Page 25 of Whispers Left Behind
“I didn’t know that Ms. Willers was sick,” Kinsley said after crumbling the wrapper in her hand. Once she had tucked the chewed ball of gum to the side of her mouth, she continued speaking. “I ran into her a couple of months ago at the grocery store.”
“Colon cancer.” Margaret’s tone was enough for Kinsley to comprehend the gravity of the situation. “It doesn’t look good.”
“Please tell Ms. Willers that I'm thinking of her,” Kinsley replied, making a mental note to send flowers. “I’m bringing dessert to dinner this week, right?”
“Yes.” Margaret patted the back of her hair, causing Kinsley to tense. Her mother only ever made such a gesture when she was about to broach an unsolicited topic. “Kinsley Rose, someone vandalized your father’s car at work yesterday.”
The fact that Margaret had used Kinsley’s full name was significant. It was what she hadn’t mentioned that stood out even more. Margaret wanted Kinsley to do something about the vandalism, but she wanted a truce between father and daughter even more. If Kinsley were seen around town with her dad, it would denote forgiveness. Word had leaked about the dissension between the Aspens over the past year. Such a show of absolution meant others might follow.
What Margaret didn’t seem to understand was that there were a handful of residents who had treated Kinsley in the same manner. After all, Kinsley and Alex had been in charge of the investigation. The blame for giving George Aspen any ammunition to garner an acquittal fell squarely on her shoulders.
“I’m sure you and Dad read the paper this morning. Gantz isn’t back in town, and things will die down now that it’s been confirmed by the autopsy.” Kinsley leaned in and kissed her mother on the cheek. “I’ve got to go, Mom. I’ll see you on Thursday.”
Kinsley didn’t bother stepping up to the information desk. The ICU was on the eighth floor. She would speak to a nurse once she was off the elevator. Without so much as a backward glance, she made her way over to the elevator banks and pressed the appropriate button. It wasn’t long before the doors slid open with a soft hiss.
Kinsley finally stepped out of the elevator and into a smaller lobby. She didn’t need to read the signs posted directly on the wall in front of her. The double doors to the ICU were kept secure, and the only way through was to check in at the window. She unhooked her badge from her belt and held it up to the nurse on duty.
“I’m here regarding Gage Baird,” Kinsley stated before clipping her badge back in place. “Would it be possible to speak with the assigned doctor who—”
A flicker of movement caught her attention.
Louise Baird had emerged from the restroom, her features drawn tight with grief. The dark blemishes underneath the woman’s eyes could be seen from several feet away. Her stiff movements appeared to be almost automatic as she made her way to the waiting room across the hall without so much as a glance down the hallway.
“Never mind,” Kinsley stated as she changed her mind on who she would speak to first. “I’ll be right back.”
Kinsley turned away from the window. She closed the distance to the entrance of the waiting room. Taking time to observe the occupants, she spotted Louise in the corner with her fiancé.Douglas Glynn was holding her close and rubbing her back in comfort.
“Ms. Baird?” Kinsley called out softly as she came to a stop before the couple. “I heard about your son’s accident. How is he doing today?”
Louise took a moment to compose herself.
“Detective Aspen,” Louise acknowledged, her voice strained. “Please tell me that you know who is doing this to our family.”
“Unfortunately, we don’t have any evidence to suggest that your son’s accident was anything other than that. I spoke with the officer on the scene last night, and he believes that the crash was due to high speed near the covered bridge on the road from Halliday to Fallbrook.”
“I find that hard to believe, Detective.” Douglas had replied on Louise’s behalf. His tone was accusatory, but Kinsley’s reaction would have been the same had their roles been reversed. “Both Rachel and Gage were involved in car accidents, and one resulted in Louise’s daughter being hunted down like a rabid animal. Can you honestly stand there and say that you believe someone didn’t want the same result with Gage?”
“Which is why I’m here this morning, Mr. Glynn.” Their conversation was attracting attention. “Would the two of you mind stepping out into the hallway to speak with me? Your son’s vehicle has been taken to our impound lot. Forensics will go over the exterior and interior, searching for any similarities that suggest foul play.”
Kinsley had continued to speak to the couple until they had come to a stop in the hallway. Douglas’ hand still rested gently on Louise’s back, but both appeared to be relieved upon hearing her statements.
“I spoke to your son in person yesterday morning,” Kinsley revealed, though she figured Louise had already been filled in about the questioning by either Gage or Tobias. “Gagementioned that he was going to be driving from Halliday to Fallbrook to be with you yesterday.”
“Something happened at the farm, and he wasn’t able to leave until the evening.”
“You spoke with him during the day?”
Louise nodded, compressing her lips to keep her emotions in check.
“Yes,” Louise answered as she wrapped her arms around herself. “Gage called me mid-afternoon to let me know he would arrive around seven o’clock. When seven came and went, I tried his cell phone. He didn’t answer, so I called my father. Dad told me that Gage left the farm around fifteen minutes before six.”
“Did Gage seem upset on the phone when you spoke with him?”
“Of course, he was upset,” Louise snapped in anger. “His sister is dead. My daughter is dead, detective. How do you think we feel?”
“Ms. Baird, there are a lot of moving parts to this investigation. Is there a chance that Gage figured out who killed Rachel? Would he have tried to take matters into his own hands?” Kinsley wasn’t one to talk when it came to such subject matters. As she waited for Louise to reply, another thought occurred to Kinsley. “When I spoke with Gage yesterday, he mentioned that your father has a gambling problem. Is that true?”
Louise seemed taken aback by the question. She lifted a hand and rested it on her cheek. She waited to respond until two nurses passed them to enter the double doors at the end of the hall.
