An Unfortunate Incident

by K T Brodland

  “That’s also a possibility.”

  Olivia shook her head. “I’m betting on the crazy part. Abe must have topped up the chickens’ feed and water before they headed out, because they seemed to be okay and they should be fine for a day or two.”

  “What do you want to do with these?” Cat held out the basket of eggs she had rescued earlier.

  “Damn, I almost forgot.” Olivia whisked the basket out of Cat’s hand and disappeared inside the house. She reappeared a few minutes later, clutching an egg carton. “Breakfast. No point in letting them go to waste,” she said, giving it to Cat. “Oh, and I did a quick whip around while I was inside. No damage as far as I could tell.”

  “I guess we should be grateful for small blessings.”

  “For what it’s worth, I meant what I said about helping you,” Cat said, once they were both settled in the Mustang. “After twenty years as a cop, plus ten as a private investigator, this entire business is like waving a red flag in front of a bull. If one of the gangs are involved, I’d like a shot at bringing them down. They’ve literally been getting away with murder for far too long. So, humor me and let me do my job. It will certainly be a change from doing background searches and keeping an eye on wayward spouses.”

  “Is having me as a houseguest and acting as a chauffeur part of it?”

  “Yes, and for as long as necessary.”

  Olivia sighed heavily. “Can we discuss this later?”

  “Of course. Now, what’s next?”

  “Go and see Trish, find out if there’s anything she needs. Then I guess it’s off to the hardware store.”

  “It’s a good thing Alison isn’t around anymore. If she ever got her hands on the perps who defaced her property, she’d have their guts for garters,” she added, shaking her head, thinking of all the damage done to the McIntyre’s home and to her own place.

  “Mind if I ask what happened to her?” Cat asked, speaking softly, guessing she could be treading on thin ice.

  Several moments passed before Olivia replied. “I’d been here ten years when Alison developed breast cancer. She had surgery, but it metastasized and spread to her spine and her liver and God knows where else. The past year of her life she was virtually bedridden. I turned the downstairs sewing room into a bedroom for her so she didn’t have to deal with the stairs. I even slept on the couch so I could be nearby if she needed me.”

  “Sounds as though you two were quite close.”

  “We were.” Olivia’s voice broke. She regained control. “Alison was more like a mother to me than my own ever was.”

  Cat covered Olivia’s hand with her own. “I’m truly sorry to hear of your loss.”

  “Thanks, Cat.” She tried to smile, gave it up as a bad job. “We had a big German Shepherd, named Buster, who was devoted to Alison. He never left her side while she was ill. The day she died, he went outside and howled for more than an hour before collapsing and dying himself. Poor boy died of a broken heart.”

  She wiped tears from her eyes. “When the McIntyre’s moved into the mobile two years before Alison passed away, they brought with them a dog that could have been Buster’s twin. I think that’s one of the reasons why I hired them in the first place. Dogs are supposed to be a good judge of character.”

  “So I’m told. Where’s their dog now?”

  “Milly died of old age a few years ago.”

  “That’s too bad.” Cat stared out the window for a few seconds more. “Listen, I have an idea. I’ve got a few errands to run. Why don’t I drop you off at the hospital, then you can text me when you’re ready to head home?”

  Olivia thought about that for a second. “Works for me.”

  Chapter Five

  O livia viewed the glass and brick exterior of the Kelowna General Hospital with some trepidation when Cat pulled up to the main entrance. She wasn’t terribly fond of hospitals, but her reasons weren’t ones she cared to share with anyone. She blew out her cheeks and got out of the car, waved goodbye as Cat pulled away, then headed inside.

  She made her way toward the information booth not far from the automatic doors. Armed with Trish’s room number and directions to the elevators, she made her way up to the third floor. Outside the elevator she paused a moment, then headed toward the nursing station. A nurse in blue scrubs pointed her in the direction of Trish’s room.

  Drawing in a deep breath, Olivia tried to ignore the memories of pain and fear she always associated with hospitals as she eased open the door to the private room. Trish appeared to be asleep, so she quietly approached the bed. Mindful of the IV pole next to the bed, she reached out and lightly touched the girl’s shoulder. Trish opened her eyes, blinked sleepily at the figure standing next to her bed and promptly burst into tears.

  “Livvy!” she sobbed. “I was afraid you weren’t ever coming!”

  “I’m sorry. I would have been here sooner, but I didn’t find out what happened until yesterday.”

  Trish sniffed and wiped her face with the edge of the sheet. Olivia helped with a tissue from the box on the bedside table. “Shh, don’t cry. I’m here now.”

  She looked around the austere room and spotted a chair in the corner. Pulling it closer, she sat down and tried to think what to say to the distraught young woman. She studied the butterfly bandages that covered the lacerations on Trish’s forehead as well as the edge of the white bandage on her left shoulder, visible above the edge of her nightgown. “Do you remember much about what happened?” she asked gently.

  “Not really. I was in the back seat. I heard Steven yell and looked up in time to see a bullet hole appear in the windshield in front of him. There was blood everywhere. There was more gunfire that sounded like the kind you hear on cop shows. Barb made a choking noise and then fell on me. Probably saved my life. I sort of remember hearing someone screaming. Could’ve been me for all I know.” She shook her head. “Next thing I knew, I woke up in here, with tubes running every which way.”

  She raised pale blue eyes to Olivia. “The doctors finally got around to telling me I was the only survivor.” She scrubbed tears from her face. “This may sound weird, but I feel sorrier about Barb and Abe being killed than I do about losing Steve. I liked them. They were good to me. Has…has there been a funeral for them yet? I’ve lost track of time in here.”

  “I can imagine. I haven’t had a chance to talk to the next of kin as yet.”

  Trish nodded. “Guess I won’t be out in time to go to it anyway.”

  “Hard to say. I’ll keep you posted when I know more. Where were you off to when the shooting happened?”

  “We were heading to the store. Barb offered to take me shopping for new maternity clothes afterward.” She managed a smile. “We were going to get you a birthday card. We even talked about getting you a puppy. One of the neighbors has a border collie that recently had a litter.”

  Olivia gave a dismissive wave. “The only thing that matters is that you and the baby are alive. I’ll see about getting some clothes for you so you have something to wear when the doctor says you can go home.”

  She phrased her next question carefully. “Can you think of any reason why Steven would have been targeted by one of the gangs?”

  Trish shot her a fearful look. “Why do you ask?”

  Olivia told her what she’d found at the farm that morning. “Whoever was responsible was clearly looking for something.”

  Trish pleated the sheet draped over her swollen belly, looked everywhere but at her visitor for several minutes before replying. “I don’t know what he was up to when he was away from the house. When I did try and ask him about what he and the two guys he hung out with did, he’d tell me to mind my own business.” She stared at her hands. “He was acting weird the day before we drove into town. I walked into the bedroom and he had his suitcase open on the bed. He had his back half-turned to me so I couldn’t see what he was doing, but he was sure pissed off when he realized I was there. He yelled at me to get out and later told me to kee
p my damn mouth shut about anything I saw. I didn’t see anything, but I wasn’t about to argue with him.”

  “I don’t imagine you were. Did Steven have a bit of a temper?”

  “Yeah, he did, especially if I pissed him off about something.”

  “I see.” And like most women in abusive relationships, Trish probably made all kinds of excuses for him. Just like someone else she used to know.

  Shutting out images from the past, she carried on. “Do you happen to know the names of Steven’s friends?”

  Trish shook her head. “Oh, wait, there was one guy Stevie hung out with quite a bit. I think his name was Sonny. Him and his kid brother.”

  “Any chance you know their last name?”

  “I think it was Wilkes, but I’m not sure. I…I didn’t pay that much attention. Seemed better that way.”

  “You’re probably right. Moving on, do you have family in the area who can help you out?”

  Trish let go a short, humorless bark. “Nah, wouldn’t talk to them even if they were around. My mom’s boyfriend was a boozer and she wasn’t much better. He slapped me around once too often and I took off. It’s been two years and I haven’t seen hide nor hair of either of ‘em since and that’s the way I want to keep it.”

  Olivia tightened her lips and clenched her hands into fists as she fought to ignore her own memories.

  “That may be so, but you have a child on the way and no means of support. Your mother should at least be told where you are.”

  Trish made an unladylike noise. “Doctor Morgan told me I almost lost the kid ‘cause I lost so much blood. I almost wish now I had. Be a lot better for everyone, that’s for sure. Especially the kid. I ain’t fit to raise one on my own.”

  She lapsed into silence for a moment as she studied Olivia’s face. “I don’t mean to be nosy, but what happened to you?”

  “Nothing serious. I was in a little accident of my own. The bruises are already fading.” Olivia touched her fingers to her cheek. “A good Samaritan came to the rescue and has been driving me around while my car is in the shop.”

  “I just wondered…”

  “Sure.” Olivia smiled at the young woman who looked fragile enough to break. “Before I leave, could you give me your mother’s phone number so I can try to get in touch with her? She should know what’s happened here.”

  “What for? She’ll just tell you to fuck off. She won’t have any more use for me now than she did when I lived at home. She used to tell me I was a worthless piece of shit. I don’t expect she’s changed her mind since then. And she’s right. I’m just a cheap little tramp who got herself knocked up by the first guy to look sideways at her.”

  “That’s pretty harsh,” Olivia said quietly. “Everybody deserves a second chance. At least let me try to get in touch with her.”

  A single tear trickled down Trish’s pale cheek. “She lives in Edmonton. Her phone number is on a piece of paper in my wallet. It’s in the top drawer.” She tipped her head toward the bedside table.

  Inside the drawer Olivia retrieved a battered red plastic wallet. Removing a crumpled piece of paper, she added the information there to the contact list on her cell phone. “What’s your mother’s name?”

  “Mary Jelinski.”

  “Thanks. I’ll let you know as soon as I have any news for you.”

  “Thanks. Oh, I just remembered something. There’s a bag in the bottom of that table. I think Steve’s cell phone might be in there. His dad made him give it to me before we headed out. Told him he wasn’t going to have him driving and talking on his phone at the same time. At least not when his family was with him. Steve was pretty pissed at first, but he finally handed it to me after he shut it off and told me not to lose it.”

  Olivia pulled the drawer open. Inside was the usual plastic bag that held a patient’s belongings. She dug inside and found two cell phones, a pink one she guessed belonged to Trish and one in a black case. She tucked the black one into her shoulder bag. “Thanks. That might prove to be helpful.”

  Trish eased back on the pillows. “I’m sorry, I’m gettin’ sleepy.”

  “Of course.” Olivia acknowledged. “One final question, Trish. Did Steven have a computer?”

  “Yeah.” Trish paused. “Why?”

  “No particular reason. It just might help with piecing things together, you know, have information on it that might help the police if they ask me about it.”

  “Yeah. He kept it on his desk in the bedroom.”

  “Do you happen to know the password?” Olivia had to strain to hear Trish’s sleepy reply.

  “No. Wouldn’t tell. Me what. It was. Said I didn’t. Need to know it.”

  Olivia’s forehead puckered. That was too bad. However, this wouldn’t be the first time she’d accessed a computer without a password.

  “Can I get you anything? Water? Juice?”

  Trish mumbled. “No. Just wanna sleep for a while.”

  Olivia stood by the bed for a few seconds longer, watching Trish’s breathing slow and her eyes close, then she turned away.

  Out in the corridor she was surprised to see Cat talking to a lean, gray-haired figure in a white lab coat at the nursing station. “Hi there,” she said as she approached the two women.

  “Hi, yourself,” Cat said, introducing Olivia to Doctor Morgan.

  The doctor shook Olivia’s hand. “Nice to meet you.” She bent forward, peering at Olivia’s face. “That’s some bruise you’ve got there. Cat mentioned to Jean that you’d been in an accident. I also understand you have been staying with her since then.”

  “Yes, she can be very persuasive.”

  Dr. Morgan nodded. “Yes, she can.” She grinned. “I understand you’re here to see Trish Jelinski.”

  “Yes, and I managed to get her mother’s contact information.” Olivia flashed her phone before dropping it into her bag. “I get the impression there is no love lost between mother and daughter. At least, not according to Trish. But then, who knows what the real story is.”

  Doctor Morgan gave a nod. “Thanks for taking an interest in the girl. You’re the first visitor she’s had, other than a reporter for Global News , and one of the constables from the RCMP looking for a statement about the shooting.”

  “It’s the least I can do. She is…or was… the girlfriend of my farm manager’s son.” She chewed on her bottom lip before saying. “I gathered from what Trish told me that she doesn’t have any coverage.”

  Doctor Morgan pulled up Trish’s chart, flipped through it. “No, she doesn’t.”

  “I’m not surprised. Once she’s ready to be released, she can stay with me if she has nowhere else to go. As for the bill, I’ll take care of it. By the time she is ready to leave, I imagine it’ll be pretty steep.”

  “Yes, I expect it will be. As for when she can be discharged, I think she can go home by Friday.”

  “Good. I’m sure that will make Trish happy. I expect she’s getting fed up with hospital food by now. If she asks about the bill, tell her it’s been taken care of.”

  “No problem.” Doctor Morgan clapped Cat on the shoulder. “Oh, and don’t forget about the barbecue this weekend. We expect you to be there.” She turned to Olivia and inclined her head. “You’re more than welcome to join us.”

  Cat laughed. “You seriously think Olivia is crazy enough to want to spend an evening with us in exchange for free beer and burgers?”

  Doctor Morgan shook her head. “You are such a badass.”

  Cat grinned. “And don’t you forget it.”

  “After hanging around you for, what, twenty some odd years, there’s not much chance of that. See you both on Saturday,” she called over her shoulder as she moved down the corridor.

  Cat shot Olivia a grin as they headed to the parking lot. “Oh, by the way, as far as the barbecue goes, consider yourself summoned by royal command.”

  “In case you’ve forgotten what’s happened lately, parties are not high on my list of things to do right now. T
here aren’t many opportunities at the best of times for socializing when you live in the middle of nowhere. I wouldn’t have the faintest idea what to say to your friends.”

  Not to mention I’d just as soon not have strangers wanting to know my life story five minutes after we’ve met.

  Cat’s grin faded. “I haven’t forgotten what’s been happening. However, this shindig isn’t until Saturday, so at least think about it. I’d really like you to meet the gang. Might do you good.”

  Olivia blinked in the bright sunshine as they emerged from the hospital. “I’m not good around strangers.”

  Cat chuckled. “You seem to be surviving being around me.”

  “That’s different. I just landed on your doorstep. You just haven’t figured out a way to get rid of me yet.” She shook her head, sending masses of hair swirling about her shoulders. “I still think I should just rent a car…”

  Cat held up her hand. “We’ve already had that conversation. Besides.” Cat gave the Mustang’s shiny hood a pat. “Sally needs a good run before being sidelined for most of the summer.”

  Olivia’s eyebrows rose. “Sally?”

  “Yup, named her after the song, you know the one, “Mustang Sally”.” Cat grinned. “Was a favorite of mine when I was growing up.”

  Olivia managed a small smile. “I’ve heard of it. Since I didn’t arrive on the scene until 1965, I guess I was too young to have paid much attention to it.”

  “Huh, that makes you two years younger than me. And your hair is a gorgeous shade of silver, whereas mine is just plain old salt and pepper.”

  “Well, yours gives you that distinguished look. I just look old.”

  Cat chuckled. “In your dreams. So, when exactly is your birthday?”

  “This Saturday.”

  “Then that’s a perfectly good reason for you to come and meet my buddies.”

  “Oh, no, you don’t! Now I’m going to wish I hadn’t said anything.” Olivia scuffed the toe of her shoe on the asphalt. “Every year around this time I take off for a couple of weeks. When I get home, there’d be a vase of flowers and a plate of Barb’s special carrot cake on the kitchen table. They always remembered my birthday, which is sad in a way since I didn’t have the faintest idea when theirs were. Except for when Alison was alive, that’s the closest I’ve ever come to celebrating anything.”