Echo Of Danger

“Don’t run,” Deidre cried as he reached the stairs.

“I’m not,” he protested, scrambling up them.

Deidre’s breath caught, her chest tightening as he scooted past the place where he must have tripped.

“It won’t always be this bad.” Jason’s voice was low and infused with more than simple empathy. “Even the worst memories fade with time.”

She looked into his face, but it didn’t tell her anything. He was too good at hiding his feelings.

“That sounds like personal experience talking.”

He shrugged. “I guess we all have bad things we don’t want to remember.” He turned, glancing out the front window at the sound of a vehicle. “Looks like Carmichaels is here. Are you ready?”

“I guess I’ll have to be, won’t I?” Deidre straightened her shoulders and tried to summon up some courage. Whether Judith was right or wrong in her opinion of Jason, at the moment Deidre was glad he was with her.

* * *

JASON DIDN’T KNOW where that need to reassure Deidre had come from, but he’d better get back to a more professional stance with her in a hurry. It was not part of his assignment to get that involved with her. All he wanted was evidence, one way or the other, to either prove or disprove the judge’s opinion of her.

Carmichaels entered, greeting Deidre with an avuncular hug. “Bet you’re glad to have that boy of yours home. How’s he doing?”

“Fairly well, so far.” She glanced at Jason as if asking him something, and he nodded.

“Before you talk to Kevin, I think Mrs. Morris wants to set up some guidelines.”

Carmichaels’s gaze went from Jason to Deidre, speculative. “Now, Deidre, you know me well enough to know I’m not going to bully the boy.”

“Of course, but I’m still concerned.” She seemed unconscious of the fact that her hands were clasped tightly. “He doesn’t remember anything about most of that day. He won’t be able to help you.”

“We won’t know that until I talk to him, will we?” Carmichaels glanced around. “Where’s the best place for us to talk?”

“Sorry.” Deidre’s fair skin flushed. “Come and sit down.” She looked at the sofa and seemed to change her mind, leading the way into the dining room instead. “We’ll sit here at the table, all right?”

Carmichaels might have preferred the scene of the attack, but he didn’t argue, just pulled out a chair and sat down, planting his elbows on the table. “How about calling Kevin, and we’ll get this over with.”

“Not yet,” Deidre said quickly, gesturing Jason to a chair. She glanced at the stairs, as if afraid Kevin would appear too soon. “Since Kevin imagines he fell earlier in the day, he doesn’t remember Dixie was here. So he doesn’t know that she’s... That she died.”

“Deidre, you don’t believe you can keep it from him, do you? Kevin could hear about it from almost anyone. Lord knows the whole town’s been talking about nothing else.” Carmichaels looked disapproving, and Jason had to agree with him on this one. What was she thinking?

“I know he has to be told.” Deidre’s color was high, and there was a stubborn look to the way her chin was set. “But I thought it was best if he heard it in his own home. I’ll tell him soon, but you’ll have to respect my decision as to when and how.”

That was Jason’s cue to do his job. “If we don’t have your assurance that you won’t mention the James woman’s death in the boy’s presence, then I’m afraid I can’t allow you to question him.”

“Sounds like you’ve got it all worked out.” Carmichaels shrugged heavy shoulders. “Okay, I won’t say anything about her death. But he’s a smart kid. He’s going to figure it out soon enough.”

“All right, then.” Deidre seemed ready to accept the chief’s word. “I’ll get him.” She walked to the bottom of the steps and clutched the newel post. “Kevin, come down for a minute, please.”

It said something about the way she’d brought up her son that he didn’t embark on a shouted argument. Instead, he appeared at the top of the steps.

“Don’t run,” she said quickly, and he suspected that the words had become a kind of talisman for her. If she could keep him from running, she could keep him safe. Deidre wouldn’t believe that rationally, but the instinct was still there.

“Okay, Mommy.” Kevin put his hand on the railing, sliding it down all the way to the bottom.

“Remember, I told you Chief Carmichaels wanted to ask you a few questions about your accident, Kev.” She led him to the table, one hand on his shoulder.

Kevin didn’t look upset at the prospect, but when Deidre sat down and held out her arms, he climbed into her lap and leaned against her.

“This won’t take long, Kevin. Then you can go back and play, okay?” Carmichaels was clearly making an effort to keep it low-key.

Kevin nodded, his expression wary.

“Well, now, what can you tell me about your accident? Just say anything you remember.”

Kevin leaned against his mother, turning his head to look up into her face. She nodded in encouragement. “It’s all right. Just tell the chief what you remember.”

“I remember climbing in the apple tree,” he said promptly.

At Carmichaels’s baffled look, Deidre explained, “That happened earlier in the day. It seems to be the last thing he remembers.”

“You don’t remember being on the steps in your pajamas?”

Kevin shook his head. Again he looked up at his mother. “Is that where I fell?”

“That’s it. You must have tripped on your blanket and tumbled down.” She kept her voice even, but Jason could see that it was a struggle.

“Let’s go back a little bit,” Carmichaels said. “What did you have for supper?”

Clearly Kevin didn’t like not knowing the answer. His face scrunched up. “I don’t know.”

“Do you remember that Dixie was coming to stay with you?”

Jason thought Deidre stiffened at the mention of Dixie, but she didn’t interrupt.

“No.” He twisted to look up at his mother again. “Did Dixie watch me that night, Mommy?”

She stroked his hair. “Yes, sweetie, she did.”

“That’s easy, then.” Kevin’s face relaxed in a smile. “You just ask Dixie what happened. She’ll tell you.”

Before Carmichaels could speak, Jason rose. “I think that’s enough, Chief. Kevin can’t help you.”

“Maybe if we talked a little more...”

“No.” Deidre put both arms around her son as if shielding him. “No more.”

“That’s it.” Jase defied the man to argue. Deidre was within her rights. “The doctor who tended Kevin will tell you that he shouldn’t be pushed to remember.”

Carmichaels planted his hands on the table and pushed himself to his feet. “Okay. You’ve made your point. Thanks for talking to me, Kevin.”