Cranberry Point (Cedar Cove #4)(98)

Roy looked from Peggy to Bob. "We'll need her to verily the facts."

Peggy still seemed uncertain. "She's been through so much already, I hate to drag her into this. As you can imagine, Hannah's easily upset, especially when it involves anything to do with her parents."

"In the long run, this will help her," Roy said.

Peggy turned to Bob. "I agree with Roy," he said. 'The only reason she's living with us is because we want to help her. This discussion might put some ghosts to rest for her."

Peggy left and returned to the living room before Troy and Stewart Samuels came back. Hannah resembled a frightened child about to be called to task. She stayed close to Peggy's side, her head bowed. After a brief nod in Bob's direction, Hannah sat on the ottoman beside Peggy. In a gesture of reassurance and comfort, Peggy placed her hand on Hannah's shoulder.

"You never told us that your father was in counseling," Roy said, speaking to Hannah.

"I'm sure I did. Didn't I?" she asked Peggy.

Peggy shrugged. "I'm sorry, I don't recall if you did or not."

Hannah laughed weakly. "What's the big deal? He saw a counselor."

"You said he often carried false identification, too," Bob added.

"We certainly could have used that information earlier," Troy muttered, straightening.

"My father was never able to hold down a job for long," Hannah rushed to explain. Her eyes darted between the sheriff and Roy. "He... he sometimes used a different name in a different town."

"That isn't what you told me before," Troy said. "When I asked you about it, you claimed you couldn't imagine your father doing such a thing."

"I... I was in shock," Hannah whispered, staring at the carpet. "I can't remember everything you asked me. I'd just learned that my father was dead and that he might've been murdered." She buried her face in her hands and Peggy gently patted her back, glaring at the sheriff as if he were purposely intimidating the poor girl.

"Sheriff Davis, is this necessary?" she asked when Hannah started to sob.

"This is a murder investigation, Peggy."

"You think I murdered my own father?" Hannah cried, leaping to her feet. "He was the only person I had in the world! Why would I want him dead?" She gestured wildly at Samuels. "He's the one who's up for some important promotion—he's the one who led those men into that village and killed all those women and children."

Peggy gasped. "How... how did you know?"

"My dad told me all about it while he was in counseling. He was a murderer, and so are Bob and him." She pointed a shaking finger at the colonel. "I think he killed my father, too."

"I was in Europe at the time of your father's death," Stewart Samuels said evenly.

"Sure you were—he was drugged, remember?" she said viciously. "You came to the house and gave him that water bottle and then you left."

"The dates of Colonel Samuels's travel record state otherwise, Hannah," Sheriff Davis said calmly. "If anyone was with your father before he decided to drive to Cedar Cove, it was you."

She shook her head in denial. "I didn't even know he was leaving."

"That's not what you told me," Roy said.

"Then... then there's been some misunderstanding." Hannah began to back away, easing toward the kitchen one small step at a time.

"Stop hounding the girl," Peggy insisted. "Can't you see you're frightening her?"

"I've always found it curious that the drug used to kill Maxwell Russell is commonly seen in date rape situations," Roy said. "It's generally considered a young person's drug."

The room went quiet as everyone stared at Hannah.

"I first noticed the inconsistencies in your answers the afternoon I spoke with you on the phone, Hannah," Roy continued. "I talked it over with the colonel and was able to verify his statements, but not yours. Perhaps you can explain yourself."

"Of course I can," Hannah said.

"You said your father was a good man."

"He was," Hannah cried.

"But he couldn't hold down a job?"

"He tried...."

"He abused your mother?"

"Yes!" the young woman screamed. "Nothing was ever good enough for him. I hated him. I loved him." Her face twisted into a mask of pain and fear. She stood with her hands in tight fists. "He deserved to die. He should've been the one killed in the accident, not Mom."

"Hannah." Peggy was instantly at her side. "You don't know what you're saying."

Shoving Peggy aside, Hannah faced the others. "You're all alike, aren't you?"

"What happened to your mother?" Troy asked.

"She died. My father was the one who was supposed to be killed, not my mother. I paid my friend Davey to put air in the steering column of Dad's car. He'd lose control of the car and it would crash. It was supposed to be so easy, but then Mom decided to go with him.

"I tried to get her to stay home, but she wouldn't listen. Dad wanted her to come along and she refused him nothing." The words were spat out with such anger that her face was contorted. Bob had never witnessed anything like it.