Fatal Impulse: A Widow's Web Novel

by Lori L. Robinett

  “That’s what I been trying to tell her.” Andi shook her head when she heard the slur in her words. “Nothing.”

  The nurse snorted and the doctor frowned at her, then turned his attention back to his patient. “I’m not talking alcohol. I mean anything liquid. What did you drink before you were brought in?”

  She laid her head back against the pillow and closed her eyes, “A glass of water first thing in the morning. I had a cup of coffee in the morning.” Her eyes popped open. “I had an orange soda.”

  The doctor said, “Did it taste funny?”

  She ran her tongue over her teeth as she recalled the sugary sweetness in her mouth. “It was really sweet.”

  “When did you drink it?” The young doctor looked up at the clock on the wall.

  Andi blinked as she tried to remember. It was after they left Buccaneer Bay, but before they got to Thunder Hole. They’d already turned off of Highway 3. “Late morning, maybe 11 or so.”

  Dr. Cavanaugh nodded. He and the nurse exchanged a knowing glance, then the nurse shook her head, “You’re thinking antifreeze poisoning?”

  Andi blinked. The sweet orange soda? “But that’s not possible. How could antifreeze have gotten into a can of soda?”

  Twin lines formed in the young doctor’s forehead. “There haven’t been any other cases, but we need to make sure this is an isolated event. Where did you get the drink?”

  Andi’s arms shook as she tried to push herself up. The nurse gently put her hand on her patient’s shoulder. Andi dropped back. “I don’t know where he got it.”

  The doctor asked quickly, “Who?”

  An image of Paul and his piercing blue eyes flitted through Andi’s mind. “My boyfriend. I don’t know where he got it. Maybe Caddy’s Quick Shop when he stopped to get gas.”

  Suddenly her room was abuzz with activity. He picked up his pad and scribbled with the stylus. “I want to push fluids, then start a course of Antizol. 15 mg over the next 30 minutes. I’m going to alert the police.”

  The nurse sprang into action, immediately checking the IV bag. She darted out the door and returned shortly with a vial and syringe. Andi watched as the woman held up the glass vial, inserted the needle and withdrew the clear fluid. After she cleared the air bubbles, she inserted the syringe into a small tube in the IV. A tiny air bubble formed in the tubing and slowly traveled through the clear plastic, snaking its way towards Andi’s hand.

  Her head rolled to the side as she wiggled her fingers. “Is that a problem?”

  The nurse dropped the used syringe in the bright red sharps container. “What?”

  “There’s an air bubble in my IV tube.”

  “It’s OK. Not like it is on TV.”

  Andi giggled nervously, and looked around the room. The blinds were closed and the sliver of window around them was dark. “What time is it now?”

  “Almost 7.” The nurse pulled the blanket up and tucked Andi in.

  She could almost picture it. Paul dropped her off at the emergency room, but made no effort to stick around and make sure she was going to be okay.

  The nurse tapped more information into the laptop at the station next to the bed. Andi’s side began to ache and the pain wrapped all the way around from the front to the back. She moaned and shifted in the bed. The older woman glanced up, “Feeling pain?”

  Andi nodded and bit back a moan.

  “I’ll get you something for it.”

  The rest of the night was spent in a dreamless sleep, for which Andi was thankful. The next morning, she picked up the telephone to call Mildred at the Chamber office to let her know she’d need to find someone else to work, but stopped in mid-dial. She didn’t have a job anymore. She thought about calling her mother, but didn’t want to worry her. She couldn’t call Paul because his wife might answer. Finally, she called Dana.

  “Oh, my God! Are you okay?”

  Andi pressed the button to raise the head of the bed. “I’ll be fine. They said it was antifreeze poisoning.”

  “Antifreeze poisoning? I didn’t think that was even a thing anymore. Manufacturers are required to make it taste bitter, because so many pets died.”

  “I think I remember that.” Andi scrunched her face at that horrible thought. Something niggled at her memory, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

  “When will they discharge you?”

  The doctor hadn’t really said anything about her prognosis. “Not sure yet.” She glanced at the IV bag. Nearly empty. The nurse had returned several times overnight to inject more antidote to be pumped into her veins.

  “I’ll come by after work. If they discharge you before that, call me.”

  At least Andi wouldn’t have to take a cab home if they let her go. She had just placed the handset in the cradle when Paul stuck his head in the door. His forehead wrinkled with a frown as his piercing blue eyes swept around the room, then settled on her.

  “Hey, there. How’re you feeling?”

  She lit up at the sight of him, “Better than yesterday.”

  He stepped in and pushed the door shut behind him. As he dragged the chair closer to her hospital bed, he said, “I was pretty worried about you, but you seemed to be in good hands. I figured it was better just to get out of the way and let the doctors do their thing.”

  She nodded, and told him about her night. “Hey, where’d you get that soda? They think it was antifreeze poisoning.”

  “Really?” His dark eyebrows pinched together and his left eye twitched. “What makes them think that?”

  An image of Paul leaning against the guardrail floated through her memory. Other faces crowded close to her while they were at Thunder Hole. Other voices asked if she was okay, but he hadn’t. Had she been that out of it?

  He pulled a plastic bottle of chocolate milk from his pocket opened it, then handed it to her. He shrugged, “Thought a little chocolate might make you feel better.”

  She took a sip of the sweet liquid and sighed. “Thanks. All they’ve given me so far is ice chips.”

  He glanced around the Spartan room. The news was just coming on the television as he reached over and pushed the off button.

  “You need rest and quiet, so you can get all better and get out of here.” He jumped up and continued, “Let me get you another pillow.”

  “Really, I’m—”

  “Not a problem,” he interrupted, as he opened the narrow closet at the foot of the bed.

  She heard something metallic jangle, and cocked her head. His back was to her, and he dug around in the closet. “Did you drop something?”

  He straightened and glanced over his shoulder at her, then pulled a pillow from the top shelf of the closet. He fluffed it and said, “No. Not— I just dropped your keys in your purse. I had a friend go out with me to get your Jeep from Jewels by the Sea and take it home.”

  He held her arm and helped her lean forward as he arranged the pillow behind her. It took her a moment to catch her breath after the exertion. “Oh, well, thanks. You didn’t have to do that, but thanks.”

  “Not a problem.” He nodded and smiled, hands stuffed deep in his pockets. “No problem at all. Any idea when you’re going to get out of here?”

  “Not yet. Haven’t seen the doctor today, but I’m sure he’ll be in soon.”

  “Right.” He pointed to the closet. “Want me to keep your keys and check your mail or anything?”

  She shook her head, “I doubt I’ll be here that long. I appreciate the offer, though.”

  He made a show of looking at his watch, then gave her a peck on the cheek and said, “I’ve got to get going. I’m late to the office.”

  There was something off, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. His eyes darted around the room, swept the floor. She asked, “Call me later?”

  He rocked back on his heels and nodded. “Drink up, now.
Milk is good for you.”

  She held up the chocolate milk in a salute. “Thanks for everything.”

  He blew her a kiss just before he stepped out of the room, and she took a deep breath. The scent of him still hovered in the room. Fresh, clean. Like a mountain morning. She took another drink of chocolate milk and smiled at his thoughtfulness. He’d acted so oddly though.

  Probably nervous that someone would recognize him and tell his wife he’d been to visit her.

  Within the hour, Dana arrived and promptly announced that she would stay throughout the day, in spite of Andi’s protests. Shortly after she arrived, she said, “This isn’t exactly what I had in mind, but I did want to get together and talk about wedding plans. Didn’t you get my message yesterday morning?”

  Andi pushed herself up in the bed. “No. I went exploring.”

  “Really? With him?” Dana’s lips pressed into a tight line.

  Andi’s head dropped back into the soft pillow. “Yes. But no judgments, please. I just can’t do that right now.”

  “Fine. No judgments.”

  The nurse returned with a small glass bottle on a stainless steel tray. She nodded to Andi. “It’s time for the next round of Antizol.”

  Dana moved to Andi’s side and squeezed her hand. Together they watched the nurse as she readied the medicine and inserted the needle into the clear IV bag hanging from the metal post above Andi’s head. Dana’s face paled as she watched the nurse empty the syringe.

  Andi asked, “Is that for the poison?”

  The nurse nodded as she finished the injection, then she dropped the used syringe in the red sharps container next to the sink. “Someone’ll be in shortly to draw blood again. We’ll see how your counts are and then the doctor will decide what happens next.”

  Dana filled the cup on the plastic tray table with water from the pitcher and handed it to Andi, who sipped the cool liquid. Dana walked around the room. She rearranged the pitcher and cup on the tray table, threw away the empty bottle of chocolate milk, then straightened the blanket at the foot of Andi’s bed.

  Andi raised her eyebrows as she watched her friend. “What’s on your mind?”

  Dana shook her head. “Nothing that can’t wait.”

  “Spill it.”

  Dana grinned and sat on the edge of the bed. “Anyway, I started to tell you that Derek and I picked up our wedding rings yesterday. So, we decided we don’t want to wait. Can you get away next weekend? Assuming the doc says you’re okay to go?”

  Her friend’s enthusiasm was catching. “Next weekend? Did I hear you right?”

  Dana beamed. “Yup! Edward has offered to pay for my way and my maid of honor’s way. How can you turn that down, my maid of honor?”

  Andi laughed weakly as relief flooded through her. She couldn’t afford a trip to the mainland, much less a trip to Atlantic City. Edward’s generosity overwhelmed her. “Write down the details so I don’t forget anything in this drugged haze.”

  They decided to meet for lunch one day to finalize things, because Dana had about a dozen brochures for weddings at different casinos and couldn’t decide which she wanted. As she told about her day with Derek, Andi’s mind began to wander to her afternoon with Paul.

  And then she wondered why he’d acted so oddly when he’d visited.

  What was he doing in the closet?

  The doctor came in just then, and Dana cocked an eyebrow. Dr. Cavanaugh’s head nearly touched the top of the door and his shoulders were wide like a football player, with dark hair and a dark complexion. He stood inches from the bed, reviewing the medical chart. After a moment, he looked down at her, with dark brown eyes framed by long dark lashes. “I’m concerned with your numbers. Your electrolytes are still low, but it looks like we caught the poisoning in time.”

  Andi cocked her head to one side. “In time?”

  “Before permanent kidney damage.” Dr. Cavanaugh examined the monitor beside her bed. “How’re you feeling now?”

  “Better.”

  “Good. I’m going to move you to a private room and give you at least one more Antizole treatment by IV, and want to keep flushing the fluids through you.” He flipped pages back and forth, and frowned. “Looks like you’ve had a rough life, Mrs. Adams.”

  She swallowed hard, and focused on keeping her countenance neutral. “Sorry?”

  “Your X-rays. Looks like you’ve had a couple of fractured ribs, and your arms have had several hairline fractures.”

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  Dana sat up straighter, but Andi kept her focus on the handsome doctor and shrugged, “Not that I recall.”

  He nodded but his eyebrows pushed into a deep V. “Well then, you must be quite accident prone. You’ll be moved shortly, and the remaining treatments should go well. It’s too soon to say, but it looks like the Antizol is doing the trick.”

  Andi gulped. “Let’s hope it works.”

  After he left, Dana leaned close and whispered, “He wasn’t wearing a wedding band.”

  Andi noticed, too, but she responded with a shrug. The edges of the room began to soften, thanks to the pain medication. Should she give up on Paul? Would anyone else be interested in her? Handsome, successful Paul. When she closed her eyes, she could imagine them leading the perfect life.

  She let herself drift away.

  “Andi!”

  Andi blinked slowly and tried to focus on her friend’s green eyes. “What?”

  “You were talking in your sleep, crying almost.”

  With effort, Andi opened her mouth and licked her lips. Her tongue felt too big, and she felt deliciously relaxed.

  “The injuries. Chad did that to you, didn’t he?” Dana didn’t wait for a reply. She moved next to the bed, her forehead furrowed with concern. “Why didn’t you leave him?”

  Andi shrugged. “Couldn’t. Never would’ve let me go. If only I’d been a better wife—”

  “That’s bullshit.”

  With effort, Andi opened her eyes. “Could’ve done better. Should’ve done better.”

  “You’re so much better than that.” Dana shook her head. “You don’t even see it. You don’t need a man.”

  Andi’s head bobbed. “But I do. Happier, more complete.” Her tongue filled her mouth, making it difficult to speak.

  Dana sighed and turned away. “I’ve got to get going. I’ll check in with you later.”

  “Don’t leave like this.” Andi tilted her head and smiled at her friend. “Please.”

  “Get some rest. I’ll talk to you later.” Dana opened the door and looked back. “Call if you need anything.”

  After her friend left, Andi drifted off. Sleep was uninterrupted by dreams and she felt rested when the nurse opened the blinds the next morning. By late morning, she felt better and the handsome doctor ordered another round of blood tests. Shortly after a lunch of hospital Jell-O and a smuggled cheeseburger (thanks to Dana), he announced that her numbers weren’t as good as he’d hoped.

  He frowned as he looked at the terminal screen. “This doesn’t make sense. Your numbers should be lower than this if we’re correct that your exposure was nearly 24 hours ago.”

  Andi caught her lower lip with her teeth, then ventured, “What does that mean?”

  He shook his head and twin furrows appeared in his forehead. “It means that we need to continue the Antizol. I don’t want you eating or drinking anything unless you are absolutely sure of the source.”

  By the next morning, her numbers had improved. To her delight, her doctor ordered the removal of the IV and catheter and released her with strict instructions to drink a lot of water — and nothing else.

  Dana drove her home and worried over Andi like a mother hen. After many assurances that she would be fine, Dana left her alone to rest. The truth of the matter was that Paul hadn’t called as he promised, and Andi was afraid of what that might mean. After she engaged
the deadbolt, she trudged up the steps, put her hand on the doorknob to her room and froze. Their bedroom door was never shut. The doorknob turned in her hand with a squeak, loud in the empty house. She glanced over her shoulder, and stared into the shadows. After a moment’s hesitation, she laughed at herself and pushed the door open. She crawled into bed, alone and exhausted.

  As she laid there staring at the ceiling, the reality of her situation began to sink in. She’d been poisoned. How? And she needed a job.

  Maybe she could wait to get a job after things were settled with Paul. They’d probably move anyway, to get away from Caren, so there was no sense in looking for a job here.

  Earlier that evening, the real estate agent called to say another couple was coming to look at the house. She’d lost her job. She had no credit cards. The detective thought she was a murdered and, more importantly, so did someone else. Just as she was about to give up and take a sleeping pill, the phone rang. She hesitated, but the ringing continued. She couldn’t stand to not answer in case it was Paul.

  As she feared, she was greeted by the blackmailer’s voice. “I know what happened that night. Time is running out. The old man is dying, and I need those documents before he dies … and I swear to God, I’ll give the police everything they need to put you away for the rest of your life.”

  A chill ran down her spine. “What documents are you talking about?”

  “The deed and the stock certificates.”

  “What? What deed? What certificates?”

  He huffed. “The stock certificates.”

  “What? I don’t know what you’re talking about! What stock certificates?”

  The line went dead, and she wondered what this man thought she had. All she had in her possession was a bunch of poor photocopies. But how could she convince him of that?

  She pushed the blackmailer out of her mind. She’d been unhappy for so long, and the doctor’s reference to her old injuries brought all that frustration and fear back to the surface. She’d wasted so much time with Chad. Maybe Dana was right. Maybe she should’ve left him. But being alone wasn’t an option. She couldn’t imagine life as a single woman, widow or otherwise.