Truth Be Told

“I prefer to deal in facts.”

She thought about it. “I still like the idea of a full-page newspaper ad,” she said.

“If McLennon beat you, you want something to nail him, not just embarrass him,” Sam said.

Jo nodded. “You’re right. There has to be something.”

Sam shrugged. “I haven’t heard a word of gossip to support Allen’s guilt. What I have heard is that one of your schoolmates was the most likely suspect.”

Jo had every moment of that time engraved in her mind. She eyed her report on his desk, hoping Sam would find something in the report that would give him a lead.

“Who?”

“Josiah Heller.”

She smiled wryly. “Ironically, he’s the reason I’m back, not the reason I left. I’ve heard many people think he’s the one who attacked me. But it was Heller who told me about Maddie’s stroke, and that brought me back. I was hoping it would make a difference.”

“What?”

“Her stroke. I had some notion that maybe she’d see things differently, somehow see the truth. But she can’t even talk. And her reaction when she saw me was less than welcoming.” Jo shivered at the memory.

“Would Eliza or April have any information?”

“I doubt it. They wouldn’t have been quiet when being taken away from the only home we knew. If nothing came out then, they probably knew nothing. We can ask.” She gestured to the folder on the desk. “This stinks, Sheriff. And anyone with half a brain could see how shoddy the work is. Deliberately covering up for someone, as I see it.”

Sam didn’t respond.

“I’m telling the others tonight,” Jo said.

“I’ll come by.”

“Come at seven and I’ll reveal all to them.” Jo stood, rubbing her palms on her black pants. “And thanks. Sorry about earlier.”

He stood. “I want justice,” he said. “A good policeman does.”

After twelve years, Jo wasn’t sure it was possible. Any help she’d hoped for from the past had been shot down by the skimpy report filed at the time.

She still wanted to spend time with Maddie. To clear the air before telling everyone else the sordid tale. Even if she still refused to believe her, Jo had to try.

The older woman was in bed, eyes closed, when Jo peered around the door. She must have made some noise because Maddie opened her eyes and half smiled when she saw Jo.

Wondering if she was dreaming, Jo stepped inside. “All right to visit?” she asked.

Maddie nodded, raising her left hand in supplication.

Jo walked to the bed and sat gingerly on the edge. Maddie looked so small and frail lying there. Her head showed a fresh scar near her temple. Her hair was thin, white, wispy. Jo swallowed hard. Now that she was here, she wasn’t sure how to say what she wanted. She decided she’d just blurt it out. Good a way as any.

“I’m telling April and Eliza the full story tonight,” she said.

Maddie didn’t move. It seemed as if she held her breath.

“I went to the bank. McLennon is president now. The son of a bitch should be in jail. Instead he has a prestigious job and is doing who knows what. You should have believed me, Maddie. I never meant to interfere with your chance at happiness. But he hurt me badly. And I got no support from the one person I thought I could count on. You. But that doesn’t excuse what I did. I lied initially, out of anger at you. I’m sorry. And more sorry that when I told the truth to the sheriff, he wouldn’t believe me. No one did. I’m sorry if I got you into trouble. And I’m sorry as hell that Eliza and April got shunted away like I did.”

“Nnnnoooo,” Maddie uttered.

“I wanted to let you know that I’m telling the others. Actually, I already told the new sheriff. I don’t think he believes me any more than you did, but he covers it better. Doesn’t matter, I know the truth, and I’m going to do my best to expose it to the world. I should have come back sooner.”

Maddie nodded, her expression sad.

“I hope he wasn’t the love of your life. I heard he dumped you after my accusations. I think you’re better off. He’s scum. I don’t know if he’s abusing any other girls. It could be that I was an isolated incident.”

Maddie looked distressed again. She shook her head. Her eyes were wide with emotion.

“Anyway, I thought it only fair to warn you. I expect Eliza and April will have some questions.” Jo took a deep breath, looking at the woman who had been the only mother she’d ever really had—until that fateful day. April had shared a lot of fond memories last night, many of which Jo had forgotten. It had been a good experience, one that made up for the overwhelming, indelible imprint of that last encounter.

Maddie had been strict, but she’d had three wild girls to care for. All had railed against their fate that had put them into foster care, and Maddie had taken the brunt of their anger. Yet she’d been loving, helpful, supportive. She’d been the one to come to school events, not Jo’s mother. Maddie had stayed up with her when she’d had a miserable bout of flu. Her mother had been in jail that time.

But the facts were as they were. Maddie was not her mother, and when Jo had needed her most, Maddie had let her down.

The grip on Jo’s hand tightened. If she hadn’t known Maddie was recovering from a serious stroke, she’d have thought the woman had been in strength-training, so painful was the hold.

Jo eased her hand out of Maddie’s, patting the back of her hand.

“I said I was sorry earlier. I wanted you to know I meant it. I should never have retaliated like that. I had no idea of the ramifications. I know a lot more about the law now, though, and have to say the investigation Sheriff Halstead did was lousy. I suspect he was in league with McLennon.”

Maddie nodded, reaching out again to touch Jo. “Bbbaaaa,” she tried. A sound almost like a kitten made, but Jo couldn’t understand.

“I’d better be going.”

Maddie shook her head frantically.

Jo looked around the hospital room. The woman was probably going stir-crazy confined here. She could stay a little longer.

Taking a deep breath, she nodded and changed the subject.

“I’ve done all right for myself, Maddie,” she began. “I wanted to make something of my life, not end up like my mother. So I went for an education. It took me a little longer than most to realize the value. I didn’t graduate from high school until I was almost twenty, but made up for it in college. I have a degree in criminology. I’m good at my job. Did Eliza or April tell you I work for the Los Angeles Police Department? Once I made detective, I opted for Vice, to curtail as much drug traffic as I can. My team and I are good at what we do and have caught a bunch of dealers.”

Maddie nodded, her gaze never wavering. She reclaimed Jo’s hand with her left one, as if anchoring Jo in the room. She said something, but Jo couldn’t understand it.

“Say again?”

Maddie struggled, but the sounds didn’t make sense.

“I’m not too good at this,” Jo said.

Maddie squeezed her hand and shook her head.

Jo studied their linked hands. Her own hand was tanned and strong, Maddie’s frail and birdlike. Would she recover completely as Eliza swore? Or was this the beginning of a gradual decline ending in death?