Chapter 9

Phoebe went back upstairs, and slipped into bed beside Michael. He was already asleep. He slipped his arm around her waist subconsciously and nuzzled to her shoulder. Phoebe put her arm over his and closed her eyes.

The next morning Cole pulled into his driveway. Two cop cars were waiting at his door.

"Daddy?" Kate said in a unsure voice

"It's ok baby, wait here with your sister" Cole said as he put the truck in park .

Cole slowly climbed out and closed the door, with the two girls waiting on the bench seat of the truck.

"Can I help you?" Cole asked, walking toward the officers.

"Mr. Turner?" One of the officers asked, taking his hat off.

"Yes" Cole replied

"I'm sorry Mr. Turner, your wife has been in an accident…she was announced deceased on our arrival." The officer said in condolence.

There was a moment of eye shifting between them and silence.

Cole closed his eyes, and ran both hands on his face into his hair. He knew he and Debbie were falling apart, but not like this…nothing like this.

His eyes started to burn as they filled with tears. He looked at the two small faces waiting for him in the truck, and then back at the officers.

"What…what happened?" Cole asked squinting his eyes, and wiping them with his thumb.

"Well Sir, without blood tests, we are still unsure, but from the looks of the car, they were traveling at a high speed, and smashed into the highway divide…there has been suspicion of alcohol…sir." The officer finished.

Cole sat on the porch step in shock, and stared at the ground.

"You said they?" Cole mumble staring at the ground

"Yes sir, there is one more thing," the officer said looking at his co-officer, "The man she was traveling with survived." He finished

"Who is he?" Cole snapped, picturing the face of the man in the restaurant with Debbie the night before.

"Umm…his name is Robert Stein and he is an escaped convict. A cereal rapist and murder, he escaped from the Arlington Prison."

Cole's blood ran cold. He looked up at the officers and then at the children.

The officer handed Cole slips of paper.

"This is some information for you, and our number if there is anything you need to know. We will also need a statement from you later this week." The officer said.

Cole snatched the papers, and walked to the truck.

"Is this the location you and your girls will be staying at Mr. Turner?"

"Yeah…yeah it is" Cole said and opened the truck door to get the girls out.

"One more thing," the officer said "We will need a member of the family to identify the victim for the record. It doesn't have to be you if you wish not to."

"Debbie…the victim's name is Debbie Turner" Cole mumbled, staring at the ground

"Yes, of course Mr. Turner."

Cole nodded. The officers drove away.

"Why did you say mommy's name like that daddy?" Kate asked noticing her daddy had been sad.

"Come in the house babies, daddy has to talk to you" Cole said in a soft tone.

Phoebe and Michael walked into their house. Michael threw the keys on the table and sat in his chair.

The drive home from the station was long and they were both silent, and they hadn't said a word to each other since the station.

"Is there something you want to tell me Phoebe?" Michael snapped

"Please don't start…I'm tired…and I want to go lay down." Phoebe said with a heavy sigh.

"No, Phoebe, we're talking about this…I don't really care if you want to. I'm not just letting it go!" Michael said as his voice raised higher.

"Michael I…" Phoebe pleaded.

"What! What! I leave, and you run to the pond to skinny dip with Cole Turner?"

"Michael it's not like that!"

"You tell me then…you tell me what it is like!" Michael shouted.

Phoebe glared at Michael.

"I see how you two look at each other…I see how you act when you're around him!" Michael continued, "I'm not stupid!"

"Michael…He and I…we're…!" Phoebe paused.

Michael didn't know about her past with Cole. He just found out from Phoebe's statement, that Cole and her were together at the pond before Phoebe was attacked. Now Phoebe would have to explain why.