Everyone Here Is Lying(39)

Ryan falters but recovers his balance. “I didn’t do anything with her,” he protests. “That’s a lie. She didn’t get into my car. Someone made that up.”

Nora watches in disbelief as Erin pummels Ryan violently with both fists. Ryan backs up to get away from her and loses his balance, landing on the floor at the bottom of the stairs.

“Get off him!” Nora screams, animated out of her stupor now, rushing to the side of her son. She glances up at Erin as the other woman stands over him, breathing heavily, her eyes murderous. Beyond her, Nora can see the journalists pressed up against the windows, hear them outside baying for blood. She feels the bile rising in her throat. This can’t be happening. They can’t be seeing this.

She turns back and leans over Ryan. He’s not hurt at all and waves her off. He sits up, looking warily at Erin. But she’s harmless now, weeping raggedly, a figure of raw pain. Nora begins to cry too. And that’s when the police arrive.





Twenty-four


Gully knows that something is amiss when they pull up outside the Blanchards’ house and see reporters wedged in together in the dead flower beds, hands cupped around their eyes, peering in the large living-room window.

“What the hell?” Bledsoe says, and he’s out of the car as soon as she’s got it in park. She’s close behind him. They race up to the house, calling to the crowd to get away, to step back, ordering them to retreat to the sidewalk. Gully sees Bledsoe knock on the door before quickly opening it—they have a search warrant, after all. Glancing over her shoulder, Gully sees the search team arriving, the white van now parking on the street.

When they step inside, she’s not prepared for what she sees. Erin Wooler is sobbing and gasping, and Nora Blanchard is hovering protectively over her son. She looks at the two women, a world of pain between them.

“What’s going on here?” Bledsoe asks.

“She assaulted my son!” Nora says wildly.

Gully closes her eyes briefly, opens them again.

“What are you doing here, Erin?” Gully asks her gently. But Erin doesn’t seem capable of speech. “I’ll take her home,” Gully says to Bledsoe. “I don’t imagine you want to press charges,” she says to Nora and Ryan, hoping she’s right. They glance at each other, as if uncertain what to do. Gully takes advantage of their hesitation. “That’s that, then. Come, Erin, I’ll take you home.” She wants to defuse the situation.

“Who called you?” Nora asks. “Why are you here?”

Bledsoe answers, producing the requisite document. “We have a search warrant.”

Gully watches the color drain from Nora Blanchard’s face. Ryan looks even worse. She leads Erin away.



* * *



? ? ?

Erin accompanies Gully in a daze.

She can’t believe what she just did. She completely lost control. It was like she was out of her mind, outside of her own body. She might be charged with assault. They could charge her if they want, but the Blanchards have bigger problems right now. She’s glad they’re going to search Ryan Blanchard’s car and house, like they searched theirs. They must find Avery. That’s all that matters. She doesn’t care about anyone, or anything, else.

They make it to the detective’s car. They can’t walk back down the street with this rabid bunch following them, shouting questions, taking photographs, not after what just happened. She and the detective don’t speak on the short drive back down the street. Gully gets her safely inside the house and sits her down on the sofa.

She looks at her with concern. “Can I get you anything, Erin? A cup of tea, maybe?”

Erin shakes her head. She’s angry that Gully hasn’t been forthcoming with her—that she didn’t tell her about the witness who saw Avery get into Ryan’s car. She doesn’t tell her anything. Erin doesn’t give a damn about police protocol—she’s Avery’s mother, and she has a right to know what they know. Michael comes down the stairs, looking worried. He looks like he’s been crying.

“What happened? What were you doing at the Blanchards’??” His voice rings with anxiety.

She swallows. She doesn’t want to tell him what she did. He doesn’t need an out-of-control mother right now. But he needs to know what’s going on. “Your sister may have gotten into Ryan Blanchard’s car. There’s a witness—an anonymous witness.” She turns to Gully. “Isn’t that right? Isn’t that why you called me a little while ago to ask how Avery was wearing her hair that day? Isn’t that why they’re over there right now with a search warrant?”

Gully asks, “Where did you hear that?”

Erin says wearily, “William told me.” She turns to Gully. “How would he know that? You didn’t tell him, did you?”

Gully shakes her head. “No.”

“Who else would know?” Erin asks. Gully doesn’t answer. Erin says, suddenly struck, “The Blanchards would know.” She breathes out heavily, like she’s been punched in the stomach. “Oh God. It’s Nora Blanchard, isn’t it? She’s the other woman.”



* * *



? ? ?

Al Blanchard is at work Thursday afternoon when he gets a frantic call from his wife.