Chapter 27—Chaotic Night

It was midnight before the detectives wrapped things up with Susan. They had questioned her in Daren’s office behind closed doors for hours. Susan had told the entourage to leave and said she would call them, but she thought it strange that she hadn’t heard from Derrick. When she took her cell phone out of her purse to call him, Daren stopped her.

“I’ll take care of you,” Daren said. “Derrick has called me several times. His mother had chest pains, and he took her to the hospital. It turned out to be an anxiety attack. The entire family is at Derrick’s house.”

Susan’s face dropped.

“I don’t think it’s a good place for you to be right now,” Daren said. “The last time he called, there was loud music playing in the background. They were partying.” He paused. “Jenny did not get along with the family, and I doubt you will, either. You’re not well, Susan. You’re pale, and you haven’t stopped trembling. I think you should come home with me. My neighbor is a doctor. He’s a good friend of mine. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind making a house visit.”

The detectives had wanted Susan to go to the hospital, and she had refused. But she knew she needed something to calm her down.

Two bodyguards accompanied them to a white stretch limo and helped Susan into the limo. Daren climbed in beside her. Once in the limo, Susan put her head on Daren’s shoulder and began to sob. She’d been strong when Blaine had attacked her, but now that it was over, she was falling apart.

“The doctor is going to meet us at the house. I’ve got some good soup in the refrigerator,” Daren said. “Stay with me tonight, and when you feel better, you can decide what you want to do.”

“I should call Derrick,” she said, reaching for her purse to get her cell phone. “He’ll be upset if I don’t call. I’m sure he’s waiting for me to come home.”

“I talked to Fran, and she said that Derrick was celebrating with his uncles and had too much to drink. Max is giving him black coffee—trying to sober him up.”

“Oh no,” she said. “Maybe we should stop by the house.”

“Let Max take care of Derrick. You’re not well, Susan. Besides, Fran said his family had wrecked the entire house.”

“Oh my God,” Susan said, drawing in a sharp breath. She took her cell phone out of her purse and called Fran, trusting that Fran would tell her the truth, unlike Millie, who might hide the truth to protect Derrick.

Susan could hear the background noise—loud music, splashes in the pool, and the children yelling. “How bad is it, Fran?”

“It’s bad. Don’t come home,” Fran exclaimed. “Millie heard a girl screaming upstairs and found Matthew in your bedroom with the girl he had been dancing with at the party. She was drunk and throwing up. They called her parents, and they came to get her. Derrick’s mother and sister have been making food, and the kitchen is a disaster. There’s food all over the counters and sticking to the floors. Maria is not going to like it.”

“They’ll have to call a cleaning crew first thing in the morning,” Susan said. Suddenly it occurred to her that no one had mentioned Bruce.

“Where is Bruce? Can I talk to him?”

“I can’t tell you,” Fran said nervously. “I told Max I wouldn’t tell you.”

“Where is he?” Susan demanded near hysterics.

“Calm down,” Daren said as he took the phone from Susan. “Fran, I’ve got Susan, and she isn’t in any condition to talk or do anything at all. We’re just leaving The Ranch, and I have a doctor waiting to see her at my house. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Where is Bruce?” Susan asked through clenched teeth.

“He’s okay,” Daren said. “He’s in the hospital. He was tailing Blaine before Blaine accosted you. Blaine shot Bruce in the shoulder. He’s out of surgery, and he’s doing fine.”

Susan hung up the phone, trembling, her face pale. “Bruce has been shot. I should go to him,” she said.

“You aren’t in any condition to go anywhere,” Daren said. “You’re shivering, and it’s a hundred degrees. I think you’re in shock, Susan. You can see Bruce tomorrow.” He pushed loose tendrils of hair away from her face, then took off his jacket and covered her with it while he held her close.

The doctor was waiting for them at the house. Daren helped her upstairs to a guest room, and the doctor took her vital signs and examined her. After a thorough examination, the doctor told her that she had bruises but no fractures. Shaking like a leaf, Susan took a hot shower while Derrick talked to the doctor. She hadn’t realized Blaine’s blood was on her until she saw the bloody red swirl go down the shower drain. Susan brushed her teeth with a new toothbrush on the vanity, put on a white terry cloth robe that Daren had provided, and climbed into bed.

“You’re going to feel a little sting,” the doctor said as he gave Susan an injection in her hip. A maid appeared out of nowhere and covered her with extra blankets.

“You’re in shock, and you’re suffering from trauma,” the doctor said. “It’s imperative that you rest. You can’t be left alone. Daren says he’ll stay with you. I’ll be back in the morning.”

The maid showed the doctor to the door.

“I’ll sleep in a chair,” Daren said, gesturing to a comfortable chair. I’ll put it next to the bed and hold your hand all through the night.”

Susan smiled, feeling drowsy from the medication. “I cannot allow you to sleep in the chair,” she said, patting the comforter. “You’ve been through a lot tonight. You need your rest, too. Please sleep next to me.” She heaved a sigh. “I’ve never killed anyone before. I thought that once Blaine was dead, it would be over, but it isn’t. Some repercussions come with killing someone.”

“What does it feel like?” Daren asked as he sat down on the edge of the bed.

“After Blaine died, I had a feeling of dread like the Grim Reaper was looming over me. You can’t see him, but you can feel him.” She gazed at Daren, her eyes wide. “It still haunts me. They say that everyone has a designated time to die. Maybe it wasn’t Blaine’s time to die. I hastened his death.”

Daren took her hand. “Well, it sure as hell wasn’t your time to die, so I think you should get that thought out of your head.” He kissed her lightly on the forehead. “I’m going to go change. Try to rest.”

Daren was back in ten minutes wearing a pair of blue pajamas and carrying a shot of whiskey and a glass of ginger ale.”

“The doctor recommended ginger ale. He thought it would settle your stomach.”

Susan took the glass and took a long swallow, then handed the glass back to him.

Daren downed the whiskey, turned off the light, and climbed into bed. “How are you feeling,” he asked, gathering her up in his arms.

It felt natural being in his arms, though she felt some guilt. The injection was dulling her senses, so she didn’t dwell on it. “I have a headache, and my back hurts, but nothing horrible. I’m starting to feel a little sleepy. What time is it?”

“Two a.m. Don’t worry about the time. Tomorrow you can sleep as long as you like. You’ve been through a lot.”

Susan laughed nervously. “I’m afraid to shut my eyes. I think I’ll carry the vision of Blaine lying dead in my mind for the rest of my life. It was bloody and horrible. I could hear Jenny’s voice, and I could feel The Grim Reaper—icy. And I was consumed by dread.”

There was a nightlight on, and in the dim light, Susan watched the fan overhead making circles as she tried to sort out what had happened.

Daren’s ears perked. “Jenny was there?”

Susan’s voice grew mysterious. “It was like a merry-go-round of horror. I thought I was all alone. I thought I was doomed. And then I heard Jenny’s determined voice from out of nowhere, and there was no mistake that Jenny knew that Blaine was going to kill me. She told me to shoot Blaine. She said it was him or me.”

Daren smiled. “Jenny was a scrapper. I’ve never seen her back down from anything.”

“Admittedly, I was in an altered state of mind, but I think Jenny killed Blaine. I waited too long to pull the trigger, so she pulled it for me.” Susan’s eyes welled up with tears. “I wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for Jenny.”

Daren kissed Susan on the forehead. “It doesn’t matter who killed Blaine. It was a justifiable homicide. You need to be at peace with your decision. After a good night’s sleep, you’ll feel better.”

A shiver went down her spine, and Daren pulled the blankets up over her snugly. Her thoughts were on Derrick. She should be in his arms, not Daren’s. But Daren was warm and comforting, and she found herself clinging to him as she drifted off to sleep.

Susan dreamed of Jenny.