Chapter 16: Confirmation

Early morning after Kayla was taken to school Mick and Beth were had to work once more. Carl hadn't been able to give her anything new yet, they were still waiting on the lab results when she'd called the day before. They seemed to have more than the cops which at this point wasn't say a lot.

Beth set her glass of blood down when her phone rang and she saw Carl's number. "Hey Carl," Beth stopped herself from asking automatically what news he had.

"Hey Beth are you and Mick together?"

"Yeah once second," Beth walked back into the office and hit speaker. "We're here what do you have?"

"The lab results came back and it's a DNA match for the husband. Due to the amount of blood found at the scene we're operating under the assumption he's dead."

"That would explain why no one can locate him," Mick commented looking at Beth. In sub ones he added, "This doesn't feel right."

Carl sighs loudly, "That's not all. The lab didn't find anything in the blood we took from Grace when she arrived here. If she was drugged it's not showing up."

"If? Do you really think she's faking?" Beth couldn't believe Carl.

"I'm saying we don't have proof that she was Beth. Look I shouldn't be telling you any of this but I know you want to help and frankly with where things are headed I think she could use all the help she can get."

Keeping on track Mick took the phone, "What about the blood from her house and the drink on the counter?"

"Still awaiting results; the lab is backed up."

"Okay thanks Carl," Beth tried to sound upbeat. "We'll keep working and let you know if we find anything."

"I'm on my way to talk to Grace now." Carl disconnected the line and stood from his desk not thrilled about what he had to go do.

Carl had just left the mansion, leaving Grace in Jeans capable hands. Jean sat across from Grace in the main living area of the main house waiting for her to speak. "Grace? Do you want to talk?"

Grace shook her head absently, "I don't know what…I don't know anything anymore."

Jean slid forward in her seat reaching forward to take Graces trembling hand in hers. "We'll figure this out."

"I don't know what happened Jean. I could have…I know I wanted to…" Tears welled in her eyes, "He was a monster."

Jean squeezed her hands, "The things he did to you were horrible."

Grace pulled her hand free and sat back running her hands over her face. "I'm relieved. I woke up surrounded in blood…my husbands blood and he's probably dead and I'm happy." Grace pulled her hand back from her temple having touched the still tender wound.

Jean moved to kneel in front of Grace, "That's okay. You're allowed to feel what you feel. There is no wrong way to feel."

"What if I did it though? Could I have done it? Could I have…blocked it out or something?"

"If you did anything to him then I'm sure beyond a doubt you had a reason Grace. But I don't think you did anything. From what my friends have found so far it looks like you may have been drugged."

"But Lt. Davis said my blood work came back negative." Grace was wringing her hands with worry.

Jean nodded, "Some drugs clear the body quickly. Others don't show up on the general toxicology test so they will have to keep testing." Jean ran her hands reassuringly up and down Grace's arms, "I don't believe for an instant that you did anything wrong."

Grace took some deep breathes trying to calm herself down as she looked through watery eyes to Jean, "You've done so much for me already. No one's ever helped me before…"

Jean smiled easily, "Well now you have me. We're going to figure this out."

After a few minutes when she is calmer Jean stands to get them a drink. She disappears inside and gas herself a glass of O negative before returning with a glass of water for each of them.

Grace has tucked her legs under her and is staring out blankly into space when she returns. Jean hands her the glass of water meeting her eyes as Grace asks, "Do you really think he's gone?"

Knowing she meant Nolan Jean couldn't be sure. The amount of blood lost didn't hold hope that the person was alive and it was his blood but she had seen stranger things. Instead of saying one way or the other Jean simply gave her shoulder a squeeze, "I think no matter what you are safe and free now."

Grace nodded as she looked out the window towards the pool, "Do you think…would it be okay if I went for a swim?"

"That sounds like a wonderful idea. If Beth didn't grab a swim suit for you I'm sure we have something that will work."

"She did," Grace had put her clothes into the dressed in the guest house then repacked and unpacked a few times trying to calm herself down when she first arrived and had been surprised that Beth had packed a swim suit. Now it made sense, she knew she'd be staying near a pool.

Jean looked at the setting sun through the windows, "Would you like some company?"

"That would be nice…but you don't have to babysit me." Grace looked down, "I know you have other things to do."

"I always swim in the evenings, the sun is just too harsh to my skin." Jean assured, "I'm going back to the office tomorrow."

"I'd like the company," Grace said before standing and finding her way to the guest house to change.

To Be Continued…

Evilous