A Woman to Die For

by Erin Wade

  Shay shared the brunette’s suspicion that David had shot himself. “Is that possible? I mean, the shot was just close enough to the heart to look deadly but still not kill him.”

  “I doubt it,” Chandler said. “That’s taking an awful chance. What if help hadn’t arrived in time? He could have bled out.”

  “Yes,” Shay agreed, considering the possibility of David dying before the ambulance arrived.

  They said goodbye to Chandler and walked to the car. Bear walked right beside Katie, occasionally touching her leg with his nose to let her know he was ever vigilant.

  “I need to check on David,” Shay said as she backed the car from its parking space. “I can drop you at your place, or you can wait in my office for me if you’d like. Then we can go to lunch.”

  “I have a bad feeling about all of this.” Katie frowned. “I’d like to stay with you, if you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t mind at all,” Shay assured her.

  ##

  David was sleeping when Shay checked on him. She strolled to the nurses’ station and pulled up his chart on one of the computers. All his vitals were good. He was doing remarkably well.

  “How’s my favorite sawbones?” Maudine hugged Shay’s shoulders.

  “Good,” Shay said, smiling at the nurse. “And you?”

  “Living the good life.” Maudine laughed. “I have another rape kit I need to get to forensics, but they’re so busy. I guess I’ll have to take it myself when I get off work.”

  “I’m leaving,” Shay said. “I can run it by there for you.”

  “You’re a lifesaver,” Maudine declared. “I pulled a double shift last night, and I’m beat. Let me get the kit and we can sign off on it.”

  After they signed the kit, keeping the chain of evidence intact, Shay placed it inside a white hospital bag usually used for patients’ clothes and carried it to her office.

  Katie was asleep on Shay’s sofa. She looks so small and helpless, Shay thought. She’s been through so much. Shay stood for a long time watching Katie.

  Long lashes fluttered and dark eyes slowly focused on the blonde doctor. “You’re watching me sleep.” Katie smiled shyly.

  “I have to take something by the forensic lab,” Shay informed her. “I’ll take you home first, so Bear can go out and you can pack clothes for tonight.”

  Katie giggled. “Um . . . am I spending the night with you again tonight, Dr. Shay?”

  “I think you should.”

  “Would you consider going out to dinner as soon as you finish?” Katie asked. “It’s past lunch time and I’m famished. No offense, but your coffee and toast disappeared a long time ago.”

  As they drove toward Katie’s apartment a call came from Chandler. “Katie Brandt,” the brunette answered.

  “Katie, I just received orders from the court,” the attorney informed her. “You are not to leave town until further notification. Judge’s orders.”

  “I’m not surprised,” she responded. “Thanks for the call, Chandler.”

  Katie scowled as she dropped her phone back into her purse and filled Shay in. “That kills my plans to wrap up my business in Washington.”

  “Maybe they can come to you,” Shay suggested.

  “Maybe.” Katie mumbled, staring out the window.

  Chapter 42

  Shay walked down the hallway to the forensic lab, looking for someone to take custody of her package. She was surprised to find Dr. Wendy Chase in her office. The overworked medical examiner was usually in the field working a case.

  “I can’t believe they let you sit down,” Shay teased as she sat in the chair across the desk from Wendy.

  “I can’t believe they let you out of the operating room.” Wendy glanced at the bag Shay was carrying. “Don’t tell me you’ve been reduced to messenger.”

  Shay laughed. “Sort of. Maudine wanted me to get this rape kit to you in a timely manner.”

  “I love Maudine’s kits.” Wendy pulled the evidence from the bag and signing where her name was needed. “She is always so thorough. I’ve never had a bad kit from her. I noticed you’re embroiled in that horrible divorce with Dr. Brandt and his wife.”

  “Yeah,” Shay huffed.

  “The news said she shot him. Well, good for her. I’d shoot the bastard too, if he raped me.”

  “She can’t prove it was him,” Shay informed her. “It’s her word against his.”

  “The hell it is! Forensic evidence proved it was him.”

  “What?” Shay yelped. “Detective Wyatt said there was no semen.”

  “I’m pretty sure I’m right,” Wendy said. “Let me pull the file.”

  Wendy walked to a long bank of metal file cabinets. She found Katie’s file and studied the report as she walked back to her desk. “Yeah, it’s right here. We had plenty of semen. It’s David Brandt. No doubt about it.”

  “Detective Wyatt informed me personally that there was no semen,” Shay exclaimed.

  “Humph. Well, Detective Wyatt has been secretly dating a doctor for several years now. I’ll wager dollars to donuts that doctor is David Brandt.”

  Shay felt as if someone had kicked her in the stomach. She choked back the bile that rose into her throat Can you send a copy of that to Katie’s attorney?”

  “I’ll give you a copy of the file right now,” Wendy volunteered, feeding the sheets into her copier.

  “Any chance you’ve completed the report on the shooting of David Brandt?”

  The ME placed her hand on a stack of files on her desk. “It’s about three folders down. I should have a definitive report for you in a couple of days.”

  “May I also get a copy of that report when it’s ready?” Shay asked. “If you could call me, I’ll pick it up.”

  Wendy found the folder and put a sticky note on the front of it. “Phone number?”

  Shay provided the number and thanked Wendy profusely for all her help.

  Shay’s mind was in a whirl as she drove back to Katie’s apartment. David had lied. He was the one who had attacked his wife. She called Chandler and shared the news with him, promising to bring the file to him in the morning.

  ##

  The light was on in Katie’s apartment, but all was quiet as Shay approached. She knocked on the door, but Katie didn’t answer. Shay unlocked the door with the key Katie had given her to take care of Bear.

  She pushed the door open and looked around the apartment before entering. Neither Katie nor Bear were in sight. She eased into Katie’s bedroom and sighed in relief as she heard the shower running and the sweet sound of Katie singing and Bear’s welcoming whimper. Shay noticed Katie’s laptop on and her Face2Face account was pulled up but not open. Her thoughts went to their steamy messages.

  Shay calmed her beating heart, locked the entry door, and sat down on the sofa. The rumble from her stomach reminded her that neither of them had eaten since their morning coffee and toast. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She realized she could no longer close her eyes without images of Katie materializing in the darkness of her mind. She didn’t try to suppress the smile that graced her lips.

  Shay thought about the chats Katie had sent her and knew that she had fallen in love with the brunette because of her wild abandon in the messages. Katie Brandt in person wasn’t as wild and passionate as Katie Brandt on Messenger. She was more reserved when they were together.

  That will change when all this madness is over, she thought.

  Shay’s eyes opened as sixty pounds of fur landed on the sofa beside her. She hugged the dog and spoke baby talk to him.

  “I didn’t realize you’d come in,” Katie said as she entered the room. “His tail wagged the rest of his body, so I knew you were here.”

  Shay patted the sofa beside her. “Sit down. We need to talk.”

  “Is this where you tell me you believe me, but we should keep our distance from one another?” Katie scowled.

  “No, silly. This is where I tell you I’ve always bel
ieved you, but now others will too, because I have proof.”

  Katie settled on the sofa, leaning against Shay. “What are you talking about, Dr. Shay?”

  Shay handed her the copy of the forensic report Wendy had shared. Katie studied it for several minutes, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes.

  “Where’d you get this?” Katie asked.

  “The ME, Wendy Chase, gave it to me,” Shay explained. “We must take it to Chandler in the morning. This proves that David was your attacker. I called Chandler to let him know I had the full forensic report. Detective Wyatt lied to us and the court.”

  “Oh Shay!” Katie wiped her eyes. “I can’t tell you how much this means to me. I was beginning to resign myself to losing my company and going to prison.”

  Shay’s stomach growled. “If you don’t feed me, you’re going to lose your best friend.” They both laughed as Katie Bear ran to the door.

  “I swear he understands everything we say.” Katie grinned fastening his harness.

  Chapter 43

  Over dinner Katie shared some of her ideas for carrying Brandt Technologies into the next century. As she described her visions for Face2Face and the internet in general, Shay realized that the woman spoke a language she’d never mastered. Words like coded syntax, protocols, and platform independent peppered the scientist’s conversation as easily as blood cells and infection flowed in Shay’s daily discourse.

  As Katie described a virus that was running rampant through the internet, Shay thought of the viruses she dealt with daily.

  “You know,” Shay said, “the internet is like a living, breathing thing—the infrastructure—while the web is service on top of the infrastructure. The internet hosts parasites like the worldwide web and is supported by routers, servers, cell phone towers, satellites, smartphones, and radios. So when a virus infects the internet, it infects all the peripherals attached to it.

  “We speak an entirely different language, yet I do understand almost everything you’re saying.”

  Katie’s laughter made Shay smile. Shay liked making the pretty woman sitting across from her laugh.

  “I’ve never considered that,” Katie said, “but you’re correct. Our worlds are quite similar, and each is complicated in its own way.”

  “I’ll teach you to better understand mine.” Shay smiled. “And you can teach me more about yours. I find what you do fascinating.”

  “And I’m in awe of you, Dr. Shay,” Katie admitted.

  “May I ask you a very personal question?” Shay said.

  Katie giggled. “Of course. But be warned . . . I’m not promising to answer it.

  “Fair enough,” Shay said. “What I’d like to know is, can you hack into things? I mean, like someone else’s social media pages, or someone’s computer or website or bank account? Or the New York Stock Exchange?”

  Katie bowed her head. “I’d rather not answer that question.”

  “Okay.” Shay shrugged. She was certain that when it came to computers and the internet, Katie could do anything she desired.

  The waiter brought their check, and Katie asked for a doggie bag for her leftover steak. “I know I shouldn’t feed Bear anything but his dog food, but he does love steak. It’s my way of assuring his loyalty.”

  Shay chuckled but quickly sobered as she realized that loyalty could be assured from anyone if the right carrot was dangled in front of them.

  ##

  “I truly appreciate you letting me use your guest room,” Katie said as they followed Bear into Shay’s home. He ran in front of them and made his usual check of all the rooms.

  “You’re welcome to stay as long as you like,” Shay assured her. “I don’t worry about you when you and Bear are with me.”

  “You don’t need to worry about me,” Katie said. “I truly can take care of myself, but I do appreciate you letting me stay here tonight. We’ll return home tomorrow and let you have some peace.”

  “I’m going to be in my office if you need me,” Shay said. “I need to check on my patients’ charts and see if I need to take any action on their treatment. Feel free to watch TV if you’d like.”

  “I think I’ll shower and go to bed,” Katie said. “I have my laptop, and I’m going to return some emails. I’ll just say good night.”

  With Katie settled for the night, Shay headed for her office. Katie was an enigma to her. Sometimes the brunette was extremely amorous in their message exchanges but distant when they were together. Other times, Katie was very touchy-feely in person. Shay never knew which Katie Brandt she would find herself with.

  Shay turned on her computer and logged into the hospital’s website for doctors. She checked David’s reports and was glad to see he was doing well. I’ll check on him tomorrow, she promised herself as she moved to the file of another patient.

  She couldn’t resist the temptation to read the last message exchange she’d had with Katie.

  “When I awoke this morning, I rolled over and wrapped my arms around you,” Katie had typed. “We were still naked from last night’s lovemaking.”

  “Dammit, she’s here,” Shay cursed under her breath. “I’m going to confront her with this.”

  Shay was glad to see the light was still showing beneath Katie’s door. She knocked.

  “Come in,” Katie called.

  Katie was propped against the headboard with her laptop on her legs. She completed typing what she was working on and then looked up at Shay. “Do you need something?” A smile played across her lips.

  Shay sat down at the foot of the bed and faced Katie. “We need to discuss the conversations we’ve had on Messenger.”

  Katie looked confused. “Messenger? You’ve mentioned this before, but I’ve never messaged you, Shay. I usually call you, because I enjoy hearing your voice.”

  “Katie, you have sent me some of the most passionate, descriptive messages I’ve ever seen in my life,” Shay declared.

  Katie placed the laptop on the bed beside her, swung her feet to the floor, and stood. “Show me,” she demanded.

  Shay led the way to her desktop and opened Messenger. She clicked on Katie’s tiny picture and waited for the volumes of Katie’s amorous messages to fill the screen. To her dismay, nothing appeared.

  She clicked on Katie’s Messenger photo again, staring in shocked silence when the dropdown box was empty.

  “What did you do?” Shay flashed an accusatory glare at Katie. “How did you wipe that information from my computer?”

  “Shay, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I haven’t been near your computer. What was it?”

  “Love messages! Your declarations of love for me. I was just rereading them.”

  “Declarations of love?” Katie backed away from Shay. “I swear, I haven’t sent you or anyone else declarations of love. I’m just barely holding it together. I don’t need to get involved with a love interest right now.”

  Shay glared at the brunette. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She felt like a fool.

  “It’s late,” she mumbled. “We should get some sleep.”

  ##

  Shay lay in her bed, staring into the darkness. She wondered why Katie Brandt was playing games with her. One minute Katie was acting as if she loved her, and the next minute she was pushing her away. I can’t wrap my mind around this, Shay thought.

  There was no doubt in Shay’s mind that Katie had the ability to wipe her entire computer clean and remove all data if she desired. I should be thankful she didn’t destroy any of my other files, Shay thought bitterly. I can’t believe I’ve let myself become so personally involved in a patient’s life. I must put some distance between Katie Brandt and me. But her denial of any knowledge of the messages was so honest and sincere. Maybe there’s another explanation.

  Chapter 44

  Shay started the Keurig coffee maker before quietly opening the door to Katie’s bedroom and taking Bear outside.

  Her mind replayed the embarrass
ing scene from last night as she carried a cup of coffee to her office and turned on the computer. She couldn’t stop herself from logging onto F2F and clicking Katie’s photo on her chat list. The dropdown box was empty.

  Shay wondered why Katie was playing mind games with her. She looked up as Katie entered her office.

  “You make the most delicious coffee in the world,” Katie said with a smile as she settled onto the sofa across from Shay.

  “Thank you,” Shay replied.

  “What’s on your agenda for today?”

  “I’ll drop you by your apartment and then make my hospital rounds,” Shay answered. “I’ve got surgeries scheduled for the rest of the week, so today will be my only slow day. What are your plans?”

  “Um, I’m trying to work out an idea I think you will find fascinating.” Katie beamed. “I think I’ve come up with an idea to make the J-drone even more effective.”

  “J-drone?” Shay raised her brow. “What’s a J-drone?”

  “Oh, that’s what I’m naming my military vehicle,” Katie explained. “You know, part jeep and part drone.”

  “I like that name.” Shay couldn’t suppress the smile that teased her lips. Katie was enthusiastic and so brilliant.

  “Tell me about it.”

  “I’m going to cloak it,” Katie said.

  “Cloak it?” Shay gasped. “As in make it invisible?”

  “Exactly! It will be simple. I’ll put an aura around it that will make it visible only on the monitor screen of the soldier operating it remotely. Our enemies will never know what hit them, our equipment will be virtually indestructible, and best of all, no US soldiers will lose their lives.”

  “You can do that?” Shay said. “Doesn’t the US military already have that capability?”

  Katie’s eyes gleamed. “No, but I can give it to them. I worked on it all night, and I’ve figured out how to do it. Oh Shay, I need this divorce insanity to be over so I can get to work.”

  “Why don’t you tell me about it over breakfast,” Shay said. “We’ll drop Wendy’s forensic report at Chandler’s office on our way.”