by Ann Mullen
“You should start to feel better in a moment,” she promised.
“Are you kidding? Now that the doctor’s here, I feel better already.”
Two hours later, my wounds repaired, I was bedded down for the night.
Rose was in the room across the hall, according to Billy. It was decided that because of our inhalation of a toxic substance, we should be monitored overnight for possible side effects of said poison. With the two of us so close to each other, the police would have easy access. They could question me and then run next door and question Rose.
“I’m nobody’s fool,” I whispered to Billy. “I know what they’re doing.”
“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “Tomorrow, they have to release you, assuming you don’t go into a coma and die tonight. By then, we’ll have this mess fixed.”
“What do you mean? Fix what mess? Why do I need to fix anything?”
“The mess we’ll have if we give the cops a chance to screw things up. They have a way of doing that, don’t you know? Fortunately, the hospital has procedures. Once I told them you wanted your lawyer, they had to inform the cops. The cops have procedures, too. They can’t question you now until you have counsel. The hospital will let your lawyer and your family in first, and then after that, the cops will be turned loose. They’ll swarm in here like bees on honey.”
Mom entered the room, followed by Jack and Dennis.
“Where’s Athena?” I asked. “Your little posse isn’t complete without her. Oh, that’s right. They don’t let dogs in the hospital.”
“Don’t be cute,” Mom retorted. “She’s outside on a leash. Cole’s taking care of her. You don’t think I’d leave her locked up in the van on a warm night like this, do you?”
“She’s on a leash? How did you manage that?”
“It’s not important. We need to be concerned with what’s happening here, and what we’re going to do about it. We’ve been given fifteen minutes, and then the police are coming in to question you. We need to get our stories straight.”
Jack walked up to my bed.
“Listen carefully,” he began. “When the police start to question you, don’t say anything until I give you the go-ahead. You have a right to have an attorney present during questioning.”
“I though you handled real estate. What do you know about criminal law? How can you help me?”
“Jesse, where have you been?” Jack was stunned. “My first case was real estate. I’ve come a long way since those days. Criminal law is my field of expertise now. Trust me. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Let’s get right down to the nitty-gritty. Tell me everything.”
I spent the next fifteen minutes allotted to me, telling them everything I could think of, beginning with the moment I left Billy, until my escape to freedom. “As you can see,” I said at the end of my statement, “I know where the body is buried.”
“Do you think Rose had anything to do with it?” Billy asked.
“No, she didn’t,” I replied. “She had no idea what was going on until the last minute, but by then it was too late. She was in their grips just like I was. You saw what happened to her. They tried to kill her and she was their flesh and blood. Can you imagine that?”
“Actually,” Cole said as he walked into the room smiling that intoxicating smile of his. “Rose Hudgins just so happens to be the biological daughter of Chase Teale—the father of Rita Hudgins. The story gets uglier. Rita’s brother, Perry Teale, who was supposed to have killed his wife and taken his own life, was Jay’s father. Jay was adopted. There was a lot of bad blood there. But for right now, all I want to know is how you’re doing?” He walked over and planted a kiss on my forehead.
“I could be better. I’m still living thanks to my family.” I looked around the room and saw their proud, smiling faces. They had come through for me!
“Well, actually...” Billy started to say, when the police walked in.
Detective Hargrove introduced himself and the two detectives who came in behind him to the group in my room. Two uniformed officers accompanied them.
“If you’re up to it now, Ms. Watson, we’d like to ask you a few questions,” he said. “If the rest of you would please wait in the hall, this won’t take long.”
Everyone left the room, except Jack. “I’m Jesse’s brother, Jack Watson.” He reached out his hand to the detective. “I’m also her attorney.”
“Nice to meet you,” responded the detective as he shook Jack’s hand. Then he got right down to business. Turning to me he said, “Before we get started, Officer Downey is going to read you your rights.”
“I think we have a neighbor named Downey. Maybe you’re related,” I said. Why did I say that? This was not the time for chitchat. It didn’t matter because Officer Downey was not interested.
“Do you understand these rights that I have just read to you?” the officer asked, and then stepped back.
“Yes, I do.”
“Ms. Watson,” Detective Hargrove asked, “were you aware there was a restraining order on you when you trespassed on the Hudgins’ property?”
“Don’t answer that,” Jack ordered.
“It’s okay. I want to,” I replied. “I wasn’t trespassing. I was invited.”
“Who invited you?”
“Jay Hudgins.”
The detectives looked back and forth at each other, and then Detective Hargrove spoke again. “Why don’t you tell us your side of the story?” Officer Downey walked closer to my bed and began taking notes.
Jack leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Be very careful what you say. I’ll be right here to stop you if you get into dangerous territory.”
I smiled at Jack and nodded my head in acknowledgment. I told them my story. “I went to talk to Tom Dorey at the gas station where he works, and Jay was there with him. I talked to both boys and tried to convince them to come clean. Jay got scared. He led me to believe his father had killed Helen Carrolton and that he’d show me where she was buried, if I’d help him out of this mess. I agreed to do what I could. He told me to meet him at the end of his road after it got dark, and to come alone. I did, but he wasn’t there like he promised. Then I heard the bulldozer start up. I sneaked through the woods and found them digging a hole. I knew exactly what they had planned for me, so I took off running back to my car.”
“Is that when you sustained your injuries?” one of them asked.
“Most of them,” I continued. “When I got into my car, Rita was sitting in the front seat waiting for me. She had a gun. She confessed to killing Helen Carrolton, and said something about a girl named Sunny, and one named Lisa. I managed to get away from her and fled back into the woods. Then Rose found me. After I told her what I knew, she tried to help me get away. When we got back to my car, Jay was there. The next thing I knew, I came to, and Rose and I were in my car, buried in the ground.”
“That’s a pretty amazing story,” Detective Hargrove said.
“It’s the truth, every last word,” I responded. “Just ask Rose!”
He ignored my demand. “Did either one of them tell you where Helen Carrolton was buried?”
“Not in so many words,” I answered. “But I know where she is.”
“Where might that be?” another officer asked, speaking for the first time since he had walked into the room.
“I’m not too good with directions, but I can show you.”
“Just try to explain to us the best you can, and we’ll take it from there,” Officer Downey stated.
Not on your life, buddy. I did the work and I wanted to be there when she was found. I needed closure, and that was the only way I was going to get it.
Fortunately, the doctor walked in and said, “I’m sorry, but your time is up. My patient needs her rest if we’re going to be able to release her in the morning. I’m sure your questions can wait until then.”
After a mumbled discussion with his men, Detective Hargrove turned to me and said, “We’ll be back in the m
orning. We’ll post a couple of officers outside your door. Officially, you’re under arrest for trespassing.”
“What about the Hudgins? Have they been arrested?” I asked before they had a chance to leave.
“No formal charges have been filed yet, but we have them in custody. They’re being interrogated at the moment.”
The doctor ushered them out and then came over to me. “Everything seems to be normal with your tests, so you should be able to leave in the morning. Try to get some rest.”
Finally, everyone left, except Billy. He was determined to stay and make sure I wasn’t going to die.
“Billy, why don’t you go home and get some rest,” I asked. “You look like you could use it.”
“I’m fine,” he replied. “We still have a few things to discuss.”
“Forget it. I know what you want, and I’m not going to tell you until you promise to let me go with you.”
Billy refused to make the promise to me that I demanded of him. Instead, we talked about everything else until I finally dozed off. When I woke up the next morning, I expected him to be gone, but instead, he was sitting in a chair next to my bed, drinking coffee. It was eight o’clock. I tried to sit up, but the pain in my head only got worse when I did. I slumped back onto my pillow.
“Rough night?” he asked.
“More like rough life,” I said through a haze. “Yuck, my mouth tastes like garbage. I need a mint... or something for my breath.”
“Want some coffee?” Billy offered me his cup.
I took a sip, and spat. “Gross, it has sugar in it! You know I don’t like sugar in my coffee!”
“Oh, that’s right, I forgot. I’ll go get you a fresh cup. Just cream, right?” He left the room, passing the nurse who entered.
A few questions later, she handed me two pages of instructions on how to take care of my wounds. Finally, she said the doctor had signed my release form. I could leave anytime.
“What about Rose Hudgins?” I asked. “Has she been released, too?”
“I’m not sure, but I can check for you if you want.”
“Please do,” I said.
She left the room as Billy walked back in carrying a cup of coffee.
“Have you been sprung yet?” he asked, handing me the coffee.
Seconds later, Mom walked in with a small duffel bag in her hand and said, “I thought you might need some fresh clothes.” She leaned over and gave me a kiss and then looked at Billy. “I tried to call you last night when we got home, but there was no answer. I figured you stayed here.”
“Somebody had to make sure she stayed in bed,” he said and then laughed. He gave Mom a hug. “I’ll wait out in the hall while you help Jesse get dressed.”
I was dressed and ready to go when the nurse came back in. “Miss Hudgins was released ten minutes ago. Her grandfather took her home.”
I didn’t say anything. It was no longer any of my business. Yet, I felt sorry for the girl. She was going to have a long road ahead of her if she was going to recover from the emotional trauma she’d suffered at the hands of her own family.
I walked out into the hall to find all the familiar faces staring back at me—Billy, Cole, Jack, Dennis and the police detectives from last night. Detective Hargrove came up to me first.
“We’ve arrested Rita Hudgins for the murder of Helen Carrolton and we’re looking into the deaths of her brother and his wife, Sunny. Lisa Wilson was the Lisa you told us about.”
“Is she dead, too?” I asked.
“No,” he replied. “She’s been institutionalized for the last fifteen years in a place called Shady Retreat in Charleston, South Carolina. We have two detectives on their way there as we speak.” He stopped long enough to catch his breath. “We got a confession out of Rita, but she says she doesn’t know where Helen’s buried, and we can’t get anything out of Jay or his father. They refuse to talk, and without a confession we’ll have to let them go. I have a search warrant to search the property, but it would go faster if I could get your help.”
“What do you mean?” I yelled. “They tried to kill me and Rose, and you’re going to let them go free?”
“They’re claiming Rita did it,” Detective Willis spoke up. “They both say they didn’t know anything about the attempt on your life.”
“That’s a lie!” I screamed. “Jay was the one who hit me in the head with the shotgun, and I doubt very seriously Rita has the ability to operate a backhoe. They’re lying! Rose can back me up.”
“Rose Hudgins has already confirmed what she could of your story. If we can find the body, forensics will be able to piece it all together,” replied Detective Hargrove. “I’m sure they left some kind of evidence. You can’t dispose of a car and a body without leaving something. And if the body is buried on their land, you can bet the bank on a guilty verdict. I can assure you they won’t get out of this.”
“What about me?” I asked him.
“Immunity from prosecution of any and all charges concerning this case,” Jack stepped forward and said.
The detective called his men to the side. After a brief conversation, and a little head-scratching, he returned. Two of his detectives stood to each side of him.
“Immunity it is,” he replied. “We’re even willing to forego the charge of withholding evidence in the matter of the girl’s purse, if you can lead us to the body.” He winked at me and smiled at Billy. “See, we’re not as dumb as you might think.”
“If she can’t lead you to the body,” Jack jumped in. “What then?”
“I’m afraid...” he started to respond.
Cole was next to step forward. “May I have a word with you, Detective Hargrove?” They turned and walked over to the nurse’s station. Cole kept poking his finger in the detective’s chest while they talked.
“What do you think is going on?” I whispered in Billy’s ear.
Jack slid over to us and said, “They’re working out a deal. It appears the detective is being hard to get along with, but from the way it looks to me, Cole has the upper hand. There’s something going on they’re not telling us. They don’t reveal everything.”
“Like what?” I lowered my voice.
“It doesn’t matter,” Billy spoke in hushed tones.
Jack agreed, “As long as the two of you aren’t held accountable for anything, who cares about the rest?”
“You have a point,” I said, glancing at Billy. “The only thing I care about is saving our butts. Like I told that kid, jail isn’t a nice place.”
After what seemed like a long, argumentative battle, Cole and the detective walked back over to us.
“Complete immunity,” Detective Hargrove stated. “Here’s a warning for you. Until the two of you get a badge pinned to your chest, I want you to remember one thing... you’re not one of us. I don’t want to ever hear about any of your improprieties again. If you want to be detectives, you’d better obey the law. Do I make myself clear?”
Billy and I were like two cats that had just been caught urinating on the living room furniture.
“Sure,” Billy growled.
“Let’s go!” I shouted.
Chapter 31
Mom helped me out of the hospital room to the front entrance, while the men brought the cars around. The nurses insisted that I ride in a wheelchair, but the minute we hit the front door I jumped up and left the wheelchair behind.
“After all the obstacles I’ve faced in the last few days, I’m going to walk out of here on my own!”
“You’re absolutely right!” Mom replied. She looked at me and smiled.
The caravan of automobiles pulled out of the hospital lot. A state trooper led the way, with the white Buick carrying the three detectives, following behind. Cole was next in his Jeep. Billy and I rode together, and Mom, Jack and Dennis brought up the rear. I probably should’ve ridden with Cole when he asked me to, but I felt as if I needed to be with Billy. We had been through so much, and now that a major milestone had been crossed
—we had solved our first really big case together—I wanted to be with him.
Billy didn’t say a whole lot to me until we reached the turn in Ruckersville. He’d been so quiet that I didn’t know what to expect.
“You know, you really have to get over this obsession you have with me,” he joked. “You just broke that poor man’s heart. I’ve seen the way you’ve been giving him the brush-off.”
“What are you talking about?” I shook my head and threw up my arm. “I don’t want to go there. Forget it! I want to talk about you and me.”
“What do you mean, you and me?”
“If I’m going to get shot at all the time and someone’s always going to try to kill me, I want more money!”
“No problem,” he murmured. “I think we can work something out. You’ve earned a raise.”
The two of us were a fine pair. I don’t know which one was physically mangled up the most, but I knew both of us suffered from a mental collapse that could only be rebuilt by what was to be a saddened outcome. We would get our closure, but at what cost?
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Billy said. “If you come up empty-handed things could get a little sticky.”
“Don’t you worry about me, pal,” I hissed. “I have my ducks in a row!” At least, I sure hoped I did.
When we turned onto the road that led to the Hudgins’ house, I shivered. Coming back to the place where I almost died made me feel eerie. I could’ve died right here not more than a few hours ago... never to be seen, or heard from again. I broke down and cried.
Billy broke the chain of cars and pulled over to the side.
“Go ahead and cry, Jesse. You’ve been through an ordeal. It’s only natural that you’d be upset.”
“It’s just that I can’t seem to get beyond the feeling that someone’s after me. It’s such a creepy feeling.”
“It’ll pass in time,” he said. “You’ve been hunted, and the hunted never sleep. Eventually, you’ll get over it.”
“There you go again sounding like my mother.”
He gave me time to cry out my tears and then pulled back out into the road. The rest of the group had pulled over earlier and were sitting in their cars, waiting on us. Maybe they knew I was having a mental breakdown.