by Mia Dymond
“Dr. Landon is the emergency room physician on call today. Travis agreed to let me assist.”
“I guess I just figured that since you stabbed him with a needle full of epinephrine, you were in charge.”
“He’s in good hands, I promise. In fact, you should be able to see him in the next few minutes.”
“Thanks, Verity.” Vanessa wrinkled her brow. “I just can’t wrap my brain around the theory that Travis would eat something he knew he shouldn’t.”
“Well, keep in mind there’s no clear evidence of what exactly triggered the attack. We’re just making assumptions based on his history. People develop new allergies easily.”
She moved her gaze around the group, confident when they all appeared to accept her explanation – both about the allergy and her role in Travis’ treatment.
“Room 103. Give us about fifteen minutes and come on up.”
Verity left the waiting room and headed directly to Travis’ room to fill him in on the particulars. Once she stepped inside, the sight of him propped against the pillows took away her breath. His broad, bare chest almost glistened in the sunlight peeking through the window, casting a spotlight on his chiseled abdominal muscles. Although somewhat swollen, his handsome face sported a sexy, five o’clock shadow and his usual cocky grin.
“Hey, Doc.”
“Hey.” She stepped next to the bed and reached to move back his hair from his forehead. “Feeling better?”
“Much. What the hell happened?”
“According to your lab results, you ate a fair amount of cherries.”
“No, I didn’t. You know I’m allergic to them.”
“Severely. But unless you’ve developed a new allergy, cherries are the culprits. Did you eat anything at the Festival?”
“I ate a couple pieces of Vanessa’s chocolate cake – no cherries in there. And I ate a sample of Sue’s peach salsa at the game. I saw red peppers in the mix, but no cherries.”
“Are you sure you identified peppers?”
“Fairly sure. The salsa had a kick to it.”
“Well, it is possible you had a reaction to the peaches. Both peaches and cherries contain protein similar to birch pollen which, in your case, triggers an allergic reaction.”
“I’ve eaten peaches my whole life, Doc, without a reaction.”
“There’s really no way to be sure. With your history, I assumed you ingested the forbidden fruit.” She gave the IV bag hanging beside the bed a quick glance. “Dr. Landon wants to keep you overnight just to assure the swelling recedes.”
He gestured at the side of the bed. “Let down the rail.” As soon as the obstacle was removed, he took her hand and laced their fingers. “Tonight was supposed to be our night together.”
“Nothing is more important than your health. We have plenty of other nights.”
“Stay with me.”
“Of course. I’ll sneak back in after everyone else leaves for the evening.”
“I’m tired of playing hide-and-seek, Verity.” He ran his free hand through his already-tousled hair. “I suck at games.”
“I happen to think you’re pretty good.”
“We’re not fooling anyone. They just know us well enough not to say anything.”
One look into his tortured green eyes and she knew she couldn’t deny him any longer. And honestly, she was just as tired as he. It was just one pesky little confession that kept her from giving in.
“I’m scared, Travis.”
“Scared?” His brows lifted in surprise. “You’re afraid to tell everyone we’re in love?”
“Not exactly.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Exposing our relationship may be dangerous.”
“Dangerous?”
She released a heavy breath and attempted to arrange her explanation into reasoning that sounded halfway believable. “I had no idea things would turn out like this.”
“Are you in some sort of trouble?”
“Yes … no … I really don’t know.” With no other choice, she let the confession spill from her lips. “I came to Seaside Point to hide.”
“From who?”
“My ex-boyfriend, Richard Danforth.”
“Why?”
“It’s a long story.”
He released her hand and then folded his arms across his chest. “Since my doctor won’t let me out of this bed, I’ve got nothing but time.”
She scooted a mint-green, vinyl-covered visitor’s chair next to the bed, and sat down to explain. “Richard’s family is very wealthy. In fact, his father appointed me as the Chief of Neurology at Seattle Memorial. After months of wining and dining me, Richard stole my prescription pads and acquired numerous drugs before anyone caught on. He had quite a business until I shut it down and sent him to prison. After he was sentenced, he threatened to kill me when he was released.”
“So he’s incarcerated.”
“Was.”
“He’s out?”
She nodded, suddenly nauseous. “I called the detective who arrested him. He confirmed Richard’s been released. I believe he’s here, in Seaside Point.”
“You’re sure?”
“Absolutely. Remember the phone call? He wanted to meet me to discuss something. I thought I saw him at McGill’s after the girls and I had lunch and then again today at the ballgame. And, I’m convinced he left the pie.”
“Did you call Mrs. Templeton?”
She dropped her forehead into the side of the bed and folded her hands over the top. “No."
“All the more reason for him to see me with you.”
“No!” She groaned from the depths of her arms. “He’s a vengeful lunatic, Travis. I’m afraid he’ll hurt everyone around me just to make me suffer until he finally gets to me.”
“Breathe.” He placed a hand to the back of her neck and moved his fingers in a gentle massage of the tight muscles there. “He won’t touch you. We need to tell Casey.” He gave her shoulder a slight squeeze. “Meanwhile, we come clean.”
She lifted her head and rubbed her brow with a hand. “But what if he –“
“No what-ifs, Verity.”
“It’s not that simple. He might —”
“This is not a negotiation.”
One look into his deep, dark gaze told her it was useless to argue. The man rarely took the upper hand, but when he did, he meant business.
“No wonder Annessa threw things at you,” she mumbled.
His lips quirked with a hint of a smile. “It won’t take Casey long to pick him up. Seaside Point isn’t the big city and you know as well as I do, the rumor mill is alive and kicking.”
His admission somewhat comforted her. A stranger in town wouldn’t go unnoticed by any means and now that Travis was fully aware of the situation, there wouldn’t be much chance for Richard to confront her.
“Everyone’s anxious to see you.”
She gave his hand a squeeze just as a knock sounded on the door and it flew open without warning.
“Trav—”
Annessa stopped short as her gaze dropped to their enjoined hands. Although Verity fully expected an inquisition, not one person said a word. She glanced at Travis and then took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“We have a secret.”
“Really?” Annessa sat down in the second visitor’s chair and folded her arms while her eyes sparkled. “Do tell.”
She waited until everyone else gathered around the bed. “Travis and I have been seeing each other.”
“No secrets, Dupree?” Maverick snickered.
Annessa raised both eyebrows. “How long?”
“Over a year.”
She held her breath in the next several seconds of silence until a fit of giggles finally erupted.
“Tell us something we don’t know.” Annessa rolled her eyes as she glanced at her sister and then back at Verity.
“You knew?”
Both twins nodded.
She turned back to n
arrow her gaze on Travis. “Did you know they knew?”
“Nope.” The confidence in Annessa’s voice as she answered for her brother caused Verity to look back at her. The other woman gave a smug grin. “Good ole Trav thinks he has us fooled.”
“Sucker.” Vanessa’s grin mirrored her sister’s. “He thinks he’s so smooth.”
“I used to be,” Travis mumbled.
Although the sibling rivalry helped to loosen the tension in the room, Verity knew she should spill the whole story before she lost her nerve. “I asked him to keep secrets from you. I’m sorry but, well, there’s more.”
Annessa leaned forward in her chair. “This is getting good.”
“My ex is looking for me.”
“Ex as in husband?”
“No.” At least she hadn’t made that particular mistake. “Boyfriend.”
“Something tells me there’s a whole lot more to this story.”
“To say the least.” She squeezed Travis’ hand and rattled off the whole sordid story.
“I’m supposed to be the evil twin.” Annessa grinned. “You beat me, hands down.”
That made her giggle. Only Annessa would find humor in the situation.
“Seriously though,” her friend stood and laid a hand on her shoulder. “He hasn’t hurt you, has he?”
“No.” She frowned. “That’s what I don’t quite understand.”
“You’re worried because he hasn’t hurt you?” Lexi’s eyes widened.
“That’s not what I meant. After the judge sentenced him, he told me he would kill me when he got out. I’m assuming he’s waiting for opportunity.”
Maverick tilted his head to the side. “If he’s here, why do you suppose he hasn’t attempted to confront you in person?”
“I can only assume he wants me to make the decision to meet him. According to his sentencing order, he’s not supposed to contact me.”
“But meeting you would violate that order,” Dane pointed out.
“To a sane, logical person that’s a valid point,” Verity agreed. “However, a determined, insane criminal doesn’t exactly think the same way.”
Casey folded his arms. “Doesn’t really matter who initiates the contact. If he is found near you, he’s in violation, but the risk of harm is high.”
Annessa turned a worried gaze onto the sheriff. “You’re not going to let that happen, right?”
“Right.” He nodded at Verity. “Give me the contact info for Detective Summers. I’ll give him a call.” He moved his gaze to Travis. “Do you want to sit in on the call?”
“You bet.”
“If you’re out by tomorrow morning, we’ll do it then. Verity, do you still have the pie?”
“Yes, and after today’s events I think it needs to be tested.”
“For what?”
“Poison.”
Casey’s eyes widened. “I was thinking fingerprints but I can send it to the forensics lab.”
She nodded. “How long does it usually take for results?”
“Six weeks. But they owe me a favor. They’ll put a rush on it.”
Vanessa cleared her throat and asked him the question every one of them were thinking. “What happens in the meantime?”
“We watch. Without the results of the pie, there’s no real clear-cut crime.” He gave Verity a no-arguing look. “Don’t go anywhere alone.”
“I won’t,” she promised. “I just don’t want him to think I’m running from him.”
“Obviously, he doesn’t care whether you run or not. He’s a persistent son-of-a-bitch.” He squeezed Annessa’s shoulder. “Dupree needs to rest.”
Annessa leaned over the bed and hugged her brother. “We’ll check on you tomorrow.”
Travis nodded and then accepted the same from Vanessa.
“I’ll watch him tonight,” Verity told them. “If there’s any change, I’ll let you know.”
Vanessa grinned before she turned to follow everyone else out of the room. “We know he’s in good hands.”
***
He inched back further into the shadows when the door to the Emergency Room slid open and an elderly gentleman exited. Still no activity from Verity’s group. Gathering information wouldn’t be possible without bringing attention to himself.
He ran a hand over the top of his head while he attempted to determine if this turn of events was a lucky break or not. Hell, he wasn’t even absolutely sure Verity saw him. He glanced up at a sign above the door. So much for a cigarette.
He cursed the shake of his fingers as he pulled his cell phone from the depths of his pocket. Nicotine had a nasty hold on him. He pushed a solitary button and waited for a response before he spoke.
“The paramedic’s down.” He briefly summarized the action while his body screamed for a smoke.
“Is he alive?”
“As far as I can tell. He walked off the field.”
“Where are you?”
“Outside the Emergency Room. None of them have come out yet.”
“Is she there?”
“I haven’t seen her but she loaded him into her car.”
“Go inside and inquire at the desk. In fact, ask the clerk to page her. She’ll fall right into your hands.”
His hands shook harder. “She’s a doctor, for Christ’s sake! Somebody’s bound to notice if I grab her.”
“Then just kill her and get it over with.”
“Did you not hear what I just said?” His teeth ached as he clenched them in irritation. “I can’t take her out in the middle of the waiting room! I need some time to figure this out.”
Without waiting for a response, he disconnected, jammed his phone back into his pocket, and left the corner. He quickly crossed the parking lot and almost jogged down the block while he questioned his actions for the first time since he’d arrived in Seaside Point. What he planned was not working, that was obvious. And her support group complicated things even further.
He didn’t have much time to act before it would be too late; waiting her out was no longer possible. He reached into his shirt pocket for the pack of cancer sticks and a lighter, slapped the pack against one palm and then opened it. A sense of calm enveloped him as he placed the paper cylinder between his lips, flicked his lighter, and then inhaled.
He would get to her. And when he did, she would regret ever running.
CHAPTER SIX
After a semi-restful night’s sleep and a lukewarm shower courtesy of the hospital’s physicians’ lounge, Verity entered Sue’s Diner with a million question marks stabbing her brain and a heavy dose of determination to answer each one. Beginning with who sent the pie.
Was it just coincidence that someone left a chocolate pecan pie? Other than the seven people closest to her, and Mrs. Templeton, only one additional person knew that was her favorite. All seven of her friends could be accounted for and although Mrs. Templeton would return home soon, she had the distinct feeling it would be a waste of time to question her. That left Richard.
Now she just had to prove he purchased it.
She slid into the booth nearest the door, confident for the first time in the last twenty four hours. She totally agreed with Annessa’s conclusion that the pie was sold here and luckily, the one person who knew for sure was blessed with the gift of gab.
“Hey, Dr. Thomas.”
She smiled in satisfaction as Cindy approached the table. “Good morning, Cindy.”
“Can I get you a cup of coffee?”
“Sounds wonderful.” She glanced around at the empty tables. “Where is everyone this morning?”
“Church. Everyone’s been here and gone. Our Sunday rush starts at six o’clock and ends just before ten.”
She glanced at her watch. “I didn’t realize the time. I had a late night at the hospital.”
“Your white coat gave you away.” Cindy smiled. “The town will be buzzing with activity before long. Let me grab that coffee.”
When Cindy returned with the steaming brew and
set it on the table, Verity gestured with a hand to the opposite side of the booth.
“Can you join me?”
“Sure.” The other woman took a seat. “How is Travis?”
Verity lifted her cup to her lips and took a drink while she decided how to answer the question. It was only ten thirty in the morning – could news have traveled that quickly? She returned the cup to its saucer, opting for a polite but generalized answer.
“Dr. Landon tells me he’s better, but I haven’t spoken to either of the twins yet this morning.”
“Oh, that’s good to hear. I hoped he hadn’t gotten overheated at the Festival.”
“I don’t know for sure.” She let the lie slide quickly over her lips. “Although, Vanessa tells me he has a weakness for her chocolate cake. Sugar and heat don’t mix.”
Cindy giggled. “He and Maverick ate the whole cake. Then, he won another cake and a pie at the auction.”
“Speaking of pie, does Sue sell a lot of Vanessa’s chocolate pecan pie?”
Cindy’s head wiggled like a bobblehead as she nodded. “Yes. In fact, we can’t keep them on the shelf.”
“Someone left one for me anonymously on my porch a few days ago.”
“How neighborly!”
“Yes, it was but whoever left the gift didn’t leave a note and I’d really like to thank them. You don’t happen to remember who bought one in the last few days, do you?”
“Sorry, but no. Like I said, they’re gone too quickly to keep track and we’ve been incredibly busy with the Festival and all.”
“Travis didn’t buy one, did he?”
“Travis Dupree?” Cindy sighed so softly Verity could’ve sworn she’d swooned. “I can tell you for sure he didn’t. Believe me, I would’ve remembered selling him a pie. Besides, there’s really no need for him to purchase one, seeing as though his sister bakes them in the first place.”
Verity had to give the other woman credit. It was a plausible explanation – if one didn’t realize the relationship she had with Travis. And she was fairly confident Cindy hadn’t picked up on that until her eyes suddenly widened.
“Is there a reason you think Travis left the pie?”