Free Missing Pieces by Heather Gudenkauf Page A

red-rimmed and seemed to hold immeasurable sadness.
    Jack sat down next to her, his leg pressing against hers. “They posted a security guard outside Julia’s room and made us leave,” he said. “They said that an autopsy has been ordered.”
    â€œWhy?” Sarah asked in confusion. “I thought it was an accident.”
    â€œThey wouldn’t tell us much of anything.” Jack rubbed his forehead in frustration. “Just that Julia’s injuries weren’t entirely consistent with an accidental fall down the stairs.”
    â€œWhat does that mean? Like someone pushed her down the steps?” Sarah asked. “Who would do that?”
    â€œI don’t know.” Jack closed his eyes and brought his hands to his face, forming a tent with his fingers. “It has to be some kind of mistake.”
    â€œA home invasion?” Sarah wondered out loud.
    â€œThat’s the only thing I can think of that makes any sense. But then why wasn’t there any mess? Why was nothing taken?”
    What was it that Amy had told Sarah earlier? It’s all my fault. Amy had dismissed it, but now Sarah wondered what she meant. Did Amy know more than she was letting on?
    â€œHal is a mess,” Jack added. “I don’t know how he’s going to get through this.” He reached for Sarah’s hand. His skin was cold and damp, and Sarah’s first instinct was to pull away, but he held tight. “He can’t face going back to the house right now, so we’re all going to go back to Dean and Celia’s. Do you mind heading there with Celia now? I need to stay here to help with some of the arrangements.”
    â€œWhatever you need,” she murmured. She knew she had to be there for Jack and his family, but all Sarah really wanted to do was get back to the newspaper article she had discovered.
    â€œI have to talk to Amy. Do you have any idea where she went?”
    â€œShe didn’t tell me.”
    Celia emerged from the hospital. Her face was blotchy and her eyes swollen from crying.
    â€œCel,” Jack began, “Sarah will go back to the house with you. We’ll be right behind.”
    Cel. Such a familiar use of her name. Sarah wondered if that was what Jack called her when they were teenagers.
    Celia nodded. “Thank you,” she said, blinking back tears. “I really don’t want to be alone right now.”
    â€œOf course. Whatever I can do to help.”
    â€œI’ll call you later,” Jack said, and kissed Sarah on the cheek. His lips were cold and dry.
    Sarah and Celia made their way to the hospital parking lot. “I can’t believe she’s gone,” Celia said, her voice breaking with emotion. “One minute she’s just lying there and the next she’s having a seizure.” Celia shivered. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
    Sarah stepped over a large puddle as she climbed into the passenger’s side of Celia’s truck. “Jack said that the doctor didn’t think Julia’s fall was an accident. How could she know that?”
    â€œI don’t think anyone could know without an autopsy.” Celia started the car and then looked over her shoulder as she backed out of the parking spot. “It’s got to be a mistake.”
    Celia offered a steady stream of commentary as she drove. “Our house is about a twenty-five-minute drive from here and Hal’s is just fifteen minutes farther. The funny thing is, you can walk through the cornfield right outside our door and end up in Hal’s yard in about the same amount of time. The town’s a little farther. I can’t believe you’ve never been here before.” She looked over at Sarah. “I’m prattling on and on. I think if I don’t keep talking I’ll start crying again and not be able to stop.”
    â€œThat’s okay,” Sarah said. “I was the same way when my dad died. If I