I SEE YOU an unputdownable psychological thriller with a breathtaking twist by PATRICIA MACDONALD (bookstand for reading txt) 📗

‘He’s a nurse,’ said Lisa evenly. Then she corrected herself. ‘He was a nurse. He was very responsible.’

‘Why was he picking her up at all? You hardly knew this man. How could you?’ Hannah demanded.

‘Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I knew him. We dated for months. Sydney liked him. I brought her out to the fishing camp a number of times. Tiffany wanted an extra contact number, just in case. So I gave her Troy’s number.’

‘You should have had her call me.’

‘Mother, you do enough for me and Sydney as it is. I couldn’t bear to ask for any more favors.’

‘And tonight? Why didn’t you call Tiffany to tell her you’d be late?’

‘I didn’t have time to call anyone,’ said Lisa as if explaining bedtime to a stubborn child. ‘We had an emergency and they were assessing our responses.’

‘So that’s it. You just leave her.’

‘What is it you don’t understand about the term emergency?’ said Lisa, peering at her mother as if she were simple-minded.

Hannah shook her head. ‘You need to watch that attitude of yours.’

‘Mother, I am tired,’ Lisa said. ‘I’m under a lot of pressure. In case you’ve forgotten.’ She raked her fingers absently through her dark, uncombed curls.

‘Yes, I know. So am I,’ said Hannah. ‘Believe me. Life has been very tiring lately.’

‘Oh, because of me,’ said Lisa. ‘Because I obviously deserve to be standing trial for killing Troy Petty.’

‘I didn’t say that. I didn’t mean that,’ said Hannah. ‘And you know it.’

‘I’m not so sure,’ said Lisa.

Hannah took a deep breath. ‘Look. No one could believe in you more than me. But no matter what is happening in your life, that’s no excuse for neglecting Sydney. You have a child who depends on you. Your child has to come first. Always.’

Lisa sat silently on the stool. Hannah could not tell if she was fuming, or just reconsidering. Finally she said, ‘You’re right. You’re absolutely right.’

Hannah sighed, her anger spent. She sat down opposite Lisa, her indignation derailed by the sight of her daughter’s haggard face. It pained her to see Lisa looking so embattled. She worked so hard at her studies, and Hannah couldn’t even imagine how draining that had to be, especially with a child at home and this trial to worry about, the press following her every move. Her mother’s instincts rose to the fore. ‘Lisa, I know you’re tired. I know how much this is taking out of you. And being a parent isn’t easy. But there are no days off from that responsibility.’

‘I hate it when you talk about responsibility,’ said Lisa, rolling her eyes.

Hannah smiled. ‘I know you do.’

Suddenly, Lisa frowned and lifted her head. ‘What’s that?’ she said.

‘What?’ Hannah asked.

Lisa shook her head. ‘I thought . . . Yes, I hear it again. Do you hear something?’

A weak reedy voice was crying out plaintively, though it was barely audible.

‘Who is that?’ said Lisa. Sliding off the kitchen stool, Lisa walked out of the room and back toward the front door.

Hannah hesitated then followed behind her daughter.

The street was quiet, except for the sound of rustling leaves. Clouds scudded across the moonlit sky.

‘There. Now,’ said Lisa.

Hannah didn’t hear anything, and was about to say so, when Lisa held up a finger in warning. ‘There,’ she said.

Suddenly Hannah heard it. It was a low, keening sound, intertwined with the sound of the wind. They walked out into the yard, looking to either side. Lisa peered through the garage windows while Hannah went to the sidewalk and scanned up and down the street.

‘Lisa. Look.’

In the yard two doors down a man’s bent legs were half hidden by a wide, blooming crape myrtle. Lisa sprinted to the man’s side. Hannah followed close behind her, and gasped when she recognized him: Chet, pale and sweaty. His dog was lying beside him, making piteous noises.

‘Oh my God,’ said Hannah.

Lisa fell to her knees, lifting Chet’s wrist to take his pulse and asking him questions. Chet’s voice was barely audible in reply.

‘Take it easy,’ Lisa said. Without looking up at Hannah, she issued commands in a calm voice. ‘Mom, go and get my bag. It’s in the front hall. Hurry. And call for an ambulance.’

Hannah rushed to do what she was told, dialing 911 as she ran. ‘I’ll get Rayanne,’ she called back.

Lisa nodded dismissively, intent on what she was doing. She had begun to compress Chet’s chest with her clasped hands.

Hannah grabbed up the medical bag, then ran to the Dollards’ house, and roused Rayanne, who was nodding off over a crossword puzzle.

‘I knew it!’ Rayanne cried. ‘I knew he wasn’t feeling well.’

They could hear the sirens already. As they rushed back to where Chet lay, they saw Lisa working feverishly over him. She was competent, professional and completely focused on saving the life of their old family friend. Hannah felt her heart swell with pride. She was suddenly furious at the preposterousness of the charges against her daughter. Lisa was young, and she had her lapses of behavior, like anyone young. But this was someone whose mission in life was to save lives. Not to take them. ‘It’s all right,’ Hannah said to Rayanne. ‘Lisa’s got this.’

‘I know,’ Rayanne whispered. ‘Thank God she’s here.’

The ambulance arrived quickly and Chet was loaded inside while Lisa talked to the EMTs, explaining how she had found him, and what she had done to treat him.

Rayanne wanted to climb into the back of the ambulance with her husband but the EMTs were firm. There was not enough room. Chet was in a dangerous condition and they needed to work on him.

‘I’ll drive you,’ said Hannah. ‘Come on.’

As they hurried across the lawn back to the driveway,