Reading Between the Crimes by Kate Young

Author:Kate Young
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Chapter Sixteen

Staring down at Harper’s small frame lying under the knit pink hospital blanket broke my heart. IV lines were running to her free arm. Soft snoring sounds came through her thin, parted lips. She appeared so young, frail, and fragile. How could anyone suspect her of such a horrific crime?

Mr. Jenkins neared the side of the bed.

I gripped my bag. “Wait.” I kept my tone low. “Shouldn’t we let her sleep?”

Mr. Jenkins appeared to be losing patience with me as he frowned. “I have to be somewhere.” Harper’s eyes went wide, and a little gasp left her lips as she glanced up at Mr. Jenkins and attempted to scoot away. The metal bracelet attached to her wrist clanged against the bar, restricting her movement.

An overwhelming need to protect her came over me. “It’s okay, Harper.” I stepped toward the foot of the bed. “You’re okay.”

“Lyla?” Her voice sounded thin and thready.

“I’m here.” I forced my lips into a reassuring smile.

Her tense frame marginally relaxed. She swallowed and glanced around. She seemed to gain her bearings. “I apologize, Mr. Jenkins. I forgot where I was for a moment.”

“Are you thirsty?” I reached for the paper cup on her tray. “Would you like some water?”

She cleared her throat. “Yes. Please.” With her free hand, she moved the tangles of hair away from the face. “What happened to you?”

I guess my quick makeup job hadn’t been as effective as I’d hoped. “I had a fall. I’m okay.” I filled the paper cup with water from the plastic pitcher on her stand and handed it to her. “You gave us all a scare. We were so worried about you.”

“I feel like I’m in a living nightmare.” She greedily sipped from the straw, audibly draining the cup. “One minute I’m watching a movie, and the next the cops are bursting into my home and arresting me. I felt ill in the car on the way to jail. By the time they were booking me in, I could barely see straight. My heart started beating out of my chest. Way worse than when they slapped the cuffs on me. Then my head felt like someone put it in a vise. I told the officers. Begged them to help me. When the cell doors closed, I … I blacked out.”

“You didn’t take anything?” I pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat. “You’re sure?”

She shook her head; her eyes were wide. “I did not. They said I tried to kill myself. I didn’t. I didn’t even know what Haldol was.”

“Did Leonard take prescription drugs for anything?”

“Yes. He took several medications for his blood pressure and angina. I didn’t ever see a prescription for Haldol, though.”

“Tell me what happened before the police came.”

“LJ and I were in my sitting room upstairs, watching a movie. We escaped from the others when Felix started in on me after we heard from the lawyer handling Leonard’s will.”

“Who’s the lawyer handling the will?” Mr. Jenkins asked.

“Zeb Stanley.”

Mr. Jenkins took the name down.

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