Baltimore 03 - Did You Miss Me?

to know that I never laughed at your mother the way she thought I did. The night she came to see me, she accused me of having an affair with her husband. I laughed, it’s true. But it wasn’t at her pain. It was at the idea that I was having sex with anyone at all. I’d just been diagnosed with breast cancer and my husband was divorcing me on some trumped up adultery charges with someone else I hadn’t had sex with either. Ever.’
    Doug’s gaze dropped to her breasts. ‘I don’t believe you.’
    ‘Too damn bad. Doesn’t make it any less true. I’m sorry your mother thought I was laughing at her, but I was laughing at my own misery. I’m sorry that she thought I was having an affair with Hal, I truly am. The night she came to see me, I was shocked to find out I was living in her house. I felt terrible that she thought I was the kind of woman to cheat with her husband. I left that very day. Got my own place.’
    ‘She killed herself the next day,’ Doug said bitterly.
    ‘I’m sorry that she did. But I didn’t know. I tried to tell her she was wrong about me and her husband.’
    ‘You’re not here to be sorry. You’re here to pay.’ He twisted and suddenly the gun that had been pressed to her temple was shoved under her chin. ‘My mother shot herself in the head. Once I get out of here, you’ll know exactly how she felt.’
    Thursday, December 5, 3.25 P.M.
    Joseph stared at Deacon’s laptop screen. Mitch, Doug, whatever the hell he called himself, was a dead man . Joseph had wanted to run in and strangle him with his bare hands when he’d slammed Daphne’s head into the floor.
    ‘Deacon,’ he said, his voice strained. ‘What’s McManus waiting for?’
    ‘A clear shot,’ Deacon said grimly. ‘He’d almost need to hang from the roof and shoot down to get Doug in his sight.’
    ‘Then tell him to do that,’ Joseph snapped.
    ‘I will,’ Deacon said calmly. He drew a breath and Joseph angled his head so that he stared the younger man in the eye.
    ‘Don’t,’ Joseph warned.
    ‘What? Tell you to calm down? Wouldn’t think of it. I was going to suggest we call Clay. Tell him to get the kid to talk to his brother.’
    ‘I was waiting until McManus had a clear shot,’ Joseph said, his patience strained. ‘I’m saving the kid to throw him off balance.’
    ‘I’ll tell McManus to figure something out.’
    ‘I’ll tell Clay to prepare the kid.’ Joseph took his cell phone from his pocket, ready to dial, but it vibrated in his hand, startling him. Caller ID said it was Kate Coppola. Expert marksman. Maybe she could get the shot that McManus could not. ‘Where the hell are you?’
    ‘Coming up the drive to the cabin. Thought you should know that I stopped to pick something up. You’ll never guess who I just found climbing out of a white Jeep and trying to walk down the road on his own.’
    ‘Who?’
    ‘Hal Lynch.’
    ‘What? What the hell is he doing here?’
    ‘He’s not talking. But his shirt’s covered in blood that doesn’t appear to be his.’
    Thursday, December 5, 3.25 P.M.
    Daphne was scared out of her mind. Keep it together, just a little longer . Because as long as Doug was in the garage, he wasn’t near her son.
    ‘Did you know that my brother found her body? He was five .’
    ‘That was a selfish thing for your mother to do.’ She winced when Doug shoved the gun harder up under her chin. ‘You’re angry and you have a right to be. But if your mother was so keen on ending her life, she should have done it away from her five-year-old. She was selfish.’
    A muscle ticked in his jaw. ‘You drove her to it.’
    Goad him, push him, but stay in control . ‘I most certainly did not. Even if everything she said about me was true, I did not put a gun in her hand. She pulled the trigger, knowing her son would find her. What kind of mother does that? Tell me that.’
    ‘One in pain.’
    ‘ No . Not true. My husband cheated on me every day for twelve years. Did you see me trying to kill myself? No! I got cancer, Doug. I was sick and scared and alone and in pain , but did you see me putting a gun to my head, knowing my son would find me? No! I fought to live. I fought to raise my son, to see him grow up. If your mother didn’t do the same, then I’m sorry for you, but I will not accept the blame for her suicide.’ Her eyes blazed at him. ‘ I will not .’
    Think, Daphne . Pretend like you’re in court and he’s just another witness on the stand . See the