Past Forward- A Serial Novel: Episode 16 (17 page)

Pop
’
s voice sounded strained as he tried to reassure his mom.
“
It
’
s possible.
Maybe he doesn
’
t want to lead someone out there
,
but I
’
d think it
’
d be less safe with her out there alone
.”

“
She has a gun
,
and she did take down the last person who tried to hurt her…
”

Chad fought to speak, his eyes still unwilling to open.
“
She
’
ll want to come in if she knows.
Coming in is a sure way to stress her out.
She isn
’
t handling this trial very well.
I tried to get her to come and stay at the hotel
—
make it fun, you know?
She didn
’
t want to have anything to do with it
.”

“You’re awake.”

“Barely,” he admitted.

Marianne kissed his temple and murmured, “
But when you don
’
t call
—”

“
Mom, she
’
ll just think my battery died or something.
She
’
ll wonder, but she won
’
t really worry.
I could be wrong
,
but I don
’
t think so.
And Dad
’
s right, we need to keep her out of town.
If that shot was a trap to lure her into town by someone who doesn
’
t know where we live, I don
’
t want to risk it
.”

Marianne
’
s eyes widened.
“
Do you really think that
’
s even possible?
”

“
Why aim for my heart instead of my head?
I don
’
t understand it unless he just wanted to take me out of testifying for now or if it was all bait
.”

“
Maybe it wasn
’
t either of those.
Maybe it was a warning to others who are on the witness list
.”

Christopher
’
s point was something Chad hadn
’
t considered.
“
It
’
s possible.
I really don
’
t know.
I don
’
t want her out there alone
,
but I think I trust her more to take care of herself out there than I trust her ability to do it in town
.”

“
So you
’
re going to go home tomorrow regardless of how you feel?
”

“
After the surgery, once the anesthesia and meds are out of my system
—”

“
But what about getting well!
”
Marianne
’
s voice grew louder with each word.

“
I
’
ll go to the clinic in Fairbury at the first sign of anything off.
They have a few overnight rooms even.
I have to get home
.”

“
You could call.
Tell her the trial is taking more from you than you expected.
Tell her your phone isn
’
t working
,
but you
’
ll be home tomorrow and everything will be just fine
.”

“
I
’m not going to lie, M
om
.”

“
Chad,
”
Marianne protested quickly,
“
I didn
’
t mean for you to lie.
All of that is true
—
it
’
s just ambiguous enough to keep her from worrying and to keep you in this bed
.”

“
Your mother has a point.
Resting that lung
—”
The doctor stopped himself abruptly as Chad struggled to sit upright.

“
If I called, I
’
d tell her everything.
But if you called
…”

“
What do you want me to say?
”

As she fed the chickens, the distinct sound of the French horns in Tchaikovsky
’
s 1812 Overture erupted from her jeans.
“
What!
”
She fished the phone from her pocket and flipped it open at the sight of Marianne
’
s name.
“
Oh Mom, my phone is playing music!
I almost had a heart attack
.”

“
What is it playing?
”

“
The 1812 Overture
—
the part with the French horns?
You know, da de da de da de da
—
da da
.”

“
Chad must have done it.
Um, speaking of Chad, he asked me to call you
.”

Willow
’
s voice grew wary.
“
About what?
Why didn
’
t
he
call?
”

“
Well, his phone is broken for one thing.
He needs to get a new one.
Anyway, he asked me to tell you that he
’
s been detained here in town for a few more days
.”

“
Why?
”

Marianne continued as though Willow hadn
’
t spoken.
“—
and he probably won
’
t be able to call.
If he does, it
’
ll be very late at night
.”

“
Mom, what
’
s going on?
Is there trouble with the trial?
”

“
Willow,
”
Marianne said as though dreading the coming discussion,
“
that
’
s all he told me to tell you except that he wants you to trust him.
He
’
ll explain everything when he gets home
.”

The protest that formed died on her lips as Marianne said
“
trust
.” “
Can you tell
m
e if he
’
s ok?
”

“
He
’
s ok
—
now.
He
’
ll be home as soon as he can
.”

“
Should I be praying?
”
Willow whispered nervously.

Marianne
’
s cheerful voice wiped away the final traces of concern from Willow
’
s voice as she assured Willow that prayer never hurts.
Willow stared at the phone for several seconds after her mother-in-law disconnected and wondered just how long it
’
d be before he came home.
She
’
d heard of sequestered juries
—
did they sequester witnesses too?