The Last Kiss Goodbye

Author:Karen Robards [Robards, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Suspense
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2013-08-13T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Jenna started to sob. Mrs. McDaniels wrapped her daughter in a hug, which Jenna returned. The sight of mother and daughter so lovingly entwined made Charlie’s throat tighten—her overly emotional reaction was, she knew, the result of her own mother issues, and nothing to do with the case. Tony turned off the tape recorder as requested, although as he punched the button he said, looking first at the lawyer and then at Judge McDaniels, “It would really help us to hear the rest of her story. We’re all on the same team here.”

When the lawyer shook his head and the judge answered with, “That’s all my daughter has to say,” Tony said, “Could I talk to you two for a minute in private?” and when they agreed the three men went into the hall.

Out of the corner of her eye, Charlie was aware of Michael moving protectively closer to her, and supposed that with Tony gone he felt he had to up his bodyguard-to-the-vulnerable-female game. But he didn’t say anything. He just leaned against the wall near her, his arms crossed over his chest, a stalwart sentinel she knew she could count on to have her back. As her glance found him, and their eyes held for the briefest of seconds, she immediately felt calmer, more centered. She recognized the ridiculousness of it: how screwed up was her world when the ghost of Michael Garland served as a grounding presence? That’s when Charlie remembered that he might be—might be—the exact same kind of monster as the one they were hunting.

A chill slid down her spine.

I have to know the truth. No matter what, she had to ascertain to her own satisfaction whether Michael was innocent or guilty. Not knowing would eventually tear her apart.

The door opened. Judge McDaniels poked his head into the room.

“Jill, could you come out here for a minute?”

“I’m not leaving her.” Mrs. McDaniels was shaking her head even as she looked around at him. With her head on her mother’s shoulder now, Jenna was crying in deep, shuddering gasps. Listening to her, Charlie remembered the fear and the pain, the shattering guilt, the desperation, she herself had felt all those years ago, and her heart broke for the girl.

“Mrs. McDaniels?” Charlie moved closer. “If you need to go talk to them, I’ll stay here with Jenna. She won’t be alone.”

“It’s important, Jill,” Judge McDaniels insisted.

Jenna let go of her mother and wiped her eyes. “Mama, I’ll be all right.”

“Are you sure?”

Jenna nodded, and with a searching look at Charlie, Mrs. McDaniels joined the others in the hall.

“So is this some kind of trick to get me to spill my guts to you now that we’re alone?” Jenna’s eyes still brimmed with tears. Her voice was shaky in the aftermath of her sobs. It was also faintly hostile.

Charlie shook her head. “No, I promise. Anyway, I’m a doctor. All you have to do is claim doctor/patient privilege and I can’t repeat anything you say to me.”

She watched Jenna absorb that.

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