The Defendant (32 page)

The last of his words were thrown at her on a howl of pain and Josie’s heart broke with the sadness of it. Jason buried his head against her side and cried his heart out.

She put an arm around his thin shoulders and drew him in closer against her. His tears continued to fall, soaking into her blouse, and she made soothing noises against his hair. As much as it pained her to listen to his sorrow, she knew it was the best thing for him. She bet he hadn’t cried much since it had happened, if at all. He needed the release that the crying bout would give him, even if he didn’t know it.

After awhile, his sobs quietened to the occasional sniffle and shudder. At last, he raised his tear-stained face. He looked at her with such dejection, she almost cried out.

“Talk to me, Jason. Tell me about your pain. I want to help, honey. I want to help any way I can.”

“You can’t help,” he burst out. “Nobody can. My mom’s gone. She’s never coming back. I’m never going to see her again.”

“One day you will,” she offered, hesitating a guess that he’d been raised a Christian. “You’ll see her up in heaven.”

“I don’t want to wait that long,” he sniffled. “I want to see her now. I miss her so much. Ever since she’s been gone, everyone in my family’s been sad. My dad’s so sad he had to be put in the hospital. Daniel hasn’t laughed once since it happened. I don’t think he’s ever going to laugh again. I miss my family—the way we used to be. I want things to go back the way they were before, but then I remember it’s never going to happen.”

“You’re right, sweetheart. Things are never going to be the same again, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be happy, that you can’t be a family again. It won’t be the same without your mom, but your dad and Daniel love you as much as they always did. Nothing’s changed about the way they feel about you, just like nothing’s changed about the way you feel about them.”

She tightened her arms around him and sent a short prayer heavenwards to help her find the right words that might help him understand.

“Sometimes bad things happen for no good reason—at least, not for any reason we can see. It makes us angry and we feel cheated. If things happen, we want to know why and we want to know that the reason is one that’s worthwhile. Losing your mom is none of those things and it’s normal to feel mad.”

She reached down and tilted his chin up until he was facing her. “So, be mad. Scream and shout. Just like I did when I broke my leg. Somehow, it helps us to feel better, or at least, a little less mad. Sometimes, it helps us to heal.”

“I don’t want to forget her,” he whispered in a tiny, sad voice.

Josie’s heart tripped over with emotion and she blinked back tears. “No one said anything about forgetting, darling. Healing doesn’t mean forgetting. Do you think I’ve forgotten the weeks and months I spent in the bleachers waiting for my leg to heal?”

He shook his head with the slightest of movements.

“That’s right, I didn’t. More than ten years later, I still remember every second of it and every minute of the pain. But, eventually it lessened and it got easier to live with. Eventually, I was able to look at it as a time in my life when things weren’t bright and cheery, but neither was I without hope. My leg would eventually heal; there would be other football seasons. Your family will also heal and there will be other happy times. You won’t believe me right now and that’s perfectly okay, but honey, please do me a favor?”

He stared up at her. “What?” he croaked.

“I want you to call me. Whenever you’re feeling sad or angry or frustrated or hurt or disappointed, or anything at all. Call me and tell me about it and I promise I’ll help you feel better.”

“Can you make my dad feel better? It makes me upset knowing he’s too sad to be with us.”

“Oh, honey. He wants to be with you! He wants that more than anything, but you’re right. He is sad, but he’s talking about it to someone like me and they’re going to help him through it. In fact, remember what I was talking about earlier, in the car? Did you hear me telling Daniel your dad’s hoping to be at the court house tomorrow? If you like, I can arrange for you to see him. Would you like that?”

“If he’s coming out of the hospital, maybe we can go home with him tomorrow? Do you think we can do that?”

Tears burned behind Josie’s eyes at the hope and eagerness in the boy’s eyes. At the same time, she tried not to feel disappointed that she might only get the night with them.

“Maybe. Who knows? We’ll have to find out tomorrow, but if he’s allowed out of the hospital, there’s a good chance he’ll be allowed to take you home.”

Jason nodded, a contented smile on his face. With a sigh, he snuggled up beside her. He was silent for so long, she thought he might have fallen asleep but then he whispered in the dusk, “Thank you, Josie. You’re right. I do feel better.”

* * *

Scott Jones killed the ignition about half a mile from where the GPS told him the farmhouse rented by Doctor Josie Munro was located. He’d taken care to pull off onto the shoulder of the road and drive a distance into a thick stand of pine trees. The dense foliage hid his vehicle from the casual observer traveling along the road and he was confident if anyone did come along before he returned, they wouldn’t notice it.

Flipping open the trunk, he pulled out the length of rope, duct tape and the knife he’d managed to procure from an ex con before he’d left Sydney. He would have preferred a gun. Somehow, it would have been fitting. But guns were expensive and not as easy to come by in a hurry and he’d had to settle for the six-inch Bowie. The woman hadn’t looked hefty in the newspaper picture. It should be enough.

Stowing the items in his belt and the pocket of his jeans, he shut the trunk. With a last look around him, he headed in the direction of the Holloway place.

It didn’t take him long to find it; it was exactly as the old girl had said. More of a cottage than the farmhouse he’d imagined, but it sat out in the middle of a field and apart from a few lights in some of the windows, there were no other signs of life. There wasn’t another house in sight and he was filled with anticipation at what was to come.

Taking cover behind the occasional tree and otherwise crawling on his belly, he made his way up to the house. A shiny green Mustang stood in the drive, right outside the front gate. He looked for the keys through the window and found them in the ignition. Country people were so trusting. The Mustang would be an additional reward.

Night had fallen softly around him, but his eyes adjusted to the dark. Up close, the lights from the cottage were warm and welcoming and beckoned him forward with their soft yellow glow. The faint noise of a television could be heard over the chirping of the crickets. A moment later, the silhouette of a woman passed the window and he smiled. It looked like she was in.

Creeping up closer to the porch, he took the time to circle the perimeter. There was a queen-sized bed in one bedroom and two single beds in the other. In the dimness, both rooms appeared to be empty.

From what he could tell, it was just her and a young kid—a boy who was asleep on the couch. There was certainly no sign of a man. Perhaps she was a single mom, like his mother had been?

His lip curled up in disgust at the memories. His childhood had been far from happy. A surge of anticipation went through him. Just a woman and a child: His job was going to be even easier than he imagined. He couldn’t wait for it to begin.

* * *

Daniel rolled onto his side and stared up at the sliver of moon just visible from his position on the bed. It was nearly dinner time. Any minute, he expected Josie to call him. She’d been so kind to him and his brother when she didn’t have to be. She didn’t even know them.

She’d been paid by the prosecution to provide them with a report on his mental state. He wasn’t stupid. He knew they were debating about whether or not, when he pulled that damn trigger, he knew that it was wrong. Of course he knew it was wrong, but what was he supposed to do? Stand there like an idiot and watch the man hurt his mom?

His dad had left him in charge: ‘Take care of your mother and little brother, okay? You’re the man about the house when I’m not home.’

He’d taken his responsibilities seriously. Had acted before thinking. But like he’d told Josie, it wouldn’t have mattered if he’d known he’d be facing jail. He would have reacted and acted exactly the same.

His mind turned to what might happen after the judge made his decision. The thought of going to jail frightened him. He didn’t know anyone who’d been sent to jail, but on TV it looked like a scary place to be. The meanness, the cruel jokes, an underlying threat of violence: Even the thought of it terrified him.

If his barrister was right, Daniel could be sentenced to at least two years of juvenile detention—and that was if the judge was in a good mood.
Two years.
He’d be fifteen before he got out and that was if he were lucky. He couldn’t help but wonder what things would be like when he was released.

Would he look the same? Feel the same? Would people treat him differently? It was bad enough now at school, with most of the kids unsure how to talk to him. Some of them thought he was a hero, but just as many more stayed out of his way, like they were scared of him.

Scared. Of him. He shook his head. Life sucked. There was nothing surer.

A shadow passed by his window and Daniel froze. His heart thumped hard against the wall of his chest. He hardly dared to breathe. Someone was out there. It was happening all over again.
Or was it?
Maybe he’d imagined it. He’d imagined a lot of things since the night of the attack.

He strained to listen for any sound, but there was nothing. Gradually, his heartbeat returned to normal and he relaxed. He told himself he was being silly. What were the chances of someone breaking in? It was stupid to even think like that.

They wouldn’t be attacked again. Stuff like that only happened in the movies. Everyone knew that. He was being a baby, hiding away in the dark. Jumping at shadows.

The faint murmur of the television reassured him. He was in Josie’s home. He was safe.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Chase ran a brush through his wet curls and attempted to restore his hair to some kind of order. He’d taken longer at home than he wanted to, but the thought of a hot shower and fresh clothes was too tempting to resist. He shampooed his hair, had a shave and just finished brushing his teeth. A spray of his favorite cologne completed the job.

His grin in the bathroom mirror was rueful. The last time he’d taken so much care over his appearance, he’d been about to go on a date with Josie. He’d been all of eighteen and he was just as worked up in his gut then as he was now. He couldn’t wait to see her again.

Striding out of the bathroom he switched lights off as he went and collected his wallet, cell phone and keys off the table in the hall. He snatched a jacket off the coat rack near the front door and was reaching for the door knob when the phone in the kitchen rang.

He stopped. His home number was private. The only people who had it were his family and very close friends. With his parents both dead, he counted his father’s brother and his wife as his next of kin and took the time to stay in contact with them as often as time allowed.

With a sigh, he did an about-turn and headed toward the kitchen. If it was his aunt or uncle calling, it could be important. He hoped he wasn’t about to hear bad news.

He picked up the phone on the fourth ring and answered it. “Chase Barrington.”

“Chase, old mate. How are you doing?”

Chase smiled at the sound of his cousin’s voice. With no brothers or sisters, Beau Barrington was the closest thing Chase had to a sibling. They were the same age and had spent many a school summer break together, getting into mischief.

They’d grown up miles apart, with Beau having been born and bred in Sydney, but their fathers had always been close until Chase’s had died. Since then, both Chase and Beau made a conscious effort to stay in touch.

“Beau, I’m good. In fact, I couldn’t be better. I’m feeling on top of the world.”

“I see.” There was a pause that lasted a heartbeat. “So, what’s her name?”

Chase sighed in mock confusion. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Bullshit,” Beau replied, laughter in his voice. “I haven’t heard you sound this happy since your folks were alive. There has to be a girl involved.”

Chase quickly capitulated, eager to fill Beau in on all the details. “You’re right. Her name’s Josie.”

“I knew it, you sly old dog!” He paused and then added softly, “This one’s really special, isn’t she?”

“How can you tell?”

“Your voice went all soft and mushy when you mentioned her name. You’re not the soft and mushy type.”

Chase smiled. “You’re right again—on both counts. She
is
really special. I’ve been in love with her for over a decade. I’ve finally been able to claim her as mine.”

Beau whistled low in Chase’s ear. “Wow, mate, that’s…that’s pretty special. Why did it take so long?”

“It’s a long story, cuz and one I might fill you in on one day, but right now, I have to run. She’s waiting on me for dinner.”

“She sounds like a keeper, mate. Take good care, okay, and call me when you have time to chat. I’d love to hear how it took Chase Barrington, legendary Romeo of Watervale, a whole ten years to steal the heart of the woman he loved.”