Page 254 of Tell Me Something True

Hopefully, he’d respond.

“Thank you. And could you not tell them about me being Reed’s sister? I’d rather he tell his friends when he’s ready.”

Pulling out his phone, Miles nodded. Glanced up at her after unlocking the screen. “He’ll be okay. From what O’Neil told me, she has her doubts about the Walsh’s story, too. Their statements were too similar. Seemed practiced. And with what I know of them, I suspect Pete coerced his wife into lying about what happened.”

“But you can’t prove that. It’s their word against his.”

He inclined his head, a concession to her point. “O’Neil’s a rookie but she has great instincts. Some of the best I’ve seen. And she’s working with Coop, who’s like a fucking bulldog when he gets something between his teeth. They’ll do everything they can to get to the truth.”

“You and I both know that might not be enough.”

“Then I guess we’ll just have to keep fighting for him until it is.”

And those tears she’d managed to hold back? Now sliding down her face.

She wasn’t the only one in Reed’s corner.

And for the first time in her life, she wasn’t alone in hers.

Chapter 52

Miles didn’t want her to talk to her mother alone, but Tabitha had insisted.

He may not be exactly in Reed’s corner, but he was absolutely in hers. And she didn’t want to risk word getting back to the D.A. or Chief Hutchins that he’d been in the room with a possible assault victim off the record.

She was already risking her job and reputation. No way would she ever risk his.

Instead, he was waiting, begrudgingly, at the nurse’s station after getting clearance for her to go into Michelle Walsh’s room.

She knew he’d be there, waiting for her, when she was done.

Was counting on it.

She stopped at the doorway of room 314 not surprised to find the TV on and Michelle sitting up in bed, staring at it blankly with glassy eyes, the fingers of her right hand picking at the skin underneath the loose, plastic hospital ID around her left wrist.

Her mother never slept well. Whether from the drugs or her personal demons, Tabitha had no idea. All she knew was that she’d often woken up from her place on the ratty couch to find her mother watching TV or pacing their small apartment.

Or walking out the door.

It had been scary, being left alone, especially at night. But it had been better than the times her mother had taken Tabitha with her.

When she’d been left alone, she was safe.

Those memories played in her head as Tabitha stepped into the room. The familiar sick sensations of fear and loneliness twisting in her stomach stopping her going any farther.

She wanted to run. Like she’d done this morning.

Like she’d been doing her entire life.

But Reed needed her.

More than that, she needed to start the hard work of once again trying to heal. For herself.

And for the future she wanted with Miles.

She had to face her past. Confront it.

Beat it. One more time.

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