Coaster by Lorena Bathey Read Free Book Online

                                                        ****
     
    They sat at a table not eating anything. There was a white cloth covered with silver and crystal. The eggs were hot and steaming and neither one of them could eat anything. Diana and James were dressed impeccably. They each stared at their plates until the phone shocked them into action.
    James got up and answered. The voice on the other side inquired after them, but James didn't know how to answer. He was filled with sadness and rage. Neither emotion had made it to the surface, but they were a combination that didn't do well together. He affirmed that they would be downstairs in twenty minutes then set the phone down. His wife looked up at him with eyes that were red-rimmed and sunken. She had not slept at all last night just simply cried next to him. He couldn't help her. His sorrow was as deep as hers. He nodded at her; she got up from the table and moved to the bathroom. He heard the sound of retching almost immediately.
     
                                                                          ****
     
    Roger woke up hoping that yesterday was simply a nightmare. But the reality descended as he sat up and put his feet on the floor. He felt tired and so old. He ran his hands through his hair and tried to stop the picture of the young girl from forming in his mind. What was her name? Lindy. He'd stayed awake most of the night repeating the walk of the track through his mind. There was no way he could've seen that bomb. But still it didn't stop him from trying to find a way to take responsibility. It wasn't his fault. It was an accident; however, he was having a hard time convincing his heart of this.
    He could hear his daughter in the kitchen , so he rallied and moved out his bedroom door. She had made breakfast and coffee and pancakes were sitting on the table. She looked at him with worry, and he forced a smile and a quiet thank you as he sat down. It was going to be a long day.
     
                                                                                        ****
    Detective La Rosa drove to the station. She made a mental note to get the name o f a counselor to Lindy's father first thing. Her phone vibrated and she pulled it out to look at who was calling. It was Kincaid so she tapped her ear piece. "I'm almost..."
    Kincaid interrupted. "You need t o drive to the park. The higher-ups want to talk to us."
    "Okay, you want me to pick up coffee for you?" La Rosa smiled. "And a donut?"
    "Well, if it's not out of your way."
    "See you in twenty."
     
     
    Chapter Eight
     
    The park was closed. The parking lot empty of cars looked dismal and sad. La Rosa pulled her car up close to the entrance and parked. She walked slowly with the coffee and bag of donuts she'd brought. The silence was strange. As she made her way to the offices she saw suits leaving and wondered if the Feds were here yet. She struggled to hold the coffee while opening the door, but finally got it by holding the donut bag in her mouth. Once inside, she could hear voices and followed them.  Entering the conference room, she saw suits, suits, and more suits. Everyone had one on and the men in them were all trying to talk at the same time. She scanned the room and noticed Kincaid standing in the back. He nodded at her.
    "Here." Sh e handed him a coffee and the bag. "What's up?"
    "They are arguing on how to handle the press and what to tell the mayor's office."
    "W hat did I miss?"
    "Well the CEO is hot for the mechanic."
    "Merit? Why?"
    Kincaid took a donut out of the bag and waved it as he spoke. "They need a fall guy."
    La Rosa shook her head. "What about the person that did this, how about making him the fall guy?"
    "They have no idea who it is. And we're just starting our investigation. The Feds