Free Terry Odell - Mapleton 01 - Deadly Secrets by Terry Odell Page B

could figure out what it was he wanted. The doctor had said memory loss was normal, so Gordon would believe her. She hoped.
    Gordon muttered something, then reached for his belt. Unclipping his phone, he checked the display. He gave her an apologetic grin and lifted the phone to his ear. “Hepler.”
    Maybe he’d be called away. She wanted to signal Justin to keep his mouth shut, but Gordon kept his gaze on her as he listened to whoever was on the phone.
    “Who’s on duty?” he said. After a pause, he continued. “Tell her Vicky’s on her way, that I’ll be there later. Then have Vicky call me with an update.” He flipped his phone closed and slipped it into its holder. “Mrs. Bedford’s on another ghost watch.”
    Megan smiled. “Do you need to go? We’ll understand.” Please .
    “Ghosts?” Justin said.
    Gordon sighed. “Not yet. But she’s insisting tonight’s the night—again—and wants me there.”
    “Ghosts?” Justin repeated. “Where?”
    “I’ll explain later,” Megan said, winking at Justin, then wincing at the stab of pain in her forehead.
    Gordon’s expression shifted from exasperated to serious cop. “So, Megan. What can you remember?”
    She convinced herself to relax. “I remember running. Falling. Like I’m dreaming. I remember thinking how I had to get to the house, and then I was on the porch, and then the paramedics were poking around.”
    Gordon wrote in a little notebook. “But you don’t remember where it started?”
    She glanced at Justin. “We were going to run. I got as far as the Maple Street access and waited on the bench.”
    “You remember seeing a couple of kids?” Gordon asked.
    She shifted her gaze to Gordon. “No. Definitely not. I didn’t see anything.”
    “I told the officer what I saw,” Justin said. “But the kids said no one else was around. At the time, I didn’t think there was a problem, or I’d have asked more questions. Although the way they were tangled up, I don’t think they’d have noticed if an elk walked by.”
    “No problem,” Gordon said. “My officer is out tracking them down.” To Megan, he said, “I have a couple more questions if you’re up to it.”
    Of course he’d have more questions. But she needed to steer him away from asking about what had happened to her. “Did you find out anything else about the car accident?”
    “What car accident?” Justin looked at Megan, eyes wide, reflecting concern. Or fear? “Were you in an accident?” He gripped her forearm.
    She gave his hand a pat, then pried his fingers loose. “No, no. Not me. Nothing like that. I saw the car—before the accident happened. Gordon thought I might have been a witness. But I wasn’t.”
    “Which reminds me,” Gordon said. “Justin? Do you know of any ties Rose and Sam have to Florida? Or someone named Karl Franklin?”
    After a few seconds of apparent thought, Justin said, “No to both.”
    “Thanks. I’ll ask them,” Gordon said.
    “Ask what?” Rose bustled in. “Whatever it is, it should wait. Meggie needs her rest. There’s coffee downstairs.” She scuttled to the bedside and kissed Megan’s forehead. “Some herbal tea for you, and I’ll bring it up. You two”—she made a shooing motion as if the two large men in her path were nothing but pesky kittens—“out.”
    “One minute, Rose,” Megan said. “I need to ask Gordon one question.”
    Rose inched her glasses down her nose and glared at Gordon. “Make it quick.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” he said.
    Megan waited until Rose was likely out of earshot. “Gordon, remember. Please don’t bother them tonight. They’ve had enough excitement for one day. Bringing up the accident will cause unnecessary worry.”
    “Is anyone going to tell me what’s going on?” Justin asked. “Like maybe how some traffic accident involving someone from Florida could possibly involve my grandparents?”
    “Let’s go downstairs,” Gordon said. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Megan.” Gordon