Page 14 of Her Dying Secret

Josie searched a nearby rolling cabinet, coming up with a handful of gauze and handing it to Mira. “Can you see which wound is bleeding? Put pressure on it. The doctor said someone will be in to stitch you up soon.”

Mira did as she was told.

Gretchen said, “We’re going to show you a picture of the passenger.”

Josie really didn’t want to show anyone a photo of Jane Doe. She barely looked human. Part of Josie felt as though using the photo was an affront to her dignity, but not trying to identify her and find justice for her would be worse. Reluctantly, Josie held the picture up to Mira’s face. The gauze fell from her fingers. A strangled gasp wrenched itself from her throat.

“Do you recognize her?” asked Josie.

Would anyone recognize her in the state she’d been in?

The alarm kept going. Why did they even have these things if the staff didn’t respond to them? Again, Mira shook her head. Tears rolled down her face. “What do you think happened to her? She doesn’t look…My God.”

There were no tissues in the curtained area, so Josie grabbed another fistful of gauze for Mira. “We’ll know more after her autopsy. Is there someone we can call for you while you’re here in the hospital?”

Mira used a gauze pad to dab at her cheeks. “The nurse already did. My friend from work. Bobbi Ann Thomas. She’s all I have around here.”

“No parents?” Gretchen asked.

She found the place on her forearm that seemed to be the source of the ongoing bleeding and pressed the rest of the fresh gauze against it. “I haven’t spoken with my parents in years. We don’t get along.”

“How about romantic partners?” Josie asked. “Are you seeing anyone?”

The alarm cut off abruptly but only because the blood pressure cuff was swelling again.

Mira said, “No. I haven’t dated in years. There’s no one.”

“How about former partners?” asked Gretchen.

Josie held her breath as the blood pressure cuff slowly deflated, waiting for the shrill bark of the alarm to begin again. If Mira’s blood pressure didn’t set it off, then her heart rate would very soon. Everything was climbing again.

“What do you mean?” asked Mira.

Josie said, “Do you have any exes who were bothering you?”

As predicted, the vital signs machine began its discordant symphony once more.

“No,” said Mira.

“Do any of your exes have children?”

“Um, I don’t know? I told you, I haven’t dated anyone in ages.”

“Is there anyone else who was giving you a hard time lately?” Gretchen kept scribbling in her notebook. “Someone hanging around? Making you uncomfortable? Anything like that? Neighbor, coworker, anyone at all.”

“No, nothing like that. Really, I live a quiet life. Go to work. Hang out with Bobbi sometimes. Go to the stables. That is it.”

The curtain flew open, light from outside slashing across Mira’s face. Her eyes snapped shut and she turned her head to the side. A nurse strode in and punched a series of buttons on the machine, quieting it. Next, a young doctor stepped into the space. “Miss Summers, I’m here to do your sutures.”

Josie laid one of her business cards on the tray table next to Mira’s bed. “We’ll go now, but if you remember anything, anything at all, about what happened to you today, the woman in your car, or who might have made the drawing we showed you, please give us a call. Our colleague took your phone into evidence. We’ll try to get it back to you as soon as possible. Until then, someone on the staff can help you get in touch with us.”

ELEVEN

The Fatal Accident Reconstruction officer was still working the scene when Josie drove back up Prout Road. Three other officers from the team had joined her, taking photos and making sketches. Two cruisers remained to protect the scene and direct traffic. The tow truck was also there, the driver asleep in the cab. Josie waved to Officer Brennan as they rolled past. Gretchen sipped at the new coffee they’d stopped for and studied the wreckage. As they climbed the hill, the fields spread on either side of them, nothing but high grass and an occasional patch of wildflowers with the forest in the distance. They crested the hill and the road flattened out. A mile passed and then another, and there were no driveways or buildings in sight.

“You were right,” Gretchen said. “There is literally nothing out here.”

“We should still take a look at the aerial maps when we get back to the station. I’m not sure how far these fields go or what’s on the other side of these trees. What did you think of Summers?”

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