wanted to assure him she was okay, but the truth was she was far from okay. She felt embarrassed to react this way about a despicable serial killer, but when Clark had told her what happened, Ed Oliphant somehow became her dad again.
A memory she’d pushed back into the dark recesses of her mind suddenly came alive and took over. Jason was staying the weekend at a friend’s house, so her dad had suggested a father-daughter weekend. He took her fishing. She remembered how proud he’d seemed to be when she pulled in a big catfish, and that night he fried the fish on their camp stove. Along with the fish, they’d eaten her mom’s homemade potato salad and baked beans and her delicious orange cake. Kaely could never figure out why food tasted better outside. It didn’t make sense, but at the time she decided it was the best meal she’d ever had.
They’d camped by the lake under the stars. He’d told her ghost stories that weren’t too scary, and they’d made her laugh.
She’d talked about school. Everything she liked. Everything she didn’t. And all the things that scared her. And he’d listened. Really listened.
Then before they went to sleep, they talked about songs they liked. Her dad didn’t know much about the music she listened to, and she knew even less about the songs he grew up with. She fell asleep listening to her father singing “In the Dark of Night,” an old song from the thirties he’d taught her. She could still hear his voice. In the dark of night, I’ll be there. I love you so, and I’ll never let you go. In the dark of night, I’ll be there.
How could she have forgotten that camping trip? She kept trying to remind herself who he was—The Raggedy Man. A person she didn’t know. Even with all her training, in her heart she still couldn’t understand how the father she trusted—she loved—could have been a vicious fiend who killed people for pleasure. She just couldn’t make sense of it.
Just then a man with a stethoscope around his neck came into the room. He pulled the door closed and sat down across from them.
“I’m Dr. Brightman,” he said. He fixed his gaze on Kaely. “Your father is in critical condition. He was stabbed several times as he slept. He’s in surgery now, and the surgeons are doing the best they can. But the damage is severe.”
When he paused for a moment, Kaely knew the words coming next.
“I’m afraid the prognosis isn’t good. With the seriousness of his wounds and the amount of blood he lost, frankly, I’m surprised he’s still with us.” He clasped his hands together. “I think you have to prepare yourself for the worst.”
Kaely listened to him, but it was as if she were somewhere far away. Not in the room with anyone else. In the dark of night, I’ll be there. I love you so, and I’ll never let you go. In the dark of night, I’ll be there.
She realized Dr. Brightman was waiting for a response.
“Thank you, doctor. I understand. May I see him when he’s out of surgery?”
He nodded. “He’ll be asleep for a while after we bring him back here. But if—”
When he hesitated Kaely realized he didn’t want to use the word if. He didn’t want to add more pain to an already distressing situation.
“When he wakes up, we’ll get you immediately,” the doctor finished.
Kaely thanked him again, and he got up and left the room. Why had she asked if she could see her father? What could she say to him?
“Let’s pray for him,” Noah said when the door closed. “And for you.”
Kaely blinked at him several times, not sure she’d heard him correctly. “Pray for him? What do you mean?”
Noah gave her a wry smile. “Prayer is a way of talking to God. I thought you knew about it.”
“Very funny. Why are you praying—again?”
He looked away from her for a moment, then turned back and gazed into her eyes. “Let’s just say that God and I have an understanding now. I promised to stop being angry with Him for something He had nothing to do with. And He promised to forgive me and help me figure out this crazy life.”
Kaely frowned at him. “You don’t have a crazy life.”
“Yeah, I do. You see, I’m hopelessly in love with a crazy woman, and I can’t help it. That’s why I need God.”
Kaely reached up and touched Noah’s face. “This