It's A Crime (23 page)

“I’ll find a way
.” Karl looked down. “I’ll find a way,” he repeated. “Now go.”

He leaned in and gently kissed her swollen lips.
She put her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her, holding him tightly. He backed away from the car and slowly moved to let her pass. She turned the car and sped off.

It took the whole ride home for it to sink in, for Katherine to realize what she had done.
She was ashamed at the way she behaved and surprised she wanted him to do that to her again.

But for now s
he had to get into her room without being seen, then she’d be able to climb into the bathtub and scrub her body clean. She needed to get rid of her bloodied clothes.

T
he painful realization her father would
never
let her see Karl hit her like a brick; she was Katherine Worthington, daughter of Charles Worthington II, after all.

Her family
would be leaving to go back to Manhattan in just two days. Her debutante ball was in less than a week; it had been arranged for her to be escorted by William Thorson. It would be impossible for them to see each other before then. This would never work. She wiped away tears, feeling all she lost tonight.

She’s had to withstand
seven agonizing months before the first pain swept through and across her lower abdomen. She was large, the bulbous shape of her belly unrecognizable to herself. It disgusted her. She could see the baby move; she wanted it out of her. She wanted it out now. Tears ran down her face as she pushed on the top of her belly, grimacing as she tried to push the misbegotten brat out of her. She felt another pain—this one caused her legs to buckle underneath her. The pain was so devastating she screamed out as she fell to the floor. Watery fluid mixed with blood formed a circle around her as she lost consciousness.

When she awoke, she was in a bed,
a hospital bed. A line of fluid flowed from a hanging bag through a needle into the vein of her arm. Her mother sat in the chair next to the window, staring outside. When Elizabeth heard Katherine move in the bed, she turned her head toward her daughter and rushed to her side. Grabbing her hand, she held it tightly in her own.

“It’s all over
, Katherine. You’re going to be all right now. The doctors have told us we can take you home tomorrow. When you’re stronger.” She paused, wiping the tears from her face. She bent down to her daughter and placed a soft, loving and in Katherine’s memory, forgiving kiss.

“I’m
very sorry, Mother,” Katherine whispered.

“
I know, darling. Just rest. Soon you will be back home.”

Katherine faded into sleep, dreaming for the first time in nine months about the future.

She shook her head, feeling sorry for herself. She had her whole life ahead of her then, and spent her life helping others, raising money for children. She didn’t deserve this…

But r
ight now she needed to know her Grace was safe. Please, please, please...

Her phone rang
she looked at the caller ID. Grace.
Thank you, God
.

Chapter 23

“Grace?”

My mother
was hysterical.

“Yes, of course, M
other.”

“Where are you?
Is everything all right?”

“Yes
...Why do you sound so strange? Has something happened? Are you okay?”

“Where are you
, Grace?”

“I’m.
..I’m sorry, Mother, for leaving the gala like that; I’m calling to apologize.”

“GRACE ELENA,
I asked where are you? Now answer me.” The hysterical note rose in her voice. Something was very wrong.

“I’m fine
, Mother. What is wrong?”

“Where are you?”

Okay, I was snagged...
Deal with it, Grace
.

“I’m with Cole
at the Asbury.” I waited for her reprimand. It didn’t come. All I heard was the voice of a scared, broken person.

“Thank God.”
She paused. “I thought some...something happened to you...Why haven’t you returned my calls? Surely you had to have seen I’ve been calling?”

“Well, no
, Mother, I plugged my phone in when I saw it died. I just turned it back on and saw the missed calls. I’m sorry.” I truly meant those words this time. She was definitely distraught and guilt ate at me to think I was the cause of it.

“Cole?
That man you met? Your father knows of him. Denver? Yes, Michelle said something...Can you just stay with him?…He’s...just stay with him. I don’t want you to go out alone. I don’t want you on the street. When you need to leave, call Edward or Sam and they will make sure you get where you need to go...just don’t go out alone.”

“Mother, what’s wrong?
Why do you sound so strange? What’s happened?”

“Gr
ace…” Her voice began to return to its normal tenor. “I just needed to hear you are okay. I was worried. Don’t do that to me again…ever!” She was starting to sound like my mother again, but something was different.

“
Mother, are you all right?”

“I’m
fine now. I...I’m just busy. I have to go. Call me, Grace…every day, regularly. Please? Please promise me. Promise.”

“
Okay, I promise. We will have lunch, in a few days. You and I, just two of us, then you are going to tell me what is going on.” I was worried, but she was also crazy.

“Yes, darling.
Yes...lunch. That would be wonderful. You will call me. Call me every day...so I know you are fine. Okay?”

“Yes
, Mother. Lunch, in a few days. We WILL talk.” She was seriously freaking me out now. And here I was preparing to get reprimanded!

“I look forward to
lunch, Mother.” I waited a second before I said, “I love you, Mother.” I felt lost; I didn’t know how to make her feel better, or me for that matter, but after telling her I loved her I did feel better. Oddly relieved.

“Me too
, Grace Elena...Darling, me too.”

Something was seriously
strange here and I was going to find out what.

I pushed end and dial
ed Michelle, needing to have a more rational conversation.

“Hey
, you,” she answered.

“Hi.”

“Your mother is really worried. Call her.”

“I just did.
The woman is a total loon. She...ah, I don’t know. You okay, or are you give me crap too?”

“Oh, to be a fly on the wall.”
She laughed out loud. I heard Jeff’s voice in the background. I guess they made up…again.

“Funny.”

“How is Cole?
Having fun?”
her tone turned playful.

I shook my head
. The tension from my conversation with my mother slowly faded.

“I’m having a blast.
We went to Daniel’s last night. The food was amazing.” I went on, “Daniel himself prepared our meal.”

“Nice, I’m jealous.”
She replied. “I’m back in my own apartment. Still smells awful, but I keep lighting candles around the house. The smell is slowly going away, either that or I’ve gotten used to it.”

“Good to know
...listen, I’m gonna go. I’ll call you tomorrow. I just wanted to touch base.”

“Yeah,
yeah. I’ll talk to you later.” She knew I was rushing her off. She hung up and I shoved my phone back in my bag. I walked back over to the mantle to have another look at those pictures. I didn’t hear him come in so when I turned around to find Cole standing there I nearly jumped out of my skin.

“
Jesus Christ
! Don’t do that to me!” I shouted, visibly shaken.

He
shook his head, laughing at my expense. “I was coming in to ask what you wanted for breakfast.”

“Nothing now.
I just want to finish my coffee.” I lifted the cup to my mouth and grimaced. It was cold. “Actually, I’ll just get another cup.” I looked back at the photos and said, “I don’t mean to be nosy...well actually I guess I do.” Pointing to the pictures on the mantle, I asked, “Is it too personal? I mean you’ve never spoken of them.”

A sad
look crossed his face and his smile left with my question. I was immediately sorry I asked.

“No,
it’s just not something I ever talk about. They were killed in a fire, a long time ago.” The pain in his voice was palpable.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry.”
Raising my hand to my heart, I felt totally horrible for being nosey.

“
Don’t be, you couldn’t have known.” Extending his hand to me, he grabbed me and pulled me closer to him. “Let’s go get you a fresh cup of coffee.” He led me out, shutting the door behind him. The myriad of questions I had instantly got put on hold.

I certainly wasn’t going to pry into
something so painful for him just to ease my own curiosity, even if my curiosity was piqued, and it was. My mystery man, full of secrets.

I had
Belgian waffles and fresh strawberries for breakfast. Cole ate his normal hardy breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast and potatoes. After we finished he walked me over to the couch and pulled me on top of him, wrapping his arms around me. I laid my head on his chest and fell asleep listening to his heart beating steadily. Safe and secure.

Chapter 24

Seventeen years ago

The fire was officially ruled arson by the fire commissioner. Cole was questioned by the police and released into the custody of his Aunt Theresa, his mother’s sister.

The depth of pain and anguish internalized by Cole could never be measured.
Overwhelmed with guilt, he believed if he were home, his family would be alive. He was awake when the fire had been started and he would have awakened his family and gotten them out of the house. A twelve, Cole couldn’t accept his family was gone forever, and his guilt had him feeling useless; at times he wished he perished with them, rather than be alone. The arson investigator did a thorough investigation and presented his findings in a report to the fire commissioner, exonerating Cole. The fire had been carefully devised by the arsonist. The use of accelerant was present at every window and door of the home. The wooden structure rapidly caught fire, leaving very little hope the occupants would have gotten out alive.

It was
an extraordinarily difficult and painful time for Cole. His Aunt Theresa was overwhelmed trying to help him through this complicated time while also mourning the loss of her sister and family. She wasn’t prepared as Cole became withdrawn and retreating inside himself. Theresa made an appointment with her family doctor, who in turn recommended Cole see another doctor, a psychologist, who he hoped would be able to help him. Cole met with and continued to see Doctor Delaney for several months, but remained removed and despondent.