4 Malice in Christmas River (15 page)

I wished that Daniel could remember what happened. But the doctor said given his concussion, it was possible he’d never recover the memory of it. Other things too seemed to be cloudy in his memory. He said he had trouble recollecting some of what he did the week before the Rodeo, too.

The only thing he seemed to remember about the accident was no better than a riddle.

“
The Sandman
… I think I saw…”

What did that mean?

Was it just gibberish, a product of the painkillers in his system? Or did it actually mean something?

What or
who
was The Sandman?

Finally, at just after 5 a.m., I couldn’t take it anymore.

I got up from bed. I took a cold shower to wake myself up. I brewed up a strong pot of coffee and got dressed. I filled a thermos up with the coffee, holding the sugar and cream.

I needed it to be strong.

I was in the car, heading for Redmond by 5:30.

Chapter 36

I had the feeling that Erik Andersen was the type who got to work early.

And after only twenty minutes of waiting in
The Redmond Register
’s parking lot, I was proven right.  

Erik’s green Subaru pulled in, rumbling around the corner, the muffler apparently shot. He pulled into the nearly-empty lot, parking close to the building’s entrance. He killed the engine, and I watched as he got out of his car.  

I had thought it all through during the half-hour drive from Christmas River to Redmond. I wasn’t any sort of conspiracy theorist. And God knows I hoped that it
had
been an accident. But if it wasn’t, if there was even the smallest possibility that someone had intentionally hurt Daniel, then I had to know. I had to be certain that Daniel wasn’t still in danger. And that justice, if there needed to be any, was carried out. And carried out right.  

Trumbow wasn’t a bad man and his intentions were good. But when it came to his police work, I didn’t have as much faith. He had almost pegged me for the murder of Mason Barstow two and a half years ago. I’d probably still be rotting in jail now if Daniel hadn’t stepped in and solved the murder, figuring out who the real murderer was just in time. What was to say Trumbow wasn’t wrong again now? There was a reason Trumbow was demoted from being Sheriff. He was sloppy and arrogant, and when he made his mind up about something, he was like a dog that wouldn’t quit on a rawhide bone. He just couldn’t see things any other way.

I didn’t trust Erik. I didn’t think I ever would. He was probably just grasping at straws, looking for crime where there wasn’t any. Trying to get an edge on his fellow reporters and prove something to his editor. Trying to use me again to do it.  

But at least he seemed to have an open mind about what actually took place that night by the horse trailers. He’d gone beyond the
wrong place, wrong time
explanation that Trumbow had settled on right away.

And if he was going to use me, then hell. Maybe I could use him too.  

Erik reached into the passenger’s seat of his car, pulling out a Starbucks coffee cup. He slung his drab olive-colored messenger bag across his shoulder and then slammed the door. It squeaked loudly as it closed.

His car had seen better days.  

He didn’t seem to notice me watching him.

I took a deep breath, got out, and quickly walked over. There was a brisk, early morning breeze blowing hard into my face. A whisper of the cooler weather that would hopefully come soon.

“Erik,” I said, approaching him before he made it to the front door of the building.  

He nearly dropped his cup of coffee, grabbing it just before it slid beyond his reach.  

He turned around, his eyebrows raised high in what was the most expression I’d ever seen on his face. 

“Cinnamon,” he said, slightly out of breath. “I didn’t, uh, I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Yeah, well, me neither,” I said, digging my hands into my jean pockets.

I sighed.  

“Look, Erik,” I started. “I don’t trust you. I don’t like you much either after what you did to me. That was a real low thing to do.”

He didn’t say anything.

“But I’ve been thinking about what you said. And I think you’re wrong,” I continued, biting my lip and looking away into the distant morning haze. “I think you’re just trying to stir things up. But…”

I took another deep breath.

“But part of me keeps thinking, what if you’re right?”

“Look, I—”

“I’m not talking to you on the record about a thing,” I said. “That’s non-negotiable. But I will give you whatever help I can to look farther into this.”

I bit my lip harder. I looked away and then back at him, staring him dead in the eyes.

“I have to know,” I said. “I just… The thought of it not being an accident scares me half to death. But I
have
to know.”  

He readjusted the messenger strap on his shoulder and had trouble meeting my stare.

“My editor told me he doesn’t want me wasting my time on this,” he said in a distant tone. “I mean, on the part I told you about. He doesn’t think there’s any more to it than Deputy Trumbow said. He just wants me to write about your husband’s recovery, and that’s it.”

I felt my cheeks flush.

I suddenly felt very stupid for coming all the way out here. Stupid for thinking Erik could help me. Stupid for thinking that any of this could possibly work out.

Stupid for giving him a second chance when he didn’t deserve one.

“Fine. But just so you kn—”

“But hell,” he said, looking up and interrupting me.

He adjusted his glasses.

“I owe it to you.”  

A crooked smile that looked like it hadn’t seen the light of day in a long, long time crossed his face.  

“My editor won’t like it,” he said. “But he can go to hell.”

Chapter 37

I was heading back to Daniel’s room, rounding the corner of the third floor hallway, when suddenly, I found myself stopping dead in my tracks.   

Either it was my imagination, or a giant round of laughter had just erupted from Daniel’s room.

I glanced at my watch.

It was still before 8. It could have been some deputies from the station, but it seemed a little early for those boys. Besides, they had already stopped by the day bef—

I stepped into the doorjamb, my heart stopping for a second.

He was sitting in the corner chair, his back to me. His bald head was hidden beneath a plaid newsboy cap. His chest was reverberating as he let out a stiff chuckle.

I glanced over at Daniel. He was beaming brighter than a summer sun.

He noticed me standing there.

“Thank God you’re here, Cin,” Daniel said. “This old man’s been yakking my ear off since 5 a.m. I told him I was tired, but he just doesn’t seem to care.”  

“What in heaven’s name are you…?” I blurted out, trailing off as the wind left my lungs.   

The old man sitting in the chair turned around to look back at me.

He adjusted his cap and smiled that old devilish smile of his. The one I’d been missing all year. 

“Geez, Cinny Bee. You’re looking worse than your hubby here,” he said, giving me a once over. “Is he the one who got trampled, or was it you?”

I might have been offended if I wasn’t so damn glad to see the old Scottish bastard.

I dropped my purse and the grocery bag I was carrying and lunged forward, embracing him. I hugged him like if I let go, he might just up and float away back to Scotland.

“You old dog, what are you doing here?!” I said, my voice trembling with excitement and happiness. “I’ve been worried
sick
about you.”

“Gosh
dern
, I sure am sorry about that,” he said. “You caught me when I was up in the sky somewhere over the Atlantic, I reckon.”

I pulled away, taking a long look at his weathered face.

He looked exactly the same as he had when he’d boarded that plane in January. Except he looked more youthful somehow. There was a kind of vitality glowing about him. One I hadn’t seen in years.

I didn’t know what was in the air in Scotland, but Warren was looking healthy and vibrant for his ripe old age.

I smiled, a few happy tears finding their way down my cheeks.  

Good ol’ Warren.

“But… But you shouldn’t have made such a long trip, Grandpa,” I said. “I didn’t want you to leave in the middle of your Scottish adventure.”

“Some things in life are more important than beer,” he said. “Family’s one of the very few, my dear.”

He patted Daniel on the arm.

“When I heard about my son-in-law getting himself into a bit of a
sticky wicket
, well, I just felt the need to skip across the pond and see how he was holding up.”  

I pulled out a Kleenex from my jean pocket and dabbed my eyes.

I hadn’t expected such happiness this morning.

“I just can’t believe you’re back,” I said to Warren again, shaking my head.  

“You’ve got Kara to thank for that,” he said. “She called me right after it happened. I hopped on the first plane I could.”

I smiled through the tears.

Daniel and I were blessed indeed. Surrounded by friends and family who were there at the drop of a hat. Who traveled across oceans and thousands of miles of land just to be with us.

I let out a happy sigh and went over to the doorjamb, picking up my purse and the bag of groceries I’d bought earlier at
Ray’s
.

“I know it’s a little early,” I said, going over to the small sink area in the corner by the window. “But who wants a sandwich?”

I glanced back at my boys.

“I couldn’t pass up such an offer,” Warren said.

Daniel raised his eyebrows.

“You got real cheddar cheese?” he asked.

“Tillamook,” I said. “Extra-sharp.”

“Maple turkey?”

“Of course.”

“And pickles? You got the pickles?”

“Yes, Sheriff Brightman. I got the pickles.”

“No American cheese in sight?” he asked.

I looked back, grinning.

“What do
you
think?”  

A pleased expression crossed his face.

“Then I’m all over it,” he said.

Chapter 38

There was something I had to get off of my chest.

So after lunch, while Warren was out in the hall getting coffee, I took the opportunity to ask Daniel about The Sandman. 

His face turned noticeably pale as the name crossed my lips.

“Is that what I said?” he asked.

I nodded.

He knit his brow in concern for a moment, looking down at the bed sheet.

“What do you think you meant?” I said.

He raised his eyes to meet mine, and I saw hesitation in them.

I cleared my throat.  

“When I asked you if you remembered anything from the accident, that’s the only thing you said you remembered.
The Sandman
.”

“That’s strange,” he said, rubbing the stubble on his chin. “I don’t recollect anything from it now. I don’t even remember saying that.”

I took in a big breath.

He still wasn’t willing to tell me what was on his mind.  

“Daniel, I know something’s been wrong lately. Something you’re not telling me,” I said. “And I respect that you want to keep me from worrying, but if this has anything to do with the accident, don’t you think you better just say what’s been bothering you?”

He shook his head.

“Aw, it was probably just the pain meds talking,” he said. “It doesn’t mean anything.”

I reached out, grabbing his hand. He flinched, but I clamped on it tightly.

“I can’t stand you keeping something from me,” I said, looking dead into his eyes. “I can’t stand you wrestling with whatever you’ve been wrestling with alone. I’m your wife now, Daniel. And I’m here. You can tell me anything, and I’ll still be here. Right by your side, no matter what.”  

He stared out the window then let out another short sigh. As if he knew this moment had been inevitable.

“I haven’t doubted that, Cin,” he said. “It’s just…”

He looked down and then up at me.

“It’s not pretty.”  

“That’s okay,” I said, holding his hand even tighter. “I didn’t think it would be.”

Chapter 39

“I was just a kid when I joined the force in Fresno,” Daniel said, his words coming out slow and steady. “I signed up for the academy as fast as I could after my brother’s murder.”

He stared straight ahead at the wall, like he was looking back at himself all those years ago.

“I was green. No two ways about it. That, and I was selfish and stupid and full of anger over Jared’s death. I was like a time bomb, ticking away, waiting for the right moment to explode. I’m just lucky that moment never arrived.”

He sighed.

“I was at this real crossroads in my early 20s. Things might have turned out real bad if… if it hadn’t been for Tex.”

I furrowed my brow.

“Tex?”

Daniel hadn’t ever mentioned that name before. I’d heard stories about his days with the Fresno Police Department, but never anything about a Tex.

He looked at me. Those clouds were back again, casting shadows of worry and doubt on his face.

He sucked in some air before finally continuing.

“Tex was my first partner. His real name was Theodore Stevens, but we all called him Tex because he came from Fort Worth originally,” he said. “He was a real pain in the ass, and that’s putting it politely. He was five years from his pension when they assigned him as my partner, and let me tell you, Tex didn’t take any crap from me. It was like being assigned a drill sergeant as a partner. He was always looking over my shoulder, making sure I didn’t get myself into any trouble, making sure I was walking the straight and narrow. I’d get yellings like you wouldn’t believe if I so much as thought about crossing the line.”

I wondered again why Daniel had never mentioned him before. But I kept the wondering to myself.