Free The Color of Heaven - 09 - The Color of Time by Julianne MacLean

would be best to cooperate and leave nothing out. “Ethan and I arrived just as the sun was setting… So about 8:30, I guess. I had never been inside his house before, so he wanted to give me a tour. His parents weren’t home.”
    The cop wrote everything down. “And what happened after that?”
    By now, Chris had gotten out of the car and was standing beside me. We both leaned back against the side of the car.
    “We checked out the main floor,” I said, “then he took me upstairs to see the bedrooms, but we didn’t do anything. I swear. We were just standing there talking in his bathroom when we heard the car pull into the driveway, and we kind of panicked.”
    “Why is that?”
    “Because his parents didn’t know about me. At least I didn’t think they did, but they must have known something. That’s why they were so mad. They didn’t want him dating a local.”
    “Go on.”
    “So…” I continued, “we were caught and we knew it. We went downstairs and Ethan introduced me to them. Mrs. Foster shook my hand, but Mr. Foster told Ethan to go into the front parlor to talk. He told me to wait outside.”
    “Then what happened?”
    I shrugged. “I went out onto the veranda, so I couldn’t see what was happening, but I listened through the door. I knew Ethan was in trouble. His dad was really mad. He threatened to send him away to Europe or somewhere if he didn’t break it off with me.”
    “What did Ethan say?”
    I buried my hands in the pockets of my jean shorts. “He said he could do what he wanted, and that he was going to marry me. I think that’s when Ethan tried to walk out, but his dad wouldn’t let him.”
    “You think … So you didn’t actually witness this. You just heard everything through the door?”
    “That’s right, until I walked in.”
    His eyes lifted. “When was that?”
    “After I heard something smash—a lamp or a vase… I’m not sure. Then it sounded like they were fighting, maybe pushing each other around. I heard Mrs. Foster scream. That’s when I ran inside.”
    “And what did you see?”
    “I saw Mr. Foster standing over Ethan, who was unconscious on the floor. There was blood on the fireplace.” I glanced back at the house. “Please tell me… Is he okay? Can I see him?”
    “What happened after that?” the officer asked.
    I glanced uneasily at Chris. “Mr. Foster told me to leave. He said ‘get out.’ I probably shouldn’t have left Ethan, but I was scared. So I just ran, all the way into town. That’s when I called Chris. He picked me up at the gas station.”
    The police officer nodded as he continued to write everything down.
    Just then, two paramedics walked out the front door with a wheeled stretcher carrying a body in a black bag. All the blood drained to my feet and I felt dizzy all of a sudden. I pushed away from the side of the car and pressed my hands to my mouth. “Oh my God! Is that Ethan?”
    The police officer turned. “No. I’m afraid that’s Mr. Foster.”
    “Mr. Foster!” My stomach exploded with boiling heat. “What happened? And what about Ethan? Is he okay?”
    The policeman lowered his notepad to his side and regarded me with a look of compassion. “I’m very sorry, Sylvie. There was nothing anyone could do. Ethan was already dead when the ambulance arrived. He suffered a severe blow to the head.”
    My own head was spinning by now and none of this felt real. It couldn’t be true.
    Staggering slightly, I backed into the side of the car. “No…”
    Chris wrapped a hand around my elbow, to steady me.
    “That can’t be right,” I said to the cop. “Are you sure?”
    He nodded.
    I gazed desperately at Chris, as if he could make all of this go away, yet I knew there was no escaping it.
    “What happened to Mr. Foster?” Chris asked.
    “His wife called 9-1-1, and it appears that he went upstairs and shot himself before we arrived.”
    I couldn’t keep my tears at bay any longer. I began to sob uncontrollably, and Chris