Helen Hanson - Dark Pool by Helen Hanson

brown eyes rumpled to an uneasy close. Her mouth gaped in lament. Beneath Maggie’s relentless grip, she withered like a slug in the sun.
    “Tap out, Mag.” Travis’ voice was behind her. “Tap out. Let her up.”
    Air shot from Maggie’s nostrils. Her diaphragm pulsed. “Are you freakin’ nuts?”
    The woman on the ground no longer resisted. Her tears streamed now, but the sound muffled into the ground. Maggie dropped back to rest on her haunches and loosened her clamp on the woman’s wrists.
    She looked around and noticed a small crowd had gathered. There was snotty Carl Pinkerton who showed up for all their family dramas. Ginger took her usual place by Travis’ side. Javier flanked him. When the crowd was pre-assembled, Javier’s parents always skipped the neighborhood shows. Just the loons at the Fender house again. Nothing new.
    Damn, she was tired of making headlines. Could this get any worse?
    Fyodor the Ripped climbed out of the woman’s car, her engine now quiet.
    Dinner. Yeah. That was going to happen.
    Maggie released the woman’s arms. They fell to the ground as if inanimate. She hovered above the wracking body and stretched to a stand, wiping her hands down the front of her skirt.
    “Are you alright, Magpie?” Travis had her by the elbow.
    “Do want me to call the police?” Ginger waggled her cell phone. The rest of the gawkers dispersed.
    “No. I’m fine.” She looked at her brother. “Who is she?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Her name is Barbara Carter. I checked in her purse.” Fyodor spoke kindly. He helped Maggie to her feet. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
    Maybe he didn’t think she was a monster. She didn’t start the damn fight, but she sure as hell wasn’t going to walk away from it. “No.” She wiped at her face.
    Travis paled. “Barbara Carter. She said something about me killing her husband. Brian Carter was the guy who attacked Dad.”
    They stared at the woman on the ground. Travis squatted down and held out his hand to her. “Ma’am. I’m sorry about your husband. Can I help you get up?”
    She stayed on the ground. The sobbing subsiding into deep breaths. Travis stayed with her while she readied herself. She wiped an arm across her eyes and turned to look at him.
    Maggie had seen the transformation before. Something about his gaze or the clarity of Travis’ green eyes disarmed the most hostile of enemies. Especially female.
    He kept Barbara’s hand while she rose. “Are you alright?”
    After wrestling her to the ground, Maggie knew she wasn’t packing a gun. Maggie approached. “My brother didn’t meet your husband that day.”
    “He told me he was going to my cousin’s in Redwood City to watch the A’s game.” Her starry gaze wandered over Travis. “The A’s didn’t play that night.”
    Ginger nudged Maggie. “Take her inside.”
    “Do you think it’s safe?”
    “The woman is in shock.” Ginger pushed. “Get her some water. Let her sit.”
    “The police told me they found Brian here.”
    Maggie said, “Travis, take Mrs. Carter inside.” Ginger winked her assent.
    As the four of them trudged inside the house, Maggie whispered to Ginger, “Will you make sure Dad is still asleep? I don’t want him involved.”
    From the foyer, Ginger cut right toward Dad’s room while they continued to the kitchen table.
    Barbara let go of Travis’ hand when she sat. Maggie quickly brought her a glass of water.
    “The police told me Martin Fender killed my Brian. I remember you from the trial.”
    “My name is Travis, ma’am. Martin is our father.” Travis glanced at his sister.
    Ginger came around the corner and nodded at Maggie. She stood sentry by the pantry door.
    “You aren’t the one who—”
    “No. My brother and I found your husband after—after it happened. We’re the ones who told the police where to find him.”
    “Why did Brian come here?”
    Even Maggie felt sorry for the woman now. “Mrs. Carter. My father has fairly