Chương 7
Once.
“I also understand you indicated that you believe your wife and a physical therapist named Mason Reed may be involved in what happened to you.”
Once.
“I am not going to conduct a full interview until your doctors say you're medically able.”
My finger moved once.
“But I need to ask one question because it affects what we do right now.”
He stepped closer.
“Do you believe either of them may try to harm you again?”
Once.
No hesitation.
Ortiz nodded.
“All right.”
He turned toward Karen.
“Then nobody gets access without clearance.”
Karen said, “Already in place.”
Ortiz asked, “Where is the wife now?”
“In the family consultation room.”
“Alone?”
“With security outside.”
“Has anyone told her police are involved?”
“No.”
“Keep it that way.”
A new voice came from the hallway.
Loud.
Male.
Angry.
“I don't care what your badge says, that's my brother.”
Daniel.
Ortiz looked toward the door.
Karen closed her eyes briefly.
“He has been difficult.”
I would have laughed if I could.
Daniel's voice rose again.
“Then arrest me or open the door.”
Ortiz said, “Let him in.”
The door opened.
Daniel entered at speed, stopped when he saw the detective, then looked toward the bed.
All the anger drained out of him.
“Hey.”
He walked closer.
His shoes squeaked against the floor.
For once in his life, he had nothing smart to say.
He sat.
His hands clasped between his knees.
“Mom said you moved your finger.”
I did.
Daniel stared at it.
Then he covered his mouth.
He stayed that way several seconds.
When he lowered his hand, his eyes were wet.
“Okay.”
He nodded.
“Okay.”
Ortiz waited respectfully near the wall.
Daniel looked at the detective.
“Why is there a cop in here?”
Nobody answered immediately.
My brother's expression changed.
He looked at me.
Then at Dr. Patel.
Then back at Ortiz.
“What happened?”
Ortiz said, “We're still determining that.”
Daniel stood.
“That means you think somebody did this.”
“Mr. Cole.”
“Who?”
“Daniel,” Dr. Patel said.
“Who?”
I moved my finger urgently.
Daniel saw it.
He came closer.
“What?”
Ortiz said, “Your brother has indicated he may have been deliberately harmed.”
Daniel's face went blank.
“By who?”
Ortiz did not answer.
Daniel stared at me.
“Ethan?”
I moved once when he said Olivia's name.
He did not breathe.
For several seconds, my brother simply looked at me.
Then his jaw tightened.
“Mason?”
My finger moved once.
Daniel stood so quickly the chair tipped backward.
Ortiz caught his arm before he reached the door.
“Don't.”
Daniel pulled against him.
“That son of a bitch is downstairs.”
Ortiz tightened his grip before Daniel could wrench free.
“Then you are absolutely not going downstairs.”
Daniel stared at him.
“You expect me to stand here?”
“I expect you not to destroy whatever chance we have of finding out what happened.”
“He tried to kill my brother.”
“We do not know exactly what he did.”
“I know enough.”
“No, you know enough to get yourself arrested.”
Daniel laughed once, without humor.
“That supposed to scare me?”
Ortiz's expression barely changed.
“It should inconvenience you.”
That stopped him.
For a second, Daniel looked almost offended by the understatement.
Then he looked at me.
“Did you know he was here?”
I moved my finger twice.
Ortiz released Daniel's arm slowly.
“Why is Mason here?” Karen asked.
Daniel rubbed the place where Ortiz had held him.
“He showed up twenty minutes ago.”
“Did he say why?”
“He said he heard about Ethan waking up.”
Dr. Patel said, “From whom?”
“No idea.”
Ortiz asked, “Did he come alone?”
“As far as I saw.”
“What did he do?”
“He hugged Olivia.”
My chest tightened.
Daniel continued.
“They were in the family waiting area when I came back from getting Mom water.”
Ortiz's attention sharpened.
“Describe the hug.”
Daniel blinked.
“What?”
“Did it look like two acquaintances comforting each other?”
“How the hell should I know?”
“Try.”
Daniel shoved his hands into his pockets.
“He held her too long.”
Nobody spoke.
Daniel looked embarrassed by his own certainty.
“I don't know.”
He exhaled.
“Maybe that's nothing.”
Ortiz said, “Nothing is nothing until we know it is.”
Daniel nodded toward me.
“Ethan hated the guy.”
That was false.
I moved twice.
Daniel noticed.
“You didn't?”
Twice.
“Well, I hated him.”
That sounded more accurate.
“Why?” Ortiz asked.
Daniel shrugged.
“He was always around.”
“That's not a reason.”
“It is when a guy starts acting like he belongs in your brother's house.”
I went still.
Ortiz asked, “How often was Mason at the house?”
“More than a physical therapist needed to be.”
Dr. Patel said, “Home sessions?”
“Some.”
Daniel looked at me.
“I told you this.”
I searched my memory.
Christmas dinner.
Daniel leaning against the kitchen island while Mason carried a case of sparkling water in from the garage.
Mason had stayed for dinner because Olivia said the roads were bad.
Daniel had asked later why my physical therapist knew which drawer held our wine opener.
I had laughed.
I had told him he was suspicious of anyone with good posture.
The memory hurt differently now.
Ortiz asked, “When did you last see Reed at your brother's house?”
“Maybe two months ago.”
“What was the context?”
“Sunday dinner.”
“Was he invited?”
“I assumed so.”
“You assumed?”
Daniel looked at me.
“Liv said he was already there helping Ethan with something.”
I moved twice.
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“You didn't have therapy that day?”
Twice.
He took a step backward.
“Jesus.”
Dr. Patel said, “Daniel, don't start reconstructing this in your head.”
“A little late for that.”
Ortiz glanced toward Karen.
“Keep Reed where he is if you can without making it obvious.”
Karen frowned.
“We cannot detain him.”
“I know.”
“We also cannot mislead him into believing he is detained.”
“I know.”
She studied him for a second.
“I can tell security there is a temporary visitor restriction while Mr. Cole is being evaluated.”
“That works.”
“Briefly.”
May you like
“I only need briefly.”
Karen left.
