Page 66 of Collin: Episodes 13-15
She flinched, straightening up and blinking. Automatically, her eyes dropped the watch on her wrist. “Just after eight p.m.”
“Where’s Mr. Reevesworth?”
“They took him to shower. He was awake and wanted to.”
“Oh.”
This was beyond awkward. Collin looked away. The video feed of Émeric was missing. Perhaps with his mom present, they had turned it off. Émeric wouldn’t want her watching him sleep. “They called you?”
Of course, they had. He needed to not ask stupid questions.
“Ellisandre reached out to me after you were admitted.”
He dared a glance toward her again. She was tight-lipped, looking at the rim of her thermos. He lowered his eyes again. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
“I know I promised to stay out of hospitals.”
She gave a forced, harsh little laugh. “This time, I’m grateful that you’re in one, not somewhere else.” She tapped her fingers against the mug. “The police want to talk to you. I should tell them you’re awake.” She stood and walked out.
Collin stared at the door in the wake of her departure, hand tangled in the sheets as if they could save him. Even now, things with her weren’t any easier than they had been before. There was just this vast gulf between them, and instead of building a bridge, it felt like they kept yelling over it, pretending it wasn’t there.
Detective Jennifer Carlson was a brunette woman of below-average height in civilian clothes and sensible winter boots. Her hair was swept back in a ponytail, and she had loose bangs tucked behind her ears. She settled beside Collin as a nurse helped him sit up with his back against the head of the bed and brought another blanket to drape around his shoulders. Two pillows in his lap helped take the weight of his arm off his shoulder
Detective Carlson held up a little black device. “I’m going to record this and then use our conversation to type up a statement. You can read it over and sign it later. We just want to get what you know and make sure we’ve covered everything—that there’s no one else running around we need to be looking for.”
“Have you called the CIA?”
Carlson nodded. “Someone in your circle informed us that we should get them involved. I don’t know who. CIA agents collected the vinyl and vinyl case a few hours ago and gave us some limited information on your father and grandfather.”
Collin tried to shrug, but that pulled on so many painful spots that he stopped and gave a shallow nod. “Can I ask some questions first?”
Carlson gave a perky nod despite the rings under her eyes. “Of course.”
“Am I being charged?”
“You’re not a suspect of any criminal cases or charges at this time. Collin.” Jennifer’s voice softened. “You were kidnapped and threatened. Just tell me your story, how you experienced it.”
He did. There was more to say than he thought there would be. He started from seeing his grandfather outside Ash’s office but left out the part about being on the phone.
“I’m sure you have more questions,” she said over an hour later, wrapping up the last of her own to clarify his statement. “Unfortunately, my job isn’t to answer them or taint your testimony. I’m not sure if it’s comforting or not, but I think we can safely say that your grandfather will never breathe free air again.”
“So, I didn’t kill him?”
“He’s in a coma. It would probably be easier if he never wakes up. Even if he does, he won’t be dealing with my office. The CIA will be getting your testimony today. I’m allowed to tell you that they will try to stay as far away from you and your friends and family as possible. As far as most people know, you had no personal connection to any of the kidnappers and it was motivated by business infighting and Bernstein hiring international criminals.”
Collin’s lip twitched. “I think that’s enough for the papers.”
“Oh, that’s not everything the papers have. Someone leaked pictures of you sleeping in the hospital while holding on to your boss.”
Collin grimaced. Well, that was a bridge they didn’t have any more time to wait before crossing. But after everything that had gone down, did it matter so much?
She gave him a firm smile. “We love who we love. And as long as everyone is consenting adults, everyone else should stay out of it or applaud. Life’s hard enough. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a wife and kid to get home to. I’ve had this room swept for bugs, but don’t assume privacy even with the door shut. If you don’t want someone to hear something, don’t say it.”
Collin kept the detective’s words in mind as Mr. Reevesworth was wheeled back into the room in a chair. Their eyes met, and Collin’s body thrummed, but neither of them said anything, mindful of the strangers around them, the nursing assistants, the other patients across the hall, and doctors on their rounds.
It was all wrong, this distance, this silence, all these strangers. They might have survived the fight, but their world was still shattered.
