Mystery Loves Company

Chapter 64 - File #7.2: The Hot Shots

When I brought up the name again, Vivian Kane's brown eyes twitched. It seemed like she had been having a thought about it, but never really put the name into her mouth. I, on the other hand, was actually relieved that someone else was also considering him.

She nodded anxiously. "It might sound like a stretch since Mr. Landon was in Havenbrook that time and—"

"It's not really a stretch," I cut, much to her confusion. "Uh... I'm sorry. Avery actually kind of told me everything."

She was startled. "Everything, as in...?"

"Eight years ago," I replied, "when your husband suddenly disappeared, and you had to move to Bridgewald. That's why I can understand your decision to not bring it up to the police."

It seemed like I just tripped an alarm—she suddenly looked nervous. I just pointed out something that was supposed to be a secret to only them, something she hated to talk about, but couldn't ignore either.

"The founder of Garner Constructions, Jonathan Garner, was found murdered in an empty house in Havenbrook," my heart told me to stop, but my lips kept moving, "and your daughter was the witness."

Ms. Kane put both her trembling hands over her mouth, and her eyes glistened with tears.

"I'm really sorry... but Did Avery ever tell you what she actually saw that night?" I asked carefully, afraid that she might have a panic attack, but I could tell that she tried to conceal her feeling.

She shook her head, and then wiped the tears before it streamed down her cheek. "I don't think she ever would. I never ask either. I don't want her to be associated to anything that could remind her to that night, so when the Chief informed me that Leonard was in town and was suspected to be Michael's murderer, and my own daughter knew about it, I just..." She breathed. "I was angry. I was angry at him. At her. Even at myself for letting that to happen. I was just trying to protect her—to protect my children... because I knew she must have seen a terrible thing when she was left alone for hours in that cabinet."

My stomach twisted—I didn't know it was that bad. Avery sure told me through her point of view, but she definitely was suppressing any memory that she didn't want to relive. Hearing it through her mother's, however... It sounded much horrible.

"Well... the reason I asked about that earlier was because..." I gulped, "Matthew Landon was the person Avery saw shooting Jonathan Garner."

She gasped. I guess she kind of foresaw it. Even though Pierce didn't tell her about what he did when he went undercover, she always expected the worst coming out of it.

"No," She quivered. "Avery said she didn't remember."

"I think she didn't want to remember... and something probably triggered her memory, so..."

"I don't want her to remember!" She cried, and then lowered her voice. "What if they're really coming for her? I've tried so hard to keep her away from anything related to the case. If Michael didn't help us to get out of Havenbrook eight years ago, I couldn't even imagine what would happen to us—to her."

"Did you, by any chance... have something to do with the case being closed without any real conclusion?" I didn't know why I asked that when she was on the verge of breaking down.

"It was Michael. He told me that he would protect us, especially Avery, but with a consequence..."

"The police had to come with a suspect, and they threw your husband in the picture," I guessed, but it was absolutely right as she nodded. Norris might genuinely protect Avery, but he hurt the whole family in the process by pinning the murder on Pierce. "And you were okay with them blaming your husband?"