Harper’s jaw clenched. “How long have you been working this case?”
“But both victims worked at Black Capital Investments.” Peterson felt like she was grasping at straws. She had to do her best to get through to him. “Don’t you see? Kemp is killing everyone who can incriminate him. And now he’s killing people from the law firm, too.”
“Do you have any evidence of these two firms committing insider trading?”
“No, I’m going to get it, though. You don’t worry about that.”
Harper threw up his hands. “What the hell have you been doing all this time?”
Peterson jumped to her feet. She was sick of him coming down hard on her. “We had a setback, Lieutenant. That’s all. Thinks are more complicated than I realized. But don’t worry about anything. I’m not going to rest until I solve this case.”
“That’s not good enough. Now, get out of here. And go get me some hard evidence.”
Peterson walked out of the lieutenant’s office, feeling like the world was a dark and lonely place. She couldn’t link Black Capital Investments to any wrongdoing. There had to be something she’d missed, had to be some angle she’d overlooked. Sitting at her desk, she kept replaying the facts of the case in her mind, until she had a splitting headache.
Chapter 28
Suffering from a massive headache, Malone woke up in Jackson Memorial Hospital. Dressed in blue scrubs, a nurse stood next to his bed, checking monitors and writing on a clip board. She was an obese woman, with light brown skin, big blue eyes, and a large nose. Her thick red hair rested on her shoulders.
“Who are you?” Malone asked, looking up at her.
The nurse smiled. “I’m Jane. Jane Rivers.”
“Everything is gone. Gun, badge, wallet, keys.”
“There in a safe place, along with the rest of your personal belongings.”
Malone felt his head pounding with a vengeance. “How long have I been here?”
“You were admitted yesterday, around this time.”
“What time is it now?”
“It’s lunchtime.” The nurse pointed to a tray next to the side of his bed.
Malone took a moment to compose his thoughts. He couldn’t believe how much time had passed. “Are you sure about that? I mean, I’ve been here for twenty-four hours?”
“That’s right. You slept like a baby last night. Are you ready to eat your food?”
“I don’t have an appetite.”
The nurse gave him a disapproving look. “Don’t let good food go to waste.”
“Do you want to eat it, the red Jell-O and custard pudding?”
“You’d be surprised at how many people say that. But it’s actually not that bad.”
“I feel like I’ve been in a war.” Malone winced. “I hurt all over.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” The nurse turned around and opened a cabinet door. She grabbed a bottle of rubbing alcohol, a bandage, and some gauze. Slipping on a pair of latex gloves, she returned to the side of his bed. “I’m going to redress the wound on your arm.”
Malone sucked in a ragged breath. “It stings.”
“Hang in there for a minute.” The nurse removed the old bandage. “I’ll do this fast.”
Malone looked at the inside of his forearm and gritted his teeth. He could see a six inch laceration, held together with a lot of stitches. “Do I have more of these?”
“I’m afraid so.” The nurse cleaned the area and placed a fresh bandage on the wound. “That about does it. Now, you’re as good as new.”
“I don’t feel like it.”
“You have a nasty bump on the back of your head.”
Malone shook his head in confusion. “But my forehead is bandaged.”
“The doctor removed bits and pieces of glass from two deep lacerations.”
“Oh?”
The nurse patted him on the shoulder. “Not bad, sixteen stitches total.”
Malone racked his brains. He didn’t recall anyone working on him. “I must have been really out of it. Is there anything else wrong with me?”
“No broken bones. Do you know why you’re here?”
“A bomb went off downtown.” Malone paused. “It was at Tucker & Sutton Associates.” Malone’s head started to pound in his chest, bringing on a wave of dizziness. Pain radiated down his face, into his jaws. Take it easy, he told himself. It’s going to pass. Every time he took a breath, his lungs burned, as if he was still standing in the blaze of fire and rubble.
The nurse gave him a worried look. “Do you need more pain medication?”
“Give me a second.” Malone was relieved pain started to subside. “No, I’ll be all right.”
“We think you have a concussion.”
“I got my bell rung. But I’m still thinking clearly.”
The nurse looked unconvinced. “We’re still going to run some more medical tests.”
“At least take the catheter out.”
“No, not until the doctor says it’s all right.”
Malone shifted uncomfortably in his hospital bed. He didn’t like other people calling the shots. “Listen, I don’t like having this thing in me. Not one bit.”
The nurse gave him a sympathetic look. “I don’t know anyone who does.”
“There’s no need for it. I can walk to the bathroom and go on my own.”
“I’m sorry, but we have to follow the doctor’s orders.”
“I don’t have time for this. Let me see the doctor right now.” Malone knew everything in his life was going bad. The bomb blast had probably destroyed all incriminating evidence—the computer hard drives, the internal memos, the flash drives. Even worse, Mr. Sutton had probably died in the explosion, along with everyone else at the law firm. Seeing Kemp at the crime scene wasn’t a coincidence, either. He was responsible for setting off the bomb and for killing everyone inside the building. Malone had to find a way to stop him from hurting more people.
“You’re scheduled to have a CT scan any minute.” The nurse scribbled some notes on her clipboard. “You can talk to the doctor later, after he’s reviewed the results of your scan.”
“Look, I’m pressed for time. I have to take care of some important things.”
“Hey, take it easy.” The nurse gave him a serious look. “You need to stay calm.”
Malone knew the nurse was only following hospital procedures. It was a waste of time to argue with her. “Let’s hurry up and get the tests over with. So, I can get out of here.”
“You’re an impatient person, aren’t you?”
“It’s nice to see you guys.” A radiology tech came into the room, dressed in bright purple scrubs. He was athletic-looking, with a V-shaped torso, big arms and legs, and a healthy outdoor look to him. He unhooked some tubes from Malone’s body. “I’m sorry for running late.”
Malone felt a little nervous. “Where are we going?”
“Just to have some tests done, that’s all.” The tech wheeled the hospital bed out of the room and down the hall to radiology. “It’s a great day, isn’t it?”
“I don’t see anything good about it. In fact, it stinks, if you ask me.”
The tech gave him a warm smile. “Well, it’s nice to see you again.”
Malone took a deep breath and concentrated. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t remember meeting him. “What are you talking about?”
“You were here last night, in and out of consciousness.”
“Oh?”
The tech smiled. “You talked up a storm. I ran some medical tests on you.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. But I don’t remember that.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take good care of you, just like I did last time.”
Malone weighed his options. He was in a different environment now, one where the doctors, nurses, and technicians called all the shots. I’ll go along with it for a little while longer, he thought. As soon as he got the results back from his CT scan, he intended to collect his things,
leave the hospital, and get back to his police investigation.
Chapter 29
Malone opened his eyes, surprised to see his dad sitting in the hospital room. He was wearing brown slacks, a yellow polo shirt, and tan loafers. There was a gray blanket on his lap, folded in half, and draped across his knees. His black reading glasses hung low on his nose. Absorbed in an article, he turned the page of the Wall Street Journal and kept reading. For someone who just had a stent put into one of his heart’s arteries, he thought he looked great.
“The shoes on the other foot,” Malone said. “I mean, you being here, at my bedside.”
“That doesn’t surprise me.” Dean sighed. “In fact, I’ve been waiting for it to happen.”
“Oh?”
Dean shook his head. “You were bound to end up here sooner or later.”
“That goes without saying, I guess. It’s all part of the job.”
“You’re living on the edge, putting your life in danger all the time.”
“Your procedure went well. The stent obviously worked. You look great, strong and healthy.” Malone didn’t want to get into it with his dad again, especially when he wasn’t feeling well. He considered putting their relationship on hold for awhile, at least until he got out of the hospital. But for the time being, he decided to try a softer approach.
Dean jabbed a finger at him. “Don’t change the subject.”
“I can’t even give you a compliment, can I?”
“We’re talking about your life, not mine.”
Malone felt his hopes slipping away. Even though he was doing his best not to get into an argument with him, his dad seemed determined to throw a monkey-wrench into his plans. “Look, I have a pounding headache, Dad. Let’s talk about this later.”
“No.”
“This isn’t the time or the place to hash things out.”
Dean’s face hardened. “The hell it isn’t.”
“Things could be a lot worse. I’m in the hospital, getting excellent medical treatment.”
“You’re lucky you’re not in the damn morgue.”
“Don’t worry about it, Dad. I’ll be more careful next time, that’s all.” Malone’s lungs still burned, as if there was residue in them from the fiery explosion. If he would have walked into the law offices of Tucker & Sutton Associates a few seconds earlier, he would have been blown to bits. He clasped his hands on his stomach and stared at the ceiling.
“There may not be a next time. This may have been your last wake-up call.”
“I don’t see the point of arguing over it.”
Dean’s voice grew harsh. “Well, at least we agree on something.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Listen, I have a business proposition for you.”
Malone felt his anger spike. He considered asking him to go home. “Let’s talk about it later, when I’m out of the hospital.”
“I talked to Larry Martin. The marketing director for Caterpillar.”
“What are you getting at?” Malone knew Caterpillar spanned the globe for more than eighty-five years, helping countries to build their infrastructure and to utilize their natural resources. A good friend of his dad’s, Larry Martin, had spearheaded a marketing campaign, displaying how the company had provided the best value in construction and mining equipment to its customers around the world.
“Larry is willing to take you under his wing. He’ll show you the ropes, so to speak.”
“I’m not the slightest bit interested in that.”
Dean looked irritated. “He’ll get you into a middle management position.”
“Forget about it, will you?”
“You blew the last internship I got you at Boeing. And look what you’ve become.”
“Knock it off, Dad.”
“I’m old, in my eighties, and I don’t know many influential people anymore.”
Malone had reached the end of his rope. He couldn’t take it anymore. “I couldn’t care less about the job, all right? So, don’t ever bring it up again.”
“I won’t be able to help you for much longer, don’t you understand that?”
A Hispanic woman came into the room, carrying a plate of food and a carton of milk. She placed them onto a tray, right next to the side of his bed. There was a healthy portion of baked chicken, rice pilaf, and green beans. She looked at Malone, nodded, and left the room.
“I can’t do this anymore,” Malone said. “It’s too much for me to deal with.”
Dean’s eyes swept the room. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t ever bring up my career again. Or we’re going to part ways.”
“I’m your flesh and blood, for god’s sake.”
Malone could tell his dad was really upset. But it was the only way he could get him to respect his boundaries. “It has to be this way, Dad. That’s all there is to it.”
“You’re going to end up dead. Too stubborn to leave your line of work.”
“That’s my choice, not yours.”
“You won’t get another chance like this. No matter how hard you try.”
Malone felt a rush of anger pass through him. Rather than blow his top, he took a deep breath and counted to ten. “That’s it, Dad. Let’s take a break from our relationship. It will give us both some time for thought and reflection.”
“Listen to me—”
Malone cut him off. “No, it’s not up for debate. It’s a done deal.”
“Fine, I won’t say another word about your damn career.”
Malone felt himself start to calm down. He was happy he finally got the message. “I’m relieved to hear that, Dad. If that’s the case, we’re going to get along all right.”
“I’ll keep my opinions to myself, along with everything else I hate about your life.”
Malone propped his head up on the pillow. “That’s mighty big of you.”
“I’ll only tell you this one, last time. You’ve never leaved up to my expectations.”
“Whatever.”
Malone clasped his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling, wondering if things would ever be different between them. He closed his eyes and sighed. The tension in the room was palpable. They both sat in silence for a long time, not looking at each other, neither one sure of what to say next.
Chapter 30
Dean sat on the park bench, thinking about his son, realizing he couldn’t convince him to change his occupation. Despite everything he’d done, he couldn’t persuade him to accept the internship with Caterpillar. He was choosing to pass up the chance of a lifetime. Maybe it’s not in the cards, he thought. He reached into the plastic bag, grabbed a handful of breadcrumbs, and tossed them onto the ground. Pigeons landed all around him, some snatching the bread from the ground, others moving across the grass. Engrossed in feeding them, he didn’t notice that Missy was sitting next to him.
“Oh, you startled me.” Dean said, looking at her. “I didn’t see you sitting there.”
“I’m sorry.”
Dean thought it was a nice surprise. “No, I’m really happy to see you again.”
“You were so nice to me before. So, I thought I would pay you another visit.”
“I’m so glad you did.”
“I was here the other day, but I didn’t see you.”
Dean was touched that she had missed him. He thought it was a nice gesture. “Unfortunately, I was in the hospital, having a little procedure done.”
Missy looked concerned. “I hope everything is all right.”
“Oh, yes, it’s no big deal.” Dean smiled. “I just had a stent put in, that’s all.”
“Well, you look great.”
Dean knew the procedure gave him a new lease on life. For the first time in a long time, he didn’t feel tired, winded, or out of breath. “I’m as good as new. Never felt better in my life.”
“My lunch break is almost over.” Missy looked sad. “So, I can’t stay for much longer.”
“Things aren’t getting better for
you, are they?”
Missy took off her dark sunglasses. “Worse.”
“Oh, that’s terrible.” Dean could see Missy’s right eye was black and blue. It was swollen shut, with dried blood crusted on the eyelashes. If he didn’t know better, he would have sworn she’d been in a bad car accident. “I can’t believe your husband did that to you.”
“We had another fight last night.” Missy’s voice trembled. “He’s getting more violent.”
Dean swallowed hard. “He shouldn’t be allowed to get away with that.”
“He accused me of having an affair again.” Missy clasped her hands in her lap. Out of her good eye, a tear flowed down her cheek. “This time he said he has evidence.”
“He showed you the proof, I presume.”
Missy hung her head. “No, I think he’s bluffing. He has a strong suspicion, that’s all.”
Dean’s heart skipped a beat. He knew jealous husbands went to great lengths to keep tabs on their wives. “You can’t be too careful. Perhaps, he’s followed you and your lover.”
“No, that’s not possible. We always rent a car, and we take back roads to a motel.”
“The longer this goes on, the worse it gets for you.” Dean rubbed the back of his neck. He knew people engaged in domestic violence to gain power or control over an intimate partner. Staying with her husband was a bad idea. On an annual basis, of all the women murdered in the United States, at least one-third were killed by an intimate partner.
“I know you’re right. Oh, I’m so mixed up right now.”
“You should get away from him now, before it’s too late.”
“I left him last night.”
Dean could tell she was still upset. He got the impression she was holding something back from him. “So, you’re staying with your new lover now?”
“No, I wish I that was the case. I’m staying with a friend for the time being.”
“Well, that’s better than being with you husband, right?”
Missy’s voice shook. “Until the man I’m in love with decides to leave his wife.”
“Oh, I see.” Dean was at a loss for words. “It’s more complicated than I realized.”
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