LOST INNOCENTS an unputdownable psychological thriller with a breathtaking twist (Totally Gripping Psychological Thrillers) by PATRICIA MACDONALD

Author:PATRICIA MACDONALD [MACDONALD, PATRICIA]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books psychological thriller and crime
Published: 2022-05-11T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-three

Maddy looked out into the hallway and closed the kitchen door, gesturing for Doug to whisper. “He came to return my bracelet,” she said, indicating the delicate silver-linked chain encircling her wrist.

Doug frowned at the bracelet, a gift he had given Maddy on their first anniversary. “How did he come to have your bracelet?”

Maddy could not avoid thinking of how the bracelet had gotten caught on Nick’s sweater. She recalled the impulsive embrace, the surprising depth of feeling between them, and her face reddened. “It got snagged on something in his . . . office when I went to see him.”

“Went to see him about what?” he asked.

“I went to talk to him,” Maddy said irritably.

“Is that why these people are still here? Because he is so chummy with them?”

“No. They are still here because that man got out of the hospital not an hour ago.”

“I asked you to get rid of them but, hey, whatever Father Nick wants . . .”

“Leave him out of this. He has nothing to do with it.”

“Pardon me,” said Doug. “It seems like what I need is last on your list . . .”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” said Maddy.

“Don’t tell me I’m imagining this. I’ve seen how that priest looks at you. He gazes at you like a sick pup. Do you think that was just a friendly squeeze he was giving you in the driveway?”

She felt both guilty and resentful of his accusation. The fact was that nothing illicit had happened between herself and Nick. She had to remind herself that she had nothing for which to apologize. “Don’t be disgusting, Doug. We’re close friends. He’s leaving today, and he was saying goodbye.”

“Well, maybe that’s how you see it,” he snapped.

Maddy shook her head. “Do you want coffee?” she asked evenly.

“What, are you waiting on them, too?”

“Never mind,” said Maddy.

“If he’s so damn fond of these people, why didn’t he take them in? No, he expects you to do it. Why should you do what he wants? I mean, what claim has he got on you? Unless there’s something I don’t know about.”

Maddy glared at him. “Even if that were true of Nick, which it’s not, how could you show so little faith in me? How could you even think, for a minute . . . ?”

“Hey, sometimes things happen,” said Doug with a shrug.

Maddy looked at him through narrowed eyes. There was something altogether too fluid about his idea of morality. “No, they don’t just happen,” she said bitterly. “Not if you don’t let them happen. I’m your wife. I made a promise to be faithful to you, if you’ll recall. I don’t take my promises lightly.”

He lowered his eyes. “Let’s just drop it,” he said.

She stared at him, and the memory of Heather on the doorstep returned. For a moment she wondered. Did he really believe that things could just happen, and he was helpless to prevent it? Could something have just happened between him and Heather? She tried to stop herself from saying it, but she couldn’t.

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