The Magic in Your Touch (38 page)

Nate knew that look, and he also knew there would be a free-for-all if he didn’t step in and put a stop to it. He said, “Brandon, if you’ll bring the tea to the table, I’ll take the bread out of the oven and we’ll be ready to eat.”

Brandon grumbled, but he did what Nate told him to do. Nate rescued the cornbread, and then carried the stew pot to the table. Within five minutes, they were all seated at the table and ready to eat.

To say the meal was tense was an understatement. Aside from the initial saying of grace, they ate in complete silence. Dinner at home with his parents had always been like that. His father wanted complete quiet at the table, and that’s what he got. But dinner at the Nash house was different. Whether it was just him and Brandon or the whole noisy clan, there was always laughter and conversation. And when he and Brandon were alone, the food was often abandoned for much more pleasurable pursuits than eating. Tonight, though, the silence was almost more than Nate could stand. He picked at his food, and watched Brandon glare at Mike over his bowl of stew. Nate was more than a little relieved when the phone rang and broke the silence.

Brandon started to get up, but Nate shook his head. “I’ll get it.” He was across the room before Bran could argue.

 

Nate picked up the phone and said, “Hello.”

 

“Doc? It’s Sam. Is the sheriff around?”

 

“Sure, Sam. He’s right here.” He held the phone out to Brandon. “Bran, it’s for you.”

Brandon took the phone, while Nate went back to his seat. He studied Brandon’s face, noticing as his expression went from intent to elated. He was practically hoping up and down when he said, “Alright, Sam. Keep everyone out of her room until I get there.” Pause. “No, Eva and the doctor are fine, but no one else goes in until I have a chance to talk to her.” Pause. “Alright. See you then.”

Brandon hung up the phone and gave Nate a radiant smile. “Sam was calling from the hospital. Marjorie Newman is awake.”

 

* * *

 

Brandon grabbed Nate and swung him around the kitchen. “She’s awake, Nate, and according to Sam, there doesn’t seem to be any signs of permanent damage.”

Nate caught his breath and gave Brandon a wet kiss right on his lips. Brandon pulled him closer and deepened the contact. He barely heard Mike clear his throat. He reluctantly broke away and turned to find Mike standing by the table.

Mike said, “Excuse me guys. I forgot I was supposed to call one of my clients about the closing of his condo. It’s been rescheduled.”

 

Nate said, “You’re welcome to use the phone in here. Or there’s one in the living room if you need some privacy.”

 

Mike pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. “I’ve got my own phone, but I’ll take you up on the privacy. I’ll just step outside for a second.” He slipped out while Brandon was still staring at Nate.

 

When he was gone, Brandon said, “You realize what this means, don’t you Nate?”

 

Nathan nodded. “With Marjorie awake, and my father pleading guilty, it’s really over.”

 

Brandon pulled him close and kissed his temple. “You got it, baby. This is the last link in the chain. As soon as I take Marjorie’s statement, I can sign off on this case and pronounce it closed.”

 

Nate leaned his head against Brandon’s chest. “Is that why you didn’t want just anyone in her room, to protect the integrity of her statement?”

“Yep. More than likely, she won’t remember anything, but just in case she does, I don’t want Calder’s lawyer to be able to say she was coerced or coached in any way.” He gently pushed Nate towards the mudroom. “Get your coat and lets go.”

Nate shook his head. “I can’t go with you, Bran. We’ve got company, remember.”

 

Brandon snorted. “Yeah, as if I could forget. Look, just tell him you have to go to the hospital with me and send him home. He’s a big boy. He can take it.”

 

“No, Brandon. This is the first time since the funeral that Mike has reached out to me, and I’m not going to let him down now.”

 

Brandon did his best not to lose his temper. “Nate, you aren’t responsible for that guy. You don’t have to baby-sit him.”

 

Nate firmed his jaw. “Brandon, I’m not going to argue with you about this.”

Remembering their argument earlier, Brandon sighed. “Fine. I know better than to try to force you. Look, just promise me you’ll call if you need me.” He reached over to the counter where Nate’s cell phone was charging and handed it to him. “Carry this in you pocket until I get back.”

“Brandon—”

 

Brandon pulled him into a hug. “Please Nate. Just this once. For me?”

 

Nate pulled back and grinned at him. “You’re getting pretty good and that pitiful whining thing, you know?”

 

Brandon grinned right back at him. “Did it work?”

 

Nate slid the phone into his hip pocket. “As if you ever had a doubt.”

 

Brandon pulled him into a soft, slow kiss. When they were both sufficiently breathless, Brandon said, “I’ve had a lot of doubts about a lot of things in my life, Nate, but not about you. Never about you.”

 

* * *

Brandon spent a lot of time in hospitals. Aside from the births of his nieces and nephews, there were accident reports, victims’ statements, interviews with the coroner, and on and on. Usually he dreaded victims’ statements the most, but he was actually looking forward to this one. Marjorie Newman’s statement would put an end to this whole sordid mess, and mark the beginning of his marriage to Nate. He was practically skipping by the time he reached Marjorie’s room.

He greeted Sam, who was dutifully standing guard in the hall, and then knocked on the door. He opened it before receiving leave to go in. He’d visited several times since Marjorie’s attack, so he was prepared for the balloons, flowers, and cards littering the room, as well as for the sight of Marjorie’s partner, Eva, sitting near the bed. The only surprise in store for him was Marjorie, sitting straight up in the bed, her gray hair beginning to grow back from the shaving made necessary by a blow to the head. Her hazel eyes twinkled as Brandon came into the room.
Eva greeted him with a warm hug. Unlike Marjorie, Eva’s hair hadn’t grayed with age. It was jet black and secured in a braid down her back, clear signs of her American Indian heritage. Eva was a beautiful woman who looked closer to forty than her actual sixty years with her browned skin and petite figure.

“Brandon, come on in here and have a seat. Isn’t it wonderful about Marjorie?”

Brandon stood behind one of the two chairs next to the bed and waited for Eva to take her seat. When she did, he sat down and reached for Marjorie’s hand. He said, “Hey there, pretty thing. You look more like a woman who’s spent two months at a spa than in a coma.”

Marjorie pooh-poohed him with her hand. “Not . . . nice . . . lie to. . .me.”

 

Brandon gave Eva a quizzical look. She smiled and said, “The speech problems are only temporary, according to the doctor. Her mind is perfectly intact.”

 

Brandon nodded and turned back to Marjorie. “”You up to answering some questions, sweetheart?”

She bobbed her head up and down, so Brandon took out his notebook and said, “Most of these are yes or no questions, so just nod or shake your head, and save your voice.” When she acknowledged that, he continued with, “Okay, doll, first question: do you remember what happened the night of the fire?”

She nodded.

 

“Great. Do you remember the man that did this to you?”

Another nod, this one more forceful. Brandon reached for her hand again and gave it a squeeze. “You’re doing fine, Marjorie. Now I need to ask you another question. Did the guy who hit you just walk into the store and club you, or was he hiding, waiting for you to leave?”

“Hiding. . .in bathroom. Went to close. . .up. Heard noise. . .found him inside.”

 

Brandon let go of her hand long enough to reach into his coat pocket and pull out a picture of Wilson. “Last question, Marjorie, and then I’ll go away and let you rest. Was this the guy that hit you?”

 

Marjorie barely looked at the picture before shaking her head. Brandon held the photo up a little higher. “Take another look, Marjorie.”

Another shake, this one more emphatic. Brandon looked at Eva, who only shrugged. He turned back to Marjorie and said, “Are you sure? Remember, you took a pretty vicious knock to the head. Could you be mistaken?”

“No. . .mistake. Not him.”

 

Brandon folded up the picture and put it back in his pocket. He didn’t want her to get upset, but he had to keep trying. “Marjorie, do you know who it was?”

 

Marjorie fought hard to make her mouth work. Finally, she was able to say the two words that held the most power over Brandon at that moment. “Mike. . .Vaughn.”

 

Chapter 16

 

Nate picked up his bowl and carried it to the sink. “Are you sure I can’t get you some more stew or another piece of cornbread, Mike?”

Mike shook his head. “No thanks, Nate. I don’t know where I’d put any more, but everything was great.” He lowered his eyes to the table. “Thanks for having me over here tonight. My place isn’t the same without. . .well, you know.”

Nate nodded. “I know. I wish there was something I could say, but I know there isn’t. There’s nothing I can do, and it kills me.”

 

Mike said, “There’s nothing either of us can do to bring Amy back, but there is something I’d like you to do for me, if you don’t mind. A favor, I guess you’d say.”

 

“What’s that?”

Mike stood up and walked over to the kitchen windows, staring out at the night sky. He was quiet for a full minute before he turned back to Nate and said, “Of all the things Amy wanted, nothing was more important to her than knowing that the two people she loved most in this world cared for each other, too.” He rubbed his hand over his face. “Did Amy ever tell you that she and I were trying to get pregnant? She wanted to name our first born son Nathan.”

Nate swallowed past the lump in his throat. “No, she didn’t tell me, but I’m sure she would have eventually. Amy and I talk about—” He broke off when he realized what he’d said. “We talked about everything.”

“I know. You guys were always so close. Sometimes I envied that.”

 

“Mike—”

 

Mike waved him off. “No, Nate. It took me a while, but I really do understand the bond you guys had. I’m just saying I was a little jealous, that’s all.”

 

Not sure how to respond, Nate said, “So what was the favor you wanted?”

Mike sighed. “Like I said, nothing was more important to Amy than knowing that the two men she loved the most were on good terms. When you and I got into that fight over Nash, Amy was crushed. She cried all night long. And even though she’s gone now, I can’t help but think that maybe, in some way, she knows about what happened between us after the funeral. I want Amy to see that you and I have patched up our differences so she can rest in peace. I want you to drive out to the cemetery with me, so we can tell her, together.”

Nate was surprised. He never figured Mike for the type to wax existential. The only thing he’d ever heard Mike say about the hereafter was they’d better have beer and college football in Heaven or he wasn’t going. Now he was standing in Nate’s kitchen carrying on about Amy resting in peace by knowing the two of them had patched things up. Nate started to refuse straight away, but decided to try and talk him out of it instead. “Mike, the temperature is in the high thirties tonight. Maybe we can go out there tomorrow afternoon, before the sun sets.”

Mike’s face took on a look of pleading. “I need to do this, Nate. Please? For Amy?”

 

Nate sighed. Mike had played the one card he knew Nate couldn’t refuse. “Fine. Let me get my coat and we’ll go.”

Nate grabbed his coat and his keys. Giving Sasha one final pat, he motioned Mike outside and then locked the place up tight. When they got to the driveway, Mike started towards his car, but Nate shook his head.

“Lets use my car, Mike. I haven’t had much of a chance to drive it yet, and it’ll give me a chance to show you what she can do.”

Nate thought Mike seemed a little agitated, but he wrote it off as a natural reaction to visiting Amy’s grave. Mike was hesitant, looking down at his watch a couple of times before saying, “Fine, let’s just go and get this over with.”

Nate waited until Mike slid into the passenger seat before taking his own place behind the wheel. After starting the car, he switched on the power locks and backed out of the driveway.

 

* * *

Brandon flew out of Marjorie’s room and down the stairs to the basement parking area, the acrid taste of fear burning his mouth. He barked orders into his radio as he went, Sam at his heels. In between yelling into the radio, Brandon told Sam about Marjorie’s revelation. When they reached the garage, Sam said, “What now, Boss?”

“I’ve called every unit I’ve got, and I’ve also got the state police on their way to block all the roads leading out of town.” His hands were shaking as he got into the SUV and grabbed his pistol from under the seat. “Follow me out to the house. Jim and Dewey are already on their way. Stay out of sight until I give the signal to move. I don’t know what Vaughn is planning, but he knows Marjorie is awake, and he’s got to be afraid she’s gonna remember something.” He punched his keys into the ignition. “We’re wasting time. Follow me in your car, and I’ll fill you in on the rest over the radio.”

Sam nodded and ran to his car. Only seconds had passed since Brandon had heard Marjorie’s statement and raced to the garage, but it seemed like hours to Bran. He pulled out of the underground parking area without even looking and headed back towards Reed. He switched on the radio and said, “Sam, you there?”

Sam’s voice came through loud and clear despite the impossible speed they were both traveling. “Yeah, Bran, go ahead.”

 

“Vaughn made a phone call just after you called to tell me about Marjorie. My guess is, he’s not working alone. If I’m right, he’s gonna call in his partner for backup.”

Before he could say anything else, his cell phone rang. Bran pressed the talk button and all but yelled, “What,” into the mouthpiece.
The dispatcher said, “I just got a report back from the deputies I sent to your house. No one’s there, Sheriff. No sign of either Dr. Morris or Mike Vaughn.”