Page 24 of Going Once

Nola frowned. “What’s the matter with your mother?”

Tate’s shoulders slumped. “She has Alzheimer’s. They just called to let me know she fell and broke her hip. They’re taking her into surgery in the morning.”

Nola gasped. “Oh, my God. I am so sorry. How long ago was she diagnosed?”

He hesitated, then decided what the hell. “Almost nine years.”

Her mouth opened, and then she leaned back without saying a word. It had been eight years since their breakup. And she’d found out only after Tate was already gone that his mother had left with him. It hadn’t made sense then, and this made it even more confusing. At the time, everyone had wondered why Julia Benton had left her husband, and Nola had already been confused as to why Tate had all of a sudden wanted to leave town, so how did that tie in with what had happened, and what, if anything, did it mean?

“Uh…Tate.”

He heard the question in her voice and was afraid of what she was going to ask.

“Yeah?”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because I didn’t know.”

“Did your dad know?”

Tate pointed at her sandwich. “Are you through eating?”

“Yes.”

“I called dibs on the leftovers,” Wade reminded them.

She gave it to him.

Tate opened his laptop and then handed it to Cameron.

“Show her the photos. I need to run an errand.”

He strode out without looking back, leaving Nola with more unanswered questions. When she looked back at his partners, they both shook their heads.

“Don’t ask us. We didn’t even know his dad was a coroner,” Cameron said.

“I got the impression that his father was dead,” Wade added. “It’s sure a shame about his mom. So, scoot over here by me. They’re obviously mug shots, and we don’t want anyone to wonder why you’re looking at them.”

She did as Wade had asked, looking carefully through the array.

“I’m sorry, but none of these look even remotely familiar. Is that all?”

Cameron nodded. “It’s okay. We had to try. You’ve been up all day on shaky legs. Why don’t you have an early night? If you can sleep in this racket,” he added.

Cameron was right. The gym was like a nest of ants, so many people going in different directions and doing different tasks, with lots of noise and none of it decipherable.

“That sounds like a plan,” she said, and after a quick trip to the bathroom with her toothbrush and a washcloth, she emerged with dragging steps and all but collapsed onto her cot. She didn’t think she would be able to sleep with the constant murmur of voices, but when she rolled onto her side and pulled the blanket up over her shoulders, it felt so good to be horizontal that she was out before she knew it.

CHAPTER FIVE

Tate’s despair at the latest news of his mother’s condition quickly turned to rage. He knew the minute he started toward the house that had once been his home it was going to be an ugly confrontation, but the whole thing was ugly and way past due, so what the hell.

The light was still on in the living room, which was a sign his dad was still up. He skidded to a stop in the driveway, and in seconds was out and headed toward the house in long strides, wanting to get this over before he changed his mind. The moment his feet hit the steps, the hair stood up on the back of his neck. He hadn’t been here since the night his dad kicked him out, and this was a hell of a way to come back.

He rang the doorbell, then doubled up his fist and hammered on the door until the porch light came on and he heard the lock click.

The door swung inward. His father was standing there with his reading glasses halfway down his nose and the sports section of the newspaper dangling from his hand.

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