The Bad Daughter(109)
“Looks like this is really it,” Melanie said.
Cassidy approached the bed. The side rails were down, allowing her to lay her head against his chest. “Oh, poor Daddy.”
What’s wrong with this picture?
Robin watched her father’s face, half-expecting him to open his eyes and call out Cassidy’s name, as he had the last time they’d been here together.
“Cassidy,” he’d cried.
So glad to see her. So relieved she was alive and well.
Unless he hadn’t been glad at all, Robin thought as Cassidy stretched to kiss his cheek. Unless relief had been the last thing he was feeling.
Instead of being relieved and happy to see his stepdaughter, had he been trying to identify her as the person who shot him?
“We should go,” Melanie said.
They filed out of the room.
“Do you think he’s going to a better place?” Cassidy asked.
“Better than Red Bluff?” Melanie asked. “Hard to imagine.”
They drove home in silence, Robin lost in a swirling labyrinth of conflicting thoughts. By the time Blake pulled his car into Melanie’s driveway, Robin had almost managed to convince herself that her suspicions were both ridiculous and unfounded. Once the drugs were out of her system, she’d start thinking clearly again.
Blake turned off the car’s engine and came around to open the passenger door for Robin as Melanie and Cassidy exited the backseat.
Cassidy immediately got between Robin and Blake, throwing her arms around their waists. “Can we have pizza tonight for dinner?” she asked.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
The sheriff and a deputy arrived as they were finishing their pizza. “This is Deputy Reinhardt,” Prescott announced, introducing the younger man, the two officers joining Robin, Blake, Melanie, and Cassidy at the dining room table. The sheriff removed his hat and put it on the chair beside him, pulling a small recording device from his pocket while Deputy Reinhardt produced a pad of paper and a ballpoint pen. “Before we start, I have some good news,” the sheriff said. “We arrested Kenny Stapleton an hour ago.”
“That’s a relief.” Blake reached over to squeeze Robin’s hand.
“Where did you find him?” Cassidy asked.
“At his father’s. It was actually his dad who turned him in. Wanted to know if there was any reward money.”
“Families,” Melanie muttered, clearing the dinner dishes off the table and carrying them into the kitchen.
“How are you feeling?” Prescott asked Robin.
“Tired, sore.”
“We’ll try to make this as painless as possible.”
“Did Kenny say anything about…you know?” Cassidy asked.
“Let’s not worry about Kenny right now. At the moment, I’m much more interested in what you have to tell me. And this time, young lady, I need the truth.”
“The whole truth and nothing but,” Cassidy said with a shy smile.
The smile sent an unpleasant shiver up Robin’s spine. Cassidy had told so many stories about that night. Would they ever know the whole truth about what had happened? Or would it die with her father?
“Good,” Prescott pronounced. “You might as well get the ball rolling, Cassidy.” He glanced across the table at Robin. “I’ll need you to wait in another room, if you don’t mind. To ensure that her statement doesn’t influence yours.”
“I understand.” Robin pushed herself away from the table, and Blake helped her to her feet.
“Can’t Blake stay?” Cassidy asked. “Please? For support. I’d feel so much better.”
Blake looked toward Robin.
“As long as it’s okay with the sheriff.” The shiver in Robin’s spine twisted its way through her rib cage, like a snake trapped in a maze.
“As long as you don’t interrupt or interfere in any way,” Prescott told Blake, “then I don’t have a problem with you being here.”
“So you’ll stay?”
“You’ll be all right?” Blake asked Robin.
“I’ll be fine.” She moved slowly toward the kitchen, looking back briefly to see Cassidy reach for Blake’s hand.
“What’s going on in there?” her sister asked as Robin entered the kitchen.
“The sheriff is taking Cassidy’s statement.”
“Wonder what it’ll be this time.” Melanie put the last of the dishes in the dishwasher and turned it on.
“Do you think—” Robin began, then stopped. “No, it’s too crazy.”
“?‘Crazy’ is a relative term around here. Do I think what?”
Robin glanced guiltily toward the dining room. “Do you think there’s any possibility that Kenny could be telling the truth about Cassidy?”
The two sisters stared at each other for several long seconds, their eyes measuring the chasm of distrust between them.
“Do you?” Melanie asked.
The sound of water from the dishwasher filled the room. “I need you to do something for me,” Robin told her sister. “And I need you to not ask questions.” She held her breath, waiting for Melanie to object.
“What is it you need?” Melanie said.