Page 38 of Broken Moon

“Yes, thank you. Kaitlyn, Idon’t know how much you know of me and my family, and at the risk of seemingobnoxious and crude, I would like to say that my wife—who sends her regards, bythe way—is very…wealthy. She wants to give you money for saving Noah’s life.Money you can use however you would like. She—and I—want to make sure you neverhave to worry about money for the rest of your life. I would like to see youwithout a battered face or blood on your clothes.” He looked at me, apologeticat being so crude as to offer me a boatload of money but stubbornly determinedto take care of me.

I carefully placed my napkin onthe table, unable to meet the detective’s eyes, though I could feel his stareon me. I was uncomfortable to the point of squirming, but finally, I looked atthe mayor. I wasn’t sure what the detective had told his wife about me,therefore, I needed to choose my words carefully. I also didn’t want to upsetthe mayor. “I can’t take money from you and your wife, Mayor. I’m just happy Icould help.”

He only smiled, his white teethflashing against the smooth darkness of his skin, and I could see real joy inhis eyes. “Rick said you’d say that. So we’ll go to plan B, then.”

I gave him a quizzical smileand looked from him to the detective and back again. “And what is plan B?”

He stood. “I’d like to surpriseyou with that, if you don’t mind. Sometime in the next few weeks I’ll send acar for you.” He took my hands when I stood. “We need to give you a gift,Kaitlyn. Please allow us to.”

I didn’t know what the giftwas, but to argue would have been wrong. So I nodded, and grinned. “I have toadmit I’m excited.”

“Good,” he boomed. “Good,then.” He squeezed my hands. “To say ‘thank you’ is not enough. It goes withoutsaying that if you ever need me or my wife, you have only to ask.”

I bit my lip to keep it fromtrembling. “Thanks, Mayor,” I whispered.

He leaned forward and kissed myforehead, then said his goodbyes to Beth. Rick walked him from the living roomtoward the back door. I was sure a driver was waiting for him, and probably asecurity guard or two.

“Come on, boy,” I told the dog.“We need to get going, too.”

“Oh, can’t you stay fordinner?” Beth asked, and she looked as though she would genuinely have likedthe company.

“I appreciate the offer, but Ihave to get this little guy home. I still have some work to do tonight.”

The detective came back intothe room as I was speaking. He frowned, his stare lingering on my bruised face.“Try not to get your ass kicked again tonight, Ms. Silver.” He hesitated. “Ifyou need me, call me.”

“I bet,” Beth said, “thatwhoever did that to her face looks worse than she does.”

I laughed. “I love you. Andyou’re right.” I noticed that not once did I see Beth or the detective so muchas look at each other. They didn’t touch, barely spoke to one another, didn’ttrade a glance.

“I’ll walk you out,” thedetective said.

“Why don’t you check the oven,”Beth told him, “and I’ll walk Kaitlyn out.”

He looked like he might argue,but then he shrugged. “Goodnight,” he told me.

When he strode away, I watchedhim go. Beth didn’t.

“I hope we can be friends,” shetold me, as we walked to the door, the dog trotting along happily in front ofus.

“Absolutely,” I told her. “I’dlike that.” I wasn’t lying. She seemed like a nice person, and I didn’t have alot of friends.

Her face lit up when shesmiled. “Let’s have lunch soon, or maybe have a night out? I’m alwaysavailable, so if you get some free time…” She bit her lip. “I sound desperate,don’t I?”

“Not at all,” I lied.

She laughed. “I know I do. Ijust…I need something different. Someone different. I can’t really talk to theother wives…can’t be myself, you know?”

“Yes,” I said. “I do.” Ireached out to squeeze her thin arm. “I’ll call you.”

She nodded like she didn’tbelieve me. “Goodnight, Kaitlyn.”

I thought about her all the wayhome. Something about her bothered me. Worried me, really. Worried me enough sothat when I arrived home, I sent the detective a text before I left the car.

I’m worried about Beth. Isshe okay?

He didn’t reply for a very longthree minutes.She’s depressed.

Rick…could she be suicidal?