Chapter Twelve
Caleb wasn’t sure he’d ever been so uncomfortable or so concerned. People often said he had a secretive smile and joked his way through life. He wasn’t smiling or joking now.
The police chief asked him enough questions to make his head spin, and then he left without any indication that he believed Caleb never meant to end Jeff Gehring’s miserable life. Luke’s lawyer asked Caleb even more questions, and then he asked whoever came to the door to please show him to a room where he could do some research. Since then, Caleb had paced this tiny, miserable, cold, undecorated room, drank a lot more water bottles, been taken to the restroom once, and then paced some more.
Hours must’ve passed. He was worried about Emily and Krew. If only he could check on them. His family members were surely on their way, if they weren’t already here. They’d be good to Em and Krew. If only Caleb could be with them too. Since Luke’s lawyer was here, Emily had obviously gotten ahold of Luke. Was Emily with his family? He would love to know that she was close by, waiting for him, hoping and praying he’d be free soon, but he preferred the thought that she was safe at home with Krew. He didn’t want her to be uncomfortable or miserable.
He stopped in his pacing and realized how deeply he loved Emily. He’d already known that he loved her because of her spunky personality, her grit, her beauty, the way she kissed, and her motherly nature, but he was struck by how highly he placed her comfort and happiness above his own. He’d never felt that way about anyone but his siblings, his parents, and Paisley.
He sank into a chair and said a prayer for Krew and Emily, adding that if it was the Lord’s will, Caleb could be with them again soon. He’d give up his lacrosse career and his fireworks company and never make another bomb or pull another prank again if he could simply hold Emily close and play lacrosse with Krew.
The door sprang open, and Chief Garner and Lawyer Doug strode in. They were both grinning. Caleb sprang to his feet, taking their smiles as a good sign.
“Sit down, son. We’ve got a little explaining to do.”
“Okay?” Reluctantly, Caleb sat. He wanted to be moving; at best, he would run out of here and sweep Emily into his arms, then find Krew and snuggle them until Em agreed to marry him.
“Your sister is one smart lady,” the chief began.
“Rachel,” Caleb said by way of correction. Eve was smart too, but Rachel was crafty and probably should’ve gotten a law degree instead of an MBA. They’d all tried to gently push her that direction since the accident but she seemed reluctant to get back into life and the public eye.
The chief nodded. “She was able to get ahold of Gehring’s family doc, who had referred him to a neurologist, Dr. Ballard, because of the serious brain injuries he’d accumulated from numerous diagnosed and undiagnosed concussions throughout his career.”
“Emily said the injuries changed his personality.”
“I bet. Made him mean as snot. That’s what they said about him on the field. Just mean. Anyway, Dr. Ballard wouldn’t talk to Rachel or Doug about his patient, but he was willing to talk to me.” Garner smiled. “He confirmed with Jeff earlier this week that he had swelling and bleeding on the brain that was inoperable and would kill him within the next few weeks, or at the most, months. He told him that he needed to immediately stop attending practice, as any hit to the head could end his life even sooner, and he prescribed morphine for the pain.”
Caleb leaned back in his chair, trying to comprehend it all. “So you think he goaded me into fighting, knowing I would kill him by hitting him hard?” His stomach rolled with disgust, anger, and guilt as he found himself actually feeling bad for Jeff. The concussions had altered his personality and made him into the monster who would hurt and neglect his own family. Caleb would never have intentionally killed him.
“I don’t think; I know. The neighbor, Ms. Vivian Lockwood? Apparently, she and Jeff were more than just friends, and he told her the plan. She tried to talk him out of it, but he was completely irrational by that point.”
Caleb had met Vivian last fall when he’d moved in. She’d brought him cinnamon rolls and flirted hard with him, stopping by his house on multiple occasions. When he hadn’t returned her attention, she’d finally seemed to give up.
“After some time spent in a holding room, Vivian admitted it all: Jeff returned to her house after the fight. He told her he was sick of being your punching bag and it hadn’t finished him off so they had to change the plan a little. He took a bunch of morphine to ensure it was over, and made her hide the pill bottle then promise to call the police and claim you killed him.”
Caleb’s gut churned. He’d had friends and teammates who had suffered from multiple head injuries, and it had affected them, especially their ability to think rationally. He still hated Jeff for hurting Emily and Krew, but he could recognize that the guy was a victim in all of this too.
“So now the only charge would be a domestic dispute, but the homeowner would have to press charges, and I don’t think Ms. Emily Housley is going to press charges, do you?” Chief Garner had a twinkle in his hazel eyes.
“So I’m free to go?” Caleb asked hopefully.
“Yes, sir, you are.”
Caleb felt lighter, relieved as the charges were lifted off of his shoulders. He stood and shook hands with the police chief and the lawyer. “Thank you,” he told them both. He still felt a sense of heaviness knowing that he’d contributed to a man’s death, but holding Emily would dispel that darkness. He started toward the door, then stopped. “Can somebody give me a ride to Emily’s?”
The men looked at each other and smiled. “I don’t think you’ll need us to give you a ride.” Chief Garner walked past Caleb and swung open the door. “They’re down the hall, to the right of the main area.”
His family. Of course they’d be here. He wondered how many of them had made it, and his love of family swelled inside of him. He hadn’t taken much of life seriously, but he had always known how blessed he was with family and thanked the good Lord for that. He’d been blessed with so much love, and it was time to share that love with Emily and Krew.
Caleb started off at a fast walk, but soon he was racing down the hall. He turned in to the room and saw his parents and siblings and in-laws and … “Emily!”
Everyone hurried toward him. “Caleb!” He heard the call over and over as his siblings ushered his mom forward first.
“Oh, my boy.” She squeezed him, then scolded him. “I knew you’d get arrested one of these days.”
He grinned. “Karma, right, Mom?” he tried to joke. “Love you.”
“Love you.” She hugged him tighter.