Page 11 of Crossing Lines

“A retired detective I’ve been working with.”

“Do you have files and investigation records?”

Jo was encouraged that Sam seemed interested. “Yes. I’d be happy to show them to you and would love your take on them.”

Sam started driving in the direction of the police station, and Jo watched the rolling blue mountains and swooping green meadows of northern New Hampshire out the window. Lucy stuck her head through from the back, and Sam rubbed her ears while still keeping his attention on the road.

“Did you find anything out from Beryl about Thorne’s case?” Jo had been curious but hadn’t had a chance to ask.

Sam shook his head. “I don’t think it was her. She seemed surprised, though it turns out that Charles Bascomb is her uncle.”

Jo turned to look at Sam. “Really? And she didn’t know anything about his mission to get Thorne out?”

Sam glanced at her. “I don’t think so. I know it seems strange. I got the impression they aren’t that close. She said she didn’t want Thorne out, and why would she? She’s the one that put him in there. In fact, she was afraid he might come after her.”

“And you trust her?” Jo didn’t. She’d thought this whole thing with the shoes was weird from the beginning.

Sam met her eyes. “I trust my instincts. But as for trusting Beryl, I trust her about as much as you can trust another person.”

Ouch. Jo got the meaning behind that. But he had a point. How much could you really trust anyone? And if Beryl Thorne had given the evidence to put her husband in jail, why in the world would she now want to get him out?

Chapter Eight

Later that night, Sam took Lucy to visit Kevin Deckard. It killed Sam that the officer was still in a coma after a shootout while trying to capture a murderer. He always brought Lucy. Kevin and Lucy had a tight bond, and he figured it might help bring him out.

Kevin had recently been moved from the hospital to the Hillcrest long-term care facility. His condition had stabilized, and doctors were still hopeful he’d wake up, but now it was a waiting game. Hillcrest was a low concrete building that looked more industrial than medical. The trees and shrubs planted on the grounds were pretty, and Sam supposed it was better than the hospital, but he hated the antiseptic smell and the beeping of machines that permeated the air.

Kevin lay on the bed, pale and still as usual. He looked okay, except for the part about him being in a coma. And his blond hair was a little shaggy. Kevin used to keep it cut short, and now it was almost to his shoulders.

Lucy whined and put her chin on Kevin’s hand. Sam searched for any sign of life other than the rhythmic breathing.

Looking down from his position at the head of the bed, Sam talked to Kevin as if he were awake. He’d taken to doing this when he visited, which was frequently. He didn’t know if Kevin could hear him, but if he could, Sam was sure the officer would want to be kept up to date about the goings-on at the station. Sam had discovered that talking to someone who couldn’t reply was actually a good way to work things out.

He’d have loved to talk over his feelings about Jo and her investigation she’d hid from him, but what if Kevin could hear? Jo’s sister’s abduction wasn’t his story to tell. Better to discuss it with his bestie, Mick. Sam thumbed in a quick text to the private detective that had been his friend since kindergarten. He’d drop Lucy off at home, and they could meet at the local bar, Holy Spirits, for a drink after.

Sam knew Jo’s investigation was bothering him more than it should. He needed someone else to set him straight. But now, he had business to discuss.

“We had a tough one today. Missing girl turned up dead.”

Lucy looked up at Sam as if agreeing it was tough.

“There’s also a problem with Thorne.” Sam paced over to the window and stared out at a bright-yellow forsythia. “Lawyer showed up talking about some wrongful arrest case and how he plans to get Thorne out. Turns out he’s Thorne’s uncle-in-law.”

Sam turned back to look at Kevin. He would probably be mentally rolling his eyes if he could hear Sam. “Yeah, I know that’s an interesting coincidence. I told you about the wife, Beryl, right?”

Sam paced to the foot of the bed. “I’m not sure if I can trust her, and I’m wary of her motivations.” Especially when she shows up at my house with a six-pack of beer. “But I do think she was surprised when I told her about the uncle.”

Lucy kept her chin on Kevin’s hand but her eyes on Sam as he paced the length of the room. “Kind of odd, don’t you think? Her not knowing her own uncle was going to try to get her husband out of jail.”

Sam stopped at the end of the bed. “What do you think he’s up to?”

Kevin’s foot twitched. Sam stopped talking and stared at Kevin’s foot. There it was again, a little twitch of the toe.

Sam ran out into the hallway and caught a nurse who was walking past with a cart. “Excuse me… Officer Deckard. I think he moved.”

The nurse’s brows rose, and she peeked into the room.

“His foot.” Sam pointed.

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