Missing Pieces(30)
Though the sky had darkened, curious neighbors flipped on their outdoor lights and milled around on their lawns and front steps once they realized the earlier drama was going on long after they thought it was over. “I want to see her,” Jack insisted.
The sheriff lowered his voice so that only Sarah and Jack could hear him. “Your aunt is on her way to an autopsy in Des Moines. Your sister’s home is being searched and she is going to be questioned. She is now a suspect in the murder of your aunt. That’s how serious I am taking this.”
“After all that she’s been through, what we’ve been through, you think Amy would kill Julia? She loved her more than anyone,” Jack insisted.
“I just go where the evidence takes me. And right now it’s led me to your sister.” He stood upright and tapped the roof of the car with an open hand. “You can head on home now. Nothing more is going to happen here tonight.”
“Is she under arrest, then?” A muscle in Jack’s cheek twitched.
“No, but we’re taking her down to the sheriff’s department for more formal questioning. You can talk to her tomorrow.”
“I want to see her now. You can’t keep me from talking to her if she’s not under arrest.” Jack opened the car door and approached the sheriff until they were nearly nose to nose.
“The hell I can’t,” Gilmore said, holding his ground. Sarah watched Jack step past him and trot up to the house with the sheriff close behind. Though Gilmore was an elderly man, he moved lithely and with quick, purposeful steps.
“Amy, don’t say a word,” Jack was advising by the time Sarah had caught up with the both of them.
“Jack, don’t make me have to take you in, too, for interfering,” Gilmore warned.
“Stop, Jack,” Sarah said, inserting herself between Jack and Gilmore. The last thing they needed was for both Amy and Jack to be taken away in handcuffs.
Jack held his hands up in supplication. “I’m not interfering with anything. I’m just making sure that Amy knows that she doesn’t have to speak to you without an attorney present.”
“I don’t need a lawyer. I swear I didn’t hurt Julia,” Amy cried, stopping in front of Jack as the deputy led her by the arm from the house.
“I know, Amy,” Jack said. “I know. We’ll get you a lawyer. Just don’t say anything until we find someone.” Amy nodded and was whisked away by the deputy and into his cruiser.
“Bastard,” Jack whispered.
“At least he came out and talked to us,” Sarah observed. “That’s something.”
Jack gave a breathy snort. “You give him too much credit. Gilmore doesn’t have a whole lot of love for my family.”
Together they walked back to their cars and Jack opened the door to Hal’s truck. “Let’s just go back to Hal’s. We’ll get a lawyer for Amy and check on her in the morning.”
Sarah followed Jack along the winding roads that led back to the farm, all the while feeling as though she’d entered an alternate universe the minute she arrived in Penny Gate.
Sarah thought back to what Jack had asked the sheriff. After all that she’s been through, what we’ve been through, you think Amy would kill Julia? This was the closest to a revelation Jack had ever made about his past. At least, the only true one. Sarah knew her next conversation with Jack was critical. He had lied to her for the past twenty years. And not just small, inconsequential untruths, but epic lies that had shaken if not irreparably damaged their marriage.
By the time they reached the farm the sun had set. Hal, even in his grief, was thoughtful enough to leave the porch light on for them, but the rest of the house was dark.
Jack unlocked and opened the front door. He flipped on a table lamp and waited until Sarah crossed the threshold and closed the door behind her, locking and chaining the door.
“What a day,” Jack said, releasing a long breath. “Maybe when I wake up in the morning it will all have just been a nightmare.”
“Jack, we need to talk,” Sarah said in a calm but firm voice.
“Come on, Sarah, the last thing I want to do is talk right now. My aunt died today, my sister...” he began, but Sarah stopped him by holding up one hand.
“I love you, Jack, but if you don’t sit down and talk to me right now, I’m going to be on the very next flight back to Larkspur.”
Sarah expected him to protest, to scoff and wave her off, but he didn’t. He must have heard something new in her voice. She wasn’t going to be dismissed. She wasn’t bluffing.
“Okay,” he said guardedly. “I’m listening.”
Sarah settled onto the sofa and Jack chose the chair across from her. Though she had planned what she was going to say to Jack on the drive back from Amy’s, she found herself struggling for the right words. “You get one chance here, Jack.” Her voice trembled despite her resolve to see this conversation to the end.
“Sarah...” Jack said earnestly, leaning forward.
“No.” Sarah shook her head. “Let me talk first.”
Jack sat back in his chair, arms folded across his chest.
“Here’s what I’ve learned in the past twenty-four hours, from people I barely even know. Your real name is Tierney, not Quinlan. And I know you dated Celia. Seriously enough to consider marriage.” Jack looked like he was going to protest, but Sarah silenced him with a warning look. He huffed and shook his head in annoyance. “I’m not done,” Sarah continued. “I know your mom and dad didn’t die in a car accident. And I know that your dad killed her and disappeared and hasn’t been seen since.” Sarah paused, expecting Jack to protest, to try and explain away his lies. But he didn’t.