Page 16 of A Deeper Darkness
She tamped down her annoyance with Susan Donovan and tried again.
“Yes, he was my friend, too. But we hadn’t spoken in years.”
Susan regarded her warily, then dismissed her entirely, turning to Eleanor. “What didn’t Eddie want me to see?”
Eleanor hesitated a moment, handed her the note.
Susan read it, flipped the page over, shook her head.
“What is this?”
“I don’t know, dear. Something Eddie gave me for safekeeping.”
“And you didn’t tell me about it? You showedherinstead?”
Her.
Sam nearly burst out laughing—when she was growing up, and her father was telling stories, he sometimes referred to Sam’s mother asher. Laura would always retort, “Who’s her, the cat’s mother?”
The cat’s mother.
“What’s so funny?” Susan was glaring at her.
“Nothing,” Sam said, sobered. “A memory, from my childhood. It’s really nothing. Susan, truly, I am sorry. Eddie was a good man. He loved you very much.”
“If you didn’t talk to him in years, how do you know all that?” Susan was starting to look dangerous—ready to cry or scream, or fly apart at the seams. Sam recognized the look and realized she needed to tread carefully.
“Eleanor has been kind enough to share occasional updates with me.”
Susan froze, unable or unwilling to acknowledge the perceived transgression from her mother-in-law. She changed the subject instead. “What exactly is it you plan to do here, Dr. Owens? Did my mother-in-law explain that I will not give my permission for a second autopsy?Professionalshave done their jobs. There’s already been enough damage to my family. We can’t bring him back.”
Sam turned on her medical examiner persona. She’d heard this argument too many times to count from a victim’s loved one, usually in denial of a primary autopsy. “Don’t you want the person who did this to see justice?”
“Of course I do. But knowing won’t change anything. Eddie is still dead. Cutting him open again won’t bring him back to life.”
Sam understood that. She understood it more than Susan could possibly know. She tried another tact.
“I hate to mention this, but if hewasmurdered, and not randomly carjacked, you and the girls could be in danger, as well. Are you willing to risk their lives, too?”
“That’s one hell of a low blow. And the only person who doesn’t think this was a carjacking is Eleanor.”
“And me. This note feels real. And if Eddie was purposefully targeted, the danger to you and your family is a reality, Mrs. Donovan. Unfortunately, I see my share of violent crime. I’ve been a victim of it myself. So I understand that sometimes, when the primary target is neutralized, and the end game has not been played out, the ones closest to the victim are also at risk.”
“You’re just trying to scare me. You hateful woman.”
Sam did laugh then, albeit humorlessly and briefly. “I may be. But when it comes to protecting your children, I trust that you can put your ego aside for one minute and think about them.”
“That’s enough!” Eleanor snapped. “We can’t be squabbling like this. Susan, please. Let Sam do her job. Let’s put all our minds at ease.” Eleanor softened her tone. “At the very least, give your permission for Sam to look over the autopsy report and speak with the medical examiner. There’s nothing intrusive about that.”
Susan pulled at her ponytail. Sam could tell she was embarrassed by her outburst. Susan struck her as a woman who didn’t like to lose control. Sam understood that, too.
“Fine,” Susan said at last. “Look at the notes. But after that, I trust you’ll go back to your life in Tennessee and leave us to bury our dead.”
She swept from the room, calling for her daughters.
Sam shared a long look with Eleanor. “You could have warned me that she hates me.”
Eleanor began to tidy up their tea things.
