Page 58 of Silent Smile

Sheila nodded, forcing a smile. "Finn's tough. He'll be back on his feet before we know it."

But her voice shook slightly. Seeing Finn hurt had shattered her careful professional distance, reminded her viscerally of how much she needed him—not just as a deputy, but as her partner in every sense. The thought of losing him made her physically ill. She'd been so worried about being a good sheriff that she'd forgotten how to be a good partner, a good guardian to Star, a good member of this fragile family they were building.

They walked in silence to the elevator, the hustle and bustle of the hospital fading into background noise. As they waited for the doors to open, Sheila felt the weight of Star's unasked questions.

"I'm sorry I didn't call you," Sheila said. "Everything happened so fast, and I just... I wasn't thinking straight."

Star shrugged, but Sheila could see the hurt beneath her attempted nonchalance. "It's okay. I get it. Finn's your partner."

"Hey," Sheila said, turning to face Star fully. "You're important too. You're part of this family, Star. Don't ever doubt that."

The elevator arrived with a soft ding, and they stepped inside. As the doors closed, Star spoke again. "I was really scared," she admitted. "When I heard about the shooting on the news, I thought... I thought I might lose you both."

Sheila felt a lump form in her throat. She wrapped an arm around Star's shoulders, pulling her close. "I'm sorry you had to go through that. But we're okay. We're all okay."

As they exited the elevator and made their way through the lobby, Sheila found herself reflecting on the night's events. The confrontation with Einar, the fear of losing Finn, the realization of how much Star depended on them both—it all swirled in her mind, leaving her feeling both exhausted and oddly invigorated.

"You know," she said as they approached the hospital exit, "I think that movie night idea of yours is exactly what we need. Something normal, something to bring us all together."

Star's face lit up. "Really? You mean it?"

Sheila nodded, smiling. "Absolutely. As soon as Finn's out of here, we'll make it happen. Maybe we can even convince him to try that vegan pizza place you've been wanting to check out."

Star laughed, the sound lifting some of the heaviness from Sheila's heart. "NowthatI've got to see. Finn eating vegan pizza? That'll be better than any movie."

Just as they neared the exit, a familiar voice called out behind them. "Sheriff Stone!"

Sheila turned to see Dr. Reeves, the nurse she had spoken with after arresting Eddie Mills, hurrying toward them. "Dr. Reeves," she said, trying to summon a smile. "How are you?"

"I'm well, thank you," Dr. Reeves replied. "Have you had a chance to see him yet?"

Sheila nodded, assuming she was referring to Finn. "Yes, I just left him. My partner seems to be doing well, all things considered."

Dr. Reeves looked confused. "Partner? Oh, no, I wasn't talking about... Sheriff, I meant Eddie Mills. He just woke up."

CHAPTER THIRTY

Sheila stood outside the hospital room door, frozen.

This was the moment she'd been waiting for, dreaming of, dreading for ten long years. The man whom she believed had murdered her mother was just on the other side of this door. Her fingers brushed against her mother's locket, the familiar heart shape worn smooth by years of this same anxious gesture.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. She'd spent years imagining this confrontation, rehearsing questions in her mind. Now that the moment was here, she felt a strange mix of anticipation and fear. What if Mills refused to talk? What if he died before revealing the truth? What if the truth was worse than not knowing?

Her mind flashed back to that fateful night ten years ago. She'd been away at college, carefree and oblivious to the tragedy unfolding back home. The phone call from her father, his voice breaking as he delivered the news that would shatter their lives forever. The frantic drive home, the world blurring past her car window as tears streamed down her face. And then the scene that still haunted her nightmares—her childhood home transformed into a crime scene, evidence markers dotting the floor where her mother had fallen.

In the days and weeks that followed, Sheila had thrown herself into the investigation, determined to find answers. But every lead had gone cold, every clue had led to a dead end. Her father had withdrawn into himself, spending more and more time at his gym.

Just like he'd withdrawn lately.

With a brief glance at the officer on guard duty, she pushed the door open and stepped inside the hospital room.

Eddie Mills lay in the bed, looking small and frail. His face was gaunt, with dark circles under his eyes and a pallor to his skin that spoke of his recent brush with death. A bandage was wrapped around his head, covering the skull fracture he'd sustained during his suicide attempt. The steady beep of monitors provided an ominous rhythm to the scene.

As Sheila approached, Mills' eyes fluttered open. For a moment, confusion clouded his features. Then recognition dawned, and a flicker of fear passed across his face.

Not the reaction she'd expected from her mother's killer. Shouldn't he look defiant? Guilty? Instead, he looked... hunted.

"Eddie Mills," Sheila said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "I'm Sheriff Stone. Do you remember me?"

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