Until Dark - Mariah Stewart [126]
“I’ve seen that guest list, and I believe your name is on it.”
“Hopefully by the time your wedding rolls around, I’ll have use of my hands again.”
“What are the doctors saying?”
“Four weeks in the splints, then therapy,” she told him. “Not so bad, when you consider that he could have killed me. He almost did kill me,” she said, recalling those moments right before she’d lost consciousness, when, her head held underwater, she’d fought for breath. “I’m not sure why he didn’t, unless he wasn’t finished bragging about all he’d done.”
“I’m going to want to talk to you about that, as soon as you’re ready.”
“I’m ready,” she rasped.
“I don’t think so.” He patted her foot. “We’ll give you at least until tomorrow.”
“You’ll be speaking with Zach, though, won’t you.” It wasn’t a question.
John nodded.
“Then you should speak with me first,” she told him. “I can give you information so your people will know what to ask him about. He’s not going to volunteer anything, so you need to know what to ask. There are so many families who need to know.”
“Kendra, your voice is almost gone.”
“I don’t care,” she insisted. “If my voice goes, I’ll whisper. There are things you need to know about this man.”
Adam returned to Kendra’s room shortly after Mancini began to record her recollection of the events of the past twenty-four hours. He offered to assist in the interview, but John was already into it, and he waved off Adam’s offer.
“But if you wouldn’t mind,” Kendra’s voice was noticeably weaker than it had been earlier that morning, “could you check on my house for me? Chief Logan says the damage is all to one side, but I’d feel better if you went out and actually looked things over for me.”
“If you know who your insurance agent is, I can call him for you. I think you’re going to need to report this as soon as possible.”
“Jess Webb is my agent. He’s also one of the volunteer firemen, so I’m guessing the report has already gone in.”
“I’ll just run out, and take a look then,” Adam said, though he made no sign of moving. He seemed almost reluctant to leave her, even in the company of his own boss.
“Were you planning on doing that today, Stark?” John asked without turning around.
“Ah, yes sir, I was.” Adam still stood at the foot of Kendra’s bed. “You’re okay? You don’t want to wait until tomorrow to talk about what happened?”
She shook her head no. “I want to do it now.”
“She’s in good hands, Stark.” This time John did turn to face him. “I’ll take good care of her, I promise. And she’ll still be here when you get back.”
“Sure.” Adam nodded, backing toward the door. “Sure. I knew that.”
Not happy at having been dismissed, but understanding that John might want someone other than Adam, whose interest in Kendra was clearly more than professional, to conduct the initial interview, Adam drove back to Smith’s Forge.
He could smell the remains of the house long before it came into view. From the moment he’d turned onto Kendra’s road, the odor of charred wet wood hung in the still midday air. He drove slowly down the dirt road, almost fearing his arrival at Smith House. The house was all Kendra had left of her family, her connection to them and to her past. Her sanctuary. If the house had been destroyed, what might that do to her?
Three cars were already parked in the drive. One was Kendra’s, the other Selena’s. The third was an unknown.
“Hey,” Selena called to him as he got out of his car.
Adam waved as he walked toward her, wondering where the driver of the third car might be.
“How’s Kendra?” Selena asked, her eyes dark with concern.
“She’s going to be fine,” Adam nodded.
“I thought I’d stop back again this afternoon, after I finished up here with Jess.”
“Jess?”
“Jess Webb. He’s making a report for the insurance company. His dad, Oliver, was an old friend of the Smiths. He left a message on my answering machine, telling me what happened, and when Jess would be here. He thought someone should be here for Kendra, since she clearly wasn’t going