Page 73 of Healing Hearts

Gene pointed to the couple in question.

The wife sat shaking in her wheelchair, listening to the nurse explain what was happening.

“Your husband is lucky the bullet went through his shoulder without hitting any major arteries or organs. But the surgeon will check for any bullet or bone fragments and repair the damage. We’ll keep you updated.

“Now, let’s take a look at you. It looks like you’ve hurt your arm?” the nurse patiently asked as she wheeled the woman into an examination room.

“Nurse…” Patrick took a quick look at her badge. “…Paula. I’m Detective Patrick Alden. I’m working on a case involving Mr. and Mrs. Carson. Can you also update me about Mr. Carson’s surgery, please? And whenever you’re done with Mrs. Carson, I need to speak to her.”

The nurse just nodded and shut the curtain.

“Carson?” Gene pulled Patrick back. “Those are the kids’ parents?”

Patrick gave a grim nod. “Where are the kids? Are they okay?”

“They’re in the exam room. Amanda and a social worker are with them. Beau will be fine. But Mona still won’t tell us much,” Gene reported, then re-asked his question. “What the hell happened?”

“As you know, I went to the Carsons’ house. I had a domestic-abuse theory going in my head, and planned my approach accordingly,” Patrick said. “But when Mrs. Carson opened the door, I got a strange vibe from her. She was tensed, unfocused, and didn’t allow me in. She looked terrified. But when I mentioned the children, there was a flash of shock in her eyes, and relief.

“She said things that puzzled me at first, but before I could figure it out, another woman showed up at the door telling Mrs. Carson her husband needed her,” Patrick continued. “It was the way she looked at Mrs. Carson, and how Mrs. Carson immediately shriveled up that had me suspicious.”

Patrick turned his gaze to the closed curtain where Mrs. Carson was. The story baffled Gene, and he urged Patrick along.

“I called back-up and reassessed the situation. There was a stand-off and a lot of pieces I still need to put together,” Patrick said in a monotone voice. “That’s why I need to talk to Mrs. Carson. But I can tell you right now, what’s going on with the Carsons isn’t what we suspected at all.”

twenty-four

“Is that Patrick?” Amanda asked Gene, who picked up his phone to check the message that came in as they were stopped at a traffic light.

Gene nodded as he put away the phone.

“Mr. Carson’s surgery went well. He’s in recovery.”

“That’s good to hear.” Amanda released a relieved breath. “I’m glad things turned out the way it did. It could’ve gone worse.”

“For sure.”

Gene started driving again as the light turned green.

After a long day spent mostly at the hospital, fueling on crappy coffee and mediocre cafeteria food, Amanda would be glad to be home. She was exhausted and couldn’t wait to snuggle in her bed.

They hadn’t left the hospital until almost eight o’clock. Even after Miss Walker had concluded there hadn’t been any child abuse happening in the Carson household, it’d still taken some time for the social worker to release the children to their mother and grandparents who had driven up from Savannah. Patrick had cleared them to leave much earlier, but Amanda had wanted to make sure Mona and Beau were in the right hands first.

“I’m still not completely clear about what happened. Miss Walker only shared enough to assure me the kids would be all right,” Amanda said. “I was with the children when Miss Walker brought Mrs. Carson in. You’d never seen a happier group to be reunited.”

“That family has gone through a lot this week. Those children are brave as hell,” Gene said. “Patrick wasn’t supposed to tell me—y’know, the whole ongoing investigation stuff—but he told me enough.”

Amanda turned to him. “Well, tell me what the hell happened? All I know so far is there was a burglary at the Carsons’ house. The parents were held hostage, while the kids ran per their father’s instructions. But why didn’t they go to the police?”

“Not a burglary.” Gene corrected. “According to Mrs. Carson’s account, her husband had been upset about something for weeks. Something to do with their car dealerships and the imported car shipments coming in at the port.

“The family was getting ready for a quick weekend camping trip when Mr. Carson’s right-hand woman suddenly showed up with a man they didn’t know.” Gene pursed his lips. “I probably shouldn’t know this woman’s name. But it’ll be in the news by morning anyhow.”

“Why? Is she important to the story?”

“She’s in the morgue,” he revealed heavily.

“Oh, god.” Amanda reeled back in shock. “I didn’t realize there’s a dead victim—”

---