CHAPTER THREE
Laurel lined up her shot, leaning across the pool table, and played the ball. Since the ball she was aiming at was virtually on the pocket, she could scarcely miss and, to her relief, she managed to avoid potting the cue ball as well. She turned and gave Thayer a cheeky smile. "Aren't you glad I made it down here?"
"Guess we have to thank Rebecca for taking your dad out,"Thayer remarked.
Laurel's mood darkened. "Yeah. Can't say I'm too happy about that one. But given that he's not making a fuss about any of our relationships, I don't suppose we can complain about his." Her grin returned. "Hey, maybe we'll get lucky and they'll have a terrible time."
"It's your shot again,"Thayer reminded her.
Laurel was about to answer him when her mobile rang. "Hang on a moment,"she told him as she answered it. "Sutton, what's up?...What? Well, is she all right?...Okay, we'll be right down there."
"Is everything all right?"Thayer asked, aware of what Rebecca had been planning and having a fair idea what the call had been about.
But the words Laurel said next caused the bottom to fall out of his world. "Emma's in hospital."
Laurel and Thayer hurried down the corridor to where Ethan, Sutton, Jordan and Mads were sitting. "Where is she?"Laurel asked anxiously.
"The doctor's looking at her,"Mads explained. "Your mum's in with her."
"Has anyone called Dad?"
Ethan nodded. "Yeah, he's on his way."
"What about Rebecca?"Thayer asked.
Jordan's expression hardened. "What about her?"
"She was with Ted."
Jordan looked in shock at Ethan, who just spread his hands. "He didn't mention her."
Laurel sat down on the same side of the corridor as Jordan and Mads, facing Ethan and Sutton. "Is Dan here?"
"He was with me when Ethan called,"Sutton replied,"but once he dropped me off here he went to the police station. He wanted to try and track down the people that did this."
Laurel was still confused. "What actually happened?"
"I only walked in on the end of it,"Ethan admitted. "But from what Kristin said to the police, a couple of men broke into the house and attacked her. Emma and I went back to the house to get her keys, I waited outside, Emma walked in on them, one of them was strangling Kristin. Emma got him away from her but then they started beating Emma. I heard her scream and went in and they ran off."
Thayer had had his heart in his mouth throughout the description. "They broke in?"
"Well, technically not,"Ethan corrected himself. "The place must have been unlocked."
It was at that moment that Ted and Rebecca came hurrying up. "What's going on?"Rebecca demanded. "How is she?"
"She's still being looked after,"Sutton explained.
"I'll see what's going on,"Ted decided, making a move for the examination room.
Sutton stood up and blocked Ted's path. "The doctors are with her, Mum's with her,"she said quietly. "They'll tell us when there's news." Ted looked like he was going to argue for a moment, then gave a nod of acceptance.
Rebecca coughed. "Ah, I just have to make some calls."
Ethan had got up during the brief exchange and walked a short way in the direction of the examination room, pausing just out of earshot of the others. Sutton went over to him. "You're not blaming yourself, are you?"she asked.
"Yeah but it's not just that. When I came in, I heard Emma shouting something." He paused. "She said she was pregnant."
Sutton's eyes widened in shock.
Thayer had waited a few moments to make sure his absence wouldn't arouse suspicion, then wandered away from the group, heading in the same direction Rebecca had gone. He found her in a deserted corridor, talking into her phone. "You were supposed to get rid of Kristin, not rough up my daughter!"she was snapping. "Did you leave the keys on the side like I told you to?...Well, at least that's something. Now get out of town and don't let me hear from you again."
"What the hell did you do?"Thayer demanded.
Rebecca turned to him, her expression unapologetic. "Exactly what I said."
"You used the code I got for you to get those men into Kristin's house. Were they actually going to kill her?"
"Kill her, give her a scare, I wasn't really that bothered."
"And Emma? Are you bothered about what happened to her?"
He expected the mask to slip for a moment but there was no difference in her demeanour at all. "She shouldn't have interfered. If she chooses the wrong side, then she's going to pay the price."
Thayer grabbed Rebecca and pushed her up against the wall, his arm across her throat, getting a small satisfaction in seeing the momentary look of fear in her eyes. "If you ever hurt Emma again, I'll kill you."
The female doctor stood next to the bed. Emma was sitting up, or at least managing to slouch slightly, a plaster on the cut on her forehead. Kristin was sitting on the bed. "You're very lucky,"the doctor remarked. "The worst you've got is a mild concussion. We'll keep you in for observation for a few hours but after that we should be able to discharge you." She turned to Kristin. "Are you sure you don't want someone to check you over?"
Kristin shook her head. "The other doctor had a brief look at me and Ethan when we came in. Just a few cuts and bruises."
"Okay. Well, I can tell your other visitors they can come in…"
"I'll do it,"Kristin stated. "I want to have a word with Emma first."
The doctor gave an understanding nod and left them alone.
Kristin looked at Emma in concern. "Emma…you said something back at the house, do you remember? Are you..?"
Emma shook her head quickly. "No, I, er, just said that so they'd stop hitting me. Pretty dumb, huh?"
"You could have been killed,"Kristin told her, part concerned, part scolding.
"So could you,"Emma pointed out.
Kristin nodded slowly. "You saved my life,"she said quietly. "That's quite a gift for a child to give a parent." Emma's eyes lit up as she realised what Kristin was saying. Kristin herself seemed to realise it too. She took the girl's hand. "I love you, Emma,"she told her.
Emma smiled. "I love you too."
Kristin came out of the room to find a large group gathered in the corridor. She noticed Rebecca's presence but couldn't be bothered to query it. "She's going to be all right,"she told them. The pronouncement brought a series of sighs of relief and various pairs hugging each other: Jordan and Mads, Laurel and Thayer, Ethan and Sutton. Rebecca seemed to be debating whether to hug Ted but before she could attempt it he'd gone over to Kristin.
"Are you all right?"he asked, taking hold of her arms gently.
Kristin shook her head. "I was sure I locked the door and set the alarm but I can't have done. If Emma hadn't have come home…"
No-one noticed Thayer shoot a look of distaste at Rebecca. Even Rebecca herself wasn't looking at him.
"Can we go in?"Mads asked.
Kristin nodded and the group began filing past her. She looked queryingly at Rebecca. "Hey, I am her mother,"Rebecca pointed out.
Kristin looked away from her to address the whole group. "We can't stay long, though. She needs rest."
Ethan and Sutton stopped near Kristin. "What she said before..?"Ethan asked.
Kristin shook her head. "She was making it up."
Ethan gave a sigh of relief and joined the others.
Emma struggled to sit up as the large crowd piled into her room but couldn't manage it. "Surprise!"Laurel greeted her.
"How are you?"Mads asked in concern.
"Glad to see you're looking well!"Rebecca called from near the back of the group.
"How are you feeling, honey?"Ted contributed.
Emma managed a smile. "I'm doing okay."
Ethan was standing nearest her and took her hand. "Just don't scare us like that again, okay?"
"You should have seen this one,"Jordan remarked. "Anyone would think he was in love with you."
"I think we should all let Emma get some rest now,"Kristin suggested, ushering the group towards the door.
"Ah, I just want to chat to Emma alone for a moment,"Sutton noted. No-one objected. Ethan kissed Emma on the top of the head and followed the others out.
Sutton looked expectantly at her twin. "All right. Confession time."
"What do you mean?"Emma asked awkwardly.
"I mean I know that body. I've got one just like it. And I know when you're lying. I've seen you do it often enough." She looked hard at Emma, who met her gaze nervously. "You're pregnant, aren't you?"
End of Episode Eight