One Last Breath by Sarah Sutton (speld decodable readers txt) 📗

It had been a long time since Tara stepped into a bar, and she had to admit a couple drinks and a little fun did sound like it might be good for her. She had been so preoccupied with her job and her past that she had almost forgotten what it was like to let loose and enjoy herself. Plus, she wanted to support John. It was his first gig, and she certainly wanted to be there for him. But she also knew that she couldn’t promise anything, especially while in the middle of a case. “I will try my best. I really do want to be there,” she replied.

John nodded before giving her another peck on the cheek. He forced a smile as his attention moved back to the cup of tea in his hand, but Tara could still see the disappointment hiding behind it, and it pained her.

In the corner of Tara’s eye, a blinking light suddenly caught her attention. She looked up. It was the answering machine of their home phone, signaling they had a message. It was unusual for anyone to call on that phone. They had even contemplated getting rid of it, since they never even used it and it just seemed to attract telemarketers, but John’s parents still liked to call on it sometimes.

Tara stood up, moving toward the machine. “Did your parents call?” she asked as her hand hovered over the play button.

“Not that I know of,” he replied.

It was probably a telemarketer. She rolled her eyes as she pressed the play button. But once she heard the voice, she stiffened. Her face grew hot, and John stopped eating.

“Hey, Tara, it’s me,” it began. It was the voice of her father. He sounded rushed, speaking quickly. “It was nice seeing you the other day, but I really don’t think you should come back.” There was pain in his voice as he said it. “I’m sorry,” he added. “I just think it’s best for both of us.”

Tara didn’t move for a moment. Shock and confusion swirled into a haze of questions. Why would he want her to stay away? Her whole life, he had been trying to reach out to her, and now she had, and he didn’t want anything to do with her. But she already knew why. It had to be the same reason he cut her visit short. It had to be the questions she asked, the mention of someone else in the room. She spun around to John, who sat, fork in hand, his mouth hanging slightly open in disbelief.

“He’s hiding something,” Tara said. “Ever since I mentioned the person in the room, his whole attitude toward me changed. He does want to see me. I can hear it in his voice. He’s protecting someone.”

John nodded. He didn’t know what to say, and it occurred to Tara that it was the first time he had even heard her father’s voice. It must’ve been strange.

“It’s just so weird,” he replied. “Why would he be protecting someone?”

It was the same question that continuously crossed Tara’s mind. She had come to the conclusion that if he was protecting someone, it was someone he cared for deeply, or it was someone who held something over his head. But Tara knew the second scenario was less likely. He had already gone to prison for life. What more would he have to lose? She told this to John.

“Did your dad ever have an affair?”

Tara took a seat on the barstool again, resting her chin on her hand. “Not that I know of,” she replied. It had crossed her mind before. She had never suspected her father of being unfaithful to her mother when she was a child. But she was only very young, so why would she suspect anything if it wasn’t happening in plain sight? “It’s possible, I suppose,” she added. Is that who could’ve been in the room that night? she wondered. My father’s mistress? It seemed plausible, but Tara still wondered why, after all these years, he would protect a woman who murdered the mother of his child.

“How did he get the house number anyway?” John asked.

“I gave my contact info at the prison, in case he needed to call. I listed my cell first, and then the home phone.”

“And he didn’t call your cell?”

Tara shook her head. “He probably knew I’d be more likely to answer it.” She knew her father’s goal was to leave a message, not to speak to her.

John nodded, and a silence lingered between them before he turned fully toward her. “So what are you going to do?”

Tara didn’t even hesitate. “I’m going to find out what he’s hiding,” she replied as her eyes drifted yet again to the answering machine. Her father’s voice still echoed in her mind. She knew him well enough to know that he did not get spooked easily or at all. But the muffled panic in his voice only solidified Tara’s feelings that he was trying to keep something buried, and she was more determined than ever to find out what it was.

***

Tara lay in bed, still staring at the ceiling. The room was in total darkness, but she couldn’t be more awake. She had too many questions, too many thoughts.

She knew she didn’t have time to go visit her father again, not in the middle of this case. But she also knew she somehow needed to get in touch with him. Her only option would be to call. She would do so first thing in the morning, she decided. She just hoped he would speak to her.

Tara knew that he had purposely avoided a conversation with her, which was why he called the house phone in the middle of the day. He had known it was likely she would be at work. But she hoped that no matter what he was hiding, once she called, he wouldn’t