He smiled but still looked ill. “Thanks, Jenna. I guess I’m kind of a hero.”
“You are,” she said. “Wait until they hear about this on the Dealey Society page.”
They brought a gurney in for Rick, and he protested a little as he climbed on board. While they wheeled him out the front door, he said to Jared’s mom, “I wanted to tell you something else.”
The paramedic shushed him.
“No,” he said. “Wait.”
“We can talk later, Rick. I’ll visit you.”
“No.”
They stopped the gurney, and he sat up a little straighter and called to Jenna.
“I told you ‘Teddy Bear’ was online,” he said. “It’s not Teddy Bear. It’s ‘Little Bear.’ Little Bear’s been talking to me. She’s the one who pushed me to think that picture really was of Celia.”
Then they wheeled him out.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR
Jenna made sure Jared was okay. The social worker had finally taken Natalie away, after a painful good-bye, and he was alone in his room.
“I have to go somewhere,” she said, standing in the doorway of his room, “but I’m not going if you don’t want me to.”
He sat on his bed, his eyes staring at the floor. He looked tired and worn-out.
“You know what,” she said, “forget it. I’m not leaving you here.”
“What are you doing now?” he asked.
She didn’t want to tell him, didn’t want to dig into all of it in case she was wrong. She hoped she was wrong.
She feared she was right. And if she was . . . “It’s just—it’s private. Personal.”
He looked up then, a strange curiosity on his face. “Like a date?”
“Not a date. I can tell you all about it another time. Why don’t you come with me?”
“No, thanks. I’m tired.”
“But I can’t leave you here—”
“They just caught the bad guy, remember? And if you try to get Grandma to babysit me, I’ll scream.”
“Are you sure you’re okay here?”
“Mom, how many times in my life are you going to ask me that question?”
She hated the jaded tone in his voice. She knew he’d been through a lot, but she didn’t want to think his soul was growing disenchanted with the world. He flopped back on the bed, closing his eyes.
“I’m okay, Mom,” he said. “Lock the door behind you and I’ll be fine. They arrested him. About fifty cops dragged the guy away. It’s over.” He rolled over and spoke into his pillow, his voice muffled. “They took Natalie away too. Remember? It’s all over.”
His words pierced her heart.
But she really needed to go.
“I’ve got my phone,” she said.
She drove to Ian’s house.
? ? ?
On the way, Jenna’s phone rang. Her mother.
She considered not answering, letting it go to voice mail. She didn’t need another lecture or scolding. But something in Jenna didn’t allow her to just ignore her mother.
What if it’s an emergency? What if she needs me?
So she answered.
“Jenna? I want to talk to you about that TV show last night.”
“I don’t have time, Mom. I know it was awful.”
“Awful’s not the word for the way you were treated.” Her mother sounded breathless. “It was . . . abysmal.”
“The way I was treated?” Jenna said.
“Of course. There was no excuse for it. They shouldn’t share your private business on TV like that. It’s a violation.”
“So you’re taking my side?” Jenna asked.
“Don’t I always?”
Jenna almost laughed. A million responses raced through her mind, but she held them all in. She felt real gratitude, a warmth in the center of her chest. Her mother could be counted on when the chips were really down. Jenna always knew that.
“Thanks, Mom,” she said.
“Do you want to talk about this more?”
“I can’t now,” Jenna said. “I’m on my way . . . I’m going somewhere. But really. Thanks.”
“Always, honey. Always.”
? ? ?
Ian opened the door, wearing a button-down shirt and jeans. He held a pair of reading glasses in one hand and looked surprised to see Jenna standing on the porch.
She’d driven away from his house the night before feeling sick about his admission that he’d had Celia spied on, and he looked like a different person—one without the stardust glow she’d seen encircling him ever since the day they first met.
Jenna stepped inside and looked around. She smelled coffee brewing and maybe something baking. “Is Ursula home?”
“She’s asleep. It’s only nine o’clock.”
“Have the police been here?” Jenna asked.
“Detective Poole called. She said she needs to come by later. What is this about, Jenna?”