Hit and Run

by Amy Shojai

  Ready to disconnect the still-ringing phone, Tee paused, hearing the weird echo outside of her cell. Karma stuck her face neck-deep into the drifted white. She rooted beneath the snow, and came out with a ringing cell phone in her mouth. Tee disconnected her own line, and it stopped ringing.

  Taking the phone from Karma’s gentle grip, Tee wiped its face clean. No damage she could see. That explained September’s silence. She might be on her way back to Teddy’s place, unaware he’d been attacked. Tee attached the lead to Karma’s collar, not wanting to risk losing the dog.

  Karma continued to snuffle around the grave. The dog’s hackles bristled, and a low growl bubbled from deep in her chest. Shoulders hunching, Tee scanned the area, and spied a dark object atop the monument. She reached gingerly for the gun, her heart skipping a beat. Did it belong to September or someone else? She didn’t know if the woman carried, but wasn’t surprised. Losing her phone in the snow made sense, but nobody brought protection and left it behind. Had she been surprised, and run?

  She paid closer attention to Karma’s behavior. Still learning to read the big dog’s meaning, Tee recognized the police dog’s arousal. The gloves Teddy gave her at the hospital would settle once and for all where September went from here. Tee pulled one of the gloves from her pocket, and called the dog to her, offering it to scent. Then Tee gave the German search command. “Karma such.”

  Karma sniffed deeply, and without hesitation, whirled and set off across the large cemetery. She had to bulldoze through deeper drifts, occasionally leaping over snowbanks. Tee stumbled after the dog, clinging to the tracking line, struggling to keep up and not slow Karma down. The blowing snow had only partially filled footprints. That made the trek easier. But without Karma, Tee wouldn’t have seen September’s path.

  What made September leave her gun and phone behind? Why travel to another section of the cemetery, unless chased?

  Karma stopped near a freshly-dug grave. The mound of dark earth, dusted with snow, contrasted against the white landscape. Tee caught her breath, reluctant to examine the hole. She used her phone’s flashlight app for a better view, and breathed again to find it empty. Her brow furrowed when she saw the disturbance in the bottom of the pit. Karma’s excitement continued, and she jumped into the hole, and back out again, all the while wagging her short tail.

  “Good job, Karma.” Tee put a hand on the dog’s head, still examining the scene. She switched on the camera flash, and took several pictures with her phone. She recognized there’d been a struggle of some kind.

  Karma whined, and walked away from the empty grave, tugging against the line. Tee called her back, still gathering evidence. “Let’s go, Karma. Now, Karma, mahalo.” She gave the release word, when Karma resisted. “That’s enough. I need to see if Teddy’s heard from September.”

  As they hurried back to her car, Tee’s phone rang. She grimaced at the caller I.D., and let it ring several more times before answering. She opened the back door, waited for Karma to leap inside, and climbed into the driver’s seat.

  “This is Teves.” She started the car, and switched on the heater. “I planned to call you in a couple of hours. Didn’t figure you’d be back in the station yet.”

  “Yeah, well you should’ve checked in last night.” Redford’s voice growled with aggravation. “Instead, right in the middle of Zach’s party, I gotta hear from Detective Steele about you inserting yourself into his investigation.”

  “Wait, that’s not what—”

  “I don’t want to hear it. You’re done there, Teves. Pack up your kit and come back to Chicago. Let the locals handle their end, and we’ll take care of the Detweiller case from Chicago. The departments will share anything pertinent. The way everything has blown up, Steele says South Bend has asked the FBI to take the lead with a multi-state task force. Just peachy.” His voice dripped with sarcasm.

  She closed her eyes, gritting her teeth. She tried again. “But September Day—she’s one of the witnesses in this mess—”

  “I know who she is. Hell, half the police agencies from Chicago to Texas know that name.” He sighed. “Steele put a BOLO on her car, and they found it at the airport. Looks like she cut and ran back to Texas.”

  Tee stiffened. “But her stuff is still in my hotel room, and I found her phone and gun near her husband’s grave. Looks like a struggle. Something else went down here, and—”

  “What? I should look in my crystal ball?” He snorted. “Steele doesn’t need your help. I expect you back here on duty ASAP. Don’t disappoint me again, Officer, Teves.” He hung up.

  Tee clenched her phone in one hand and pounded the steering wheel with the other. It made no sense. Why would September leave her car at the airport? Hell, she left her cat behind. No, she would find a way to let Tee know. Or call Teddy Williams.

  She didn’t have his number. Quickly, she dialed the hospital. In the back seat, Karma whined and paced, still nosing the window and pawing to get out. “Settle down, Karma. Mahalo, just chill.” The dog continued to react to Tee’s tension. “Yes, please connect me with Theodore Williams. Room 432.” She waited, until a groggy Teddy answered.

  “They gave me good drugs, and I just got to sleep. Who the hell is this?”

  “Sorry to wake you. This is Officer Teves, September’s friend.”

  “Did you find her?” He came suddenly awake. Worry shook his voice.

  “No, but Karma found her cell phone. And her gun.” She rubbed her eyes. “I saw signs of a struggle, and her car isn’t here.” She paused. “I guess that means she didn’t call you?”

  “Don’t be stupid.” He cleared his throat. “Sorry, that’s the drugs talking. But seriously, she has no phone, no gun, and how the hell should she call me? You’ve told the police, though, right?”

  Tee paused. “Did you send the electronic files to Detective Steele?”

  “Right after you left. Their team should be teasing out all the good stuff. You told him about September. Right? Officer Teves?”

  She put the car in gear and headed out of the cemetery. “I’ve been called back to Chicago. And someone found September’s car at the airport. Looks like she’s gone home to Texas.”

  “What? Without telling me?” He chewed his words, and sounded furious.

  Tee had to smile. “That’s what I thought. It makes no sense. Steele hadn’t even got her official statement. He should be spitting nails.”

  Teddy grunted, and then hissed as if he’d hurt himself. “Dammit, I got no time for an injury. You drive that car of yours back over to the hospital and pick me up.”

  “Mr. Williams, I don’t think—”

  “That’s right, you don’t think for me. I’m not gonna ask, I’m just discharging myself. Something’s not right, and I’m not gonna lay around in the lap of luxury,” he snorted again, “while September’s in trouble. Now, I know you’re a good cop, Officer Teves, like all law enforcement professionals I’ve worked with. But something stinks if Steele spun that bit of hogwash.”

  She agreed. But disobeying Redford’s direct order locked the door on any chance to becoming a detective. “I understand the FBI will soon take the lead.”

  “Good. So you’re gonna run back to Chicago and leave it all to me? Fine. I’ll call an Uber.”

  “Wait!” She yelled, afraid he’d hang up, and Karma barked in answer. “I’ll be at the hospital in fifteen minutes.”

  Chapter 47

  CHARLIE SAT UP IN THE hospital bed, hugging her knees. “I feel fine. I’m ready to get out of here. See?” She stretched out both legs, uncovering her feet to wiggle her toes. “The doctor said no lasting damage.”

  The nurse smiled indulgently. “Glad you’re feeling better, but frostbite’s the least of your worries. It’s not just about you, anymore.” He made a notation on the chart, and left the room.

  She stuck out her tongue at his retreating back, then gingerly fingered the tender swelling on her forehead. A concussion, hypothermia, bloody nose, dislocated and cut shou
lder, and frostbite. She’d had worse.

  Swinging her feet over the edge of the bed, Charlie grabbed the rolling IV pole and juggled the lines that wanted to tangle. She hadn’t slept well since her admission. Granted, at first they’d kept waking her up because of her concussion. But she couldn’t find a comfy position in the hospital bed. Her shoulder and arm ached after being forcibly put back in place, despite the pain meds and stabilizing sling. And she missed Sherlock snuggling under her chin at bedtime. She sure hoped the police lady found him, and Sherlock forgave her.

  “How’m I supposed to pay for this?” She scowled, and a lump tightened her throat. She had no money, no friends to help, and no family she’d claim. She worried if her face got splashed around the news. If the wrong people heard about her she’d wish she’d died in the wreck.

  Sissie tried to help, gave her a place to stay, and a ticket out of her situation. But with Sissie dead, Charlie had nowhere to go. Sissie’s killer would come after her next, if she didn’t get the hell away from here. She’d disappeared before. She’d change her looks, and her name, and do it again.

  Charlie rolled the IV stand to the door, and cracked it open. She itched to pull out the needles studding her arm, and run. But they’d taken her clothes. She couldn’t go anywhere without shoes in the sloppy sock-footies and ass-open gown.

  Almost as if she’d willed his appearance, a nearby door swung open. Charlie ducked out of sight, but kept watch, intrigued by the white-haired man’s sneaky behavior.

  He checked both ways before limping out of his room. He braced a hand on the wall, grimacing as he made slow progress toward the elevator. He’d pass her room within moments. Charlie grinned, guessing that he also wanted to escape the hospital. Maybe they could help each other.

  She waited until he’d reached her room before quietly stepping out and confronting him.

  “Lord love a duck!” he whispered. “Girly, you nearly gave me a heart attack, sneaking around.”

  “Looks like you’re the one sneaking.”

  “Shhh, keep your voice down.” He flapped one hand at her, while glancing over his shoulder at the nursing station at the other end of the hall. “I’m discharging myself, that’s all. Don’t want to waste time arguing with a contrary-thinking medical person.” He staggered another few steps, wincing with each one.

  “Need some help?” Charlie rolled her IV stand closer, offering the stability. “What happened to you, mister?”

  “I’m Teddy, the bad-ass. I got shot.” He grinned. “Just a graze, really.”

  “Really?” She smiled, quite liking the old geezer. He must be ancient, like 40 or 50 years old.

  Grasping the IV stand, they moved together, speaking in whispers, toward the elevator. “What’s your name? This looks serious.” He gestured at the IVs, and blinked at the bandage stuck to her forehead and her arm sling.

  “I’m Charlie, another bad-ass. I survived a hit and run.”

  He stopped abruptly. “Wait, you’re the girl with the cat?”

  Charlie caught her breath, then she grabbed his arm. “Are you a cop? Did they find Sherlock?” She looked over her shoulder, noticing two nurses now at the station. “Can you get me out of here, too? They took my clothes.”

  Teddy shook his head. “From what I heard, you shouldn’t even be out of bed, Charlie.”

  “Speak for yourself. I’m not the one with a bullet hole.” She jutted her chin. “I gotta get out of here. I can help you with—whatever you’re doing. You’re working with the cops, right?”

  They’d reached the bank of elevators, and Teddy punched the button. “You’ve already helped. In fact, Sherlock’s over at my place. He’s safe, and the police have the information. The best thing you can do is stay here and recover.”

  “No!” Her voice rose, and one of the nurses started down the hallway toward them. “Did they catch the man who shot you? He could come after me, too.”

  He didn’t say anything. Teddy turned up the collar on his coat, keeping his back to the approaching nurse.

  Charlie grabbed his arm, whispering urgently. “I know stuff. A lot more stuff I didn’t tell the cops. I can help you, but you gotta get me out of here.”

  The elevator opened, and Teddy released the IV stand and stepped inside. “I’m sorry, Charlie, I’ve got to go.” The doors shut, leaving her behind.

  The nurse hurried to Charlie’s side. “How did your grandpa get up here? It’s not visiting hours. And I don’t care how good you feel, you need to stay in your room.” He grabbed the IV stand, rolling it down the hallway, and Charlie had no choice but to follow.

  She didn’t care what the nurse, doctor, or old man Teddy said. She had to get out of this place, and fast. Like the nurse said before, this wasn’t just about her anymore. She had to stay safe. For her baby.

  Ten minutes later, still pouting in the bed, the nurse returned carrying a bag from the hospital gift shop. Puzzled, Charlie waited until alone to open the package. Inside she found a set of stylin’ sweatpants, a hoodie, rubber-soled house shoes, and a note from Teddy with two words.

  “Be ready.”

  Chapter 48

  “SWING BY THE AIRPORT, Tee,” Teddy said as he tried to get comfortable in the passenger seat.

  “Call me Officer Teves, Mr. Williams.” She’d met him in the lobby, clearly angry, and hadn’t said a word as she led him to her car. “I agreed to drive you home, not chauffeur you around to meddle in police business.” She glared at him, face pale and lips tight. “You should’ve stayed in the hospital.”

  “Oh for Pete’s sake. You said they found September’s car at the airport. I know you want to follow up, so why delay? Hell, I’ll even stay in the car while you sashay around to gather clues.” He mocked her with air quotes on the final word, hoping for a smile, but she scowled. “Or instead, call up Steele. Surely he’ll give you an update.”

  “Okay, fine.” She made the turn onto the highway. “You’re right, Steele won’t share info with me. We’ll take a look at the airport, but you stay in the car with Karma.” Karma whined in the back seat at the tension in her voice, and she softened her tone. “How’s your leg? That’s gotta hurt.”

  “Just a flesh wound, doesn’t hurt.” He lied. The bullet had skimmed the muscle of his thigh, peeled off skin and luckily missed the bone. The pain medication helped some, but the pressure of sitting made the wound throb. They’d cleaned and packed the injury, and warned him to keep it elevated above his heart to reduce swelling. No way to do that in the car, of course.

  She snorted. “You’re lucky it didn’t take off your leg.”

  He crossed his arms. He couldn’t let a little limp sidetrack him. Besides, the pain meds worked fine. As long as he didn’t walk.

  The snowy streets still required careful navigation, but little traffic slowed their progress. Once at the small regional airport, they passed through the gate into the tiny parking lot. Only a handful of cars dotted the area. “Over there, isn’t that her car?” He pointed.

  The SUV sat in the front row, in a slot clearly labeled for the disabled. He wrinkled his brow as Tee drove her rental through the rows, and parked nearby. The impact of something—bullet holes?—starred the windshield. “Are you sure the police already checked out the car?” Pristine snow surrounded September’s car. Only the immediate portion beside the driver’s door looked disturbed, like the driver had left the vehicle.

  “Stay here.” Tee left the car running, and stepped out to get a closer look. She slowly circled the car, tried the doors—locked—and scrubbed clear a window to peer inside. She shook her head and shrugged, then turned to cross the narrow sidewalk and street into the terminal itself.

  “Oh no, you don’t.” Teddy reached over, switched off the car engine, and struggled to get out of the car as he pocketed her keys. Karma roused from the back seat, and gave one loud bark of protest.

  Halfway across the drive, Tee turned back, and held out her palm in a stop gesture. “I told you to wait.”
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br />   “You’re not the boss of me.” He sounded childish and didn’t care. “I may be older than God, but I’m not dead. And I’m not sitting on my hands waiting for you to decide what to tell me.” He walked carefully, wincing with each step, until he reached her. “Give me your damn arm. I got a gunshot, ya know.”

  She stifled a grin, and he knew he’d won. She took back the keys, hurried back to the car to retrieve Karma, and together the three entered the plane terminal.

  Tee kept the leashed dog close to her side. Teddy didn’t think anyone would ask for I.D. The dog’s patrol harness with collar badge clearly identified them as a working K9 unit.

  He’d already checked the departure schedules on his phone. “There’s only a couple of direct flights to Texas. Most connect through O’Hare in Chicago. People would remember if September boarded with a dog. Shadow’s pretty memorable.” He limped alongside her to the ticket counter.

  Tee showed her badge, but surprised Teddy with her first question. “Have any police inquiries been made today regarding an abandoned car in the lot outside? Any calls about a dark-haired woman, September Day? She’d be accompanied by a black German Shepherd.”

  The ticket agent shook her head. “Not while I’ve been here, and I’m working a twelve-hour shift. I could ask security. Is she dangerous?” She looked at her co-workers along the counter, and they all shrugged.

  Teddy’s shoulders dropped. He followed when Tee grabbed his arm. He hadn’t realized how hopeful he’d been that September had simply gone home. If she hadn’t caught a flight, her car abandoned, but no sign of her or Shadow, he feared for her safety.

  “I don’t think she’s here.” Tee echoed his concern. “Only one set of tracks from her car. There should’ve been paw prints, too. You saw how Karma leaves a trail in the snow.”

  He nodded. “She wouldn’t leave Shadow.” He took off and polished his glasses. “They hadn’t heard from the police, either. Wouldn’t Detective Steele inform security, or put an impound notice on her car, or something?”