“Yes.”The same goal.Everyone wanted Benjamin Bennet punished for what he’d done.Put away for good so he couldn’t terrorize anyone anymore.
“But she…” Jill had to step closer so she could lower her voice.
She didn’t want Grandma hearing this part, even if it wasn’t a secret.Grandma knew why she was the way that she was.But they didn’tdiscussGrandma’s problems.They pretended they weren’t there.
“She’s not physically mute, Detective.It’s a psychological response to some unknown trauma.Her communicating with you without me there… it’s… she might not handle it well.”
“Psychological response,” he echoed.He took a sip of his coffee, something in his demeanor changing.“Seems to be a lot of that going on.”For the first time, there was no kindness or gentleness in his tone.
Jill stared at him.There was only one other person he could be talking about.“You don’t believe Cal?”Shockdidn’t begin to cover it.So much of the trial rested on Cal’s traumatic memory loss returning.If the detective didn’t believe it…
“It isn’t my job to believe or disbelieve Bennet.It’s my job to collect evidence.And build a case.”
“I saw Cal.I know it’s true,” Jill said, needing somehow to get through to the detective.She lived with a woman whose brain was affected by trauma.Sheknewit was real, it happened, and it wasn’t controllable.Not by the victim.Not by the people who loved the victim.
And she’d been there when Cal had dealt with some of his returned memories.She’d seen the haunted, hunted look about him.The physical repercussions of remembering.
“Isawthe way that memory affected him.You should believe him, Detective.You absolutely should believe him.”
The detective eyed her.She wasn’t sure if it was wariness, disbelief, or something else in his gaze.But it didn’t matter.Grandma appeared from the bathroom before Jill could think of anything else to say to plead her case.Cal’s case.
Grandma paused once before she came into the detective’s view, then straightened her shoulders and came around the corner.She eyed the detective warily but nodded.She moved toward the living room, then signed to Jill in her way.Basically saying,I can handle it on my own.
“Grandma…”
Grandma patted her arm as she walked past.A clearI’ve got itsign.And Glenda Harrington was a grown woman.Who’d lived through heartache and strife and something that had stolen her voice.
Jill didn’t need to protect her grandmother.Glenda was strong.Glenda could handle it.Jill might hate it and wish she didn’thaveto, but she knew her grandmothercould.
Jill forced herself to smile at the detective while Grandma settled herself into the chair opposite him.“I’ll just be in my room.”
“Thank you for the coffee, Ms.Harrington.I appreciate it and this.”
Jill couldn’t bring herself to sayYou’re welcome, so she walked away.
Hoping this wasn’t another disaster waiting to happen.
Chapter Twelve
Crawford County Courthouse
Sam had managedto slip into the courtroom right before court started.She had figured after her little morning argument with Nate, she’d have to scramble to find a seat.Instead, he immediately spotted her and raised a hand and motioned her over.
Like he’d been waiting for her.And he clearly had, because he’d saved her a seat.
Which wasn’t that big of a deal.They were kind of all in this together, even if he was pissed at her.But still, it eased one of the knots that had been tied tight in her chest since he’d left so abruptly.Not staying to deal with Bo.
He’d seemed so angry with her.So… she didn’t know.She just thought they were in a fight, and now he was acting like they weren’t.Which easedsomethings, but heightened anxiety over other things.
If they weren’tfighting, what were they doing?Because she doubted very much he was suddenly down with Bo Lake.
And Detective Jake Hayes.
Buy a clue, Sam.
He’d said that so disgustedly.And like it wasobviouswhy there was tension there.When she didn’t think anything wasobvious.Yeah, Nate had been a little weird about things when Jake had asked her out last summer, but it wasn’t like he’d… done anything about all that weird.
And shehadn’tever gone out with Jake because everything had felt too unsettled and weird.
