Page 81 of Gone Too Far

She decided this was as good a time as any. Kerri ushered Tori to a stool and sat down next to her. “Falco and I have a theory.”

Tori searched her mother’s eyes and waited as if lacking the wherewithal to ask what that theory might be.

“It’s possible you and Sarah may have ingested drugs, and that could explain why your memory of what happened to Brendal is so fuzzy.”

“Drugs?” Tori made a face. “You mean from like the stuff Alice brings from home.”

Kerri nodded. “Yes.”

Tori shuddered visibly. “After you asked me about whatever I ate or drank at her house, I started to think about it. And I think maybe it’s possible. I’ve never been unable to remember like this before.”

“I know,” Kerri agreed. “Falco and I would like to take a hair sample to a lab for analysis.”

Tori’s eyes went wide. “To the crime lab?”

Kerri shook her head. “Falco has a friend at a private lab. Would that be okay with you?”

“Yes.” Tori nodded. “I want to know what happened to me.” She blinked back new tears. “I need to know.”

Kerri hugged her tightly for a long while; then they grabbed a plastic sandwich bag and took care of the hair sample Falco would need.

Some persuading was required, but Kerri eventually convinced Tori to eat. Devouring the spaghetti conjured dozens of memories, and they even shared a laugh or two. But Kerri was still worried. The shadows in her daughter’s eyes scared her. By the time they got around to ice cream, Kerri had decided Tori wasn’t going to school tomorrow. She needed a break. She needed to be under the watchful eye of a loving family member to protect her and to help her heal.

“I know we’ve talked about this before, and you weren’t good with it,” Kerri ventured as she tucked dishes into the dishwasher.

Tori was busy wiping down the counter. She met her mom’s gaze. “What?”

“I think you should take a break tomorrow. Hang out with Diana. Go to the dance studio. Have pizza. Shop. Anything but go to school.”

Tori nodded. “Okay.”

Kerri kissed her on the forehead. “We’ll get through this.”

Tori threw her arms around Kerri and held tight for a moment. When she let go, she actually smiled. It was a small one, but it was therejust the same. “I’m going to shower. Get my homework done and then zone out with some new series on Prime.”

Kerri tapped her nose. “Sounds like a good idea.”

When she was gone, Kerri reached for her phone. She needed backup here. It felt as if an elephant was sitting on her chest.

Falco answered on the first ring. “Funny thing, you calling.”

“Funny how?” Kerri pushed “Start” on the dishwasher.

“I just parked in your driveway. Cross is right behind me. We got stuff to talk about.”

More than he knew. “Great. I have spaghetti.” She always made too much.

“Heading for your door now.”

Kerri ended the call and went to the door and unlocked it. Falco had a six-pack of beer. Beer would be really good right now. Cross trailed after him. She looked as weary as Kerri felt.

When they’d gathered in the kitchen and Kerri had prepared plates for her visitors, Falco got to the point. “Cross found a hidden thumb drive at the Taylor house. She thinks maybe that’s what the guy who broke in was after.”

Kerri twisted the cap off a beer, her gaze settling on the other woman. “Anything interesting on it?”

“Don’t know yet. I’ve got my guy working to get into the files. Evidently Walsh—assuming it was his—didn’t want just anyone looking at it.”

“And he didn’t mention this whatever it is to you?” Falco asked.

---