Page 104 of Dark Roads

“The nurses will call the police.”

“I’m not under arrest.”

“The cops want you to stick around.”

“I don’t care what they want.”

Beth was getting angry. How could Hailey be so blind? Didn’t she see what this would mean? “What about Jonny?”

Hailey shrugged herself into a hoodie and jammed her feet into the dusty work boots she pulled out from under the chair. She swung the loaded bag onto her shoulder, pressed a baseball cap onto her head, and began to move toward the door.

“He’s safe now that Vaughn’s gone.”

“Except that you’re ruining his life.”

Hailey spun around. “That’s not true!”

“He’s turned down racing opportunities, a chance to travel! You’ve seen the maps all over his bedroom walls. You think those are just because he likes looking at them?”

“He hasn’t missed anything. He would’ve told me.” But Beth could see the doubt growing in Hailey’s eyes. She was wondering if Beth was right. Maybe Jonny had his own secrets.

“Youknowhow loyal he is. He’s the reason you can keepliving on the mountain. While you’re doing whatyouwant, you’re stopping him from having anythinghewants.”

Hailey looked down at her boots. Beth moved closer and stood in front of her.

“He will never leave you alone out there.” She softened her voice. “You need to think about that. Whatever you decide? You’re deciding for the both of you.”

Hailey just shook her head. Beth couldn’t see her face, whether she was crying or whether she was angry. She didn’t know what else to say to reach her.

“I’m going to go,” she whispered. Hailey didn’t glance up. She stood motionless. Beth could tell she was thinking hard. She wanted to tell her everything would be all right. But how could Beth really know? Hailey would see through her words and recognize them for the half-truths they were. Neither of them knew how this was going to work out in the end.

Beth quietly left the room. She didn’t turn to see if Hailey slipped into the corridor, her bag over her shoulders. She didn’t wait to hear the sound of her boots striking linoleum.

What happened next was up to Hailey.

CHAPTER 40

Hailey

I put the last of the coffee grounds into the maker, pressed brew, and listened to the steady dripping sound. Soon the kitchen smelled of fresh coffee. I found two mugs, filled them both, and left one on the counter while I doctored mine with sugar and cream—a luxury. The fridge was dismal, but I found some cookies in the cupboard. I sat at the table, quietly munching and sharing pieces with Wolf, who was partway under my chair and had his head resting on my foot. Every once in a while he’d give me a complaining huff and a nudge with his snout. His leg was shaved, the bullet wound stitched neatly in a long line. I told him he’d have a cool scar.

The toilet flushed at the end of the hall. Thompson was awake. He walked into the kitchen, rubbing his hand over the top of his hair and squinting in the dim light. Thankfully he was wearing pajama bottoms and a T-shirt, or the upcoming conversation would be awkward.

At the counter, he fumbled for his glasses and shoved them onto his face. Another yawn, and he reached his arms up in an overhead stretch. His back cracked. I sipped silently at my coffee. Wolf was wagging his tail, a soft whisper on the floor, as he tracked Thompson.

Thompson noticed the coffee mug on the counter. He lifted it to his mouth and took a long drink, then turned around. “I like my coffee stronger.”

“I’m not a barista.”

“Clear on that.” He sat across from me.

I pushed a couple of cookies over to him. “You only have one piece of bread left. The cheese stuff.”

“You know I have a front door.”

“Climbing the tree was more fun. I get bored.”

“Get some better hobbies.”