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

to kill Troy Petty. Her life did not revolve around the attentions of this young man. Especially after she caught him interfering with her two-year-old daughter. This relationship was over, way before Troy Petty’s house blew up with him in it. Lisa Wickes had already moved on.

‘I ask you to consider all you have heard about this case, and acquit Lisa Wickes now. Send her back to her studies and her young daughter. Send her back to become a healer, to spend her life productively, doing good. Because Lisa Wickes will do good in a way that most of us can never hope to emulate. Consign this case to the dustbin where it belongs, and send Lisa Wickes back to her purposeful life.’

As Marjorie Fox brought her closing argument to an end, Hannah could feel the sentiment in the courtroom shining like sunlight on Lisa. She looked at Adam, who seemed lost in thought. ‘I think she has convinced them.’

Adam frowned, and nodded. ‘Let’s hope so.’

‘She was worth every penny.’

Adam understood what she was saying. ‘It certainly seems that way. She made the state’s case look . . . feeble.’

The judge thanked the attorneys for their summations. Then he glanced at the clock. ‘In view of the hour,’ he said, ‘I am going to wait until tomorrow morning to charge the jury. I will ask the jury management team to have our jury assembled in the courtroom tomorrow morning at nine o’clock sharp at which time they will be charged, after which they will retire to commence their deliberations. Court is dismissed.’

Hannah and Adam filed out of the courtroom with the other spectators, and waded through the clamorous crowd of reporters. They avoided looking left or right as they were pelted with questions. They made their way to their car, and locked themselves inside.

‘The next time we go back in there will be for the verdict,’ Hannah observed.

‘The last time we ever see the inside of a courtroom, I hope,’ he said fervently.

‘Amen,’ she said.

‘Let’s pick up Sydney and go home.’

SEVENTEEN

The three of them spent a quiet night at home, going outside only long enough to have dinner on the deck. It was a lovely evening, the late sunset spilling orange and lavender across the sky. Sydney spotted a bunny in the far end of the yard and banged her spoon on her Peter Rabbit decorated plate, as if in appreciation. They were too tired for conversation. Adam seemed quiet and distracted during dinner and Hannah could understand it. Their ordeal was almost over, and it had depleted each of them. Tonight she seemed to have more energy than he did, so she volunteered to clear the table and get Sydney ready for bed while he retreated into his home office. He gratefully took her up on her offer.

She watched an old movie on TV for an hour after Sydney was in bed, and then she went down to his office and stuck her head in. ‘I think I’m going to go to bed early. I am beat,’ she said.

‘I’ll be right behind you,’ he said.

She kissed him on the top of his head and made her way down to their room. As she set out her clothes for the next day, showered and washed her hair, she was overcome with weariness. She brushed her teeth automatically, yawning like a sleepy child. Then she went down the hall to Sydney’s room, and looked in on her granddaughter. She knelt down beside the low trundle bed, and brushed Sydney’s hair gently off her flushed, softly rounded face. ‘It’s almost over, baby doll,’ she whispered. ‘Mommy will be coming home soon.’ Sydney stirred but did not awaken. Hannah watched her granddaughter tenderly as she shifted in her bed, still clutching her teddy bear under her arm. The question about Troy swam back into her mind. Did he hurt you? she wondered. Did that monster touch you? Hannah felt almost physically sick at the thought, and a part of her could not deny that she was glad Troy Petty was dead. She wondered, briefly, if Troy had indeed been guilty of interfering with that terminally ill child at the summer camp. Perhaps there was nothing that Troy wouldn’t do to gratify himself.

He’s dead now, Hannah reminded herself. He’s dead and he could never hurt Sydney, or any other child, again. She leaned over and kissed the toddler’s warm cheek. They would have to get to the bottom of it one of these days but the immediate danger was over. Once Lisa was home again they would call Jackie’s referral and take Sydney for a professional evaluation. And they would provide whatever treatment was necessary — if it was necessary. Oh, my sweetie, I hope it’s not, Hannah thought. I just hope and pray he didn’t get to you.

By the time Hannah got back to their room, Adam was sitting up in bed, reading. She climbed in beside him and snuggled against him. She tried to stay awake but it was no use. ‘Love you,’ she murmured, and almost as soon as she rolled away from him, she was fast asleep.

She wasn’t sure what woke her. Probably a bad dream. She had had lots of those lately. But whatever it was, she came awake with a start. She lay on her side, her heart pounding, and hoped she had not cried out in her sleep. She didn’t want to awaken Adam. He desperately needed some rest.

She closed her eyes again, hoping that the panicky feeling would subside, and she could drift back to sleep, but in a few moments she realized that it was out of the question. Eyes closed or not, she was wide awake.

Hannah rolled over carefully, checking for Adam’s quiet, steady breathing. But she heard nothing and, as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she saw that his covers were thrown