Chapter 4

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Chapter 4

Ethan

I've never been so scared in my life. When I saw Brynn laying in the freezer, not moving, unconscious and bleeding, I thought she was dead. I thought I would never get the chance to make up for all the pain I caused her. Now she doesn't even remember what I did.

I don't know if that's a blessing or a curse.

In a way, I've been given a second chance to do it right this time. But if I don't tell her what she's blocked out, I could lose her and never get her back. I have to do the right thing but still....

"You need a break, Ethan. You've been here around the clock for three days. You've barely eaten, you haven't slept and you smell... bad." Beckett is right. I do smell. But leaving her means I take a chance of someone telling her the truth before I can.

"Ethan! Are you listening to Beckett?" Leo pushes my shoulder to get my attention.

"What? Yeah! I'm listening! I just don't think..." Glancing over my shoulder at Brynn, asleep in the bed, I wonder just how safe she really is.

"She's not alone here. Lindsey would be a fool to come here after everything she's done. Look, just come home with me, get a shower and something to eat. I'll bring you right back." Beckett offers, knowing how worried I am about this entire mess.

He's right though. There isn't a person in this hospital who doesn't know Lindsey or what she's done. I don't see how she could get away with anything here. But I don't put anything past her. She would kill her own mother if it suited her. Unfortunately, her mom died a long time ago.

Going back to my chair, I lean over and kiss Brynn on the forehead. Her eyes flutter open, an immediate look of confusion on her face.

"Hey, sugarbear. I'm going to go clean up a bit and bring you back some of Georgia's famous Honey whiskey brisket. Cole is going to be right here with you." I explain, hoping she'll be okay with it.

"Oh, okay." Looking at Beckett and Leo behind me, it's clear she doesn't remember who's who yet.

"That's Beckett and my brother Leo, remember?" Pointing to each of them, I try to find patience that I don't have. "Cole's out in the hall on a call. He'll be in shortly."

"But you're coming back, right?" Brynn questions me as she reaches for my hand. As if she could stop me from coming back to her.

I was right next to her when she woke up. I stayed right here for days making sure she was safe and recovering. She's opened a door to me that has been bolted tight for years. And I have to tell her why she turned me away years ago. But not yet.

"I'm coming back, I promise. Nothing will keep me away from you again." Not now, not ever.

"What do you mean again? Ethan..." She's as inquisitive as she always was.

Giving her one more kiss on the forehead, I look at Beckett, wondering if I should just beg for a shower here. "You could just bring me a change of clothes and some takeout."

"You still smell. You need a break. She's in good hands. Brynn, I'll bring him back in much better shape than he's in now. I promise, you'll thank me later." Beckett grabs my arm and drags me to the door.

It took a lot of pushing and negotiating but Beck convinced me to go. Cole stayed behind and was on his phone with the electrician when we left. That was some comfort at least, knowing she will have someone to protect her.

We went straight to Georgia's house and I hurried up the stairs avoiding all the questions that I knew were coming. I don't have any answers but more questions. I'm hoping Georgia's investigator is able to dig up some information on Lindsey.

Tossing my clothes into a pile on the floor, I grab the clothes Beck is lending me and go in to clean up. Turning the water on as hot as I can stand it, I step into the steam and close my eyes. Beckett was right, I stink.

A hot shower was exactly what I needed. It felt good to just let the hot water pound down on those sore, tense muscles. Cleaning up and getting into some clean clothes helped. Beckett wasn't lying when he said I smelled. I think it's better to burn those clothes than wash them.

Coming down stairs, I found the family group huddled around Georgia's big table she had recently purchased. Looking over I spot a new face in the mix. The investigator she's been working with is here. The guy looks familiar. Not because I vaguely remember meeting him a while back but there's something else about him that just seems familiar.

"Oh good, you're just in time, Ethan. Come on in here and I'll fix you some lunch. And I heard you promised Brynn some brisket. I've got that ready for you with some potato salad to take back to her." Georgia gets up and begins making me a sandwich.

Knowing when I'm outnumbered, I give in when my stomach growls loudly. I guess eating would be a good idea. As much as I want to get back to Brynn, there's no stopping Georgia when she wants something. So I shake hands with the man across from me and take a seat.

"You remember my investigator. He's got some information for us. Beckett, fix Ethan a drink please. There's sweet tea in the fridge." Georgia pats my shoulder as she sets a big sandwich in front of me with a pile of potato salad. "Go on now. It's important we all hear this."

The investigator nods, opening up his notebook to address his information. "As I was saying. It appears the mayor had the details of his wife's death sealed. Or he tried to."

"Why would he do that if it was an accident?" Beckett asks, sliding a tall glass of tea in front of me.

"That's just it. I don't think it was an accident at all. There was an autopsy done, it wasn't included in the report to seal."  And there's a red flag. "According to the autopsy she didn't die from the fall but from a stab wound."

"Stab wound?" Beckett said out loud, pondering this new information.

"Yes, a four inch in length cut that actually punctured her lung. From what the medical examiner says in her notes, it looks like a kitchen knife was used." He read from his notes. Pushing his glasses up his nose he continues. "That isn't the worst of it. She had multiple cuts all over her, not deep or fatal as that one, but it was clear that she endured severe trauma prior to the fall. From what the report says there was a glass chandelier that fell on her after the fall."

"That would explain why he wanted the report sealed." Beckett muttered. "Did it say anything about who could have done it?"

"Not exactly. There's trauma to the head, which would be consistent with the fall, and several broken bones. But the wound from the knife is what makes me believe it was murder and not from an intruder. The person who did this had to get close enough to touch her."

"A daughter would be able to touch her mom." Beckett adds. He seems sure that it was Lindsey but she was a small child back then. She wouldn't have the strength to do this.

Nodding, the investigator continues. "I would agree with you given the information Georgia has provided me, but a child wouldn't have been able to do this. It would have to have been an adult, most likely a man, from the M.E. notes someone in the 5'10" to 6'2" range."

"That seems to fit a lot of people in this room alone. It also includes the mayor." Beckett leans back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest. "You think dear old daddy knocked her off?"

"I would think he would protect his wife, especially with the way he spoke of her the other day." Georgia joined us at the table as she added her two cents. "From the way he described her, she was a saint. He held her on a pretty high pedestal."

"And that could make a little spoiled child very jealous." Beckett isn't budging from his assumption.

"The woman was a real looker." The investigator pushed a photo across the table to us. Looking at the photo, I see a lady I haven't seen since childhood. The long blonde hair, sunny and bright in a pink dress that matches her daughters. It's a professional portrait of them, it must have been taken earlier that summer.

"Unless we're looking at this all wrong." Georgia mumbles, picking up the photo and examining it closely. "Why would our good mayor have the records sealed if it was clearly foul play?"

"Because he is hiding something." Beckett frowns, thinking about this. "That picture of his wife... you know who she resembles?"

"Brynn." Georgia nods as we take a closer look. "A grown up Brynn, obviously not as she was as a child, but yes, I see the similarities."

"Again he hid this for a reason. The man is hiding something. There's no police report." Beckett thumbs through the papers. "Why is that?"

"It wasn't reported as anything but an accident. No police were involved." The investigator answered.

"But there's a stab wound?" He pushes for an answer. "And he had the record sealed forgetting to include the autopsy results... that's..."

"Sloppy. It was sloppy of him to not seal the autopsy report. That would be the first thing he should have sealed." Georgia pointed out. "So why didn't he?"

That's a good question. I don't remember much from back then. We were all little, six, seven, eight years old. It was a long time ago and as kids we didn't pay a lot of attention to things the adults were doing.

"I remember when we went to the funeral." My memory isn't the best from back then but I remember things that stuck out. "Lindsey didn't cry at all that day. Dad said she was probably in shock. I never thought about it. Even the mayor was cold about it all."

"I think I'll have Paige and Will over for dinner this week. I'm betting they'll remember what can't." Georgia points at me knowing we're on to something.

Brynn

Cole has been in and out of here for the last hour. He seems like such a nice guy, extremely busy but nice. I wish I could remember these people and what happened to me.

I've tried. Laying here in the quiet, thinking about everything I do know and going backwards to when it all goes blank. Ethan has been in every memory I can find. That's not saying much. I don't know what he is to me but I feel like he is important to me. Gut instinct tells me he's a keeper.

Same goes with the others that have been in and out of here. Beckett and... oh his wife, Auburn? No! No! Aubrey. She knows me well. Friends I think, good close friends. Leo and Cole feel like family. Brothers in all but blood. That's nice to know, comforting to know I have a support system.

Deep in thought trying to find answers, I don't pay attention to the woman who comes in with a bouquet of flowers. Bright happy flowers that seem to brighten the room. The woman, dressed in a white dress with thin red stripes down it has a short bob of black hair and thick glasses.

She isn't someone I've seen come in here the last few days but I guess she works here. Taking the clipboard from the foot of my bed, she glances at the monitor next to me and writes something on the sheet.

"Looks like you're making a full recovery, Brynn. You're a lucky girl!" Her velvety smooth southern voice doesn't match her face.

"I hope so. Are you a nurse? I don't remember seeing you before." For whatever reason, something doesn't feel right.

"I saw you first, when you were unconscious. I'm sure you know you were very lucky those Tucker boys came to work early. You could have froze to death in that freezer." She paused as if she was testing me.

"I heard that too." Pausing,  I wonder who she is. "What is your name? I don't remember." I brush off my memory lapse not giving away that I don't remember anyone.

"I'm Melinda, Ethan's wife. He's been so worried about you." She smiles sweetly with something a little off in her eyes. "You are just one of his clients, you see. Somehow you got locked in the freezer while you were inspecting the work. Ethan said you were quite a micromanager."

She laughed at her comment as if the jab was a joke. I don't think this woman likes me. And I'm thinking Ethan is the reason why.

"Ethan has been very sweet sitting with me. I was under the impression that he and I were..."

"Oh I'm sure you did. Ethan is a very kind person. But he isn't yours!" She snapped the last bit at me and her mask came down slightly. "We were high school sweethearts. The boy who grew into such a loving man is just wonderful every day. He gives more of himself than he should. Especially to strangers."

"I'm sorry if I've monopolized his time." And I really hope he gets back here soon.

"I'm sure you are. You know you and I are great friends. I've been trying to get in here to see you but Ethan has just not wanted to budge." The smile on her face gives me chills.

"I'm sorry I don't remember you." And I don't think I want to remember her. Something is not right with her.

"That's alright... absolutely fine... I'll just have to remind you about all our fun times together." Hearing Cole's voice just outside the door, the woman grabs the bouquet of flowers. "I'll let you rest for now but I'll be back, Brynn. I promise you that."

As Cole opened the door, Melinda left, the bouquet between them as she waved her hand to me and hurried out. Cole frowned at her back and closed the door.

"Who was that? Somebody send you flowers?" Looking around the room, we noticed that she didn't leave any flowers for me.

"She said her name was Melinda, Ethan's wife." Looking for answers, I see Cole is just as confused as I am.

"Ethan isn't married." Cole gets to his feet rushing for the door and goes into the hallway. By the time he comes back in, he's on the phone again. "She was here, Ethan! She told Brynn her name was Melinda. I know... that's her mom's name."

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