“The shuttle belonged to a transportation company that later changed ownership. We're checking whether the original recordings and dispatch records were preserved.”
I nodded.
Then she added, “We also have to consider that the SUV could have been uninvolved. Leaving the area afterward doesn't prove it caused the collision.”
I took a breath.
“I understand.”
But I didn't entirely understand.
Not emotionally.
All I could think was that somebody might have seen something and driven away while my wife lay dying.
I wanted someone to blame.
I knew that about myself.
And I knew it made me a poor investigator.
That was why I needed Sloane and her team to do the work.
After the meeting, Kelly and I walked toward the parking lot.
The cold wind moved through her blonde hair.
She tightened her coat.
For several minutes, neither of us spoke.
Then she stopped beside her car.
“Jeffrey?”
I turned.
“Yes?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
She looked toward the pavement.
“If it turns out I really pulled Ava from the wreck, are you going to treat me differently?”
The question surprised me.
I frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Kelly swallowed.
“Like I did something you can never repay.”
I stared.
She continued.
“I don't want you to feel obligated to me.”
For several seconds, I remained silent.
Then I answered.
“I'd be grateful.”
She nodded.
“But I wouldn't want gratitude to change who you are to me.”
Her expression softened.
I continued.
“You're Kelly. The woman who loves hydrangeas and thinks my daughter should open a flower shop on Mars.”
She laughed.
“It's a greenhouse.”
“Sorry. A greenhouse on Mars.”
Her smile widened.
Then it faded.
“And if what happened that night turns out to be worse than we thought?”
I looked toward the gray sky.
“Then we'll have to face that.”
She nodded.
I hesitated.
Then said something I'd been keeping to myself.
“Kelly, I need you to know that you're allowed to step away from this.”
She frowned.
“What?”
“The investigation. The questions. All of it. You have a right to decide how much you want to participate.”
She looked directly into my eyes.
“Do you want me to step away?”
“No.”
“Then why are you saying it?”
I took a breath.
“Because I don't want you believing you owe me answers simply because my family was involved.”
For a long moment, she studied me.