Page 66 of Trick of Light
“That doesn’t mean other people have to know. We don’t have to get ahead of ourselves here. This could be nothing, just Celine making trouble.”
Barnaby didn’t seem to hear her, or maybe his mind was still caught up in his own thoughts. “She said the hospital down the street. That’s the Maine Medical Center. It’s the same hospital where Safiya was taken after Harbortown. Does that seem like a coincidence?”
Actually, yes. “There are only two big hospitals in town,” she pointed out. “Fifty percent chance it would be the same one.”
Again, her words didn’t seem to penetrate whatever thought bubble Barnaby was in. “Let’s go. That hospital’s close enough to walk. I need to move.” And then he was moving, at lightning speed, it seemed, snagging the pair of jeans he’d left on the living room couch. In moments, he was fully dressed.
“Hold up, I need a minute.” She didn’t have her bag, her phone…
“I’ll go ahead. I could use a minute to clear my head.”
“Are you okay? This is a lot. Maybe you shouldn’t be alone right now.”
His blank expression finally eased as a ghost of a smile came across his face. “Come here.”
She went to him and kissed him full on the lips. He gripped her hard, like some kind of lifeline. She felt the fast beat of his heart against her ribcage. What would it be like to learn that the mother you’d never known might have been murdered?
“Thank you,” he murmured when he finally drew away from her. “I needed that. Make yourself at home here. The door locks automatically. I’ll see you at the hospital.” And then he was gone.
Alone in the condo, she let out a long breath and dropped onto the couch. That encounter with Celine had left every single one of her nerves on edge. Poor Barnaby, who had to deal with her, and people like her, all the time. No wonder he preferred hiking in the Himalayas. Piranhas were probably safer than people like Celine, whose only mission was to hang on to her position in the world as tightly as she could.
After a few moments, she got up to pour herself a cup of espresso—the most delicious she’d ever tasted—and called Heather.
Bringing her up to speed meant telling on herself and Barnaby. That was okay; she could use the perspective. Were they moving too fast? Was she making a mistake?
“I knew it!” Heather exclaimed. “Luke and I have been arguing about how long it would take for you both to see how good you’d be together.”
“I don’t know about all that. Right now he just got a bomb dropped on him.” She told Heather about Celine’s suggestions of foul play and a coverup.
“Wow, I’ve never even heard a rumor about that. They must have buried it under an avalanche of NDAs.”
“Oh, I bet they did. It hit Barnaby hard. He’s out prowling the streets right now, trying to get his head straight. He says Tamara always suspected something had happened.”
“Tamara is a wise woman.”
“Then why didn’t she ever say something before?”
“Maybe the time wasn’t right. Maybe she was waiting for two annoying podcasters to come along.”
Gabby smiled and swirled the foam on top of her espresso. “Did you visit her today?”
“Not yet, but I will. Luke says she’s doing just fine. Hooper wants to let her go home, but Chen is resisting.”
“Really? Why?” Gabby frowned and got to her feet to enjoy the third-floor view from the perfectly pristine window. Did they hire someone to clean the windows regularly? What about all that sea spray off the ocean?
“Chen keeps saying ‘two words—police business.’ It’s very irritating.”
Gabby smiled at that. Amazing how talking to Heather could always cheer her up.
“But I do think something’s going on. She used to be a lot chattier. I’m just worried that she’s holding back because it’s bad news for Tamara.”
“I might have some good news for her.” Gabby told Heather about the lab results from Safiya’s untouched package of tea. “Barnaby and I thought about sharing the report with the Harbortown cops. What do you think?”
Heather was quiet for a moment as she considered the question. “Not yet,” she finally said. “Unless it’ll get us into trouble not to? Can you check with your brother?”
Gabby groaned. “I was hoping to keep my family out of this. It’s a sensitive topic in an election year. Besides, you know he’s going to lecture me about not getting in the way of the police.”
“Big girl panties.”
