FIVE DAYS LATER
OCTOBER 15
Paul was getting ready to be released from the hospital with his father by his side. Healey and Chapman were released the day before, and Baker was set to be released in a couple days. He asked to sit with Bud before leaving the hospital. The staff put him in a wheelchair and rolled him to his partner's room. He was still in a coma, and still Deborah Lance was in the chair near his bed reading the book Intelligence for Your Life. She got up and hugged Paul and pushed him closer to Bud Johnson's bedside. He touched his hand and looked up at Deborah. “Thank you for being here for him.”
She smiled at Paul and replied, “It's where I need to be.” “Have you seen Lindsey?” he asked.
“She's been here every night, Paul. She sits with him for an hour every night and prays over him.” Paul was touched by the information.
“That's really nice. I guess her parents are not thrilled, but it's really nice.” She looked up at Anthony Powers and grabbed his hand to say hello.
“I thought Rachelle was coming to be with you when you got out?” she said.
Paul looked over at Bud then back at Deborah.
“She has missed so much work. I told her to go to Z Pita so Joey Z could catch a break.”
“Oh, OK,” Deborah said in an awkward tone. Paul let go of Bud's hand and asked his father to push his chair instead of the nurse.
“Thank you again, Deborah,” he said. “You are very special to him.”
She smiled at him, but she sensed something was wrong. “What's happening, Paul?” she asked as she followed him to the hallway.
“All this,” he said as he pointed to himself. “All this killing and they get away. No one knows where they are, and for what? Revenge? Insurance money? What kind of world are we living in? Is it worth it?”
He started to push away again as his father stayed silent as Deborah spoke again.
“What about Bud? I love him, but it’s you he needs right now. What about Rachelle? I love her as well, but it's you she needs. As for me, I love you too, and I need you to not give up, because if you do, it will affect all of us.” Paul sat frozen for a few seconds as his father turned his head from his son to Deborah.
She continued to speak. “I don't know why, but we are in this together. We haven't given up on you. Please don't give up on us.” She turned around and returned to Bud's side. There continued to be silence as Paul and his father went to sign papers for his release.
EIGHT DAYS LATER
OCTOBER 23
It was now October 23 in Key West, Florida, which has average temperatures between seventy-eight and eighty-six degrees during the month of October. It was relaxing and the perfect place for Linda Tangretti and Michael Branca to hide out in plain sight. The little home in which they were staying in the winter was a rental they paid cash for under the names of Betty and Joseph Thomas. She cut her hair short and dyed it black while Branca shed ten pounds, grew his hair longer, and wore glasses when he was out in public. They had escaped from Long Island ten days earlier and their lives had been a nonstop party of sex, alcohol, and leisure ever since they hit the Keys.
The first week was filled with nervous laughter that they got away with everything. From the beginning they were barely together yet planned it out so carefully that it worked. They had sex over twenty times the first week and were already down to four times a week by the beginning of their second week. The money that was hidden in the walls of the club from Simpson bounties, and what money they had from Simpson's bounties gave them over $3.5 million in cash that they could live comfortably on without having to show IDs the rest of their lives if they didn't get crazy.
The two of them were getting comfortable in their surroundings, and while it was fun and exciting the first couple weeks, Linda was getting bored. Branca knew it was time for something different, so he surprised her with a weekend trip to the Royal Coconut Palace Hotel and Spa. It was the newest hotel in the Keys and it had a main building with about twenty-five separate detached bungalows near the water. He couldn't wait to spice up their sex life on the beach. In addition he never forgot what she told him about her ultimate fantasy, which was to have sex with someone dressed up in a Halloween costume. He made the reservation for the weekend of October 31 to November 2. He was proud of himself as he entered their small little home on Peacock Circle.
Paul Powers was back at his apartment and was able to convince his father to return to Florida a few days before. He was still in pain from the shot he took to his pelvic bone, but he was getting restless for the job. He would be returning to the precinct on desk duty along with Ellyn Baker, who was now back at work on desk duty as well as Officer Healey. Chapman would be home for another week before returning.
Paul walked up the hill to Prospect Street, knocked on the door, and walked in to be greeted by Wes while Craven lay by Rachelle's feet. He walked over, gave her a kiss, and sat down. Rachelle was prepared for what was going to happen next but still wasn't sure if it would become a reality. Paul was different since the shooting at the mall and she wasn't sure why, but she had been thinking how ironic it had been that it was Deborah and Bud who grew apart before the shooting, and now after the shooting it was Paul who was withdrawing.
“Rachelle,” he said, “I think it's best if we have space for a bit.”
“You mean,” Rachelle shot back, “you're tired of having sex with me. Is that what you mean?” She was sarcastic in her tone because her heart was aching. She had realized Paul was becoming distant with her, but it was difficult to actually let go. Instead she fought back by being defensive.
Paul was startled by her comeback but replied, “I can't live with myself anymore knowing I put you in danger just by being a part of my life. Any time someone wants to get to me all they have to do is use you.”
“Oh,” Rachelle said, “that explains it. Now I understand. Just how selfish are you? I have been through hell and back with you because you mean the world to me. It's my choice how to live my life and who I'm with.” She shook her head and held back the tears. “But you are right. The last thing I want to do is be with someone who doesn't want me.”
“I want you to live,” Paul answered. “I can't deal with the chance that something may happen to you.”
Rachelle continued to shake her head as she spoke. “So the old cliché: it's not you it's me.”
Paul pet Wes before speaking again. “I'm going to take time off. I'm not sure about my life anymore. I just want to make sure Bud is OK before I leave. I'm not sure what I will be doing or where I will go, but I need to do this.” He got up and went over to kiss her before he left, but she moved her head. He hesitated for a moment before turning away and leaving the house. Rachelle burst out with a loud cry as she covered her face. Her dogs knew something was wrong as they stood up trying to get her attention. It was over an hour before she could even get herself up. She was so worn out by all the crying that she fell on her bed and cried herself to sleep.
Deborah was reading her book when Bud opened his eyes and touched her hand. She dropped her book and touched his face as the heart monitor indicated to the nurses' station that there was a change. Nurse Lorin came in and notified the doctor on staff to get to his room.
“Welcome back to the world, Bud Johnson,” Nurse Lorin said. “Is there anything I can get for you?”
Bud tried to speak but seemed groggy and unable to finish his sentences. One of his sentences involved the words gummy bears, which brought a smile to Deborah's face. Nurse Lorin looked over at Deborah and told her not to worry, that it was common for patients to appear “out of it” when waking from a coma. Just as Nurse Lorin turned her head back to Bud, he attempted to pull his tubes out, but she prevented him. Deborah stood up as she began to get nervous.
“Listen, Bud,” Nurse Lorin spoke. “You are OK. You are in Stony Brook Hospital. You are going to be OK, but you need t
o leave your tubes in. Do you understand?”
Bud nodded his head as the nurse continued to speak with him while Deborah held his hand. Bud looked over at Deborah, who was standing beside the nurse. He grabbed her hand as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Don't cry,” he said. “I'm . . .” he stopped and struggled to finish with the word “here.”
She smiled as she replied, “Yes, you are.” She sent Rachelle, Paul, and her father a text that Bud had awakened.
Bud looked around, still seeming out of it, but managed to take sixty seconds to ask how long he had been there.
“It's been almost two weeks,” Nurse Lorin said. “You had periods of wakefulness and you opened your eyes at times, but you never fully woke up till now.” Doctor Ng came into the room and asked for privacy for a few minutes with Bud. As they went into the hallway Deborah questioned Nurse Lorin about Bud's periods of wakefulness.
“I didn't know that,” she said. “No one told me.”
“It's quite common,” Nurse Lorin replied. “Except . . .”
“Except what?” Deborah asked.
“It was unusual that it happened the same time every night the past ten days. From 6:00 to 8:00 usually.”
“Are you sure?” Deborah asked.
“Honey, when it comes to my patients, I'm sure of everything.” Nurse Lorin had been a nurse for twenty-six years. An attractive woman who was very strong-willed when it came to looking after her patients. Blond, single, and always wondering why there were so few “hot” male patients over the years.
Deborah looked back at Bud trying to talk to the doctor, but her thoughts were of Lindsey Wilkerson. It was 7:00 to 8:00 at night when the young girl would visit Bud and pray over him. She covered her mouth and kept thinking to herself, Lindsey, Lindsey, sweet Lindsey. Who are you, my dear sweet child?
It was another hour when William Lance came to the room for a visit. Detectives Baker and O'Malley stopped by as well as Officer Lynagh. Doctor Ng finally put a limit on the visitors and asked Deborah to limit his visitors to only one person after 6:00 pm for the next couple days. She wrote on the pad for Nurse Lorin the one person would be Lindsey Wilkerson.
“Excuse me for asking,” the nurse said to Deborah. “I can't help but ask since Bud Johnson has had so many visitors and friends. I noticed no blood relatives have been by. Does he not have family?”
Deborah hesitated for a moment and spoke. “He lost his mother a few years ago and his father before that from his abuse of alcohol. His older brother and he had a falling out and don't keep in touch.”
The nurse reached out her hand to Deborah. “So you are his family.”
The woman who you could tell shed many tears over the previous two weeks smiled with nervousness at Nurse Lorin and said, “Yes, I am his family as well as his friend. His blood family doesn't know what they are missing from this kind and gentle soul.”
Doctor Ng came out to the hallway and told Deborah if things went well, Bud would be out of the hospital within the following seven to nine days. He began to walk away as he stopped and called to Nurse Lorin, “Oh, and see if we can get some gummy bears, the . . .”
He was interrupted by the nurse, “I know, I know the Haribo kind. He is a gummy bear himself.” She walked down the hall waving her arms.
Deborah laughed as she went back to the room. She stared at Bud as he spoke slowly. “I guess you missed me.” Bud drifted off to sleep.
THREE HOURS LATER
Bud spoke again as Deborah grabbed his hand. “I thought I lost you.”
Still struggling with his speech, he spoke. “Never,” he said. “Unless I don't get any damn gummy bears.” She laughed again as she put his hand to her face. “Wait,” Bud said. “If I've been here for two weeks, what happened with my move? What happened to my homes to leave and close on?”
Deborah sat down next to him. “Don't worry,” she replied. “You are moved out of one and now a resident of the Henry Hallock house on South Street.”
“But how?” he asked. “The money? The closing?”
Deborah smiled as she answered, “I took care of everything. The transactions were done through my accounts, but since you were not there I worked it out with the Marchese family for you to rent the house for a year. To show faith I gave them six months' rent in advance. They were very understanding, and when and if you are ready to buy, they will discuss it with you. Everything is in your name. You can pay me back when you are out of here.” Bud looked at her in amazement over her trust in him.
“What about my things?” Those four words took him almost a minute to say, but Deborah was patient.
“My dad hired movers to take care of everything,” she said, “including what needed to be cleaned, Mr. Johnson. You are such a man,” she said with a smile. Her expression changed and she got serious. “But a sweet, wonderful man. Listen,” she said, “you're only allowed one visitor after 6:00 pm the next few days, and I hope you don't mind but I gave them a name I think will make you happy.”
“It's not you?” he asked.
“No,” she answered. “You have me all day,” she said with a laugh.
“OK,” he said, “it's Paul.”
“No,” she answered. “I think you will be happy and surprised. Just be patient.”
Bud was a little confused but he decided to wait it out. Deborah said good night to him with a kiss on the lips. “Welcome back.” He looked at her and thanked her.
Deborah got in the car and drove to Rachelle's house on Prospect Street. She opened the door and found Rachelle not showered, her hair a mess, and her face red from crying most of the day. She held Rachelle and just kept saying, “Get it out of your system, I'm here for you.”
It was another thirty minutes before Deborah let go of her, saying, “Come on, you are going in the shower.” Deborah helped her undress and stayed by her as she showered to wash all her emotions away. Deborah even helped dry her off, combed her hair, and made her put on her Benjamin Franklin lounge pants and a T-shirt and then brought her to the kitchen to make her a cup of tea. They sat for the next couple hours as Rachelle vented about what happened to her relationship with Paul. The shower, tea, and Deborah were just what Rachelle needed to feel a little better. Deborah listened as Rachelle told her why Paul wanted to split.
Deborah touched her wrist and spoke. “Do you love him, Rachelle, or are you in love with him?”
Rachelle looked at her. “Both,” she said, “but I know it's over. He can be so loving, so thoughtful, yet when I saw him shooting Robert in the mall over and over again, I was so frightened by what I saw in his eyes.”
Deborah touched Rachelle's chin to get her eyes focused back to her. “I had a conversation with Bud a few months ago and he told me there was no one more loyal than Paul. He said that Paul told him the most important people in his life were his father; you, Rachelle; Bud; and I don't know why, but me. So you need to consider that three of the four people he cared about most were in danger of being lost to him. Give him his time, Rachelle. I have a feeling.”
Rachelle smiled at Deborah.
“You are good for the soul, Deborah Lance.” She smiled gratefully as she continued to drink her tea.
It was now after 7:00 pm and Bud was texting with Paul when Lindsey walked in. Bud almost dropped his phone but couldn't help but smile at the girl he thought he would never see again. She walked over to him, bent over, and hugged him and wouldn't let go.
“I'm so happy to see you, Lindsey. I would ask you how you have been but you would tell me everything that has happened in the past year and a half.”
She laughed and spoke. “No, I don't really do that anymore, but it was fun with you.” The detective was referring to Lindsey's desire to torture Bud as a twelve-year-old with her photographic memory and gifted hearing.
“How is school?” he asked.
“Good,
thanks. I'm in college now and will graduate when I'm seventeen.”
Bud nodded but was not surprised. “And then what?” he asked.
“Well,” she answered, “let's just say you will be seeing a lot of me.”
“Umm,” Bud answered. Lindsey interrupted him and changed the subject.
They spoke about the past eighteen months and what she had done. He knew he would get caught up with her life because she remembered every single detail of her life. He used to joke with her about her memory and she would challenge him constantly.
She went from being annoying to someone he cared about very deeply. It was now close to 8:00 pm when Sharyn Wilkerson came into the room to bring Lindsey home. Bud acknowledged her with a thank-you for bringing Lindsey to see him.
“You're welcome,” she answered, “but it was difficult to keep her away.”
Lindsey hugged him good-bye and she got to the door, when Bud spoke again.
“Will I see you again, Lindsey?”
The young girl smiled. “Oh, yes, it is your destiny, Bud Johnson.”
Bud looked at her with his head cocked. “Are you messing with me again, girl?”
Lindsey's smiled disappeared as she answered, “You are a good cop, a good man, a good friend, and a good partner. You will know your destiny, Bud Johnson, as you continue to get closer to God.” She kissed her hand and blew hard to push it to him as she walked out the door.
He looked at the empty space in the doorway for at least a minute before he turned his head and noticed Deborah had left her Bible and her book Intelligence for Your Life. He picked up the John Tesh book and spoke to the Bible, “One step at a time,” and began to read. He was reading for over an hour when Detective Cronin walked in with O'Malley and Lynagh. Bud put the book down, thinking, So much for the one-visitor rule.
“I was wondering when you would be here. Deborah and Paul told me over the phone today you were alive.”
Cronin looked at Lynagh and O'Malley to give him privacy for a few minutes. He sat down in the chair and Bud listened while Cronin reviewed the case and why he disappeared by death during the investigation. He explained that Branca and Tangretti got away with the cash and Paul would be taking a couple weeks off for vacation and most likely an additional three weeks' leave of absence. As Bud was listening he began to text Rachelle, Deborah, and Paul. He wanted to see them in the morning. They were talking for over an hour when the nurse on duty told Cronin he had to leave or Nurse Lorin would skin her alive in the morning. Before he left he told Bud that Priority 1 would be working on other cases, including the undercover at the correctional facility.
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