Hannah Alexander - Collateral Damage

“You think someone might have threatened him,” Sarah said.

“Seems possible.”

“A gas leak could have developed after the last inspection,” she said.

Nick shook his head, though of course she couldn’t see him. “Leo Larner constructed that conference building above code thirty years ago. Dad even did his own inspection before each event. He’s cautious that way. There were no faulty pipes.”

There was a soft sigh. “But why our parents?”

“I don’t know yet. You know they always stay to clean up after the others leave, but Dad just happened to get a call on his cell while they were working, and walked outside—that building never had good reception. That’s when the place exploded. It’s eating at him.”

“Who called?”

“He said it sounded like someone crying, but when Gerard Vance—he’s an ex-cop—had a check run on the number, it was from a burn phone. No name connected to it.”

There was another long silence. “So it was an attack on either Mom or Dad or Aunt Peg by someone who definitely wanted to spare Edward. But why him specifically? Does he have any ideas?”

“No, and it’s torturing him.”

“Why the nurse in the infirmary the next day?”

“All I can figure is that she might’ve been close enough to look out her window and see something before the explosion at the conference center.”

“So she could’ve been killed because she was an eye witness?”

“It’s all wild conjecture at this point. She wasn’t even from here—she was from Texas—so unless someone followed her here...I just don’t know. It’s why I got involved, and Gerard Vance is helping me. He was the nurse’s employer.”

More silence.

He gave Sarah time to assimilate what he’d told her, then frowned as the silence continued. “Hello? Are we disconnected?”

“I’m...here. I’m trying to grasp it all, and I can’t yet.” Sarah sighed. Sniffed. It was a wet sniff that told him how hard this was hitting her, and then it hit him, too. Again. As it did several times a day. Mom was gone. “I know Edward’s got to be torn up about this.”

“He just got out of the house for the first time last Sunday. Your cousin and her friends are all worried about him, bringing food.” Carmen Delaney, Mrs. Russell’s cousin, had been good about keeping friends and neighbors abreast of how the Russells were doing since they left Jolly Mill.

Carmen was also the one who’d broken the news about Emma’s birth nine months after their family left Jolly Mill. There were still moments when Nick wondered about the timing of her birth, and tried to weave his mind through the cloudy memories of Sarah’s twin, Shelby, on the night of the party. Nothing had ever come of his attempts. “I hear from Carmen that Emma’s an impulsive, intelligent, inquisitive kid.”

Sarah gave a soft groan. “Emma. She’s...amazing. She’s also a handful. I’m afraid you’ll find out what I mean soon.”

“Headstrong, obviously. I can’t believe she would let you worry like this.”

“We had a little spat last night, and that doesn’t often happen. In her note she told me she needed more information about how Mom and Dad died. I haven’t been able to reach her on her cell.”

He leaned back in the chair, focusing, for a moment, on the gentle wave of Sarah’s voice—recalling her quiet but welcome presence from their teen years. That voice had a musical quality that always soothed the soul, though he couldn’t miss the distress in it now. “The girl has her mother’s stubborn streak.”

There was a soft gasp, and then, “What?”

“Sorry, Sarah. I didn’t mean to diss your mother. I just remembered my mom always talked about Lydia Russell and her determination to get things done. Mom admired her.”

“Oh. Thank you. Yes, Dad always said Shelby and I inherited Mom’s strong will.”

“As did Emma, obviously.”

“I need to get her back home to Sikeston,” Sarah said.

“Meaning I’ve frightened you.”

“You’d better believe it. I can’t believe the sheriff’s department isn’t even investigating.”

“He has very little manpower with all the budget cuts, and there’s a lot for him to cover in our county. Don’t worry, Gerard’s got a good eye on things, and if Emma shows up I’ll take care of her.”

What was it about Sarah’s vulnerable presence over the phone that brought out his old protective instincts? What was it about connecting with her that made him see the man—or lesser man—he’d become? He wanted to be that former man, who could be counted on for help, who actually wanted to help instead of search for ulterior motives behind every word. Divorce and the lawsuit had changed him, and he disliked the curmudgeon he’d become.

“Sarah? I’m serious about this. You’re not alone.”

There was another sniff. “Thanks, Nick. I’m glad I called.”

He closed his eyes at the memories Sarah’s voice resurrected. It sounded as if he might have company at any time, and he couldn’t help remembering her eyes—the color of the ocean on a cloudy day—and the tenderness of her heart, which she’d taken such pains to conceal behind her dyed-black hair, Goth makeup and clothing as a teenager.

Why had he allowed Shelby’s effusive, chatterbox ways to distract his attention from Sarah for even a few moments? And what kind of kid had he been to momentarily fall for externals at exactly the wrong time?

For the first time in many months, Nick found himself thinking about someone besides himself and his personal battles. “It’s going to be okay.” He only had to convince himself of that, and it was threatening to become an impossible task.

TWO

The shadows of the night whipped past Sarah’s headlights as the depth and warmth of Nick’s reassuring voice continued to echo in her head. The rhythm of his words soothed her into a near-trance. Her eyes were half shut when a deer flitted across the road in the far reach of the high beams, shocking her awake. She hit the brakes, glad the lateness of the night had emptied this highway of most automobiles. This part of Missouri was notorious for its nightlife; nocturnal animals could outnumber cars on the road.

Another deer leaped past the beams, and another, and she braced herself, pressing harder on the pedal.

The chirp of her cell phone claimed her attention as the small herd disappeared into the blackness of forest south of the road. When she answered, she heard John’s wide-awake voice.

“Got something, Sarah. Are you hands-free?”

“No, but there’s no traffic.”

“Pull over so we can talk. I’ll wait.”

“John, stop being such a policeman. I’m practically stopped already.” No need to mention the deer. She pulled far off the shoulder into the grass beyond. “Just tell me what you’ve got.”

“Listen, how much time does Emma spend online? I’ve warned her about the danger of predators.”

Already startled awake by the deer, Sarah felt her muscles tense. “What did you find?”

“I’ve got a couple more names and addresses for you. Did you know a man by the name of Alec Thompson? His comment on Nick’s blog was, ‘Emma, I know your family.’ It was as if he was trying to lure her into a conversation. I’m getting ready to call Sheriff Moritz over there to give him a heads-up on—”

“No, don’t. Alec’s okay.” The lack of sleep, the worry about Emma, the reconnections to the past were all catching up with her.

“You know the guy?”

“His family owned several businesses in Jolly Mill when we lived there, and he dated a friend of mine. You know, I haven’t been there in over sixteen years, but I still think of Jolly Mill as my hometown. We’re talking about a small community, where everyone knows practically everyone else. The thought that someone I might have known could’ve been a killer—”