by Ann Mullen
“I’m sorry, Mom. But I didn’t want to call until I knew everything.”
“How’s everyone holding up?”
“Not too well. I’m worried. Sarah said she wanted to kill the person who’s responsible for Daniel’s death. I’ve never heard her speak like that. She’s usually the quietest one, but now she’s on the warpath.”
“I hope you didn’t say that to her, about being on the warpath.”
“Of course, I didn’t. I was just thinking out loud, but I am worried.”
“She has every right to be angry. Her son is dead. I’d feel the same way. Lord help me, I don’t know what I’d do if I was in her shoes.”
“How’s everyone there?”
“Geneva fell asleep in the recliner, and Ethan woke up about forty minutes ago, so I gave him a bottle. Now he’s fast asleep again. Maisy’s still asleep, but then again, she usually sleeps through the night. The dogs are standing guard, and I don’t know where the cat ran off to.”
“I need to get back to Billy.”
“You go ahead, honey. I’ll take care of everything here. Don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine. I know it’s late, but I’m going to call your sister and brother. They need to know. If something happens and Billy gets worse, I want you to call me. No matter what time it is.”
“Don’t worry about him. He’s going to be okay. The doctor says he’ll make a full recovery. My concern is what’s going to happen when the Blackhawks get together later. You know they’re going to go after whoever did this.”
“Can you blame them?”
“No, I don’t blame them, but I am surprised to hear you say that.”
“You’ve got to stop thinking of me as an old fuddy-duddy. I’ve learned a few things about the real world.”
“Since you moved to the mountains.”
“Yes, since I moved to the mountains and met the Blackhawk family.”
“You just can’t help but love them, huh?”
“And learn from them.”
“Yes, we both have certainly learned a lot about life from them.”
“The fire department and the police are still over at Jonathan’s house, or what used to be his house. Geneva went over there, but they wouldn’t let her in.” Mom laughed. ‘She’s a character.”
“Yes, she is. Look, Mom, I need to go. I’ll be home as soon as I can.”
“Take care of yourself, Jesse.”
“I will, Ma.”
I said good-bye, closed up the cell phone, and slipped it back into my coat pocket. My hands were so cold that I had to rub them together to keep them warm. It felt as if the temperature had dropped ten degrees since I was outside last. I turned to go back into the hospital, but when I looked up, I saw Robert and Greg heading my way.
Greg came up to me and put his arms around my shoulders. “My father is dead,” he cried.
“I know,” I said, tears welling up. “I’m so sorry, Greg. I loved Daniel. He was a good man. This isn’t right. We’ll catch whoever did this. I promise you.” We hugged for a while before he stepped back. Although Greg was now eighteen, he was still a kid at heart when it came to his folks. I think most are.
“Do they have any idea who set the fire?”
“I don’t know, Greg. I haven’t had a chance to talk with Billy or anyone else about it, but I’m confident we’ll catch the one responsible.”
“We’ll make him pay when we do. They better put him in jail, because he won’t be safe on the outside.”
“I know you feel that way now, but we can’t take the law into our own hands. That’s what cops are for.”
“You really believe that?”
“I don’t know what I believe, to be honest. If Billy would’ve died, I probably would feel the same way you do. I’d be ready to shed some blood. I’d be out there after someone’s scalp.”
“I rest my case.”
I slid my arm around his shoulder, and the two of us started walking toward the hospital entrance.
Robert followed.
“How’s Grandma and Grandpa holding up?”
“Who?”
He looked at me and laughed. “Chief Sam and Sarah.”
“Oh, wow! I haven’t heard them called that in a long time.”
“That’s because we don’t see each other that much. You and Billy are always on the go and I have a life, too. But we need to rectify that.”
“We sure do, Greg. We get so busy with our own lives that we don’t see our loved ones as much as we should. It’s a shame. Don’t worry; I’ll make sure we don’t let time pass without our seeing each other more. When something like this happens, you realize how quickly life can be snatched away.”
“I’m glad that Billy’s okay. I don’t think I could’ve stood to lose two people I love at the same time. It’d be too much to bear. Mom’s really upset about Dad. Even though they were divorced, they still loved each other. I asked her once why they weren’t together if they still loved each other, and she said Dad had that wandering eye. He loved women. You know how that goes. I have friends just like that. They can’t commit to one woman, so they wind up being alone. Now, me—I know how to commit. That’s why I have the same girlfriend I’ve had for the last three months.”
“That long, huh?” I stopped, turned, and looked at Robert and then asked, “Have you reached any of the others?”
“I called Greg’s mother, Reba, and she said she would call Joan and Barbara. She also said that she would see to it that the other four children were told before they heard it on the news.”
We walked in the hospital and headed down the hall. When we reached the corridor to the emergency entrance, Robert stopped.
“This is where we part. I’m taking Greg to see his father.”
“Okay,” I replied, not knowing what to say. I was surprised at first and then realized that I also wanted to see my dad when he died in the hospital. I wanted a chance to say good-bye. I kissed Greg on the cheek and said, “Be tough, Greg. It’s not going to be easy. Trust me, I know.”
Robert and Greg disappeared down the hallway as I turned and walked through the double doors.
As soon as I got through the door, I could hear a ruckus going on down at the far end of the huge room… down where Billy was. “Oh, me. What’s he doing now?” I said out loud.
A guy sitting on one of the gurneys to my right said, “That guy down there wants to leave the hospital. He kept talking about killing someone. The doctor just gave him a shot.”
“Yeah,” the girl with him said. “The guy was getting rowdy… loud, you know. I thought for sure they were going to have to call the cops.”
I hurried down the aisle to Billy’s bed, slipped in beside him and said, “I hear you’re causing trouble.” He was getting groggy, but it didn’t stop him from speaking his peace.
“This is just the beginning. Somebody’s going to die for killing my brother.”
Chapter 5
Hospitals have always made me nervous. Every time I turn around it seems as if I’m paying this one or the one across town a visit for one reason or another. I guess it comes with the territory of being a private investigator… or bounty hunter. The only safe occupation in this family was that of being the owner of a restaurant, veterinary clinic, or a car dealership… until today. Today, being the owner of a car dealership couldn’t keep Daniel alive. But then, it wasn’t the job that had killed him. A match had been the culprit.
“When are they going to release him,” I asked, looking over at Sarah and Chief Sam.
“Jonathan’s talking with the doctor about it now,” Sarah replied. “I think they want to keep him overnight, but Billy says he’s leaving.”
“I’m getting out of here,” Billy said as he raised his head. “Tso-s-da-nv-tli u-yo-hu-sv! A-gi-hna-lv, uhna-lv-hi!”
“I don’t understand, Billy. What are you trying to say?”
“His brother is dead and he’s mad… mad as a dog,” Chief Sam said. “We need to get him out of here.”
“But what about the doctor? What did he say?”
“He was going to release Billy until he started yelling. Dr. Bryant had to give him a shot to calm him down and now he says he doesn’t want to release him while he’s under heavy sedation.”
“He has every reason to be mad. I’d be angry too if…”
Billy sat up in bed and pulled the oxygen tubes out of his nose. He took a deep breath and exhaled. He didn’t cough this time. He looked up at the chief and then down at his hand. The chief reached over, turned off the I.V. drip, and then removed it from the top of Billy’s hand. A speckle of blood remained where the tube had been removed.
“Can you stand on your own?” the chief asked.
Billy slowly let his legs drop off the side of the bed and then stood up. He placed his hand on the wall for support, and stood there for a bit.
“I’m ready to go,” he replied.
“Where’s your coat?” I asked, looking around the room. “You can’t go outside without a coat. You’ll catch a cold. It’s freezing.”
“That is the least of my worries.”
Jonathan and Dr. Bryant appeared.
Dr. Bryant had a surprised look on his face. “I know I can’t stop you from leaving, but I’m advising you to stay overnight. I know that you’re not going to listen to me, so the only thing I’m going to say is—if you start coughing up blood, you’d better get back here as soon as possible.”
“I understand, John.”
“Expect to be coughing up some pretty nasty looking mucus. Your lungs will…”
“I know. I know,” Billy agreed. “I’m going to be in pain and breathing will be difficult for a few days. Doc, no pain could be as bad as losing my brother. I have to get out there and find out what…” Billy went into a coughing spasm. He sat down on the bed until it passed.
“See, it’s only going to get worse if you don’t take care of yourself.”
“I’ll take care of him,” I said.
“Okay,” Dr. Bryant said. “Read and sign this form.” He handed the clipboard to Billy.
Billy took it and signed the form without bothering to read it.
No one said a word.
“Let’s get out of here. I have work to do.”
“Let me get a wheelchair…”
Billy looked at Dr. Bryant and said, “Don’t bother. I don’t need it.”
Dr. Bryant looked at me and said, “Don’t let him drive.”
“I won’t. You can count on that. Where’s his coat?”
“Check with the nurse’s station.” He looked at Billy. “I want you to take care of yourself. You have no idea how bad this can get if you don’t.”
“I will be all right. There’s a killer out there, and I have to find him.” Billy patted the doctor on the shoulder, turned and started walking away.
The rest of us followed. We stopped at the nurse’s station and picked up Billy’s coat. After he slipped into his jacket, we all walked down the hall out to the lobby. There we met up with Robert and Greg.
“How you doing, brother?”
“I’m going to make it,” Billy replied. He looked over at Greg. “I’m sorry about your dad, buddy.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“I’m going to stay here and wait for the rest of the family,” Robert said. “There are arrangements to make.”
“We’re staying, too,” Sarah said. “We want to see Daniel before…” She started to cry again.
I hugged her and said, “Jonathan and I will take Billy home. Call me on my cell phone if you need anything. Okay?”
“Thanks, Jesse,” Chief Sam replied. “We will be fine. Just make sure you take care of Billy.”
Jonathan handed his car keys to the chief and said, “You might need these.”
We hugged each other, and then Billy, Jonathan, and I walked out of the hospital. It was a terribly sad moment for all of us—one that would stay in our memories forever.
“I’ll go get the 4Runner while you and Jonathan wait here.”
“I can walk.”
“I know you can, but it’s cold and it’s snowing out here. Will you just let me have my way this time? Okay?”
“This time? `Ge ya, you always get your way.”
“I see your sense of humor is still intact. Keep an eye on him, Jonathan. I’ll be right back with the car. Just give me a minute.”
“What about you? It’s a dangerous world out there.”
“I have my mace,” I said, assuring them that I would be safe.
I didn’t have my mace, but I knew Billy would never let me go alone if he didn’t think I had some kind of protection. He knew I didn’t have a gun, because I wouldn’t carry one into a hospital, so I lied about the mace. I stepped out through the hospital doors and braved the weather. The snow was still coming down. I wondered about Jonathan’s house. I didn’t think the snow would amount to much if the ground was still warm. Perhaps we could find some clue as to who the guilty party was. And what was the deal with the medal that Jonathan showed me? I crossed the street and went up the steps to the second landing. Just as I rounded the corner, a small man stepped out from the shadows and confronted me. He was dressed in black and had a ski mask pulled over his face. All I could see was his eyes, nose and mouth. His voice was squeaky as if he had just reached puberty. He smelled of smoke.
I was frightened out of my wits. I was so close to my car, I could almost touch it, but the man was between it and me.
He stepped forward and said, “Nobody was supposed to die, but it’s too late now to cry over spilt milk. It’s not over, yet lady. You can tell your friend that I’m going to make everyone of those lying jerks pay.”
Although the man wasn’t much bigger than me, I knew if it came to hand-to-hand combat, I didn’t stand a chance. I tried to reason with him.
“Daniel Blackhawk is dead, so someone did die. What do you mean you’re going to make them pay? Who are you talking about?”
“You tell your bounty hunter friend that everyone will pay. He’ll know what I mean. If he doesn’t know now, he will soon. I’m sorry that his brother died. All I meant to do was burn down his house, so he could see what it’s like to lose something he cared about. And if the bounty hunter had died in the fire, well, what can I say? He deserves to die. Now that I think about it, I wish he had. I’d feel so much better.” He turned to leave.
“Wait. What are you talking about?” I stepped forward.
“Lady, don’t get in my way.” He pulled out a gun. “Don’t make me use this.”
I was stalling, trying to get more information out of him. I didn’t know what to do, but I had to come up with something fast. This guy obviously had a beef with a few people, and it sounded as if he planned to act on his anger… again. He might not have meant to kill anyone, but now that someone had died, he had nothing to lose. Others might die now that he was up to his eyeballs in murder.
Had he been out here the whole time waiting for me? Had he been lurking around where we lived? He sure knew who he was after, and he wasn’t about to let me get in his way. I was about ready to drop-kick him in the groin and then knock the gun out of his hand when all of a sudden someone blew their car horn. The horn startled the man. He shoved the gun back into his pocket and ran off.
I didn’t bother sticking around to find out where he had run to. I grabbed my keys, pushed the button to unlock the car, and then jumped in. I hit the door looks and tried to stick the key in the ignition. My hands were shaking so badly that it took me a few seconds to get the key in the ignition and get the car started, but when I did, I put the gearshift into reverse and backed out of the parking spot. I put the car in drive and took off. I kept my eyes open for the man just in case he jumped out at me again. This time I’d have a defense. I reached in the back and dug my purse off the floorboard. I pulled my gun out of the purse and laid it in my lap. I drove slowly as not to raise suspicions. I didn’t want to be cited for driving recklessly in a hospital parking lot�
� with a gun sitting in my lap. When I reached the exit, I slipped the gun down the side of my seat. I didn’t think the woman who took the parking money would appreciate my having a gun. But the money taker wasn’t there. I guess at this time of night they didn’t charge for parking. I didn’t know and I didn’t care. All I wanted to do was get out of there. My hands were still shaking when I pulled up to the hospital entrance.
“What took you so long?” Billy asked as he opened the car door.
I reached in the back and pulled out Sarah’s purse and handed it to Billy.
“Give this to Jonathan and have him take it to your mother before we leave. She might need it.”
Billy passed the purse to Jonathan and chuckled. Jonathan walked away shaking his head.
“What’s the matter with him?”
“You give a guy like Jonathan a purse, and you have to ask?”
“Oh,” I laughed. “I guess I should know better. I could’ve taken it to her.”
“He’ll get over it.”
A few minutes later, Jonathan returned. He crawled into the back seat.
“I’m sorry, Jonathan. I should’ve taken the purse to your mother. I didn’t think.”
“Don’t worry about it, Jesse. Mom got a good laugh out of it.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. She needed to laugh.”
“Yeah, I don’t think she’ll be laughing much for a while.”
“None of us will.”
“Are we leaving? We have a killer to catch.” Billy asked.
“Ah…”
“What’s wrong with you, Jesse?” Billy reached over and put his hand on mine. “You’re shaking. Are you that cold? Do we need to turn the heater up?”
“I think I just met the killer.”
“What?” Billy asked.
“Are you serious?” Jonathan asked, leaning forward. “You met the guy who burned down my house?”
“I knew it!” Billy ranted. “I should’ve never let you go to that parking garage by yourself! Women should never be out by themselves at night. It’s too dangerous!”