“Authorities release John Parker after the interview and will not confirm whether or not he’s a person of interest in the case,” the news anchor said as the station went to commercial.
Thorn came back into the room, and turned the TV volume back down. He set two Cokes down on my bed table and unwrapped a popsicle for me.
“Anything interesting?” He nodded toward the television and handed me the purple popsicle.
“Jeremy must have interviewed John Parker, but he wouldn’t tell the news if he’s a suspect or not,” I said.
Thorn laughed. “You’re in the hospital after just having our baby, and you’re worried about a case.”
“It just happened to be on the news,” I said. “Swear.”
“You should worry about other things,” he said and patted my leg. “If I find a way to get you a cheeseburger, will you promise to stay out of this?”
“What do you know?” I asked and narrowed my eyes at him.
“Kinsley Wilson, what makes you think I know something?”
“One, you were gone too long to just buy a couple of Cokes and grab a popsicle from the nurse’s station. Two, you’re trying to bribe me with cheeseburgers. That means something. I know it,” I said.
“Maybe the nurse just took a long time to get the popsicle. Hospital’s filling up apparently. What if that’s all it was?” he asked, but I could see he knew something.
“Spill it,” I said as Laney opened her eyes and stretched. “Please,” I whispered.
After a minute when Thorn was sure Laney wasn’t going to wake up, he sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Fine, I do know that Jeremy interviewed John Parker, and I know that he’s not in the clear. I actually remember him from right before the tornado. He was trying to cross the bridge I was guarding to get into Coventry to pick up his stepson. I didn’t know who he was at the time, but it all makes sense now.”
“So, he was at the victim’s house?” I asked.
“He was, and there’s no way that he could have made it home before the storm hit. So, he was either at the victim’s house, or he found somewhere to shelter in Coventry until it was over.”
“The neighbors all acted clueless,” I said.
“Doesn’t mean they really were,” Thorn said with a shrug.
“You think one of his neighbors was involved in the murder too?” I asked. “Or at least involved in helping cover it up?”
“Jeremy is handling the case,” Thorn said and crossed his arms over his chest.
I was about to protest, but Laney beat me to it. She woke up, turned bright red, and let out a squawk that made Meri jump two feet in the air. Laney put her little fist in her mouth for a second but then pulled it out and began to wail.
“I think she’s hungry,” I said over the cacophony.
“Looks that way,” Thorn said. “Let me get a bottle together really quick. You’ll let me feed her this time?”
“Of course,” I said.
I sang, or at least tried to sing, to Laney while Thorn got a bottle ready. When he had it done, I handed her over to him. She took the bottle right away, and I relaxed as he walked around the room feeding her and swaying softly. Thorn was a natural, and I could tell that Laney was going to be his little princess. It made my heart skip a beat to see them together.
When she finished her bottle, Thorn grabbed a cloth and sat down in the chair. He threw the cloth over his shoulder and burped her gently while I drank my Coke and fantasized about a cheeseburger.
“Is the cafeteria open at night here?” I whispered once she was asleep.
“I will get you a cheeseburger… and fries, but you have to promise to let the murder go,” he said.
“Deal,” I responded. “I really don’t care about anything but our family. I swear.”
“I know that,” he said. “I just don’t want you stressing yourself out over it. We’ll be taking Laney home in a couple of days, and we need to rest and relax as much as we can while we’re here. We won’t have the nurses at home to help us.”
“Oh, but we’ll have my whole family,” I said. “We’ll have plenty of help, but I promise I won’t stress over Stewart’s death. Now, go get me a cheeseburger, manservant.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Thorn stood up and handed Laney over to me. I must have drifted off a minute after he left, but I was awoken by a nurse gently taking Laney out of my arms.
“I’m just going to put her in the crib,” she said and placed my baby in that clear plastic aquarium thing they called a crib. We both held our breath, but Laney didn’t stir. “There now. You can get some rest. I saw your husband heading down the elevators a few minutes ago and figured I’d come check on you. Is he coming back tonight?”
“Yeah, he was just running down to the cafeteria to get… to get himself something to eat,” I said and hoped she couldn’t see I was fibbing.
“If you’ve farted, you can eat,” she said and smiled at me.
It made me bust out laughing, but then I quickly covered my mouth. Fortunately, Laney was sleeping like a baby, and I didn’t wake her.
“Sorry,” the nurse said. “Someone should have told you that once you pass gas, you can eat. Means the surgeon didn’t rearrange things in your gut, and it’s safe.”
“Right,” I said. “Thank you.”
“Not a problem. Let me know if you need anything.”
She patted me on the shoulder, adjusted my blankets, and the left the room.
Thorn returned a short while later with two bags from the cafeteria. One had burgers and the other had some fresh, hot fries.
“I think I got it past them,” he said as he plunked the bags down on my bed table.
“They said I could eat,” I told him, but I left the other part out. Marriage required a
