The Coroner, page 24
“My fear is that I’ll never catch the guy who did this. And I don’t know if I can live with myself if that happens.”
Emily thought about the cold case section in the back of her dad’s journal. “It may take some time, but I know you won’t give up.”
“I should have called in for more help from the state police,” he added sorely.
“What could they have done that you didn’t already do? Truth is, the physical evidence is paper-thin. No one claims to have heard or seen anything that morning. And you don’t have a murder weapon. There’s nothing in this investigation that you did wrong or missed.”
“Some of it is thanks to you. We make a good team.”
She glanced up and caught Nick staring at her with a longing look.
“I hardly recognize the girl I fell in love with back in high school.”
Emily paused. Fell in love with? He had never said those words in high school. It shook her to the core. A million feelings and questions that she wanted to discuss sprang into her mind, but instead she took another sip of coffee.
“Just tell me one thing, Em. You owe me one honest answer. Why did you leave like that?”
“You shouldn’t have thrown away my letter,” Emily teased, but it fell flat against his pleading eyes.
“In that letter, I told you that it was hard for me to talk to you—anyone actually—about my mom’s death. Everywhere around me, everyone was just going on with their lives. Jo, my Dad, you … but I couldn’t. I didn’t know what to do because I just felt stuck. Paralyzed. I knew if I didn’t get out, then I might not … survive.”
“You were thinking of killing yourself?”
“No. Not that. But I felt so desperate. The only answer was to leave. And I didn’t want anyone talking me out of it.”
“Including me?” said Nick quietly.
Emily nodded. “Especially you.”
“I’ve tried to forgive your silence, Em. I’ve hated this emptiness between us. It’s driven me crazy all these years. I know we were young, but we had something. I wanted to …”
Emily felt him looking at her, but she couldn’t meet his gaze.
“You wanted to what?” she asked.
Nick turned away from her and stood up. He gripped the top of the guardrail that ran along the deck and faced the lake. The sun was spreading across the water, betokening a beautiful day.
“I wanted to be there for you. But I didn’t know how. I’m sorry.”
Nick stared straight at the lake, his back to Emily.
She scrambled to collect the new feelings swirling around her. Her homecoming had definitely not turned out as planned. She’d expected to swoop in quietly, under the radar. Take care of her father and return to Chicago untouched. Unnoticed. Unscathed. Instead, the experience had been a bombardment of people, feelings, places, and memories challenging her present and influencing her future. Her whole life had been up-ended.
“We could still be a team,” she said, surprised at her own answer.
Nick spun around. “What do you mean?”
Emily backpedaled. “The Dobson case. I’m … invested. I want to help you.”
“No, Em. Your part is over. I should have never asked you to do more than the autopsy. I just didn’t want you to leave. It was nice having you around again.”
“What? This isn’t about you. I did this for me. For Dad. And for Sarah.”
“You’ve done your duty. You’re free to go. The county has to move forward and hire a new ME. And I’ve gotta step up the investigation.”
“But my signature’s all over this case. I need to see this through. And there are people depending on me.”
“No, on me. You don’t live here. It’s not your job.”
Four days ago, his comment wouldn’t have hurt at all. But this morning it felt like a sucker punch to the gut. A frustrated lump formed in Emily’s throat. Her gazed pierce through him toward the lake.
“You understand what I’m saying about the investigation, right?” Nick looked to Emily for her response.
“Yes. Sure. I understand.” But she didn’t. Anger flashed through Emily. She wanted to kick and scream and pound him with her fists. This was completely unfair. Instead, she pulled herself together and eyed him coolly. He was only doing what was legal. She had taken it to a personal level. And she had to detach. At least until she could figure out another way.
“Since you’re kicking me off the case?”
“I’m freeing you to go back to your life in Chicago,” said Nick.
“Can you do me a favor before I go?”
“Depends.”
“Julie’s bracelet. Are you done with it?”
“Yeah. I guess so,” said Nick. “There’s nothing more we can do with it.”
“Will you release it from evidence?”
“Yeah, I can do that.”
She stood there facing him in an awkward silence, not wanting to go.
“So, I’m gonna take a walk now. Take care. See you.” Nick carved a path around her and headed off the porch toward the wooden staircase that led down to the sandy beach.
Emily watched him descend toward the lake and travel along the shoreline. He didn’t so much as glance back. In a few yards, he’d disappeared around a bend on the bank of the lake. Perhaps she had misinterpreted everything.
* * *
Emily drove to the Dobsons’ house, grateful to see that the senator’s truck wasn’t in the driveway. Mrs. Dobson let Emily wait in the foyer while she went upstairs to get Sarah.
Sarah came down to the foyer, dressed in yoga pants and a sweatshirt, with a flat expression. She gave Emily a weak hello. Her mother stood a few feet away to observe. Her cold stare made Emily uncomfortable. And must have made Sarah feel the same because she turned to her mom.
“Mom, can you … go?”
“Ms. Hartford, could you please state your business with my daughter?” asked Mrs. Dobson.
“I just wanted to give her a gift.” Emily tried to sound cheery and light.
“Mom. Please. Just go. It’s fine.” Sarah crossed her arms and shot her mom a nasty look that sent Mrs. Dobson from the room.
“How are you doing, Sarah?”
“Fine.”
“You don’t seem fine.”
“They’ve grounded me. Indefinitely.”
“Oh … It’s probably just an overreaction.”
“It’s punishment. They say they don’t trust me anymore.” She let out a laugh. “They don’t trust me, but I’ve never done anything. Meanwhile, Julie was doing drugs and sneaking around with David behind their back.”
“It’s not fair. I’ll give you that. But my guess is that they’re just scared.”
“Of what?”
“They don’t want to lose another daughter.”
Sarah shrugged and let it sink in.
“So, why did you come here?”
“You trusted me to find something for you, and I did,” said Emily, handing Sarah a square cardboard jewelry box. “The police released this to me this morning.”
Sarah opened the box, and a small gasp slipped from her lips. She slid Julie’s charm bracelet into the palm of her hand.
“It’s no longer being considered a piece of evidence in your sister’s case.”
Tears moistened the corners of Sarah’s eyes.
“Where did you find it?”
“Doesn’t matter. Put it on. Let’s see.”
Sarah stretched out her arm so Emily could fasten the clasp. She was glad she had taken the time to bring it to the jewelers to get it cleaned after she picked it up from the police station. Sarah smiled and hugged Emily. “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.”
Sarah released her from the hug, and Emily noticed a worried look cross her brow.
“Wait. Does this mean you can’t find Julie’s killer?”
“The police are still working hard on that. It’s in their very capable hands. So don’t worry, okay?” Emily handed Sarah a piece of paper with her phone number on it. “I’m going to be heading back to Chicago. But if you ever need anything, just reach out.”
Emily turned and faced the door to leave.
“Did you ever resolve that secret about your mom?”
Sarah’s question drew her back.
“No. Not yet.”
“Well, maybe someday.”
“Yeah. Maybe.” She mustered up her best reassuring smile for Sarah and then let herself out. When would the whys and maybes be over?
46
Hopping back in her car, Emily checked the time. The Dobson stop had put her a half-hour behind on getting to Jo’s kids’ horse show. Arriving at Premiere, she noted that a decent-sized crowd had already gathered in the stands, and the junior horse show was getting under way. Making her way along the fence toward the stands, she saw that Jo’s oldest two, Jeremiah and Jessica, were warming up their horses with the other junior equestrians in the ring. She made her way to the stands and found Jo in the bleachers a few rows up. She had saved a seat for Emily. A feeling of comfort flooded Emily as she sat down next to her bestie.
“Hey, I heard a rumor you were spotted with your fiancé in town last night,” said Jo.
“You heard correctly.”
“This is perfect. I’ll set an extra plate for dinner, and we can talk wedding plans.”
Emily stuck her hand out for Jo to see.
“Oh no. What happened?” said Jo, grabbing her ringless hand.
“I think I’m finally finding out who I really am. And I don’t know if Brandon fits into that picture.”
This was the crux of it all. Emily’s life had been spiraling ever since she’d left Freeport. She hadn’t been happy when she left. She’d been miserable. Searching. Grieving. Barely existing. Easing her pain meant running from it. And she had never slowed down long enough to examine that inner friction. She’d dealt with it practically, locking into the only path she had ever wanted: to be a doctor. Once on this path, Emily had slowly grown out of her misery. Time had tamped down the sting of grief. She’d studied hard. Worked hard. Pressed forward. Met Brandon. He became the object of her search and the sweet relief to all her friction. He knew how to live well, and he made life look easy and comfortable. She’d let herself melt into his world. His plans. His dreams. His future. Until there was little left of Emily Hartford.
Emily turned to Jo. “This is really uncharted territory for me. I’m scared, Jo.”
“That’s not a bad place to be. I know you can find your way.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“You’re here. That’s a great first step.”
As a line of riders entered the ring, Jo hugged her and then pointed to her son. “Oh, hey, Jeremiah’s up.”
Emily was so grateful for a friend like Jo. She settled in to watch the event, her mind and spirit relaxing as she decided that she wanted to do the hard work of repairing what she had severed so many years ago. It was the only way back to herself.
* * *
Emily stayed at the show long enough to see Jeremiah and Jessica perform, and then told Jo that she needed to get back to her dad’s house to help Cathy. She said her goodbyes and made her way down to the horse stalls, feeling drawn to visit Mercedes’ pen again. She paused in front of the memorial tribute, which had grown considerably since she last saw it. There were fresh wreaths and vases of flowers filling the entire stall. People had left their medals, and there were dozens more photographs stapled to the wooden slates. Emily’s heart sank, knowing that the case was still unresolved. Her thoughts wandered to the Dobsons and how desperately they needed answers.
She knelt to look at the pictures and articles of Julie mourners had left behind. Outside, in the ring, the crowd roared. The high school competition was in progress.
Vince would be out there competing for, and probably winning, the scholarship that had been favored to be Julie’s.
She wondered which stall held Vince’s horse as her feet took her into the south wing of the stables, where the older riders stabled their horses. The entire wing had been emptied into the ring. Horses. Riders. Trainers. Grooms. She went from stall to stall, looking at the name tags, until she heard two male voices arguing from a pen at the end of the row. It was then she noticed this stall held a large, caramel-colored mare.
“You owe me this competition,” an older man was saying. “What the hell happened?”
“I’m sorry … I … fell out of the saddle,” said the younger voice.
This was curious. Emily padded cautiously toward them, keeping out of sight.
“I lost my grip. It was my fault—not the horse’s,” said Vince. “Don’t hurt the horse.”
Emily turned a corner toward the last row of stalls. At the far end, she could see the silhouettes of two men, a teen and a grown adult. She crept a few steps closer and recognized Vince from the photograph. She assumed the other man was probably his trainer or coach.
“Did you score the shins like I asked?”
Vince didn’t answer.
“Your entire future depends on this scholarship slot,” hissed the older man. “Do you know what this cost me?”
Vince hung his head with a slight nod.
Why was this man so angry at Vince? The next comment caused a shiver to run through Emily’s entire body.
“She’s not standing in your way anymore. Do you understand that?”
“I didn’t need you to do that,” Vince whispered.
“And if I didn’t, you wouldn’t win. No win, no scholarship. No college.”
“I can still go to college.”
“Community college ain’t no future. State university. Full ride. That’s what I promised your mother.”
Vince’s father! Mr. Parelli leaned down next to Vince’s horse and examined the shins. He shook his head, displeased.
“You didn’t do it,” he said.
“No, Dad. Please. Don’t. I can still win,” pleaded Vince.
Emily watched wide-eyed as Mr. Parelli reached into a duffle and retracted a long, thin pair of horse nippers. She focused on the instrument, noticing its oval opening and angled nose. It was the antique nippers. Needle in the haystack. Murder weapon found! She fumbled for her phone and pulled up Nick’s number.
“Don’t hurt him!” shouted Vince, pushing his father aside.
“Get out of my way,” said Mr. Parelli. But Vince stepped right in between his dad and his horse.
Emily quickly pecked out a text to Nick.
Premiere. Now!
The nippers swinging at his side, Mr. Parelli warned his son again to step aside.
Vince remained in place, staring down his father. “You’ll have to hit me before I let you get to him.”
Emily pressed “Send” and watched the spinning icon in the upper left corner of the screen struggle to find a signal. She only had one bar and sent up a silent plea for the text.
“Don’t test me, son,” said Mr. Parelli as he edged closer to the horse. Vince wouldn’t budge.
Emily glanced back down at the screen to see if the text had gone through. The bar line on the text was only a third of the way through sending. Emily waved the phone around in an attempt to get a better signal.
Mr. Parelli tried to circumvent his son, raising his arm to strike Vince.
“Move, Vince. I’m warning you one last time.”
Vince shook his head and braced himself. Mr. Parelli swung the nippers back.
“You’ll have to hit me,” Vince said defiantly with fury in his voice.
Mr. Parelli inched closer, white-knuckling the nippers. “Vince, you bring this on yourself. I’m warning you one last time. Move out of my way.”
Vince’s hateful eyes met his father’s. He stood his ground.
Emily buckled. She couldn’t let this happen in front of her own two eyes. Leaping out from her hiding place, she yelled, “Wait! NO!”
But her voice was drowned out by the cheering crowd in the stands. The nippers came down on Vince’s back. He dropped to the floor in anguish. Everything bottled up inside of Emily exploded in this moment.
Mr. Parelli froze for a second, waiting to see if his son would get up. Emily could hear the nippers drop from his grip and thump on the hay-padded stall. Mr. Parelli’s anger never wavered as he stood over his son. “Vince. Son. Get up!”
Emily’s eyes were glued to Vince, lying on the ground motionless. Outside, in the ring, the crowd reacted to some stunt taking place, drowning the silence of the stables in mounting applause. As the cheering soared, so did the adrenaline surging through Emily’s system. She readied herself to lunge into the situation.
Mr. Parelli took a step in toward the horse and lifted his leg by the hoof. This time, Emily ran from her spot to stop him. “Get away from him!” she yelled.
Her efforts were thwarted as she tripped on a coiled rope hiding under a layer of hay. She fell, her phone sailing out of her reach and into a nearby, shallow grate about four inches below the floor’s surface.
Mr. Parelli pivoted to see Emily recovering from her fall.
“Don’t!” pleaded Emily, now on all fours.
“Miss, this is a family matter. You best leave us,” said Mr. Parelli, stepping toward her.
Behind him, Vince peeled himself from the floor and yanked his horse out of the stall. He and Emily shared a quick glance. Vince understood her signal right away. He took his horse by the reigns, hoisted himself into the saddle, and galloped out of the stable.
Mr. Parelli dashed a few yards after his son, but they were gone. Emily crawled to the grate to search for her phone. Mr. Parelli then turned to Emily. She felt his gaze on her and looked up as he growled at her, “Who are you?”
Like a shot in the dark, it all came to Emily. Exactly what had happened on Julie’s last day on earth. Mr. Parelli was lying in wait for her, crouched in the bushes by the creek. When Julie and Mercedes passed by, he struck Mercedes first, bucking Julie off her horse. She tumbled to the ground, her helmet dislodging from her head.
Outrage boiled in Emily’s veins. She rose to her feet, face-to-face with this murderer. She refused to back down.
