To Love, Honor, and Perish

by Christy Barritt

  “Besides Milton Jones?” I kept my voice even, knowing I might sound crazy.

  “Jones is dead.”

  “What if he’s not?” My voice trembled, as it usually did when I mentioned my theory.

  “Then he’s injured. Even if he survived, I doubt he could prance into Riley’s office and pull the trigger.” I’d given Chad and Sierra the run down of everything that had happened with Milton Jones when they’d returned from their honeymoon. Riley had been with me. We’d gone to get Mexican food and had lots of laughs that night.

  It seemed like another lifetime ago.

  “Maybe he has another accomplice,” Clarice yelled.

  I looked over and saw her peering from the bedroom window. We hadn’t really invited her to be a part of this conversation, but I didn’t really care. The way she kept inserting herself amused me, so I had to give her points for that.

  But, when my amusement faded, dread filled me. An accomplice was a possibility I’d considered as well. There were so many what ifs in this case.

  “Is there anyone you’ve made mad?” Chad asked, pausing and leaning on the sawhorse.

  “A whole list. But, of all of those, The Guardians have popped into my mind quite a few times lately.” I tried to sound casual, not uptight or paranoid. I wasn’t sure if it worked, though.

  Chad pulled his lip up in something close to a snarl. “The Guardians? They haven’t bothered you since that confrontation a few months ago . . . right?”

  “I know. They pretty much forgot about me, which is surprising considering I really made them mad.” I fully expected retaliation. All I’d gotten was silence.

  “You injured their pride when you sprayed them with cleaning solution. Then you led the FBI and DEA right into their lair. Wasn’t their ringleader arrested? Is there anything worse for macho members of a street gang?”

  “You seriously messed with The Guardians? They’re some bad dudes,” Clarice added. “Even I know that. You shame them; they’ll shame you.”

  “I didn’t intend on messing with them. It just sort of happened,” I explained. “Anyway, no, I haven’t heard from them in forever. But I was interviewed for the news a couple of weeks ago, back when,” I lowered my voice, “Clarice was snatched.”

  “I heard that! Auntie Sharon said you did a great job! She said the camera loves you. I knew it would.” Clarice grinned.

  “I wonder if one of The Guardians saw that interview, remembered how I’d wronged them, and decided to finally get their revenge,” I continued.

  “They seem like the types who would let you know they were responsible,” Chad said.

  I nodded. “Exactly. Six days after Riley was admitted into the hospital, a member of the gang was also admitted into ICU.”

  “Coincidence?”

  I shrugged. “Probably. I guess if he’d been admitted on the same day, it would be more alarming. Six days later? Not necessarily. He apparently has gangrene, which isn’t exactly a battle wound.”

  “I’m not following.”

  I shook my head. “There’s nothing to follow. I’m just trying to put the pieces together. Unfortunately, a good chunk of the pieces probably aren’t going to fit, and no amount of forcing them to will help anything.”

  Chad pulled his safety goggles down. “Anything I can do?”

  I shook my head. “Nothing that I can think of.”

  “How about me?” Clarice asked.

  “If I can think of anything, I’ll let you know.”

  Right now, the best thing I could do was work and let Chad get finished here at this scene, especially since I was the reason he was overworked right now.

  I went back inside and began scrubbing again.

  CHAPTER 11

  That afternoon, I was determined to sit with Riley for a little while—at least until the nurses kicked me out. I liked to think that Riley could hear everything I said to him.

  I successfully managed to sneak in to the ICU without seeing Riley’s parents. I didn’t want to argue with them anymore, nor did I want to be reminded that they were trying to take my fiancé away from me. Maybe that was a selfish way to look at it, but that’s how I felt. It was like they were saying I was incompetent—both financially and with life in general—and that they could do a better job than I could in helping him heal.

  As I sat at Riley’s bedside, staring at the man I loved, I suddenly didn’t know what to say. I stared at all the tubes and wires that kept him alive. Without those machines, his brain would have swelled, and he probably wouldn’t have survived.

  I knew the prognosis might not be good for him, but I couldn’t think like that now. Right now, I just wanted him to get better. Slowly. Step by step. I’d take whatever I could get.

  I squeezed his hand, but I didn’t know what to say. There was a part of me that wanted to keep my distance, that felt like I couldn’t trust him. Then I reminded myself that Riley and I would have time to talk these things out later. Right now, I had to send positive vibes. I had to let him know, even in his drug-induced comatose state, that I was here for him.

  I stood, deciding to make the nurse’s job easy today by leaving on my own instead of being kicked out. As soon as my foot stepped around the edge of the curtain, I saw a familiar figure walk into the ICU. I quickly ducked back before he saw me.

  It was T-Bone. At least, that’s what I called him.

  He was a member of The Guardians.

  I’d made him especially mad. In fact, I was surprised he wasn’t in prison since I’d practically led him right into the hands of the feds. They’d probably given him some type of plea deal. That seemed like something they would do.

  I held my breath as he walked past. I heard him walk into the curtained off area beside me. “Hey, hey Iceman. Wassup?”

  “I don’t know man,” Iceman slurred back. He was the one admitted for gangrene. From what I’d overheard, he’d nearly lost his leg.

  “How are they treating you here at the torture chamber?”

  “It’s a’ight. I gotta get out of here, though. Got to get my foot working right.”

  “If you ain’t been crashing the car on that last job, this wouldn’t be no problem.”

  “You know I did what was best for the brotherhood. I tried to stay low key. Then my foot started turning black.”

  “Anyone asked any questions?” T-Bone asked. He’d lowered his voice.

  “Nah, they just been doing their jobs here,” Iceman replied. “They have no idea what went down.”

  I couldn’t make out the rest of the conversation. These guys were no good. Just what had they done to some poor innocent soul, all for the sake of loyalty or drugs or power?

  “Ms. St. Claire, I’m sorry, but your time is up. I wish you could stay longer.” A nurse appeared in front of me, and I nearly jumped out of my skin.

  Her name was Kellie Miller, I’d learned through my frequent visits. She was in her mid-thirties with a sharp wedge hair cut and a matronly figure. She wasn’t overly friendly, nor was she rude. I seemed to see her more frequently than the rest of the nursing staff.

  Panicked, I looked from Kellie to the room beside me. The conversation on the other side of the curtain had halted. I wondered if they’d heard? I wondered if they’d recognized my name?

  “Are you okay, Ms. St. Claire?” She watched me quizzically.

  I nodded and backed into the curtain more. My throat felt raw as I looked over at Riley. What if The Guardians knew Riley was stationed beside one of their gang members? Would they remember him? Would they use this as an excuse to get that revenge they’d promised?

  “Ms. St. Claire?” Nurse Kellie stared at me.

  She had to stop saying my name. I put a finger over my lips and silently begged her to be quiet. I nodded toward the adjacent room, hoping she’d get the hint.

  “What’s going on?” Her hand went to her hip.

  I really wanted to hand her a sign reading, “Clueless.”

  Some people just couldn’t take
hints.

  I leaned toward her. “Please be quiet,” I whispered.

  “Why?” Her voice was anything but a whisper.

  I scowled at her, which didn’t seem to win me any more favor in her eyes. Didn’t she understand that if The Guardians found out Riley was a neighbor of one of their members . . . I couldn’t imagine what they might do.

  A shadow went past the curtain. I couldn’t be certain, but I thought it was T-Bone. Had he heard all of that? Had he made the connection?

  “Please, keep your voice down,” I whispered. “Will you stay here with Riley while I go to make a phone call? It’s of vital importance.”

  She studied me a minute and then nodded. “Just remember. I have other patients here too.”

  I sighed and then hurried out into the waiting room. I pulled out my phone and dialed Adams’ number. I twirled around and searched the people in the area as the phone rang.

  I didn’t spot T-Bone anywhere. Thank goodness.

  “Gabby?”

  Was it sad that the detective recognized my number? I quickly explained everything to him.

  “We can’t arrest this Iceman guy for being a gang member, Gabby. You know that. There’s no crime in being part of a gang. We can only arrest them if we can prove they’ve done something illegal.”

  “But what if they try to hurt Riley?” I tried to tamp down the panic rising in me.

  “Have they made any threats?”

  “Not in a while.”

  “Then we’ve got nothing right now.”

  “Can’t you station an officer outside his door?”

  “We don’t have the manpower to do that. Besides, the ICU is a very secure area. I’ll get the nurses to keep an eye on him. I know they already are. Fact is, I doubt they’ll recognize Riley right now.”

  My heart squeezed. It was true. With all the machines hooked up to him, I hardly recognized him.

  “It’s going to be okay, Gabby,” Adams said.

  Didn’t he know that nothing would be okay? My whole life had been turned upside down. And there was nothing I could do about it.

  ***

  I hung up the phone, slipped back inside the ICU, and motioned Nurse Kellie over. She cautiously approached me, her eyebrows knitted together on her forehead, as if she suspected I might be up to something.

  “I need you to keep an eye on Riley,” I whispered.

  “That’s my job,” she started, saying the words slowly, as if my comprehension skills were in question. “I monitor everything about him.”

  “Listen, his neighbor—Iceman, as his friend called him—is a part of a gang that has a grudge against him.”

  Her eyes widened with alarm. “Did you tell the police?”

  I nodded. “Of course. They claim there’s nothing they can do right now. There’s been no direct threat.”

  “I monitor everyone who comes and goes from Riley’s room.”

  Another thought hit me. “I thought only family was allowed in?”

  “Usually, that’s the case. This guy beside Riley, he has no family. No one has wanted to see him until today when this guy stopped by.”

  Maybe, just maybe, T-Bone wouldn’t be back. Gangs only seemed loyal to each other when it worked to their advantage. T-Bone probably didn’t want to show his face around here too much. Not after everything he’d done.

  “Listen, I’ll make sure no one gets in who’s not supposed to,” Nurse Kellie said. “I promise you that.”

  I patted her arm. “Thanks, Kellie.”

  I went and told Riley goodbye. Then it was my time to leave. I had to trust that Kellie would do as she said. Besides, Iceman might not have any idea who Riley was. T-Bone may have even forgotten him. I was the one who’d had the encounter with the gang. I had to be careful, so I didn’t trigger them that I had a loved one here.

  Just as I started to leave the hospital and head outside toward my van, I ran into Riley’s parents. Wonderful. Could my day get any better?

  “Gabby . . .” Riley’s dad started. He reached out, but then his hands dropped to his side.

  “You should know there’s a gang member who’s Riley’s neighbor,” I blurted. “I’m only telling you this because I’m afraid they’ll try to do something to Riley if they discover he’s their neighbor.”

  Riley’s mom’s hand flew over her mouth. “A gang member?”

  “It turns out a member of The Guardians has a bed right beside Riley.”

  “The Guardians?” Evelyn asked.

  “Street gang. Riley and I aren’t their favorite people. I just wanted you to know so you can keep an eye on him also. I’ve already told the police and they’ll be monitoring the situation.” I glanced at my watch. “Speaking of which, I really should be going.”

  “Can’t we talk . . .?” Riley’s dad asked.

  My heart thudded with compassion. I knew they loved their son. But would we ever see eye to eye? “Could we save it for another time? I’m beat right now. Exhausted. I really just need to get home. I’m afraid I’ll say something I’ll regret.”

  Mr. Thomas stared at me a moment before nodding. “I understand.”

  I smiled, though it was tight and strained. “Thank you.”

  “Get some rest, Gabby.”

  I waved goodbye and started walking. I kept walking until I reached the parking garage. As soon as I took the first step inside the dark cement structure, my cellphone rang. I checked the number, but it was a Boston area code. Could this be Derek Waters calling me? Had he found out anything?

  I took a chance and answered. “This is Gabby.”

  “Gabby, it’s Derek.”

  “What’s going on, Derek?” The shadows filled the parking garage. I’d never been a fan of the structures, but I especially wasn’t a fan at the moment. My gaze wandered to my surroundings as I talked, T-Bone still on my mind.

  “Did you find that Power of Attorney?”

  “No. I haven’t had any luck.” A sound in the distance made me jump. I let out an airy breath when I realized it was just a motorcycle roaring to life.

  “Do you want me to file an injunction for you?”

  I frowned at his words. That wasn’t what I wanted at all. I didn’t want any of this, for that matter. Plus, I remembered that Scripture I’d read about Christians suing other Christians. All of this was so complicated. “I still have more time. I’m hoping to avoid all of that legal stuff.”

  “I’m telling you, sometimes you have to use the legal system to your advantage. This might be one of those times.”

  Said the person who made a living on malpractice lawsuits.

  I tugged my purse closer, quickening my pace as I entered the grungy stairway that would take me to the third floor and, therefore, my van. “I’m keeping it in the back of my mind.”

  “Smart girl.”

  I didn’t know. I really just wanted to find that Power of Attorney. I knew Riley. He liked to dot every “i” and cross every “t.” He was the type who would have a Power of Attorney document for times like this.

  My breaths were coming out more quickly than I would like as I hurried upward. My thighs burned and lungs strained. But I refused to slow down. “Listen, Derek, while I have you on the phone . . . did you go to law school with anyone named Juliette?”

  “Juliette?” His voice lilted in thought. “Hm . . . no, I don’t think so. The name doesn’t ring any bells. Why?”

  “Just wondering.” I sucked in another breath as I reached the top of the staircase. I wanted to stop, to continue sucking in deep gulps of air until I could breath normally. But my instincts—or my paranoia—wouldn’t allow me to do that. Why hadn’t I thought to ask Adams to have someone escort me home? That would have made a lot of sense, looking back.

  “Whatever floats your boat. Okay, I’ve gotta run, but let me know if you need any legal help. I’m here for you.”

  I thanked him and hung up. I kept the phone in my hands, my fingers poised on the “9” button. That was what I’d program
med for 911. If I saw trouble, I’d hold that down. The police could use my GPS to track the location of my phone.

  Of course, by that time, my phone would probably be sprawled on the sweltering concrete beneath me and I’d either be lying dead beside it or I’d be abducted. Neither choice sounded that great.

  A footfall sounded in the distance.

  My pulse quickened as I pictured T-Bone. Maybe he had heard my name in the ICU. Maybe he’d waited for me out here. That seemed like something a member of The Guardians might do. And I’d practically walked right into his plan, making it entirely too easy for him to get his payback.

  I was nearly jogging toward my van now. I’d spotted it in the distance. But so much could happen in the dark recesses between here and there.

  Where were the other car owners? Why wasn’t anyone else in the garage right now? And why couldn’t they have brighter overhead lights in here?

  I heard another footfall. I burst into a run. I fished through my purse and found my keys. But I kept moving.

  I kept picturing T-Bone hiding around a corner. Ducking behind a car, just waiting to make his move. Poised with a gun in hand, ready to make a statement.

  Something moved. I saw it out of the corner of my eye. Someone was approaching me.

  The footsteps quickened, coming closer, closer.

  I made a split-second decision. I stopped, held up my keys like weapons, and faced down the person following me.

  CHAPTER 12

  I kept my keys raised, holding them out like Wolverine raising the blades between his knuckles. My weapons weren’t nearly as impressive or cool, but I had to use what I had. I prepared myself to fight, drawing on every last ounce of energy in me. I fully expected to see T-Bone with his gold teeth and tattoos.

  But I didn’t see T-Bone.

  No, I saw a middle-aged security guard with sagging jaws and sad eyes.

  He squinted at my outstretched keys, and a wrinkle formed between his eyes. “You okay, ma’am? You looked a little frightened.”

  I let out a quick laugh and hung my head for a moment. I lowered my keys, feeling foolish at my overreaction. “No, I’m fine. Just too tightly wound, I suppose.”