Page 54 of Whispers Left Behind

“Mom, I can swingby after work today,” Kinsley said as Alex flashed his badge to the nurse stationed behind the glass window of the ICU. “There’s no need for you to go out of your way.”

“We’re here to see…”

Kinsley took a step away from Alex so that he could speak to the nurse without interruption.

“Nonsense,” Margaret said, her voice loud enough that Kinsley pulled the phone away from her ear. “Joanne Knowles alsoordered a pumpkin pie from Lily’s school, so I have to drive in that direction anyway. I’ll just set the pie in your refrigerator. Oh, and I picked up some whipped cream for you.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Kinsley almost disconnected the call when she remembered the mess she had left in the kitchen. “Oh, and ignore the dishes in the sink. You know how I get when I’m working a case.”

Her mother’s last few words were drowned out by the door’s buzzer. By the time Kinsley registered her mother’s pledge to load the dishwasher, she was no longer on the other end of the line.

“Shit,” Kinsley muttered as she slipped her phone into her pocket.

“Mommy cleaning up your messes?” Alex said with a grin, causing her to backslap his stomach as she brushed past him. His mood had changed drastically after leaving Gia Torres’ residence. “Hey, I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. My mother still stocks my freezer with homemade meals.”

Alex and his mother were close, but that was to be expected since it had only been the two of them for most of his life. Michelle Lanen still lived in Alex’s childhood home, and it was doubtful that she would ever downsize. She was set in her ways, much like Alex.

“You’ll want to ask for Renee at the nurses’ station.”

“Thank you,” Kinsley replied as she and Alex walked down the long hallway. The ICU was very different from the other floors. Quiet, sans the occasional beeps of various monitors drifting through the doorways from private rooms. “Alex, today is going to be hard enough on—”

“I won’t bring up Torres and Hanson…yet.”

Kinsley nodded her understanding, and she was in agreement. Depending on how the upcoming interview panned out with Gage, there could be a possibility that they would need to revealthe affair. Too many of the family members keeping secrets, and such decisions were interfering with the investigation.

“Detectives Lanen and Aspen,” Alex greeted the nurse before he leaned a forearm against the counter. “We’re looking for Renee? Gage Baird’s nurse?”

“That would be me.” The petite woman typing on a keyboard closed out of a software program before spinning in the chair. She stood and motioned for them to follow her through to the other side of the station. “I take it that you’re here to speak with Mr. Baird?”

Renee’s steps were quick given her petite size. It wasn’t long before they were standing right outside an open door. She turned right before Kinsley and Alex would have entered the room.

“You should know that brain injuries can be unpredictable. We’ve been focused on his physical state,” Renee explained, though Kinsley took it as a warning. “We haven’t spoken at length about the accident yet. His mother and father are in with him now, but I wanted to caution you about—”

“Father?”

Renee seemed to be taken aback by Alex’s question.

“I just assumed…” Renee thinned her lips in annoyance.

“We still need to question Mr. Baird regardless of any memory loss,” Kinsley explained to Renee, not willing to forgo the upcoming interview. “His physician gave us approval. As I’m sure you are aware, his sister was murdered last week. If there is any connection between the two, it would be beneficial for us to know that upfront.”

“I understand, but please know that his memory is a bit spotty. It’s difficult to say what Mr. Baird can recall from that night or the past week. The brain does its best to shield itself from—”

“…stop fidgeting with those bandages,” Louise directed, her voice becoming louder with each word. It was obvious she wasupset about witnessing her son in pain. “Here. The nurse said that all you had to do was press this button for more pain medicine.”

“Mom, stop. I want to know what happened,” Gage replied with frustration. “Did I have an accident on the farm? Is Pops okay?”

“Your grandfather is just fine, and he’s due here shortly for a visit.” There was a long pause, and Renee would have entered the room had Alex not prevented her from doing so. He wanted to hear more of the conversation, and Kinsley found herself siding with him on the decision. “In the meantime, let me get you some Jello. I’m sure you’re—”

“Call Pops back and tell him not to come. He needs to be at the farm. JJ doesn’t know everything yet.” Gage moaned in pain, but the distraction only pushed him into asking about his injuries. “Was it the tractor? I thought I fixed the—”

“You were in an accident near the covered bridge.” The abrupt response came from Douglas. “At least, that is what the police are saying. Do you remember talking with your Mom that afternoon?”

Kinsley and Alex shared an irritated glance, and he held up a hand to Renee to silently request that she wait a few more moments to hear the conversation unfold.

“Accident? In my truck? How bad?” Gage asked, his voice tight with pain. “Please tell me it isn’t totaled. Mom, stop fussing!”

“Your truck is still with the police at their impound lot.”

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