Hour of Need (Scarlet Falls 1)

Ellie moved to the side of the room and put her back against the wall. The chairs around the table were all occupied.

“As you all know the spring exhibition and carnival is scheduled for next week,” Victor continued. “Coach Barrett ran this event, and we’re all sorry about her death. But we think the carnival should go on as scheduled. We can’t get our deposits back from the vendors. If we cancel, we’ll lose a large amount of money.”

People murmured. Parents already paid steep fees for instructors and ice time. Figure skating and hockey were expensive sports, especially at the more competitive levels. The skating club depended on a few large events in the spring and summer to raise money for fall/winter competition season.

Ellie scanned the faces seated at the table. She recognized the tan face and blond-streaked hair of Corey Swann. His surfer looks didn’t blend in with any crowd. Corey’s IT company heavily sponsored the club. Josh Winslow sat next to Corey. Every time she saw Corey, Josh, or their daughters, her stomach curled up. They went about their business as if nothing happened. They should all be deeply affected by Lindsay’s suicide.

At the front of the room, Victor was talking about the event timetable. Ellie kept one ear tuned on his speech as he reviewed the carnival planning agenda for the next week.

She couldn’t blame parents for supporting their children. The Hamiltons’ position was easy to understand. But if someone accused Julia of tormenting another student, Ellie would stand up for her daughter too, especially if there was little concrete evidence and if Julia said she was innocent. Ellie couldn’t imagine Julia being deliberately unkind. But then, she hadn’t expected her daughter to sneak out in the middle of the night either. She still couldn’t believe that had happened.

Perhaps Corey Swann felt that way about his daughter. Julia’s foray had taught Ellie that, as a parent, it was often hard to accept that your child lied or made a bad decision. Even teenagers without prior disciplinary issues made mistakes.

Thinking about her daughter’s deception still sent fear skittering through her belly and made her wonder how any parent could know what was really going on inside a teenager’s mind.

Victor picked up a program from the box Ellie had brought. “The event agenda is in the program, and we’ll be adding a moment of silence at the event opening for Kate. We don’t want to focus on her death, but the kids expressed that they wanted to honor her in some way.” His voice grew clipped as he listed a few last-minute details that required attention. Parents raised hands to volunteer, and Victor assigned tasks.

Ellie pressed a knuckle to the corner of her eye. She wished they’d just cancel the event. It was Kate’s project. It seemed wrong to continue without her, but Victor was right about the financial risk. The club couldn’t afford to take the loss.

“Does anyone else have any questions or concerns?” Victor asked. Heads shook. “All right then. If you have any questions this week or next, please feel free to e-mail or call me.”

Chairs scraped as people stood and moved toward the door. Shuffling toward the front of the room, Ellie said a quiet hello to the other parent volunteers.

An elbow brushed her ribs. She turned and looked up at Corey Swann.

“Excuse me,” she said pointedly.

Standing far too close, he glared down at her. “Do you work for Peyton, Peyton, and Griffith?”

Ellie took a step back and reestablished her personal space. “Yes.”

“I can’t talk to you.” He frowned, lines etched in his tan face.

Not knowing what else to say, she went with, “All right.”

Her gaze dropped to his black sweatshirt. The logo on the chest read Computer Solutions, Inc. His brown eyes glittered with anger. He pressed closer and lowered his voice. “Your firm is involved in the lawsuit.”

“Not a problem.” Ellie raised a hand to his chest and firmly pushed him six inches away. “I’m not the one who bumped into you.”

He leaned away. Regret washed the anger from his face. “You’re right. I was totally out of line. I’m sorry.”

Ellie nodded.

“Hey, Corey.” Giving Ellie a polite smile, Josh Winslow tugged on Corey’s arm. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

Corey let his friend pull him to the back of the group.

How did Corey even know where she worked? This morning’s news report had identified Lee and given the firm’s name, but Ellie certainly wasn’t mentioned. One of the other parents could have mentioned her job, she supposed. Julia had only been skating since they’d become neighbors with Lee and Kate. Some of the kids had been skating at the arena their whole lives, moving up from team to team as their skills advanced. Ellie didn’t have time or desire to work her way into the gossip chain. Discomfort stirred in her as she realized she’d likely been the subject of a few of those hushed conversations.

She had been the object of public disapproval as a pregnant high school dropout, but she was no longer an insecure teenager. She felt bad for Corey, but that didn’t excuse his behavior.

Maybe bullying ran in the family.

Grant let Ellie into the house. She stopped to give the dog a scratch behind the ears. She’d changed clothes since he’d seen her at the arena a short while ago. The worn jeans and sweater hugged her curves just as well as the suit she’d been wearing earlier.

“Ellie!” Carson ran toward her and flung his arms around her waist. “Is Julia home?”

Ellie stooped to give him a return hug. AnnaBelle butted her head between them, and Ellie wobbled.

Grant steadied her with a hand on her shoulder and took the dog’s collar with his free hand. “AnnaBelle, no knocking visitors over.”

“It’s all right.” She put a hand on the floor and regained her balance. She ruffled Carson’s blond locks and smiled at him. “I’m used to the warm welcome. Yes, Julia is home. She’s taking care of Nan.”

“Is Nan’s foot all better?” Carson asked.

“I’m afraid that’s going to take a while. I’ll bet she could use some cheering up.” Ellie stood. “You want to go over and say hi?”

Carson’s nod was eager and quick.

“Go put on shoes and a jacket.”

Carson ran toward the back of the house, his socks sliding in the hall.

Ellie glanced at Grant. “I’m sorry. I should have asked if it was all right with you. He’s over at my house so frequently, I didn’t think.”

“It’s fine. I’m sure he could use a change of scenery,” Grant said. “As long as you don’t think he’ll be in the way.”

Ellie shook her head. “Nan is already bored. He’ll entertain her for a while.”

Carson raced back. His jacket hung open and his snow boots were on the wrong feet. Ellie and Grant went out onto the porch to watch him race across the front yards to Ellie’s front door. Julia let him in.

“Where’s Faith?” Ellie asked.

“In the kitchen with my sister.”

“Good,” Ellie agreed, but her eyes turned wary. “When you called, you said you had something for me.”

Grant suddenly wished she’d give him half the warmth she’d shown his nephew. “Let’s go into the office so we can talk in private.”

He’d decided to come clean with her. None of the files he’d found were the sensitive Hamilton case. There was no point in hanging on to them. Maybe if he gave them to Ellie, she’d start to trust him.

He closed the door behind them. Ellie turned and backed away from him. Her thighs hit the seat of the old chair, and she eased back into it as if exhausted.

Grant turned the desk chair to face her and sat. He pointed to a box on the desk. “You can take those files to your boss.”

Ellie’s eyes brightened. She lurched to her feet. Her boot caught on the chair leg, and she toppled forward.

“Whoa. Easy.” Grant sprang forward and caught her by the shoulders just before her forehead hit the edge of the desk.

She scrambled to get her feet underneath her body. Her face flushed.

“There’s no rush. Those files aren’t going anywhere.” Satisfied she had regained her balance, he released her arms. “I already made one trip to the ER today. Let’s not make it two.”

Her face paled. “I’m sorry. I’m not usually this clumsy.”

What the hell was wrong with her? He understood why she’d been upset at the hospital, but there was no reason for Ellie to still be a mess. Her grandmother was fine.

She lifted her chin and straightened her sweater. She lifted the files from the box and thumbed through the tabs. Disappointment sagged her shoulders and for a brief moment, Grant thought she was going to cry.

Then it hit him. He knew exactly what she was looking for.

“It’s not there,” he said.

“What isn’t here?” she asked, her voice wary.

“The Hamilton file.”

The look she shot him was defensive and desperate. She didn’t deny that’s what she was seeking. “Do you have it?”

“No.” He shook his head.

She dropped the files back into the box. “How did you find out about it?”