“I told her that depended on the quality of the information.”
My eyebrow shot up, and I raised my fist. We knuckle-bumped, and I handed him cash. “Your decision.”
“Already got a little out of her. They were friends in the hospital but only talked once after Patty got out. Patty called to tell her that she was getting back with the man she’d been in love with for forever.”
“I’m impressed.”
Kelly came back with our order. We’d both ordered waffles, plus orange juice for me and Coke for Liam. Once again, she made eye contact with Liam and gave him a flirty smile.
When she was out of earshot, I said, “She’s too old for you, and a stay in a mental hospital disqualifies her completely.”
“You know it’s against policy to date informants.” He shook his finger at me, amusement in his eyes. “If not, it should be.” Between bites, he said, “Kelly’s willing to talk about life inside the hospital—that’s when the money issue came up. Not sure how important this is, but to get in and out of a ward, you have to go through three sets of locked doors. Kelly said if you were burly enough and had the necessary strength, you could kick or shove open the last door that opens to freedom.”
“Wow, you covered a lot of ground before I arrived. The security of the hospital was laid out in a report I got from GC. Kelly gave you the straight scoop on it, which hopefully means all her information-sharing will be truthful.”
“Do you need anything else?” Kelly interrupted us.
“Food’s great. We’re good,” Liam said.
After she left, I said, keeping my voice down, “Patty didn’t escape from the ward, but from the emergency room of a local hospital she’d been transferred to following a diabetic episode. I’d like to know if she planned her escape or had an actual medical emergency that she took advantage of.”
Kelly cleared away the dishes and cleaned off the table. “Since it’s quiet, I’ve got permission from the boss to use this table, as long as we don’t get busy. Told him Leo here is an old friend and you’re his sister—almost said mother, but you don’t look old enough. You’ll need to leave a tip for squatting.”
Leo, I mouthed at Liam.
“Don’t worry.” Liam oozed charm. “We’ll take care of the boss and even better care of you.”
“I’ll go get my stuff and be back.” Kelly beamed at him and left.
“You won’t be so amused when she asks for your number.”
“I’ll apologize and tell her that I didn’t mean to lead her on, but I have a girlfriend.”
“You’ve been hanging around Brad and his silver-tongued ways too much.”
“Brad likes being in a relationship, as opposed to dating; he just needs to be in the right one,” Liam said.
I agreed with him—the right one indeed.
Kelly came back, cloth bag slung over her shoulder, and slid into a chair next to Liam.
“Would you like something to drink?” Liam offered.
“That’s sweet of you, but I’m good.”
“How did you meet Patty?” he asked.
“We met at the hospital and became fast friends. We’re both bi-polar. I had run out of medication and had an episode. My parents lost patience and Baker-acted me—means committed.” A wave of sadness rushed over her face. “Patty stopped taking her pills deliberately—she loved the highs and lows and didn’t want to give them up. She was adamant that, if left alone, she could handle her life and refused to admit that she couldn’t, even though she ended up staring at a long prison sentence. She was offered a plea bargain, which she wisely accepted.”
“But you’re doing better.” Liam patted her hand.
“I was fortunate, and my counselor, Mary White, was a blessing. I followed all the rules and did everything that was required. Ms. White encouraged me to sign up for a program that helped me get this job and another that pays for my meds, so I don’t have to stress about how to pay for refills.”
“Did Patty have any other friends?”
“Patty was pretty much a loner.” Kelly paused. “We hung out with a couple of other patients on occasion, but they’re still in the hospital.”
“Do you know how Patty managed to get out of the hospital?” I asked.
Kelly gave her answer to Liam. “Doctors, nurses, everyone actually, underestimated how smart and conniving Patty was. She was diabetic, and like other patients on meds, she had to line up every morning for her insulin. Cool as a cucumber, she went into the dining room for breakfast afterwards, but she didn’t eat anything and managed to hide it from the monitors. She passed out and was transported to the hospital. From there, she snuck out.”
“I’m surprised the hospital didn’t post a guard at the door,” Liam said.
“Don’t know anything about that.” Kelly shrugged. “Maybe they were busy that day. Patty was a smart cookie and didn’t give away that she planned to escape. I could never do anything like that. I admired her guts, but look at all the trouble it got her into. Since we were friends, the hospital questioned me, and I told the truth—I didn’t know anything.”
“Did Patty have any male friends?” I asked.
Once again, Kelly directed her response to Liam. “There was one guy that she hung out with in the lounge; the two of them played cards.” She took a bottled water out of her bag, taking a long drink. “There was another guy that visited a couple of times, but when I asked Patty about it, she clammed up. The first guy is still in the hospital. Patty made it clear that she didn’t want to be bothered when she had visitors, so I didn’t get the opportunity to meet the other one.”
Damn, I wished I had the names. Maybe GC could get the info.
“Two weeks after Patty escaped, I got released. Before Patty made her getaway, she gave me a number where I could contact her—should have been my first clue she was up to something. Called the number, and I could’ve sworn Patty said hello, but then the line went dead. Called back, and it went to voicemail. A couple weeks later, I tried again, and the number had been disconnected.”
“Do you still have the number?” Liam asked.
“I never erase anything.” She pulled her phone out of her pocket and scrolled through it. “Here it is.” She held the screen out, and Liam entered the number in his phone.
He shot me a glance, and I pointed to the door, certain she’s given us all the information she had.
“You were very helpful,” he told Kelly. “We appreciate all the information.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out the cash, and handed it to her, then threw a tip on the table.
She counted the money. “Thank you.” She glowed. “You know where to find me if I can be of any more help.”
Liam stood and extended a hand, helping her to her feet. “Nice to meet you.”
It surprised me when she left without any conversation about hooking up in the future.
“You were excellent,” I said.
“Seriously, this was fun. You get another job, I’m in.”
Liam walked me to my SUV, we hugged, and I slid behind the wheel. I waited until he got in his truck, then waved as I drove out of the parking lot.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The next afternoon, my phone rang with the call from Emerson Grace that I’d been waiting impatiently for—a home visit with Mila had been scheduled for the next day. It would be for one hour and supervised. The short amount of time disappointed me, but I eagerly accepted.
“It pays to have friends,” Emerson said, her smile audible through the phone.
Hanging up, I called Brad and found that his lawyer had called him first. “Get a picture,” he reminded me. “There’s one in the legal file, but it’s all grainy. I wanted to go, but Emerson said absolutely not, that it could stall the process, a murderer trying to visit his daughter.”
“You’re not going to get convicted,” I said adamantly. “Fab doesn’t know it yet, but she’s coming along, and with her penchant for picture-taking, she’ll get a file full. I pro
mise to relay everything that happens word for word.”
“Call me as soon as the visit is over.”
I tossed my phone on the nearest pillow and maneuvered myself around the sleeping cats and off the daybed. That they barely budged was a good indication they had no intention of moving out of the way. At the bottom of the steps, I cupped my hands around my mouth and yelled, “Fab, get down here. Now.” My throat felt scratchy. Not so loud next time.
“You’ll be lucky if I don’t tell Didier about your insufferable manners, subjecting you to a lecture,” Fab sniffed from the top of the stairs.
“My meeting with Mila is tomorrow, and I’ll need your help. Brad wants pictures, and I suspect that’s probably breaking the rules, which is where you come in.”
“I’ve been thinking about this.” Fab flung her leg over the banister, riding it to the bottom and sliding off, then sitting on the bottom step. “If you’re agreeable, I’ll mic you up and put a camera on you. You’d be my test run, which would qualify you for a discounted rate. I’ll take a raftload of pictures too, and no worries about catching me either.”
“I’ll let Brad know so he can check your invoice to make sure you didn’t forget the discount.” I backed up and sat on the arm of the couch. “You won’t be obvious, will you?” I interpreted Fab’s glare as a no. “Fingers crossed for no rain. I’m going to suggest that we sit outside. I’m hoping Mila will think it’s fun.”
“Let’s hope the foster mom is agreeable and they have a yard or porch.”
“They have both. I researched the address. There’s nothing private anymore.”
“That really bugs me.”
“Another of the multitude of things we agree on.” My phone rang, Creole’s picture popping up. On my way to the patio, I said, “Be ready to go in the morning. We can’t be tardy.”
“We’re never late,” Fab yelled at my back as I crossed the threshold.
* * *
The next morning, Fab was waiting for me downstairs. She quirked her finger, motioning for me to stand in front of her. “Hold up your hair.” She tied a pendant necklace around my neck, adjusting it to hang in the middle of my chest. I marveled at how small the camera was.
Since this wasn’t a job where a quick getaway needed to be factored in, I’d chosen flats over tennis shoes to go with my skirt. Fab had opted for workout gear.
“A jogger isn’t going to garner attention.” Fab held out an earbud. “Stick this in your ear, and we’ll do a sound check. We’ll be able to stay in touch if needed. The guy I got all this from promised no glitches, and I’ll be able to pick up the conversation, video, everything.”
* * *
Fab flew down the Overseas Highway and into Miami. The day had dawned warm but not hot, baby blue skies filled with white fluffy clouds. The foster home was located in a modest neighborhood. The homes were built in the 1940s, and some had been remodeled to be larger than the two-bedrooms of the time period. Most had fenced yards and were well-kept.
“It’s that one.” Fab pointed, driving slowly past it. “I wanted to bring a larger camera that would fit my monster lens but thought that would stick out. I’m using a little one that I’ve had for a while that’s supposed to produce the same results.” She pulled over at the corner. “When the visit is over, I’ll be waiting here for you.” She reached under the seat and pulled out a baseball cap and large, black-lensed sunglasses. “I’ll be the one doing leg stretches.”
I crawled over into the driver’s seat and amused myself watching Fab, standing on the corner as she demonstrated her athletic ability. Butterflies filled my stomach as I drove around the block and parked in front of the blue one-story house. The porch was welcoming, with a pair of rocking chairs and a large birdhouse with several feeder slots.
It dawned on me that there wasn’t another car parked nearby, which surprised me, as the visit was supposed to be supervised. I double-checked my watch, which I’d actually set—four minutes to spare. I got out and grabbed the blanket and book.
The waist-high chain-link fence was locked. Next to the fence was a pole, with a rope attached to a large bell. I tugged and glanced over my shoulder, checking to see if the neighbors had come out to check on the noise. The owners needed one that wired into the house. If Fab had been able to tag along, she’d have them talked into an upgrade before they realized they’d agreed.
The door opened, and a woman in her forties stepped out on the porch, her hair piled into a messy bun, wearing a long skirt and long-sleeved tee-shirt, a toddler hooked to her hip.
“Mila’s aunt?” she called.
I nodded. “Madison Westin.”
The woman reached into her pocket, taking out a key as she came down the walk. When she got close, she introduced herself. “Holly Redmond, and this little one is my son, Paul.” She pushed the gate open, motioning for me to follow. “I’m surprised that you showed today, since the case worker called in sick.”
“I didn’t get a call.”
“She probably forgot. You’re here now—we might as well have that visit anyway.”
The TV was blaring as we entered the house, two little faces glued to the screen, watching a cartoon. Mila wasn’t one of them, and I wondered where she was.
“Mila is a quiet one,” Holly whispered. “I told her about your visit, but I didn’t get much of a response.” She stared pointedly at my full arms.
“I thought it would be fun to sit on the lawn and read to her. I wasn’t sure what the protocol was, and a three-year-old probably wouldn’t want to hear me talk non-stop.” I let out a nervous laugh.
“It’s a little chaotic today,” Holly said wearily. “The kids are feeling rambunctious, and if I let Mila go outside, they’re all going to want to play in the backyard. Do you mind three more little ones running around?”
Flustered by the question and unsure what to say, I said the first thing that came to mind. “Maybe they’d all enjoy the story.”
“No offense, but running around trumps everything. The jungle gym’s been a hot item ever since my husband put it up.” Holly pointed out Mila, who was sitting on a booster chair at the kitchen table, a coloring book and crayons in front of her and a look of boredom on her face.
Mila looked up, her father’s brown eyes staring back at me, half her shoulder-length sandy hair in a pigtail, the other side hanging down. It took everything in me not to scoop her into my arms for an enveloping hug. I furiously blinked away tears.
Low key, I reminded myself and scooted into a seat next to her, dropping my bag on the floor. “I’m your Aunt Madison.” I left unsaid until she was older, I’d have been here sooner, but I just found out about you. “I’m hoping we’re going to become good friends.” I laid my hand, palm up, on the table.
There was no verbal response. Instead, she stared wide-eyed at my fingers, which I wiggled at her.
“I brought a book.” I reached down and grabbed it from the top of my tote, holding it up to show the cover, which depicted a princess’s crown. “I thought we could go outside and I’d read to you. Would you like to do that?”
It felt longer than a minute, but she finally nodded.
I held out my arms, and she held out hers. I lifted her off the booster seat and set her on the floor. “You get to choose the spot where you want to sit.” I grabbed the blanket.
Mila led the way and stood back as Holly nodded her approval and opened the back door, which required unlocking three locks. Then Holly stood to one side, feeding her son from a bottle as the other children ran out of the house like they’d been shot out of a cannon, scurrying in circles and yelling.
Child safety. That was a task I’d immediately assign to Fab. It would be fun to see what she came up with. It wouldn’t surprise me if it included a tracking device.
Mila held onto the railing and jumped down the three steps one at a time. She looked at me like, Okay, now what?
“How about over here?” I motioned to a spot.
She ran over and plu
nked down on the grass. I spread the blanket out next to her, and she crawled onto it.
I handed her the book, sitting down next to her when what I wanted to do was hold her in my lap. But I didn’t want to risk scaring her—a stranger being so pushy—and it would make for terrible pictures for Brad. Opening the cover of the book she’d laid on her lap, I slowly flipped the pages, reading the story and making comments that I hoped a three-year-old found interesting. Mila traced every page with her little fingers. As Holly’d said, the other children had jetted over to the sand pit, and two were on their hands and knees, pushing trucks around. The third one stared around in wonder.
My allotted time flew by fast. It wasn’t long before Holly called, “Nap time.” The other kids groaned loudly but ran to the house. “Once I promised snacks for good behavior, it got easier to get them in the house without histrionics.”
“Good idea.” It didn’t seem like I’d been there an hour, but glancing at my watch, I saw an hour and a half had passed. “Thank you for the extra time.” I stood and lifted Mila to her feet, grabbing the book. “I’ll get the blanket on the way out.” Mila and I followed Holly to the back door. At the steps, I kneeled. “It was amazing to meet you,” I told Mila with a smile. “I’m going to visit again soon. Can I hug you?”
Mila threw herself against my chest and hugged me. It was hard to let go, and I took an extra moment to brush at the corners of my eyes. I handed her the book. “This is for you.” She clasped it to her chest.
Holly held out her hand, which Mila took until the handrail was in reach. Then she climbed the steps, and at the top, she waved before going inside.
Holly turned to me. “I’m going to report back that the visit went well. It’s been my experience that when family is involved, everything possible will be done to expedite the file. Mila needs stability and more attention than I can give her. I must say, I’m a little jealous—Mila was more responsive to you than she’s ever been to me.”
That made me happy. “I promise she won’t be short of attention when she comes to live with me.”
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