Promised Lies (A Detective Blanchette Mystery)
Page 28
“If you’re done, I’d like to ask Detective Blanchette a couple of questions. She can speak for herself?” Vaughn looked at Lily. “Can’t you?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Detective Blanchette, during the early morning of November 30th,” Robert began, “did you enter your home along with VTFU commander, Sergeant Ryan Provost?”
“Yes. We went inside to save Detective York who was being held hostage by my husband.”
“Did you get permission from your sergeant?”
Brian put up his hand. “Don’t answer that.”
“There wasn’t enough time. It was dark and I know the layout of my home better than anyone. My decision was based on the desire to save a fellow officer.”
“What happened once you entered the residence?”
Lily explained step by step of what happened once they caught sight of Evan on the couch, ending her story with the shooting of Julius.
“One last question. Do you believe that your past relationship with Detective York blurred your decision to go in and rescue him?”
“Don’t answer that,” Brian said.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to save my fellow officers.”
“Even if it means making up your own rules along the way?” Vaughn tossed the file up on the table. “I need you to wait out in the sitting room while I go over everything and make my decision.”
Tension rolled through Lily’s neck as she stood and allowed Brian to escort her out. It was like torture for her trying to remember all of the details that led up to the shooting. She knew she had done everything right, but still, what if with all of the craziness that went on she had forgotten a small detail; one that might have been important?
When the door closed behind them Brian said, “Are you okay?”
“I think.”
“Don’t think too much. You answered truthfully. When they call you back in, just sit and listen. And next time when I say don’t answer, I mean just that.”
“I don’t think it matters. Vaughn has it in for me. Period.”
Fifteen minutes later the door opened and the lady who was sitting on Vaughn’s right gestured for them to come in and take a seat.
They did so and waited while Vaughn read through a few pages and scribbled something at the bottom of the page. He sipped some water from his glass, set it down and adjusted his tie. He looked at Lily. “Based on all of the evidence presented before me, including those on your team and off, we’ve come to the decision that the shooting was clean. However, you’ll be required to seek counseling with a licensed departmental therapist once a week for six months, effective immediately.
“Are you in agreement?”
More counseling. Now I’m going to end up with the one who cares. “Yes, Sir.”
“Please see your sergeant. He’ll return your gun and badge-number 519 to you.” He pushed the documents across the table. “A copy for me and one for you. Please sign both.”
Lily scanned the papers and signed them.
Moments later, she and Brian left, parting ways at the elevator. There was no way to describe everything that had happened over the last seven months. All she knew was that she’d been given a second chance.
Instead of going up to the third floor, Lily made her way out of the building and into her truck. She wanted to make one last stop before claiming her badge and gun. From the middle console, she retrieved the letter the lawyer had given her and looked at the writing on the envelope: Lily Blanchette – Always.
Always, Dad.
Now to make one last stop.
*
Twenty-two minutes later, Lily passed a sign welcoming her to Whitewater. She kept going until she reached County Road D and slowed, double checking the fire number on the sign. She was at the right one. She put her truck in 4-wheel drive and ascended her way up the long driveway and over the hill to the property.
The wheels kicked up dust as she parked in front of a farm house resting on seven acres.
She got out and scoped out the land as she started walking toward the two car garage. She peered through the dingy window to see an old boat propped up on blocks. You finally bought that boat you wanted.
Lily turned and left. She opened the envelope and pulled out the letter:
To My Daughter:
I hope you’re not mad about what I did to your mother. There were a lot of hard feelings between me and her, and I wanted to make sure that my stuff went to someone who’d love it as much as I did.
I know you’ll respect me and your granddaddy’s wishes when it comes to the Colonial.
I’m hoping that if you’re reading this everything has been said and done.
By now you know that I’m not your biological father. But I don’t care. I raised you. You are mine and I’m hoping that you’ll want to keep the Blanchette name. Yes, I had tons of fears. Would you want to see him? How would this affect our relationship? Would your heart change to accept this man alongside the love I’d given you all these years?
Even if our DNA doesn’t match, I didn’t want to lose a second daughter.
To me, you’re my survivor.
Anyway, by now I hope you’ve seen my getaway place in Whitewater. It’s not much, but I was thinking since you like restoring old houses, here’s your chance to make this a beauty. If you get time of course. Maybe a summer project?
Love, Dad.
An engine pushed to make it up the hill. She turned around and saw it was Evan’s car. What?
Evan climbed out of his vehicle and walked up to Lily. “Figured you’d be here.”
“How’d you figure that?”
“Just a gut instinct.” He winked.
“How’d you know about this place?”
“I was with your dad when he bought it. Seven acres of wooded property. I’m jealous.”
Lily surveyed the garden house and shed. “Problem is, I don’t know what I’m going to do with all of this.”
“You’ll figure something out.”
Yes, she would. But not now. Everything about the property had her dad’s fingerprints. Now she’d be able to come up here and have peace, or visit if she just needed to feel him nearby. With Evan beside her, she turned and went into the house.
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