the fish.” He wasn’t sure if he could even taste the fish, and found himself wishing he didn’t even know it was there.
“You should eat it all,” Birdie said. “Especially if we plan to go out. My mom used to make it for my dad when he’d go out with his dogs.”
“You keep saying we. Aren’t you worried about Jolene since you saw this Sascha Green yesterday?”
“To be honest,” Birdie said, “it scares me almost to the point of paralysis, him creeping around like this. I’m sure that’s why he does it.” She looked at the bleachers again. “But, your partner will be here. She looks like she could handle herself in a pinch.”
“Lola will have her eyes on the judge.” Cutter’s cell phone chirped. It was Warr. “And so will I.” The phone chirped again.
“You better get that,” Birdie said, giving him a resigned smile. She heaved a heavy sigh, then began to look around the gym as she spoke, no doubt still watching for Sascha Green. “But wait and see, you are going out there to save Sarah Mead.”
Cutter’s thumb hovered over the phone, ready to answer it before it went to voicemail. “You seem sure of yourself.”
“I am.” Birdie turned to look straight at him. “It’s kind of what you do.”
CHAPTER 26
Mim sat on her bed in one of Ethan’s old T-shirts and a pair of gym shorts, staring at the phone. The twins were watching a movie in the living room. Constance was on her way home from the tutoring session. This was a perfect time to call Dr. Carnahan, at least for Mim. She didn’t know how he would feel about it. It was almost nine thirty in Virginia. Surgeons got up early, so they went to bed early. Still, if Carnahan had kids, well, this could be the right time.
She punched in the number before she changed her mind and chewed on her bottom lip while she waited for it to ring.
A woman picked up, a little harried. A child screamed in the background.
“Hello.”
Mim put on her professional, this-is-going-to-hurt-but-it’s-necessary nurse’s voice. “Mim Cutter here. May I speak with Dr. Carnahan?”
“David! It’s for you!”
Mim heard bathwater splashing. A child’s giggles. Then a man came on the line.
“This is Dr. Carnahan.”
Mim got directly to the point, introducing herself as Arliss Cutter’s sister-in-law.
“Is he okay?” Carnahan asked. “Has something happened?”
“No, no,” Mim said. “He’s safe. But I wouldn’t exactly say he was okay.”
Carnahan groaned. “You can never be sure, of course, but I don’t believe Arliss would hurt himself.”
Mim kept her voice low, controlled, like nurses had to do when they spoke with doctors. “You’re certain?”
“If the sarge was going to hurt himself, he would have done it a long time ago.”
“Doctor,” Mim said, “I realize you don’t know me, but I really am worried about him. He’s been such a help to me and my kids. I want to do something for him. Can you tell me, was there some event, some trigger that happened when y’all were overseas?”
The bathwater and baby noises faded and Mim heard a door click shut.
“You’re Ethan’s widow,” Carnahan said.
“That’s right.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Carnahan said. “I haven’t talked to Arliss in . . . gosh, it’s been nearly a year. Funny, but we always pick up again like we’ve never lost track. How’s he sleeping? Does he wake up sweating? Nightmares?”
“I . . . I don’t know about that.”
“I’m sorry,” Carnahan said. He affected a more clinical tone. “I thought the two of you . . . Never mind. What is it specifically that has you worried?”
“I don’t know,” Mim said. “I guess it’s just that he has such a short fuse. It’s like he’s ready to blow up at any little thing.”
“I see,” Carnahan said. “I suppose we’re all a little bit that way after . . .”
Mim waited for him to continue, but prodded when he did not. “After what?”
“Listen,” Carnahan said. “I’m really not comfortable talking about this with you.”
The words felt like they flayed Mim’s skin. She didn’t have the energy to beg, or the right. She began to sob. “I . . . I’m so sorry to bother you . . .” She lowered the phone, ready to end the call, when she heard Carnahan’s voice.
“Wait! I’m the one who should be sorry.”
Her thumb stayed over the button, fearful now that she might hear something she didn’t want to know.
“Are you still there?” Carnahan asked, meeker now.
“I am,” Mim said.
“I apologize. You called