Page 98 of Among the Innocent

“I knew I had to take him out for everything he’d done to me.” Aaron continued his rant. “He had no idea I’d taken his gun. When he saw me, he was so angry. He told me I had toleave. He didn’t want my mother upset. I didn’t give him the chance to get out of the vehicle.”

Leah saw the monster lurking underneath the exterior Aaron showed to lure his victims. It was like looking into the depths of hell.

“You’ll be charged with Ellis’s death too.” She turned to Henry. “Keep guard over him.” She started for the door.

Aaron, sensing his moment of glory was ending, screamed at her. “Don’t you dare walk away from me again. Don’t you dare!”

Leah never looked back. It was a hollow victory to finally close the case of what happened to her family all those years ago. Yet Dalton was foremost in her thoughts now.

Leah found Marge waiting with Sam and sent Sam to help Henry. She and Marge went to the floor where Dalton was being operated on and waited for word. Hours passed before the doctor who had done the surgery came and found her.

“He’s in a coma and I’m afraid his condition is still grave. Time will tell. But Dalton is strong. He has that going for him.”

Leah tried not to lose hope. “Can I see him?”

“Of course. Come with me.” The doctor showed her and Marge to Dalton’s room. “I’ll stop by later to check in.”

Leah entered the room, then clasped her hand over her mouth to hold back a sob. Dalton was so pale. She pulled up a couple of chairs for her and Marge and reached for his hand. She closed her eyes and poured her heart out to God.Please, don’t take him.She gulped several times.I’m sorry I lost my way, but I never stopped believing in you, and I know this can’t be part ofyour plan.It can’t be. Please, he doesn’t deserve this.

As she stared at the man who had given her so much hope, a calm descended on her. Leah knew Dalton’s life and their future were in God’s hands.

Twenty-One

TWO WEEKS LATER...

Dalton’s eyes felt weighted down, his body so weak.

“Don’t try to move.” Her voice drifted through the fog, and he forced his eyes open. He slowly turned his head toward the sound, and there she was. Leah. Smiling at him. The best medicine ever.

“I’ve been so worried about you,” she said, her lip trembling. “You’re going to be just fine.”

“How long have I been out of it?” he croaked. Searched the fog to remember but couldn’t.

“Two weeks. Do you remember Aaron attacking you?”

Dalton concentrated hard, and pieces of that night came back. “I do. What happened to him?”

“Marge shot him. After he attacked you, he came after me. Marge shot her own son to save me.”

He shook his head. “I can’t imagine how hard that must have been for her.”

She placed her hand over his. “He ... Aaron was arrested and charged with the murders. He admitted to everything. He’ll never see the outside of a prison again.”

He couldn’t take his eyes off her face. There was something more. “What is it?”

“I found something in Ellis’s office,” she said slowly and lifted what appeared to be a journal from her bag. Regret glimmered in her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Dalton. Ellis wrote this with the assumption it wouldn’t come to light until after he’d died. He didn’t figure it would be so soon.” She opened the journal. “Ellis tried to shield Marge from her son. I don’t think Ellis realized that Aaron was capable of murder until he killed my family.”

Dalton swallowed, his throat as dry as the desert. “He deliberately framed my brother and forced him to ...” The thought was unimaginable.

She shook her head, her eyes shining with something that gave him hope. “No, that’s just it.” She handed him the book. Dalton forced his eyes to focus on the entry she pointed to. It was as if the bed and the floor fell out from beneath him and he was free-falling, unable to grasp the words.

“Ellis did frame Harrison, and that is inexcusable, but Harrison didn’t kill himself. Ellis confronted Harrison and told him if he wanted to stay free, he’d go along with Ellis’s plan and disappear. To stay ‘dead,’” Leah said quietly.

Dalton stared at the page in disbelief and then back at her. “Are you saying Harrison didn’t die in that fire? He’s out there somewhere?”

Leah squeezed his hand. “I believe so. Ellis staged the scene so that he could close the case. He used a body from the morgue and knew no one would question him. He planned the whole thing. I’m so sorry, Dalton. What Ellis did is unforgivable, and it will be brought to light, but Harrison is still alive. That’s something.”

He couldn’t think clearly. His brother was still alive. “I have to find him.”

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