“The night Megan died, Hawkins took two different gunshot residue samples, one for a quick on-the-scene test and another to send out to the crime lab. The Blue View, that’s the rapid test, showed no nitrates present on Megan’s hand, despite the fact she was still holding the gun that killed her.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Caleb shot Megan, then wiped the gun clean to remove his prints before planting it in her hand. That’s why the rapid test showed no nitrates. No nitrates, therefore no gunpowder. Hawkins realized right away Megan didn’t shoot herself. After questioning Megan’s mother, he went straight to the Carlisle home looking for Nate.”
“Only Caleb intervened.” She put her palm to her forehead.
“That’s right. Caleb bribed Hawkins to help expedite a suicide ruling. So Hawkins fired his own gun, then simply took a gunshot residue sample from his own hand and switched it with the one that had been earmarked for the crime lab.”
“I think I see. But if the two tests showed different results…” Simone drew her bottom lip between her teeth in a mannerism that made him think of Anna.
Almost every thing these days made him think of Anna.
He shook his head to snap himself out of it. “The crime lab looks at the sample under an electron microscope. Those results are far more accurate than a quick chemical test, so the rapid test was simply dismissed as error.”
Simone looked away, her posture sagging, her mood more serious than a few moments ago when all her thoughts had been focused on sneaking cinnamon rolls into the hospital. “I’m so sorry, Drex.”
“Hey.” He softened his voice. “You’ve got nothing to apologize for.”
Her back straightened. “But Nate does, and I’m his wife. Did you know Nate sent five hundred dollars every two weeks to Mrs. O’Neal—for years?”
“I suspected as much.”
“Nate told me he was so ashamed of what happened between him and Megan, he couldn’t bear for us—for you and me, Drex—to know the truth.” She located a Kleenex in her purse and dabbed her eyes. “So he sent Megan’s mother money, knowing she wouldn’t tell, and he kept on sending her money until Bobby was born. He said after his son was born he couldn’t bear to look at me and keep on lying, so he just stopped sending the money and waited for the chips to fall.”
Charlie offered Simone his hand. “Nate’s not perfect, Simone. None of us are.”
“I love my husband, Drex.” She held her head high. “I just wish we could’ve trusted each other sooner.” Then she squeezed his hand and walked through the door.
C HARLIE INHALED A sweet breath of honeysuckle evening, and a warm feeling spread through his chest like a widening smile. It was good to be sitting on a porch swing, watching fireflies race across the summer sky. It was even better to be sitting on that swing, watching the firefly derby with Anna. They’d finally gotten Bobby to sleep, and with the little guy tucked in safely, Charlie knew this was his moment.
“I’ve been thinking it over, Anna,” he said without preliminary. “And I’ve decided to postpone med school for a year. I’ve decided to stay here, in Tangleheart…with you.” His pulse changed rhythms, lost a beat—like his heart was holding its breath.
Anna propped her wrist-cast on the arm of the porch swing and looked down at her other hand in her lap. “I don’t think that’s the right thing to do. I don’t want you to give up your dream—”
He grabbed her good hand. “ You’re my dream, Peaches. Besides I’d only be delaying school for a year.”
She shook her head.
Maybe he’d come on too strong. Maybe he should go to Plan B.
At his side stood a wooden crate he’d brought with him from the farmer’s market.
He reached inside and picked out a choice specimen: soft—but not too soft, plump and luscious with a gentle hint of fuzz that tickled his nose when he tested its fresh aroma. Yes sir, this was one
“I don’t understand.”
“Caleb shot Megan, then wiped the gun clean to remove his prints before planting it in her hand. That’s why the rapid test showed no nitrates. No nitrates, therefore no gunpowder. Hawkins realized right away Megan didn’t shoot herself. After questioning Megan’s mother, he went straight to the Carlisle home looking for Nate.”
“Only Caleb intervened.” She put her palm to her forehead.
“That’s right. Caleb bribed Hawkins to help expedite a suicide ruling. So Hawkins fired his own gun, then simply took a gunshot residue sample from his own hand and switched it with the one that had been earmarked for the crime lab.”
“I think I see. But if the two tests showed different results…” Simone drew her bottom lip between her teeth in a mannerism that made him think of Anna.
Almost every thing these days made him think of Anna.
He shook his head to snap himself out of it. “The crime lab looks at the sample under an electron microscope. Those results are far more accurate than a quick chemical test, so the rapid test was simply dismissed as error.”
Simone looked away, her posture sagging, her mood more serious than a few moments ago when all her thoughts had been focused on sneaking cinnamon rolls into the hospital. “I’m so sorry, Drex.”
“Hey.” He softened his voice. “You’ve got nothing to apologize for.”
Her back straightened. “But Nate does, and I’m his wife. Did you know Nate sent five hundred dollars every two weeks to Mrs. O’Neal—for years?”
“I suspected as much.”
“Nate told me he was so ashamed of what happened between him and Megan, he couldn’t bear for us—for you and me, Drex—to know the truth.” She located a Kleenex in her purse and dabbed her eyes. “So he sent Megan’s mother money, knowing she wouldn’t tell, and he kept on sending her money until Bobby was born. He said after his son was born he couldn’t bear to look at me and keep on lying, so he just stopped sending the money and waited for the chips to fall.”
Charlie offered Simone his hand. “Nate’s not perfect, Simone. None of us are.”
“I love my husband, Drex.” She held her head high. “I just wish we could’ve trusted each other sooner.” Then she squeezed his hand and walked through the door.
C HARLIE INHALED A sweet breath of honeysuckle evening, and a warm feeling spread through his chest like a widening smile. It was good to be sitting on a porch swing, watching fireflies race across the summer sky. It was even better to be sitting on that swing, watching the firefly derby with Anna. They’d finally gotten Bobby to sleep, and with the little guy tucked in safely, Charlie knew this was his moment.
“I’ve been thinking it over, Anna,” he said without preliminary. “And I’ve decided to postpone med school for a year. I’ve decided to stay here, in Tangleheart…with you.” His pulse changed rhythms, lost a beat—like his heart was holding its breath.
Anna propped her wrist-cast on the arm of the porch swing and looked down at her other hand in her lap. “I don’t think that’s the right thing to do. I don’t want you to give up your dream—”
He grabbed her good hand. “ You’re my dream, Peaches. Besides I’d only be delaying school for a year.”
She shook her head.
Maybe he’d come on too strong. Maybe he should go to Plan B.
At his side stood a wooden crate he’d brought with him from the farmer’s market.
He reached inside and picked out a choice specimen: soft—but not too soft, plump and luscious with a gentle hint of fuzz that tickled his nose when he tested its fresh aroma. Yes sir, this was one
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