all carrying. Then she forced herself to move, because standing still didn’t help anyone.
She went down the corridor and found Rad and Margo not far away.
They were standing too close to the corner near the nurses’ station, as if they’d tried to look casual but failed. Then there was that innocent look. The one a person got when they were eavesdropping and got caught.