I cannot imagine the type of person who would sew the corners of their mouth into a smile. Then also sew their eyelids to their brows…the contents of my stomach stirred. Knox didn’t believe me until he saw Alice’s body for himself.
A police officer with latex gloves on walks by with clear plastic bags labeled “evidence.” He takes them to Officer Langston, they have a short discussion, then Langston walks back to us.
“Have either of you ever heard of midazolam?” Officer Langston holds up one of the evidence bags. This particular one contains an empty syringe.
I answer his question with a question. “Isn’t that a sedative?”
“Yes,” he confirms. “It’s usually used intravenously like this in a hospital.”
A knot forms in my stomach.
Langston poses another question. “Do you know anyone who works in a hospital who might want to hurt Raven Henry?”
Not someone who would hurt Raven, but someone who would happily hurt Knox and me. Knox and I exchange a look. That one look validates he’s thinking the same thing I am.
Lewis Whitlock.
“No,” Knox and I answer together again.
Langston nods his head and offers his genuine appreciation. “Thanks for your help. Hopefully, we’ll be out of here soon. I’m sure y’all want to check on Raven and her son.” He sweeps his arm in the direction of the ambulance.
Raven sits with Noah in the back of an ambulance. He woke up not long after the police arrived, which was a relief to us all. Seeing him in the arms of a stranger lurking near an open window was enough to induce multiple heart attacks. And when I noticed he wasn’t moving…I can’t even think about that. And thankfully, Lucy also woke up en route to Henrick Medical Center in Abilene. She’s staying overnight for observation per her parents’ request.
Noah has yet to be interviewed, but Officer Langston was kind enough to agree to wait. Sheriff Jackson didn’t want tofollow Langston’s lead, but Langston threw his weight around and claimed jurisdiction.
Knox and I hurry over to Raven. Color has returned to her cheeks, and the terror in her eyes has left and been replaced with relief. We stand at the open doors, waiting for the EMT to give Noah the all-clear. He woke up before Lucy and was afraid to go to the hospital. The EMT reluctantly agreed to do Noah’s examination here.
The EMT stumbles over his words, pushing the matter again. “We really should take him to Hendrick Medical Center with the other vic—patient.”
Noah’s eyes bulge, and the beeping of the heart monitor increases. “No! Mom, please. I don’t want to go.”
The distress on Raven’s face bites at my chest. “What if I take him to urgent care as soon as they open?”
The EMT sighs. “That should be fine, but I strongly advise taking him to the hospital.”
Noah shakes his head emphatically, and Raven gives the EMT a pleading look. The EMT unwillingly gives in to their request.
“Well, there’s not much else I can do. A good night’s sleep is the only thing left.”
“Thank you.” Raven nods as the EMT removes the wires and monitors from Noah.
When Noah is unhooked, Raven carries Noah from the ambulance and moves toward her house.
I jump in front of her, holding my hand up. “We can’t go in yet. It’s still a crime scene.”
The weight on Raven’s shoulders increases as she begins working out the problem in front of her. For as long as I live, I will carry that weight for her.
Draping my arm across her shoulders, I steer her toward mine and Knox’s house. Knox steps forward and takes Noahfrom Raven’s arms. Raven doesn’t put up a fight as we lead her and Noah in our house and up the stairs. Knox takes Noah to his own room and lays him down. As soon as Noah’s head hits the pillow, he out like a light.
Then we guide Raven into my room. Raven lets us remove her clothes and slide one of my T-shirts over her head. It’s like she’s not really here with us. Her body is, but her mind is lost somewhere else.
Knox and I dress down to our boxers and usher Raven into my bed. Knox lies on his back, and we situate Raven in the middle, wedging her between us. I shift her onto her side, facing Knox, as I wrap myself around her from behind.
Raven breathes, amassing the gumption to answer all the questions we’re holding back. She knows we want an explanation but won’t bombard her.
“I grew up in Dallas,” she starts.
That explains the woman we ran into at the Halloween store.
