Page 76 of River Wild

“What happened to his mom?” I feel bad, asking these things while River is standing over there, waiting for me. But I also feel compelled to know.

“Charged with first-degree murder and got life in prison. She tried to say it was self-defense, but apparently, that was bullshit. The guy was unarmed, and she shot him with his own gun—his police-issued firearm. And she didn’t have a scratch on her.”

“Is she still in prison?” I’m quaking inside, and I’m not exactly sure why.

“Nope.” He shakes his head. “She got shanked in prison.”

“She got what?”

“Jesus, Guy, you really need to stop watching those damn prison shows,” Sadie says to him. “River’s mom was killed by another prisoner,” she clarifies for me.

“Oh. Right.”

She was killed. In prison.

Poor River.

I know his mom murdered someone—his stepdad—but she was still his mom, and he lost her in such awful circumstances. Her and his stepdad.

And I just can’t believe that River’s stepdad was a cop—that we have that connection. Not that it’s a weird connection. Lots of people are police officers. My husband was one. River’s stepdad was one. But the coincidence just feels too similar.

Not that I killed Neil. But there were times when I wanted to.

God, there were so many times when I imagined doing it. But I never did.

I wonder what happened to make his mom do that to her husband. What drove her to kill him like that?

Or maybe nothing drove her at all, except that she was just a bad person. There are plenty of those in the world.

I just can’t imagine what River’s been through and starting at such a young age.

No wonder he’s so guarded.

I feel like my heart is doubling in size for him. For the pain he must have gone through as a child.

I’m standing here, not entirely sure what to do with this overload of information. It’s not like I can go over there and pretend like I don’t know this.

Yes, that’s exactly what I can do.

If he wanted me to know, he would have told me.

And he’s allowed his secrets. God knows I have mine.

If it were me, I wouldn’t want him to come over and dredge my past up.

I definitely wouldn’t.

No, I’ll keep my thoughts to myself and just carry on like before. Like I know nothing about his mom or stepdad.

“Okay …” I take a step back. “Well, I won’t be long.”

“Take your time,” Sadie says to me.

“Just be careful,” Guy says. “Remember, there’s murderous blood running through his veins. So, if he pulls out a gun, run like hell.”

“Not funny, Guy.” Sadie gives a disappointed shake of her head at him.

“What? It was just a joke!” Guy exclaims.