Page 79 of Second Start: Family
“Sure. I get my questions in now and I’ll be back tomorrow for whatever you have to say then, too. In the meantime, Hall, you and Dan don’t share any of this with anyone. Understood?”
Both nodded.
But Hall’s gaze was on Kenzie. “You don’t want me to listen to what Eric asks and you answer, okay, but I’m not leaving until that’s done.”
“That’s not necessary—”
“I’m staying.”
*
Returned to the numbness that had encased her for so many months, Kenzie took Eric into her trailer, knowing Hall and Dan went to Vicky’s.
She said she needed to make one phone call. Cully answered on the first ring. It was settled in thirty seconds.
She offered Eric Larkin coffee. He accepted.
They sat on the couch with their mugs.
Eric started talking.
He described what happened at the courthouse, starting with Hall insisting on meeting theguardian ad litem, the judge’s questions and the answers to them … then the other lawyer’s introduction of her departure from the Dalverston School.
“When Hall said right off that there was no way you did this…”
Slowly, she turned her head toward him. He was watching her closely.
“That’s right. First thing out of the man’s mouth. His exact words wereThere is no way on this earth Kenzie did this.”
She started to cry.
Slow at first, but the heat of the tears melted the frozen numbness, and all that came out through her eyes.
Eric went to the door and shouted, “Hall. Hall come here.Now!”
She felt Hall’s entry to the trailer like a blanket of warmth, vanquishing the lingering numbness.
“Kenzie. What’s wrong?”
He had her in his arms now.
She sobbed harder.
“What the hell, Eric — what did you do to her?”
“Told her you said right away that there was no way she did this.”
“Go away, Eric.”
“I will, but not for long. Time’s our enemy and I need to know the whole story.”
She pushed her hair off her forehead. He leaned in to kiss her on her exposed temple.
Hall held her and let her cry.
*
Eric knocked on the trailer door. “Sorry. But time’s up. I need to talk to Kenzie.”
