“How did Ramsey fit into it?” Jennie asked.
“J. B. thinks Carl may have owed him money.” Jennie grimaced. “It seems so cold-blooded. I’m surprised he didn’t kill Sarah as soon as he found out she was there.”
“He didn’t have the opportunity. Remember, Maggie came to the office right after he’d shot himself. Besides, as long as Sarah remained silent, he was safe. He used hypnosis and drugs to make certain she wouldn’t recover or remember who killed her father.”
“The guy’s a real gem.” Angel cleared her throat.
“You ready, Chambers?” She took hold of Scott’s arm and started to lead him away.
“Where are you going? I thought you’d been cleared.”
“Almost,” Angel answered for him. “We still have the little matter of fleeing an officer to deal with.”
“Never run from a cop, McGrady,” Scott said as he stepped into the hall. He turned to Delaney. “Couldn’t we talk about this… ?” Their voices faded as they walked away.
“Is he really going to jail?” Jennie asked. “It seems so unfair. After all he went through.”
“He broke the law. He shouldn’t have left the hospital.” Gram smiled and patted Jennie’s arm. “Don’t worry, dear. I’m sure they’ll take all that into consideration.”
They did. By the time Jennie and Sarah got to Dolphin Island the next day, Scott had been released and was back to work. Ken and Debbie were acting more like parents than employers. They not only gave him back his job, they offered him an internship at the center while he worked on his degree in marine biology.
After lunch, Jennie pulled on her swimsuit and made her way to the docks. As she approached, Sarah’s laughter danced over the water of the lagoon. “Come on, Samson, toss me the ball.”
Samson lifted the multicolored beach ball with his nose and instead sent it flying in Jennie’s direction. She caught it and tossed it back. “That was a pretty poor aim, Samson,” Jennie chuckled. “Better try again.”
“He did that on purpose, Jennie,” Sarah said. “He wants you to play too. Don’t you, Sam?”
Samson lifted his sleek body out of the water and nodded, making a clicking noise that sounded to Jennie like an enthusiastic invitation to join them.
Jennie shrugged into a life jacket and climbed into the water beside Sarah and Samson. The dolphin sliced between them and offered a fin. They held on as he gave them a wild ride to the far side of the lagoon, then abandoned them.
“Come back here, Sam,” Sarah called. She turned to Jennie and gave her a knowing grin. “He knows I’m well, so he’s being a tease.”
“Are you really okay?” Jennie asked as Samson approached them again to offer a ride back.
Sarah petted Samson’s side and nodded. “Thanks to you.” Tears sprang to her eyes and she lifted a wet hand to wipe them away. They both giggled at the soggy result.
Later that afternoon, while Scott worked and practically everyone she knew was taking a nap, Jennie stretched out on a lounge chair by the pool. She’d promised Gram to get some rest, but after all that had happened, she was almost afraid to close her eyes. It’s over, McGrady. Done. So why did she still feel restless?
She knew what it was. She just didn’t want to think about the possibility. Even so, the thought snaked in and coiled itself around her heart. Sarah’s father was dead. Even though they’d solved the mystery and Sarah’s silence had been broken forever, they couldn’t bring Sarah’s father back. Would the same be true for her? Would she and Gram solve the mystery of her dad’s disappearance only to discover that he too had died?
Oh, no you don’t, McGrady. It’s not the same. Dad’s alive. He has to be. And with Gram’s help, you’ll find him. In the last month, you’ve solved two mysteries. You can solve this one too. Count on it.
Jennie pillowed her head in her arms and closed her eyes. Tonight, dinner on Sanibel, and later, a game of pool with Scott. Tomorrow, Disney World—the next, Epcot Center. Then home. Soon she’d be seeing Mom and Nick and Lisa and … Ryan. The thought brought a fluttering to her heart and a smile to her lips.
Silent Witness Page 15
