Clean Slate Read online

  She stared at the empty space, her eyes unfocused and glazed.

  “Mrs. Masters?”

  Erin turned her head slightly at the question, still unable to tear her eyes from the place she had last seen Morgan.

  “I’m PC Lock and this is PC Ward. Can we talk to you?”

  “Sure.” She waited until they were seated. “I take it you’re investigating what happened to Morgan?”

  “We are. This was a very serious attack. Do you know what she was doing in the car park at the college tonight?”

  “She teaches night classes there.”

  “Do you know what time she finishes?”

  “The class usually finishes at nine, then she packs away, and usually leaves around nine thirty to go home.”

  Lock tilted his head to one side. “And what time does she normally arrive home?”

  “About ten, but—”

  “Were you not concerned that she wasn’t home at her normal time?”

  “Well, no. Sometimes she’ll go for a drink with some of the other teachers and come home later, but—” Erin pushed her fingers through her dark hair, her frustration mounting.

  “So tonight wasn’t unusual?”

  “No, but—”

  “Do you know the people she goes drinking with?” PC Ward had his pen poised over his notebook.

  “Will you please let me finish! Morgan wouldn’t have been coming home to me tonight, so I wouldn’t have been worried no matter what time it was.”

  “And why is that, Ms. Masters?” PC Lock leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees.

  “Because she walked out three weeks ago.”

  “She left you?”

  “Yes. Three weeks ago, she packed her bags and walked out on me and our two children. So I don’t know what was going on for this evening. I’m not privy to her plans, or where she calls home at the moment.”

  They looked at each other. “Ah, and where were you this evening, Ms. Masters?” Lock asked.

  Erin laughed and shook her head at the absurdity of it. “What? Just in case I had the urge to go out and bash her head in?” She tried to remind herself that they were just doing their job, and that the questions were just standard procedure. “I was at work until seven. I got home around seven forty-five, and then I spent the evening with my children. We did their homework, watched a film, and then I put them to bed. I went to bed myself at about eleven thirty after I completed a few house chores. I was in bed when the hospital rang me and asked me to come here.”

  “Was there someone else involved, Ms. Masters?” PC ward shifted in his seat as he flipped the page of his notepad over.

  The question had plagued Erin since Morgan had left. Was that the secret she was hiding? Is that where she’d been staying since she walked out? So many questions that only Morgan had the answers for.

  “I don’t know. If there was, she never said.”

  “And for you?”

  Erin laughed. “No, I’m not seeing anyone else.”

  “I’m sorry. We have to ask.”

  “I know. What else do you have to ask? Why did she leave?” She watched their reaction. “I have no idea. Morgan has a tendency to keep her thoughts to herself, and she was definitely keeping those quiet. What else?”

  “The doctor told us that there were drugs in her system as well as alcohol. Do you know anything about that?”

  “To the best of my knowledge, she didn’t take drugs. If that’s changed in the past three weeks…I have no idea.”

  “Where do you work?”

  “Manchester airport. I’m an air traffic control officer.” She opened her bag and pulled out a card. “My boss is Roger Siverton. You can get him on that number to confirm what time I left.”

  “Do you know of anyone who would want to hurt Ms. Masters?”

  “You mean besides me?” She laughed at their raised eyebrows, the shock and her own growing unease making her verbally punchy. “Sorry, I’m tired and probably in shock. My mouth has a tendency to run away from me at times like this. But no, I can’t think of anyone who would want to hurt her. She’s an art teacher, for God’s sake. You don’t get bashed about the head for giving someone a bad grade. Wasn’t it a mugging or something?”

  “There was no theft. Her money, credit cards, phone, everything was untouched.”

  “So that means a personal reason for attacking her.”

  Lock shrugged slightly. “We don’t know yet, but that seems more likely. What about friends or family? Would they be able to give us any more information?”

  “Probably. Her friends anyway. Nikki and Amy have been friends with Morgan since they started school together.” She scrolled through her phone to give them the telephone numbers. “She doesn’t have much in the way of family. Her mother died almost twenty years ago, and her father is in prison. She hasn’t seen him since his trial.”

  “And when was that?”

  “Almost twenty years ago.” Erin shifted uncomfortably in her chair. She hated thinking about Morgan’s parents. Morgan had rarely spoken of them, never going into details, but it was obvious what she had gone through because of them. She couldn’t stop the shiver that raced up her spine as she focused on PC Ward’s next question.

  “And they’ve not had any contact?”

  “None to my knowledge. You’ll have to ask Morgan or her father to confirm that.”

  “Thanks for your time. We’ll be in touch if we need anything else.”

  “Sure.” Erin waited for the door to close behind them before dialing her home number.

  “Hello?”

  Erin breathed a sigh of relief at the sound of her older brother’s voice. “Chris, it’s me.”

  “Oh, thank God. Maddie woke up a little while ago. She heard you going out.”

  “Is she okay?”

  “Yeah, wanted to know all the ins and outs. I didn’t know what to tell her, so I told her you had to go into work. Last minute. I swear that kid’s not ten. She gave me the third degree about who—never mind all that. What’s going on?”

  “Morgan’s being operated on at the moment. I won’t know anything for a while yet. I’ve just finished speaking to the police—”

  “Police? Why?”

  “She was attacked. Beaten up by someone, I guess.” Erin turned her head, trying to loosen some of the tension that was building.

  “And?”

  “The police needed information. I was the logical first person to speak to. I am her wife.” She ran her fingers through her hair and let her head fall back against the wall.

  “So what are you doing now? Are you coming home?”

  “No. I’m going to stay and make sure she’s all right before I leave.”

  “Why?” His voice was rough.

  “What do you mean, why?”

  “You know exactly what I mean. Why stay there, with her, after she walked out on you?”

  Why indeed? “Because it’s the right thing to do. We have children together. How could I come home and tell the kids ‘sorry, your mother was in surgery last night having her brain operated on, but I don’t know how she is now, or even if she made it out of the operating room alive.’”

  The silence on the line told Erin exactly how much her comments had irritated her brother.

  Erin pinched the bridge of her nose and willed herself to calm down. She knew he was right. It wasn’t his fault, and she was taking it out on him. “I’m sorry, Chris. I’m tired and worried about her. I don’t mean to take it out on you. They might need me to authorize some other operation or something too.”

  “You’re a hell of a woman, Erin Masters. If you weren’t my sister I’d have to marry you.”

  Erin wanted to laugh, but she didn’t have the energy. “I’ll call when I know something more.”

  “Erin, wait.”

  “What?”

  “Are you okay?”

  Erin didn’t know how to answer. Everything was changing so fast she felt she couldn’t keep up. “I do
n’t know, Chris. I don’t know what I’ll do if—”

  “Listen to me. You are the strongest woman I know. You can deal with anything this shitty life can throw at you. You always have done, and you always will.”

  “I know—”

  “If you need me, I’m here for you.”

  “Thanks, Chris. I’ve got to go now.”

  Erin put the phone back in her bag and slid out of her jacket, determined to get comfortable while she waited. The harsh lights of the hospital hid the fact that it was three in the morning and there would still be a long wait for news. She curled up in the chair, tucking her legs under her, and let the hours roll by, playing over in her head the memories of their life together.

  “What’s wrong with you? You’ve been wandering around looking like I stole your puppy or something.” Erin kissed the top of Morgan’s head before she sat at the kitchen table. She smiled to soften her words, but she was getting tired of battling Morgan’s ever increasing moods.

  “Nothing’s wrong.” Morgan turned away.

  “Then smile, and try to pretend like you’re enjoying spending time with me and our children, and that we aren’t making you miserable all the time.”

  Morgan’s face drained of all color and her gaze dropped to the floor. “I can’t help it.”

  “What can’t you help?”

  “I can’t do this anymore. I won’t make you all suffer because of me.” Morgan stalked out of the room. Erin listened to her moving around upstairs for a few minutes, then followed her, grateful that the children were in the garden playing. She climbed the stairs and stood staring in shock as Morgan started throwing clothes into a suitcase.

  “What are you doing?”

  “You’re an intelligent woman, Erin, what does it look like?”

  She chose to ignore the sarcasm and try to get to the heart of the problem. “Why are you packing?”

  “I’m leaving.”

  “What? Why? What are you talking about?” Erin crossed the room and grabbed the lid of the suitcase, intent on pulling it away from Morgan.

  Morgan stared at her, her eyes brimming with tears. “I can’t do this anymore.”

  “You can’t do what? Morgan, sit down and talk to me. Tell me what the hell’s going on.” Erin ached to reach out and pull her into her arms, unable to maintain her own anger in the face of Morgan’s despair.

  “I’m making you all miserable, you said so. So I’m going to leave. Then you and the children can all be happy without me!”

  Morgan threw more clothes into the case and reached under her pillow for her pajamas. Erin’s mind scrambled to grasp what she was seeing. She’d seen Morgan withdraw from them more and more over the past three weeks and was at a loss how to reach her. Everything she’d done had only seemed to push Morgan further away.

  Romantic dinners ended with Morgan sulking and disappearing into her art studio. Days out with the family resulted in her picking fights or wearing herself out playing basketball with the kids then falling asleep on the couch.

  “Do you truly believe that any of us would be happier without you?”

  “Yes!”

  Erin reached out to touch her, swallowing her disappointment when Morgan shrank from her touch. “Morgan, we love you. I love you.” She stepped slowly around the bed. Her approach cautious. Measured. Wary. Just like approaching a wounded animal, trapped in a corner. “Fifteen years ago when we fell in love, I knew that you were the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I know I’m not always very good at showing you that. I don’t have the artistic soul you do, but I do love you with everything in me.” She took hold of Morgan’s hand. Her heart leapt with hope when Morgan didn’t pull away. “Whatever the problem is, we can work through it together. No relationship is perfect all the time. This is a rough patch that we can get through. We can see a counselor or something, family therapy. Whatever you need, baby. Just talk to me and we’ll figure it out.”

  “It won’t work. I can’t…” She wrenched her hand away from Erin and closed the case. “You don’t understand. You’ll never understand.”

  The path was set and Morgan’s feet were already on it. Erin felt her heart beating its thunderous tattoo inside her chest, and the blood roared in her ears as she watched Morgan scramble down the stairs and reach for the door.

  “Morgan, if you walk out that door, I’ll never be able to forgive you. Stay, please, and we can work this out. Whatever it is that’s hurting you, we can fix it. You have to stay. I don’t understand…at least tell me why. We can fix it.” The tears poured down her cheeks.

  “You can’t fix everything, Erin. I was broken a long time ago.”

  “You don’t know that. You haven’t even let me try. Please, Morgan. I love you. Don’t give up on us like this.”

  Erin could hardly believe the words coming out of her mouth. She had never begged for anything in her life. Even when her world had been shattered as a child, she had stood proud beside her mother and brother, and worked hard to build a life that wouldn’t break apart around her. One where she was secure in her job, the love of her children, and the partner she adored. She couldn’t believe that she was watching it all blow apart and her heart was walking out the door.

  “If you leave it’s over, Morgan.”

  “That’s the point.”

  “You planned this, didn’t you? You picked a fight so you could walk out without having to explain what’s really going on, didn’t you?”

  “I’ll call to sort something out with the kids when I find a place to stay.”

  “I’m right, aren’t I?”

  “Good-bye, Erin.”

  She didn’t slam the door behind her. The tinny click of the catch was all the more wrenching for its quiet mockery. “Damn you, Morgan Masters.”

  A knock on the door startled her from her reverie as Dr. Reynolds entered the room, a slight smile on his face. “She’s out of surgery and it went well.” He dropped into the seat opposite her. “We had to remove a small blood clot that formed and we relieved a lot of the pressure on Ms. Masters’ brain. She’s not woken up yet but I expect her to any time now.”

  “And she’s okay?”

  “Well, it’s always difficult to say with brain injuries. We’ll know more once she wakes up, and then we can see what she has to say for herself.”

  Erin couldn’t stop the tears that slipped down her cheeks. “Can I see her?”

  “Sure. I’ll get one of the nurses to bring in a chair and you can sit with her if you like. Waking up to a friendly face would probably be nice for her.”

  Erin saw no need to correct his assumption as she followed him into Morgan’s room.

  Chapter Three

  Steady beeps and rhythmic humming were the first things Morgan was aware of when she woke. The throbbing in her head pulsed in time with the bleating machine. She opened her eyes but even the low lighting didn’t stop the sharp pain lancing through her skull. She moved her head slowly to take in the dim details of the room. The wires and tubes attached to her skin were uncomfortably restrictive as she became aware of them. She tried to lift her hand to her face but a sharp pain in her shoulder caused her to gasp and moan, and she settled back against the pillows to let the pain subside.

  She lost track of time cataloguing the aches and pains in her body as she tried to move; everywhere seemed to hurt, but her head was by far the worst of it. When she opened her eyes again, she looked around, moving her head gingerly, the ache growing with each movement until she saw a woman sitting in the chair by the window. Her head rested on a blanket that she had wedged into a pillow, her hair thick and dark as treacle, hanging in big soft waves over her shoulders and curling across one eye.

  Her lips twitched as she slept, parting slightly as the tip of her tongue swept over the sensuous sweep of her lower lip. The top had a deep cupid’s bow and a slight upturn at the corners. It was a mouth made for smiling, laughing; lips that were meant for kissing.

  She’d wrapped a pa
le gray jacket over her shoulders and her feet were tucked under her legs, her skirt stretched tight across her slender thighs.

  “Hi.”

  Startled by the soft voice, Morgan looked up from the woman’s shapely legs. Pain tore through her head and she had to close her eyes until the waves of nausea passed.

  “Take it slowly. Try not to move too much.”

  Morgan wanted to answer, but her tongue felt thick in her mouth. The woman seemed to expect this and spoke gently again, her voice soothing the burning in Morgan’s head. It felt like forever before Morgan opened her eyes again without everything swimming out of focus. Her breath caught in her throat when she finally did. She hadn’t been aware of the woman moving from her chair and was shocked when she looked up into the most startling blue eyes she had ever seen. Pale blue, like fresh melted water raging over glaciers, but there was nothing cold about the eyes watching her. Passion and heat and barely concealed anger were all carefully controlled but bubbling below the surface, and there was something in Morgan that wanted to open her up, in every way.

  “I’m going to find the doctor. Stay awake, okay?”

  She left the room and Morgan groaned softly from the pain vibrating in every part of her body. She tried to focus, to push away every needle sharp sting that sliced through her skull, and stay awake.

  “Well, well. It’s nice to see your eyes without having to pry them open myself.” A scruffy looking man walked into the room, the woman from earlier following closely behind him. “I’m going to get you a little sip of water and see if we can get you to answer a couple of questions.” He held a straw to Morgan’s lips and instructed her to sip slowly before he pulled it away and placed it on the cabinet beside the bed. “I’m Dr. Reynolds. I’ve been looking after you since you came in. Do you know where you are?”

  Morgan let the pieces fall into place and let out a relieved breath, the machines, the doctor. “Hospital.” Her voice was scratchy, hoarse. It sounded odd to her own ears, and her ribs ached with each breath.

  “Perfect. Can you tell me your name?”

  “Morgan.”

  “Excellent. Just a few more okay?” He didn’t wait for Morgan to answer. “Who is the prime minister?”