by R L Dunn
Elizabeth forced the pregnancy from her mind and braced herself, descending the basement steps of her family home. "Over there." Kicking off her shoe, she ran her foot over the molding, and the wall popped open. "I hope the combination hasn't changed." She turned the dial back and forth and pulled on the handle. "My father's secrets." She heaved a breath.
"Let me." Julian leveraged the heavy door to an open position, then removed two stacks of hundred dollar bills and handed them to Kieran. Next, Julian found a large plastic bin filled with memory cards.
"Secrets indeed," Kieran said.
Elizabeth sighed, seeing the boxes of jewelry that belonged to her mother and grandmother. "I’d like to take those."
Kieran rifled through a stack of papers. There were stock certificates worth millions, property deeds, three passports in aliases, bank account information, and birth certificates.
She took them from Kieran. "My father was busy." The birth certificates belonged to the three Spooner girls. "He called my baby a bastard."
A book on the top shelf held Kieran's interest. It was a ledger of every financial transaction Talbot participated in, last updated a month earlier. There were no names listed, only sets of numbers. The bottom line was in the millions.
"Our accountants need to go through this. Where were your prescription pads?" Kieran asked.
"The now empty bottom shelf. You know, I held out hope. Well, humans are the only foolish species that do the same thing over and over, expecting a different outcome. We'd best be heading to the funeral home." Her posture stooped.
With Elizabeth's permission, Kieran advised Kip and Caleb to perform a thorough search of the home. "The police never looked past the evidence they needed to frame Martin."
Kieran took a call on their way out. "I have some news, but it’s not what we wanted. The DA's office wants to investigate the validity of the video. Martin will be held at least one more day.”
Fallen Oak Funeral Home was no different from any other mortuary other than its size. All three of its rooms were devoted to the former governor's public wake, and Chase operators stood throughout. The cloying smells of the flowers overwhelmed the senses.
Kieran escorted Elizabeth to the front of the chair-filled room holding Talbot Reed's state flag-draped closed casket, where Elizabeth stopped, head bowed. She squared her shoulders, turned and took the seat designated for her. Julian and Archie maintained a watchful stance from either side of the doorway. Kieran waved, and they opened the French doors. Sitting beside her, he placed his hand on hers. "Tell me when you need a break."
Joyce and Ruth entered first and hugged Elizabeth. Steven and his husband followed as well as Louella and Lois. Miles and Virginia and a group of nurses also came to support her, sitting in a horseshoe around her.
Steven rose and moved to the door where Henrietta Krump was signing the guest book. "How dare you show your face here?" Steven spun her around to face him. Archie tapped his com and took a menacing step toward them.
"Talbot and I were friends for years. I came for him," the woman hissed loud enough to be heard several feet away. Steven's normal sweet affect turned feral as he thrust a mass card into her hand. Kieran circled a finger in the air. Archie escorted her out.
As the hours went by, the mourners turned less familiar and more political. Silverton's mayor, Police Chief Sharpe, and the fire chief joined the mourners' line. Politicians from the state and congress, along with their entourages, expressed condolences. Talbot's aide Melinda Bradford was inconsolable, crying over the casket. "Oh, Elizabeth, I am so sorry. I will miss him so."
"Melinda, please. All you will miss is the paycheck and the bruises on your knees."
The girl feigned shock. "It’s your grief talking." She slinked away to find a seat with her colleagues.
Kieran moved in. "Doc, you got game." His phone chirped. "Can you handle this, Beth?"
Elizabeth turned her head to see Celine McAllister, Cecile Dufour, and Thibodaux Spooner walk into the room. Danielle Spooner and her fiancé Trip Mathias accompanied them with Alden McAllister. "What do they say? Showtime."
"Elizabeth, I'm so sorry. I will miss your daddy. He was sweet to me after Viola passed." Cecile approached her first. "Please accept my apologies. I was distraught the day Viola died."
"Thank you, Cecile. I'm so sorry about Viola and Hal. Apology accepted."
"Thank you. I know you never harmed Viola." Cecile wrapped her arms around her. "And who is this?" She eyed Kieran like a cat about to pounce.
"This is Kieran Chase, Martin's former employer. He's been very gracious with everything that happened." Elizabeth stressed the word “former.” "I'm sorry. If I knew what Martin was planning..."
"Poor child. Your daddy was right all those years ago. He was not the man for you," Thibodaux said.
"Oh, Tibby, I guess you’re right. I just want this all to end." The line between performance and real emotion blurred. She turned to the next man.
"Well, Dr. Reed, you don't need to worry. My men will keep that murderer in his place. We haven’t met, but I'm Alden McAllister, Celine's husband and a corrections sergeant at the jail."
Elizabeth's hands turned clammy at his touch. "Thank you. Thank you all for coming."
Danielle Spooner hugged her. "Beth, I'm so sorry; you remember Trip?" She was sincere in her sympathy.
"It's been a long time, Trip.” Elizabeth took a wobbling step back.
"I was new to the job twenty years ago. I didn't forget your pain then and now. I'm sorry."
Kieran saw the shudder move through her. "Excuse us, as you can imagine, this is difficult for Dr. Reed."
Kieran wrapped his arm around her to lead her from the room. "Throw some water on your face." He reached into his suit pocket. "Drink this."
"Rumor has it you’re a tough guy. I will maintain the charade." She pecked his cheek and opened the protein drink.
When Elizabeth returned to the room a few minutes later, Kieran looked toward the doors and tipped his head at Julian and Archie. Todd Duran and Brynn Hackman joined the line.
Kieran whispered, "You don't have to do this."
Elizabeth resumed her place, front and center. "For Marty I do." Two other operators protected the entryway to allow Archie and Julian to come closer.
Todd walked beside Brynn. When her attempt at surprise at Kieran’s presence failed, Todd's eyes widened with a new awareness. "Dr. Reed, my name is Todd Duran. I'm from Homeland Security. I had the pleasure of meeting your father when he was governor. I am so sorry. This is Brynn Hackman. We heard the terrible news on our way here for business. We wanted to express our condolences."
"Thank you for coming."
Todd moved to say a prayer at the coffin, but Brynn remained. "Dr. Reed, I met your father once when he was first elected governor. I was an intern for the incoming Iowa senator. I also spent some time with Martin Bailey. Kieran, I'm sure Ian told you, he called me for help. I told him I couldn't help a murderer. Again, I'm sorry for your loss." Brynn walked off to say a prayer.
"How does Marty know her?" Elizabeth's eyes narrowed.
Kieran gave her a small laugh. "Martin refers to her as a snake in the grass."
As the session continued through the evening, she remained stoic. "Chère, you did well. Let me take you home." Julian took her hand.
"I want to check on Austin, Troy, and Lissa, and I need to hold Lola. I want to go to the hospital."
Kieran pulled Julian to his side. "Watch her like a hawk. I need to call Todd Duran. He's in the dark."
SLAP. "Wakey-wakey." Martin turned his head to focus on the hand that struck his cheek. Brynn Hackman was sitting across from him. "Hello, Martin."
"I figured you'd climb out of your pit." Martin scanned the room and saw the one-way mirror.
"You called me—said you had information for me. I saw your ex-boss Kieran, and your ex-fiancée at her daddy’s wake. She will be ex-everything soon enough," she yawned.
"You touch one hair
on her head, and I will..." Martin's eyes blazed with anger.
"You'll do what? You are not in a position to do much of anything. I'm looking forward to seeing you die. The failure of this operation will land squarely on you and Chase Security. I won't have to worry about you getting in the way anymore," she acted triumphant.
"Tell me, Brynn, how did you become caught up in this? Power, money, or sex?"
"What if I told you none of the above?"
"Ah, then, daddy issues. After all, Daddy got you the Homeland job. You've never earned anything without his help. You figure you would show him?"
"You bastard, you don't know what you’re talking about.” She slapped Martin hard across the face again.
He tasted the blood that dripped from the corner of his lip. "You do realize Ian and Kieran are aware of all the information I know." His chin rose, mocking her.
"Ian told Todd it was your show. Kieran told me the same thing." Her mouth pinched.
"Because, baby, we had a big fish on the hook. We played you. What do you think Jenner is going to do to you when he learns you’re the weak link? He hit you yet? Maybe he's introduced you to his preferred manner of fucking?" Martin joked at her expense.
"I don't have to take this from you. I’m going to tell Kieran and Ian I had a change of heart after the viewing, but you took advantage of my kindness and attempted to escape, dying in the process." Brynn banged on the door.
Clay Jenner walked in. "Brynn, is what he said true?"
"Hello, Lewis. All that work you had done couldn't hide your evil eyes." Martin counted on his profile being correct. Lewis James would want to kill him in front of Elizabeth, and then he'd want to kill her. Clay would let him live for the moment.
"Bailey, you’re pretty confident for someone chained to a chair."
"Let them have him, Clay. Let's go. We have enough money. We can just as easily produce movies in Taiwan as here." Brynn tugged on Jenner's arm.
Martin's stomach dropped. Money did not drive Clay. "Brynn..." Martin warned her.
“No!” she screamed as Jenner grabbed her by the throat and lifted her off her feet before slamming her head into the concrete wall. Air left her lungs in a sickening sound. A slick of blood and brain matter followed her body to the floor.
Martin turned his head. "Damn it, she didn't have to die."
"Hhmph," Jenner said. "I give you credit, Bailey. You called it. She wanted to throw the bankroll in her daddy's face. Dumb bitch, she thought she was playing me. A good woman is one who stays on her knees or bent over the bed. Brynn was neither. Do you still call Elizabeth ‘Sunshine’? Now, Sunshine, she was a damn good woman."
Martin forced himself to stay quiet.
"Face it, Marty, I'm in a good place. Dead men tell no tales. Knox is dead. Locke is dead—he lost his guts after shooting your brother. Reed, Dufour, and Brynn are dead at your hands. Your pal Royce, or whatever his real name is, will be dealt with soon enough. Now that was a real shame. I was planning on keeping him around for my personal use."
Martin couldn't hold back. He pulled at his bonds in a flare of temper. “You son of a bitch!”
"Before I leave town, you will star in my most profitable film. The money from your agonizing death as Sunshine offers herself up to save your life will ensure a lot of silence."
"You can't be counting on my cooperation?" Martin raised his chin in defiance.
"You'll cooperate. Sunshine will ensure that," Jenner chillingly chuckled.
"You won't make it within a mile of her!" Martin’s eyes blazed.
"She'll come if I ask." Jenner ran his finger down the length of Martin's swollen cheek.
Martin spat in Clay's face, and Clay kicked him in the ribs, throwing the chair back. Martin bit back the yelp. "You kill me, you'll never get her. She's too smart; she'll want proof I'm alive."
"I guess she's not that gullible teenager anymore."
Martin needed to confirm the connections. "Speaking of gullible, how did Reed hook you?"
"You think you're so smart. My father and Brynn's daddy hooked Reed. Good old Talbot liked money and ladies in charge, and my father had money, and Brynn's daddy had photos. Elizabeth was part of the package. Talbot and I tried, but she wouldn't give up on you. There she was, on her knees digging out a floorboard for your gift. I ripped that doll out of her hands and lit it on fire. She fought like a banshee, and I tossed her over the rail after it. The damn maid came in before I could stomp the life out of her. Talbot had me. His fucking nanny cameras. Your love child died, and Elizabeth survived.
"Alma pleaded with Talbot to let her go to school. Off she went, leaving Iowa in the dust. Talbot was Governor. My father and Talbot found a doctor to do my face. Talbot and Brynn's daddy got Brynn into Homeland. After Talbot left office, with the strike of some keys, I became the head of Silverton Corrections."
"That wasn't enough for you. Your sickness needed an outlet,” he snarked.
"Now, now, Marty. You have not lived until you hold that kind of power and control over another person, feel their struggle, their fight against domination. Most cave. But sometimes, everything aligns for the ultimate high. Such a rarity when it happens. Your friend Royce gave me that present. I controlled every inch of his body, and he never showed an ounce of fear. He would've fought until his last breath. Fucking lockdown alarm." Clay's eyes turned red with flames.
Clay's level of depravity was more significant than Martin thought. "And the films?" Martin asked, his tone cutting, "For you to relive your conquests?"
Clay yanked the chair up. Pain bolted through Martin’s jaw from Clay's uppercut. "You have a real smart mouth. The films were a way to capitalize on what was being done already. You think sex with inmates was my idea? It's been happening for years. And the drugs, same thing. Simple economics—go where the market is."
"How come Homeland got called in to investigate?"
"Carelessness! My father gave us start-up money. Poor guy died before we were doing well. After Brynn's dad died, Talbot became top dog. It was easy on the jail side. Everyone has a price. The warden—she has sick parents. She's a no show, except for required meetings. She thinks I'm a great boss, letting her take care of her family. Tibby likes money. He has three girls to support. All was running fine until some fucking hacker got into the damn data processing center for the hell of it. He found our trail and sent it to Homeland. Brynn managed to become assigned to the case, but Duran had the lead on the investigation. She sabotaged and misdirected him where she could, and we took care of the threats. That is until Duran went to Chase Security. You guys never let go."
The cell door opened, and Tim Lampton walked in, looking frazzled. "Jenner, we gotta move." His eyes froze on Brynn's lifeless body. "The DA's office and the public defender filed paperwork to release Mills from custody. His accusers recanted. He's still in a coma, but if he wakes up and talks, we'll have issues. Even worse, Bailey's attorney got ahold of a tape of the murders. Cecile Dufour shot her husband and Reed. There was a hidden camera in Reed's den. Everything is on film, including the plan to frame Bailey. His lawyer is on her way." Lampton’s chest rose and fell rapidly.
Martin’s heart rate ticked up. Clay might want to cut his losses—kill him. He wondered who gave them the proof.
Clay roared, "Call Etta and tell her Mills needs to die. Bring Bailey to the van. We meet at the warehouse."
Connor Caine was walking out of Royce Mills' room when Elizabeth stepped into the ICU. Residents and nurses crowded her to give her hugs of support. Disengaging herself, she pulled Connor to the desk. "How is he?"
"I think we’re running out of options. His temp is 105 while on the cooling blanket. His liver and kidneys are struggling against the stress from the antibiotics. Dr. Reed, I don’t know what to do."
"I'll do the fever work-up. Call me when the results come in. As long as his heart is beating, we have options." She walked toward the room with a bucket of supplies. "Sergeant McAllister, I didn't expect to see you here."
"The guard assigned had a family emergency. I'll be here until midnight. I didn't realize you’re Mills' doctor."
Elizabeth shuddered from his predatory look. "Thank you for coming to Daddy's wake. I need to see my patient." She pulled the door closed behind her. Sam Robison was the aide with Troy. Elizabeth recognized him as a Chase Security employee from the hotel but said nothing. "I’ll be here with him. Go take your break."
Troy's soulful brown eyes were open and empty. "Hi, I'm Dr. Reed. You’re in Horizon Hospital. Can you try to move a finger for me?" His eyes followed her. "May I examine you?" She put one finger to her lips. His eyes closed.
She opened the door wearing a coquettish smile. "Alden, could you remove the shackle from Royce's foot please?"
"Dr. Reed, he's a prisoner."
"Please, you’re at the door. He's unconscious. If he were awake, he’d be too ill to move. I need to position him to examine him. Please."
"For you." He tapped a finger on her nose, and Elizabeth smiled through her disgust.
The second Alden McAllister walked into the room, Troy's heart rate soared. "Behave yourself, prisoner. Your cute doctor asked me to do this. Don't make me regret it."
Troy's eyes stayed closed, but he shuddered when Alden grew closer. This unexpected response was not from his fever.
"Royce, listen to me. He's going to unlock the cuff and leave." Elizabeth placed a soft hand on each of his bruised cheeks.
"He's all yours." Alden's laugh was sinister.
"He's gone." Troy's eyes opened. "Can you move a finger?" This time, he did.
"Way to go." Elizabeth sat in a chair next to him and performed a neurological exam. He was able to follow simple commands with a thumb up or down.
"You're an exceptional guy. I don't show this to all my patients." Elizabeth removed her scrub cap, then took his hand and placed it against the dip in the back of her head. "The jumbles, they’ll get better. Give it time."