As I sit in the car taking deep breaths, I decide I have to call Cole’s Mother, he would want her there.My hands shake as I scroll through my contacts."Hello?"Her voice is cheery, oblivious to the nightmare unfolding.
"Mrs.Abbott," I manage, my voice hoarse."It's Father Nichols.Cole's...he's being taken to the hospital.St.Joseph's.I don't know what's wrong, but it's serious."
There's a sharp intake of breath on the other end."I'm on my way," she says, her voice tight with fear."Thank you for calling me, Father."
I end the call, my heart pounding.The thirty minute drive to St.Joseph's in Wichita is a blur.I keep seeing Cole's pale face, hearing the anger and hurt in his voice before he collapsed.God, what if those were the last words I ever hear him speak?
Forty-One
Caleb
Slipped Away - Avril Lavigne
U
pon my arrival at the hospital, the nurse at the front desk pointed me towards the fourth floor.There, I found Mrs.Abbot and her neighbor, Rodney Brown, waiting anxiously for news about Cole's condition.Four hours have passed since then, and we have been watching the doors for any sign of a doctor who can update us on his status.Yet, no one has come to deliver any news.
I can't sit still, the plastic chair is digging into my back, and my legs are restless with worry.I stand up and start pacing, my footsteps echoing in the sterile room."Father Nichols, please sit down.You're making me dizzy," Mrs.Abbot says, her voice strained with exhaustion.I mumble an apology and force myself to take a seat, but my knee keeps bouncing uncontrollably.Rodney places a comforting hand on my shoulder, but it does little to calm my nerves.
Just then, the elevator dings, and Baylee’s Sheriff Caldwell and his deputy, Alan Parish, step out.My heart races as they approach us, their faces grim and purposeful."Father Nichols?"The sheriff asks, his badge glinting under the harsh fluorescent lights.
I nod and stand, my throat suddenly dry."Could you come with us, please?"The sheriff asks, his tone leaving no room for argument."We have some questions about Cole Abbot."My stomach drops, but I manage to stand on shaky legs.Mrs.Abbot looks at me with concern, her brow furrowed.
"It's alright," I assure her, though I'm not sure I believe it myself."I'll be back soon."
They lead me to a small consultation room down the hall.It's claustrophobic with an antiseptic smell, with no windows and only a small table separating us.I sit across from them, my palms sweating as they pull out their notepads."Father Nichols, what is your relationship to Cole Abbot?"The sheriff asks, his pen poised over the paper.
I swallow hard, knowing I can't lie.Not here, not now."He's...he's my employee," I start, my voice barely above a whisper.I take a deep breath, steeling myself."And he's also my lover."
The words hang in the air, heavy and undeniable.Sheriff Caldwell's eyebrows shoot up, while Deputy Parish scribbles furiously in his notepad.I can feel my face burning with shame and fear, but I force myself to meet their eyes.
"I see," Sheriff Caldwell says slowly, his tone carefully neutral."And how long has this...relationship been going on?"
"About three months," I admit, my hands clasped tightly in my lap to stop them from shaking."We've been very discreet.No one knows."
“May I ask why the police are involved?”Sheriff Caldwell's expression darkens.
"We have reason to believe Cole's condition may not be due to illness.Can you walk us through the events leading up to his collapse?"
My blood runs cold."What do you mean?"
"Just answer the question, Father," Deputy Parish interjects sharply.I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves.
"Of course," I say, my voice barely above a whisper.“This morning we had an argument in my office.He left my office and collapsed at the end of the hallway.”
Sheriff Caldwell leans forward, his eyes narrowing."Did Mr.Abbot consume anything while in your office?"
My mind races, trying to remember every detail."He had his water bottle with him.He always carries it."
"And where is this water bottle now?"Deputy Parish interjects.I hold out Cole’s water bottle to them.
"Here.I grabbed it when the ambulance came.It was his Fathers and I didn’t want it to get lost."The officers exchange a meaningful glance as Sheriff Caldwell takes the bottle, carefully placing it in an evidence bag.
"We'll need to run some tests on this," he says, his tone grave.
A chill runs down my spine."Tests?What kind of tests?"I ask, my voice trembling.Sheriff Caldwell's expression is unreadable."Standard procedure, Father.We need to rule out all possibilities."
The implications of his words hit me like a punch to the gut."You...you don't think I had anything to do with this, do you?"I stammer, my heart racing.
