Page 88 of Every Deadly Suspicion

Everett looked at her. “What?” There was genuine surprise in his face and voice.

“Chase killed more than the Carsons. You didn’t know that?”

“No. Three more bodies?”

For a minute, Hanna felt sorry for him. But that dissipated quickly when she thought about her father spending over three decades behind bars for something he didn’t do.

“Yeah, I’d think long and hard about what you want to tell the FBI. They swooped in last night, and they’re handling the shooting at your house, and the dead bodies. Chase is a serial killer. He may even be the Lonely Heart Killer. I hope for your sake you weren’t helping him. I don’t think even you can pay the FBI off.” She turned to leave.

“Where is Chase now?”

“He’s in medical custody. He overdosed on fentanyl. Paramedics brought him back with Narcan on the way to the hospital. He’s not talking, but we have his weapons and everyone’s statements from that night, so he’s got a no-bail hold on him.”

Everett considered this.

The door opened and in walked Mayor Milton and a couple of men Hanna recognized as Everett’s attorneys.

“Chief,” the mayor said with surprise.

“I was just leaving.”

“Nothing Mr. Buckley said is admissible without his attorneys present,” one of the suits said.

Hanna ignored them and left the room. It was time to go visit Nathan. He was in intensive care now. He’d picked up some kind of infection from the mine shaft, and doctors were worried about his leg. Both bones in his lower leg had shattered, and his ankle was a mess. From everything Hanna had heard, he had a lot of surgeries and rehab ahead of him. He was down one level, so she got on the elevator.

His mother and father were there. Only one visitor was allowedat a time, so Hanna waited with his mother while his father was with Nathan.

“Hanna, Nathan has told me so much about you.”

“I’m sorry that we have to meet this way.”

“So am I. But I’m thankful that you found my son when you did. Doctors say that he would not have survived much longer in that hole. I’m grateful for the firefighter who splinted his leg and gave him first aid. I’m told that helped a great deal as well. Maybe saved him from amputation.”

Nathan’s dad came out and indicated that Hanna could go in.

“I’m not sure that I want to cut into your time.”

“Go,” he said. “Nathan wants to see you.”

She had to gown up and put on a mask. Hanna pulled the mask up as the nurse told her she only had five minutes. She walked into the dim, quiet room, the sound of monitors beeping.

Nathan smiled when she came in. Both eyes were black now, though he looked better than the night she watched paramedics pull him from the shaft. His eyes were more alert, less pain filled. His left wrist was in a cast, and his left leg was wrapped and raised, resting on pillows.

“Hey, thanks for stopping by.” His voice was strong.

“I hate to take time from your mom.”

“She understands. I need to know what happened. Why Chase went nuts. He was so angry.”

“He never said anything to you?”

“No. I knocked on the door. He opened it and jammed a gun in my face. Then he hit me in the head.” Nathan shifted in the bed. “Next thing I know, I’m being pushed down a mine shaft. He let me dangle for a few minutes, asking me what Joe told me. He didn’t believe me when I said I hadn’t spoken to Joe.” Nathan took a breath and shifted again in the bed. “Did Joe talk to you?”

“It’s a long story, longer than my five minutes. I’ll just say that Chase killed the Carsons thirty-five years ago.”

“Not Joe?”

“No.”

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