Page 2 of Silent Smile

Sheila nodded, shaking the doctor's hand. "How is he?"

Dr. Reeves gestured to a quiet corner of the waiting room. "Mr. Mills is in critical condition. He suffered severe oxygen deprivation and has a skull fracture from the fall when they cut him down. We've placed him in a medically induced coma to help manage the swelling in his brain."

Sheila felt her stomach drop. So much for bumping his head. If Mills died now, he'd take the truth with him—why he'd reallybeen at their house that night, what made him pull the trigger, whether he'd acted alone. The questions that had haunted her family for ten years would remain unanswered.

"What are his chances?" she asked.

The doctor's face was grave. "It's too early to say for certain. The next 48 hours will be crucial. Even if he survives, there's a significant risk of permanent brain damage."

Sheila leaned against the wall, feeling suddenly unsteady. "When will you know more?"

"We're monitoring him closely. I've scheduled another set of scans for this evening. That should give us a clearer picture of the extent of the damage."

Sheila nodded, trying to process the information. "I need to see him."

Dr. Reeves shook her head. "I'm sorry, but that's not possible right now. He's in intensive care, and we need to limit exposure to potential infections. Plus, there are legal considerations given his status as a prisoner."

Frustration welled up in Sheila. She was about to argue when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Finn, his face etched with concern.

"Sheila," he said softly. "I got here as soon as I could."

Dr. Reeves, sensing the need for privacy, excused herself with a promise to update them if there were any changes.

As soon as the doctor was out of earshot, Sheila turned to Finn. "What took you so long? I thought you were right behind me."

Finn ran a hand through his hair, looking apologetic. "I'm sorry. After you left the lake, I had to secure the kayaks and grab our gear. Then I hit traffic on the way into town. There was an accident on Main Street." He paused, studying her face. "How are you holding up?"

Sheila let out a shaky breath. "I don't know, Finn. Mills is in a coma. They don't know if he'll make it, and even if he does..." She trailed off, unable to voice her fears.

Finn pulled her into a gentle embrace. "Hey, it's okay. We'll figure this out, whatever happens."

Sheila let herself lean into his familiar strength. In the three years they'd worked together as partners, Finn had always been her rock. That hadn't changed six months ago when they started dating, or three months ago when she was promoted to sheriff. If anything, their personal relationship had made his steady support even more vital. She just wished she could stop second-guessing herself—and, by extension, him—in her new role.

Sheila pulled away. "I need to call my dad, let him know what's going on."

Finn nodded. "Of course."

Sheila dialed her father's number. No answer. She left a voicemail: "Dad, it's… it's Eddie Mills. He tried to kill himself. He's alive but in a medically induced coma. Call me back when you can, okay?"

With a deep sigh, she ended the call and began pacing again. "Why'd Mills do this?" she wondered aloud. "Just pure guilt—or fear of getting caught? Or is it possible someone else threatened him?"

Finn shook his head. "I don't know. The interim sheriff has ordered a full investigation. They're checking his recent mail, visitor logs, everything."

"I need to be a part of that investigation," Sheila said.

"Sheila," Finn said gently, "you know that's not possible. You're too close to this case. Hell, you shouldn't have been allowed to interview Mills in the first place."

She knew he was right, but it didn't make it any easier to accept. "I can't just sit here and do nothing, Finn. This might be my last chance to find out what really happened to my mom."She swallowed hard, remembering the countless nights she'd spent poring over the case files, the interviews with witnesses who'd seen Mills' car, the dead ends that had nearly broken her spirit. "My father and I have waited ten years for answers. We need to know why Mills came to our house that night, why he chose Mom."

"I know. I know. One day at a time, okay? We'll just keep checking in, see how things are going. I promise, Sheila, as soon as Mills is able to hold a conversation, he'll answer for whatever part he played in your mother's death. Okay?"

"Okay," Sheila said, nodding. But as she stared off in the direction the doctor had gone, she found herself wondering if she would ever actually get those answers.

Or if she had just lost them. Permanently.

CHAPTER ONE

The setting sun painted the Coral Pink Sand Dunes in shades of amber and rose, transforming the landscape into a breathtaking canvas. Amanda Weller paused atop a dune, her chest heaving from the exertion of the climb.

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