Fractured Eden

by Steven Gossington

  “Not too close. You have to maintain your distance. If they become accustomed to humans, they might not last long back in the wild.”

  “Raccoons can carry rabies, but I’ll bet you knew that.”

  “Don’t worry. I got my shots. I’m safe.”

  Rachel’s cell phone rang as they walked back into the house.

  She checked the caller ID and looked at Aaron. “It’s my sister. I’d better take the call.”

  Aaron waved his hand. “No problem.” They stood in the kitchen.

  “Hello, Diana … Dad wandered away? … Three hours? … A barn? …” Rachel put a hand to her forehead. She ended the call and Aaron waited.

  “My father is in a nursing home about one hour from here. He’s got dementia and it’s worsening. This is the first time he’s wandered off.” She took a deep breath. “Thank heavens they found him in a barn, and not in the middle of a street somewhere. He was curled up asleep in the hay.”

  “They may need to move him to a more secure area,” Aaron said.

  “That’s what their plan is.” Rachel sighed. “He worked on a farm as a young boy. Maybe he still has those memories of his past, but he doesn’t know me or my sister most of the time now.”

  “It’s painful to watch that happen to someone.”

  Rachel nodded. “He was such an active, intelligent man. He rarely got sick.”

  “Maybe someday we’ll have an effective treatment or prevention for dementia. Everyone fears that fate in their final years.”

  “I hope my end is quick and painless.”

  They walked outside. “Are you still up for dinner?” Aaron said.

  “Yes. It’ll lift my spirits.”

  Aaron started the car, but then hesitated. “I made reservations at a steak place. Is that okay?”

  Rachel smiled. “Sure. I’m looking forward to it.”

  Aaron’s car radio was on low volume in the background.

  “Do you like country music?” Rachel said.

  Aaron recognized the song and turned up the volume. “I’m getting into it. I have a list of my favorite country songs in my head.”

  Rachel laughed. “That’s wonderful. I’ve been a country music fan since I was a young girl.”

  A wave of warmth coursed through Aaron’s body. Everything is good.

  At the restaurant, they strolled into dim lighting and muted music and were ushered to cushioned chairs at a table for two.

  “When did you get interested in helping injured animals?” Aaron said.

  “One of my college biology professors was into animal rehab as a hobby. We’d visit her home, and she’d teach us about it.” Rachel touched his hand. “I hope you like animals.”

  Aaron smiled and grabbed her hand. “Have no fear. I do.”

  “Then all is well.”

  Rachel ordered merlot and Aaron his cabernet.

  “How long have you worked at the hospital?” Aaron said.

  “Almost six years. I graduated from nursing school eight years ago, so I’ve been around here most of my career so far.”

  “I’m sure you see a lot of pathology in that hospital.”

  “Yes, we do.”

  Rachel ordered Steak Diane, and Aaron grilled shrimp. After the server walked away, Rachel looked up. “Speaking of pathology, whatever happened to that strange family you were asking me about?”

  “The Taggetts. Wanda is in a psychiatric hospital for a long stay. She was poisoning her husband, Sid. He was treated and he’s much better now, feeling healthy. He’s moving to Las Vegas.”

  “Vegas.” Rachel laughed. “He’s feeling good, all right. What about the son? I heard on the news that he’s a serial killer?”

  Aaron’s voice was hoarse. “Yes. Race Taggett. He’s still at large.”

  “That’s scary.” Rachel sipped her merlot. “Isn’t their house near the Belkin Ranch?”

  “Yes, right across the road.”

  “Did you know Mr. Belkin?”

  “Grant Belkin? Sure, I know him well. He’s a patient of mine. Why do you ask?”

  Rachel sat forward. “You mean, he’s still alive?”

  Aaron coughed and put down his water glass. “As far as I know. Did something happen that I don’t know about?”

  “Since you’re his doctor, I suppose it’s okay for me to share: he was at the hospital sometime last year. I heard the doctors say he had a brain tumor.”

  “A brain tumor?”

  “They said it was inoperable. He wasn’t supposed to last a year, and I’m sure it’s been more than a year now.”

  “I had no idea. I’ll talk with him about it.”

  They listened to country music during the drive back to Rachel’s house. Aaron kept time drumming his fingers on the steering wheel as they sang along.

  During a commercial break, Aaron turned to Rachel. “Do you work out?”

  “I jog. Do you?”

  “I’m getting back into it. I just need to stick to a routine. My life has been so crazy lately.”

  “There’s a 5K run in a couple of months. Let’s do it together. It’ll be good for you.”

  Aaron gave her a high five. “It’s a date.”

  Aaron walked Rachel to her front door. They stood under the porch light. “Have you read ‘The Great Gatsby’?” Aaron said.

  Rachel turned to him. “That takes me back. I’ve read it, but it’s been a while.” Rachel gazed past Aaron, a faraway look in her eyes. “I remember the woman that cheated on her husband, and that led to big problems.”

  Aaron smiled and nodded. This is going really well.

  Rachel touched her lower lip. “Do I have something on my lip?”

  Aaron’s face reddened. “I’m sorry. I was staring. No, your lips are just fine.”

  Rachel laughed. “Well then, you can stare at me all you want, and you don’t have to feel embarrassed.”

  Aaron leaned toward her. “The reason I was staring …”

  “Yes.”

  “I really like your dimples.”

  She touched his elbow. “Do you want to talk more inside?”

  Aaron sighed. “I’d love to.”

  Two dogs barked at them from the family room at the back. Aaron followed Rachel to her living room. He sat down on a couch as Rachel turned the television to a country station for background music. “Can I offer you a glass of wine?”

  “I never turn down wine.”

  Rachel poured two glasses of merlot and brought them into the living room. She sat down next to him on the couch. “You’ve got me thinking. I want to read ‘The Great Gatsby’ again.”

  Aaron leaned near to her. “I can’t believe you’re unattached.”

  Rachel smiled. “Oh, I was attached, a few years ago.”

  “Was he a doctor?”

  “Yes, but not anymore. He’s in jail. Medicare insurance fraud.”

  Aaron’s eyes widened and he sat back. “I don’t think I’ve ever known anybody involved with that. At least, I didn’t know it if they were.” He sipped his wine. “How did he commit fraud?”

  Rachel hesitated and looked away from Aaron. “He overcharged Medicare for equipment and patient care that he didn’t provide, so he could line his pockets.”

  “Sometimes, I guess you really don’t know people.”

  They sat for a short time drinking their wine, and then Rachel grinned at him. “You don’t have any dark secrets, do you?”

  Aaron blushed. “Nothing important.”

  Rachel touched his hand. “Oh, I’ve embarrassed you again. I’m sorry.”

  Aaron chuckled. “That’s okay. When you mentioned dark secrets, a vision popped into my head. I was drunk and hooting it up with some college buddies in a topless bar. That wasn’t one of my stellar moments.”

  Rachel nodded. “Everyone has their not-so-stellar moments. I’ve had a few of my own.”

  Later that night, Aaron walked into his house and was greeted by his new best friend, Red, a black Labrador retriever, nam
ed for Aaron’s recently deceased happy hour comrade. Red was hyperactive in his new environment, jumping and barking and turning in circles.

  Aaron stared into Red’s eyes and rubbed his head. “I’m sure you miss our friend like I do, but I think you’ll be happy here.”

  Outside, Red completed a thorough inspection of the back yard and adjacent pasture. Aaron looked over at the trees and listened for the owl. I guess owls have to sleep, too. With a series of barks, his dog announced that all was well at the Rovsing property.

  As he prepared for bed, Aaron’s cheeks were tiring from a continuous grin on his face.

  Chapter 46

  Monday evening arrived, ten days after Buck Bogarty’s hot rod accident. As agreed, Aaron drove to the Bogarty’s house to check on Buck.

  As he approached the house, Aaron saw a man barge in through the front door.

  Aaron hopped out of his car, heard shouting from inside the house, and sprinted to the open door.

  In the living room, a muscular man dragged a struggling Sandra toward the front door. He whipped around, pointing a gun at Aaron’s chest.

  Aaron gasped, stepped back, and held up his hands.

  “Who are you?” the man said. “You’re not a cop, are you?”

  Aaron’s voice squeaked. “No.”

  A bare-chested Buck jogged into the room and stopped. “Dad. What’s goin’ on?”

  “I need your mother to be with me. I’m on the run, and I’ve got to get out of here. They might be watching the house.”

  “Let go of me,” Sandra yelled. “Go away and leave us alone.”

  “You be still, or I’ll shoot somebody.” He motioned his gun at Aaron. “Who’s this guy?”

  “He’s a doctor, Lee,” Sandra said. “He’s here to help Buck.” She was short of breath. “Don’t shoot. Just leave, please.”

  “What do you need Mom for? Let her go and take me.” Buck stepped toward his father.

  “Stay away. You don’t understand.”

  “I need to talk to you,” Buck said.

  With his gun, Lee motioned Aaron over to Buck. “Stay right there. I don’t want to hurt anybody, but I will if I have to.” He pulled Sandra toward the front door.

  Buck extended his hands toward his father. “I have to talk—”

  “Drop your weapon.” A man in a police uniform leaned into the front doorway, his handgun pointed at Buck’s father. “Drop it. Now.”

  Sandra screamed, twisted out of his hold, and fell to the floor. Lee straightened up and raised his gun toward the officer.

  Aaron saw a flash and heard a pop. Lee groaned and fell to the floor on his back, the gun tumbling from his hand.

  “Dad.” Buck ran to his father, with Aaron right behind him. He kneeled and lifted his head. “Dad. Talk to me.”

  A red stain was spreading at the center of Lee’s chest. Opening his eyes, he focused on Buck and wheezed as he tried to breath. “I don’t think … we’re going … to have that talk.” He struggled to breathe.

  “Hang on. Stay with me, please.”

  “I’m sorry, Son.” Lee coughed and gurgled as blood trickled out of his mouth. “I made … a mess of things.”

  “Don’t die. I’m not ready.”

  “Be better than me … like your mom … not like me.” Staring at Buck, he gasped for air and blood gushed out over his chin and neck. His eyes glazed over after one final chest rattle, and his head fell back, limp in Buck’s hand.

  Buck looked up at Aaron. “No. He can’t be dead.”

  Aaron felt for a carotid pulse in the neck. “His heart’s stopped. Let me do CPR.” He looked up at the officer. “Can you call 911?”

  Buck moaned as he eased his father to the floor.

  Aaron began CPR.

  “It’s not goin’ to work, is it?” Buck asked Aaron.

  Aaron shook his head as he compressed the chest. “CPR rarely works in this situation. His heart’s already gone.”

  Buck rocked back and forth, his hand on his forehead, until the paramedics arrived.

  Buck’s father was declared dead, there on the living room floor.

  ****

  Just after sunset the next evening, Buck walked out the back door of his house and sat down in a chair on the patio. He’d been in his bedroom all day.

  Sandra came up behind him and put her hands on his shoulders. “I’m sorry you had to see that. You’ve been through so much.”

  Buck was quiet.

  Sandra leaned closer. “He was a wicked man. You’re not like him.”

  Buck shook his head. “I don’t understand.”

  “I don’t either. I never understood him.”

  Buck looked up at her. “I don’t understand what’s happenin’ to me.”

  Sandra stood up straight and let out a breath. What can I do for him? she thought. She massaged his shoulders. Maybe Dr. Rovsing can help.

  Chapter 47

  Across town that Tuesday, Constable Keller Greevy stopped when he heard a noise.

  It was seven days after Keller had announced that he was reopening the case of the death of Stella’s son. He was about to open the door to the interview room near his office when Brad Benningham stepped in front of him.

  Brad pointed his finger at Keller. “This is your last chance. We should come to an agreement and avoid all this trouble. Like our prior arrangements.”

  Keller glared at Brad. “No. No more. The next time you try to pull that, I’ll arrest you for attempting to bribe an officer of the law.”

  Brad snorted. “That’d just get both of us into trouble.”

  “I guess it would.”

  Keller pushed past Brad and walked into the room.

  After a short while, five people sat around a square table. Keller presided from the largest plush chair at the head of the table. To Keller’s right: Stella, then Myra, Brad, and Preston Benningham. Brad sat next to Preston at one side of the table.

  Brad fidgeted in his chair. Stella was calm, with a faint smile.

  Keller opened a folder in front of him. “I’ve reviewed all the reports filed concerning the death of Stella’s son two years ago. Apparently, a drug deal was in progress in an alley in town. One of the parties became confrontational, and several shots were fired. Witnesses say the shots were from handguns. The group dispersed in different directions, and Stella’s son was found down close to the alley. He’d been shot, and he died from his wound.”

  Keller glanced at Brad and Preston. “Do you have any details to add?”

  Brad shook his head. “No. That jives with what the news said.”

  “I don’t remember much about that night. I did hear some gunshots,” Preston said.

  Keller crossed his arms. “I’d like to clear up an inconsistency.”

  “Ask me anything,” Brad said.

  “One of the witnesses thought that you were there.”

  Brad’s eyes flew open. “Me? No way.”

  Preston looked at Brad. “I get flashback memories of that night, and sometimes I think you’re behind me.”

  Brad dropped his head.

  Preston’s eyes widened. “Yes, I see you behind me just before my gun fired.”

  Brad looked at Keller and raised his palms. “All right. All right. I was there. I often followed Preston when I was worried about him.”

  Preston lifted his hand. “Dad, I remember now. You tried to take my gun from me, and then it went off.”

  Brad pounded the table and shot up out of his chair. “I was trying to help you, to get you out of there.” He leaned on the table and glared at Keller and then Stella. “Why do we have to dredge all this up? Why?” His chest heaved and his fists were clenched.

  Preston sat back and looked down. Myra’s hands covered her cheeks.

  Stella stared back at Brad, who put his hand to his forehead. He had trouble voicing his words. “I can’t imagine losing a child, an only child.”

  Preston stood and put his hand on Brad’s arm. “Dad, it’s okay.”
/>   Brad bowed his head and moaned. “I don’t know if it is.”

  “We can get through this. I can help you.”

  Brad sat down with his head on his forearms. “I’m so sorry.”

  Keller met Stella’s eyes. “Now, we know the truth,” he said.

  “Yes.”

  “What was your son doing there?”

  She sighed. “I think to buy drugs, just like Preston.”

  Keller scanned the group. “Does anyone have anything else to add?”

  Preston and Stella shook their heads.

  “Stella, do you want to pursue this further?”

  She looked down at the table. “No.”

  Keller turned to Preston. “Do you still have a handgun?”

  Preston shook his head. “No, and I never will again.”

  “You had a weapon in your hand and it was discharged in the setting of an illegal drug deal. I could arrest you for manslaughter.”

  Preston nodded. “I know.”

  Keller stared at Preston, then he sighed and slapped the table. “My judgment is homicide by misadventure, accidental homicide.” He scribbled the verdict on paper and shut the folder. “This case is closed.”

  He stood and glanced at Preston. “You’re free to go.”

  Chapter 48

  Something caught the corner of Aaron’s eye as he walked down the hallway toward a patient room. He spotted a moving figure in the waiting area, a woman with long, bright white hair passing through the front door. I’ve seen her before.

  Aaron backtracked to the registration desk and motioned to Stella. “I saw a woman just leave. Who is she?”

  Stella furrowed her brow and glanced at the front door. “I don’t recall anyone just now.” She studied the patient list on her computer screen. “No, I’ve put the last two patients scheduled for today into rooms, and they’re both men, and we’ve had no recent walkins.”

  Aaron stood with his mouth half open, closed his eyes, and shook his head to clear the fuzziness.

  “Are you sure about that?” Stella said.

  Aaron took a deep breath and exhaled. “I must’ve been mistaken.”

  Stella locked the front door of the clinic and stood outside with Aaron. Dark clouds were gathering above them.

  “You haven’t mentioned your meeting with Constable Keller and Preston Benningham,” Aaron said.