Page 61 of Out of the Shadows
Jack walked into Laura’s house at six that evening after spending the past hour giving a statement to the police and helping first responders. Rick was angry with him, but Jack didn’t know what else he could have done. He hadn’t expected Aberdeen to cause an accident.
He probably shouldn’t have sped up to follow him, but Jack didn’t think that was the reason Aberdeen had sideswiped the minivan.
Right before he arrived at Laura’s, Rick called him to say that the injured motorist would be okay, was being kept in the hospital for observation for a head injury, which relieved Jack, and then Rick said Aberdeen’s vehicle had been recovered off Interstate 10 near Buckeye. Every law enforcement agency in the greater Phoenix area had his name and photo and he was wanted for felony hit-and-run, four counts—he would be held accountable for all three vehicles on the 303, as well as the attack on Laura on Sunday.
Everyone but Charlie was in the room. Sydney had been crying, and Cody was sitting in Logan’s lap looking glum. Margo was on the phone, and Luisa and Laura were talking in hushed voices while looking through Laura’s phone.
“What happened?” he said.
“Charlie left with the jewelry box,” Laura said.
“That man is going to kill him!” Sydney exclaimed, fresh tears running down her face.
“No,” Laura began, but Sydney interrupted her.
“Yes, Mom! I’m not stupid, I’ve heard you and Jack and Margo for the last two days. I know what’s going on. Don’t treat me like a baby.”
Jack said, “I’m not going to let anyone kill your father. Understand?”
“But—”
“You are entitled to be upset,” Jack said. “Do not take it out on your mother. It’s not fair to her.”
Sydney’s bottom lip trembled, but she glanced at her mom. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, baby,” Laura said.
“Where did he go? Home?”
“I don’t know,” Laura said. “We were talking, then I was on the phone with Margo and he just up and left.”
“What were you talking about?” Jack asked.
Logan said, “He wants to keep the jewels. I offered to reimburse him, but he’s being stubborn.”
“Logan,” Laura said with a sigh. “I agree he should return them, but he’s right, he bought the unit, he can keep them.”
“He was being a jerk.” Then Logan kissed Cody on the top of the head. “I’m sorry, kid, I shouldn’t have said that. I’m just mad at your dad right now.”
Cody didn’t say anything, but cuddled into his uncle.
“Specifically, what did he say?” Jack pushed.
Laura said, “I told him it was unethical to keep the jewels, that they belonged to the Thornton family. He had grand ideas, and I hated taking him down a peg, but I had to. Just because something is legal doesn’t make it moral.”
“And he left?”
“Yes—well, I was talking to Margo, I didn’t see him leave.”
“What were you and Margo talking about? Could he have overheard?”
“I wasn’t keeping the conversation private. I had an idea—because Thornton was killed right after he received the letter about his inheritance—that maybe Aberdeen knew about it and, um,” she glanced at Cody and said cryptically, “took matters into his own hands.”
Luisa said, “Cody, why don’t you show me the pregnant cat? We never got to check on her earlier.”
Thank you, Laura mouthed to Luisa.
Cody climbed out of Logan’s lap and took Luisa’s hand. “She’s really a good cat, even though she might hiss at you,” he said as they walked out.
