by K C West
*
After lying there in the accumulated dirt of ages for what seemed like forever, I heard a distant hum which soon became a roar. Helicopters, it sounded like helicopters, then voices; men and women barking orders at each other.
I felt a padded protective bandage slip around my neck and strong arms lifted me onto a board. I babbled about corpse powder to anyone near me and was frustrated when no one listened. Someone took the keys from my hand. In my shadow vision, I sensed that someone had removed PJ’s collar and unlocked the manacles at her wrists. Someone else caught her when her knees buckled.
A woman examined me thoroughly but carefully, trying not to hurt me further. I remember hearing her words of intended comfort. I was only vaguely aware of the straps tightening across my chest and legs as the litter was secured for transport up through the hole in the kiva’s roof. In my weakened state, I felt a breeze caress my face and thought it intoxicating.
“PJ!” I cried. Where had she gone? Was she safe now?
“We’ve got her,” the woman said. “She’ll be fine.”
I could tell by the uniform that the female voice belonged to a ranger. I squinted at her name plate. Karen Forbes. She had a reassuring voice and gentle hands.
Two emergency medical technicians came and worked on either side of the litter, hooking up an IV while, in the background, the subdued sound of an idling helicopter rotor meant we’d soon be out of this hellhole. I knew I wasn’t in good shape. Maybe I wouldn’t make it. I could see, even in my semi-conscious state, that the EMTs weren’t sure either. It’d be so easy to close my eyes and let go, but I needed to see PJ safely out of here. And I had to warn someone about the corpse powder and have them call in a Hazmat team. They didn’t seem to realize the whitish stuff scattered across the floor was lethal.
Chapter 24
I was in a partitioned cubicle in the emergency room of Mountain Memorial Hospital outside of Santa Fe, lying face down on a gurney, wrapped in a thin hospital gown left open at the back to allow for the treatment of my neck and back wounds. My thoughts drifted to Kim. Where had they taken her? Was she going to be all right? The nurse finished plastering me with burning ointment and was in the process of applying sterile bandages. When she’d finished, I braced myself on my elbows and turned to ask her about Kim. She had no information.
As if to add to my frustration, Detective Nelson poked his head between the curtains and took a step inside.
“Are you a relative?” the nurse asked him.
“Worse,” I said. “He’s a police detective.”
“Oh, honey, you have my sympathy.” She gave him a stern look. “You may have five minutes, and only five.” She finished taping the dressing around my neck and patted my shoulder.
“And Kim?”
“I’ll see what I can find out.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
She shot another withering glance in the detective’s direction. “She’s had pain meds, so don’t be surprised if she dozes off. If that happens, let her sleep. Understand?”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you.” As he stepped to the front of the gurney, his gaze swept over my back.
“What’s the matter? My butt showing?”
“No, no, you’re fine. Really.”
I shifted to my side, facing him more directly, clutching the fabric to my chest. “I hate hospitals and I hate these stupid, skimpy gowns.”
“Ms. Curtis, I need a brief statement from you, while you’re… um… alert.”
I faked a yawn, and watched him squirm. “Sure hope I don’t zonk out in the middle of this.”
“I’ll hurry,” he said.
“Why isn’t Gina here?”
“She got a call about the bones your dog found. We have a tentative ID on them and it’s opened up a whole new investigation.”
“Bones? More than one?”
“Yes. A partial skeleton now, thanks to that animal of yours.”
“Really?”
“I imagine Gina will be here later to check on you, unless you’ve already been discharged.”
“Oh, I’m not going anywhere until I find Kim and make sure she’s okay.”
“Right. Let’s get on with this, then.” He consulted his notes. “You’ve identified the deceased woman as Terry Simms.”
“That’s correct. She was Kim’s former lover and the woman who attacked me in Wales.”
“How did you know where to look for Ms. Blair when you got to Chaco Canyon?”
“Terry left a message for me at the front desk in the headquarters sometime during the conference.”
“I see. Why didn’t you contact the police when you got the note and realized who had sent it?”
“She instructed me to come alone or she’d kill Kim, and I believed her. I wasn’t positive about the location, but before I went to check it out, I called Gina and left her a message. Ranger Forbes wanted me to have backup also, and when I refused, she told me she’d wait an hour and then I was getting help whether I needed it or not.” I thought he’d have some sarcastic reply to that, but he moved on to other questions.
“Did Terry Simms indicate why she had taken Dr. Blair? Did she implicate any accomplices?”
“I don’t remember her mentioning anyone else, and I don’t think she did it for money because I offered her any amount she wanted. She did tell us that she’d killed before and that more killings would be easy. I’ve no doubt she intended to kill us, too.” My eyelids drooped, and I no longer needed to feign exhaustion.
He asked more questions. I answered to the best of my ability, but my mind kept returning to that one about the police. Why hadn’t I called them immediately and waited for help? Why was I compelled to do what Terry ordered? Did I think I could be a heroine and rescue Kim all by myself? If I’d acted differently, they might not have struggled over the gun, and Terry might still be alive. That troubling thought lodged in my mind as I drifted off to sleep.
*
I tried to move, but an array of tubes and wires secured me to the bed and they were connected to an assortment of softly beeping electronic monitors. PJ was in and out for brief visits. The nurse said it was for five minutes every two hours, but it didn’t seem that long or that often. No sooner had she arrived, kissed my forehead, and taken my hand, than they ushered her out again. If only she could stay longer with me. After all we’d been through, what possible harm could that do?
I suppose I was drugged out of my mind. Nobody seemed to understand what I was talking about. I begged them to test the corpse powder and find an antidote.
“There, there,” a nurse had said, “there’s nothing to worry about.”
The doctors I spoke with were even less helpful. One, a particularly cold fish, told the nurses to pay no attention to my incoherent babbling, that I was hallucinating, and if I didn’t stop demanding an audience, he’d increase my medication, just to keep me quiet.
I knew if he or anybody else ignored me, no amount of medication would reverse the effect of the corpse powder. I wasn’t worried for myself so much as I was for PJ and the rescuers. They’d all been in contact with and breathed the deadly powder in the kiva.
I closed my eyes, trying to form some coherent thoughts. I heard voices. Doctor Cold Fish again. I pretended to be asleep.
“That woman’s demanding more time with this patient. Who does she think she is? She’s not a relative, though she has Power of Attorney and pretends to know some important people.”
“She la important, Doctor,” the nurse said quietly but firmly. “Not only is she the daughter of Frederick Lane Curtis, she’s a prominent archaeologist. She certainly has the right to be here.”
“Is this one of those so-called same sex relationships?” the doctor asked as he turned to leave.
“They’re colleagues,” the nurse answered.
“The resident on call can deal with them. Don’t page me unless there’s an emergency.”
She waited until he was out
of earshot. “Yes sir, Dr. Shithead.”
I managed a weak smile. It was the first one in a log time. Maybe it would be my last, considering my condition and the effects of the corpse powder.
It’s probably already eating me from the inside out. PJ, too.
“Oh, my God. No!”
I made a quick, involuntary movement and pulled something loose, sending off an alarm that had a couple of nurses hovering over me.
I kept bringing bad things into your life, PJ, and it isn’t over yet.
If I survive this, I’ll be useless, dependent on you for everything. I heard myself moan. I’ve feared something like that ever since we got together. I’m so much older than you. You’ve got to follow your own path. You’ll be much better off without me dragging you down. All I ask is that you remember that I love you more than life itself. I always will.
After the nurses replaced my tube, PJ was allowed in to see me.
“You may stay a little longer this time,” the nurse told her, “as long as you don’t excite the patient.”
“Mmm, I’d love to excite you,” PJ whispered, once we were alone. “While you were missing, Holy Girl came to me in a dream. She told me that I needed to seek una vida. That’s one life in Spanish, Kim. As soon as she said it, I realized that’s how I think of us. Together, we make one whole life. As soon as I heard the name from one of the presenters at the Chaco Canyon meeting, I knew that’s where I’d find you. Can you believe it?”
“One life?” I wasn’t sure what she was saying. My brain wasn’t moving at her speed yet. It was good to see her and she seemed to think a spirit guide had given her good advice. She asked me a question. I’d better give her an answer. One life. Hers and mine? Joined as one? “Yes,” I said. “I believe it.”
When she gently kissed my forehead and cheek, I saw the bandage around her neck where the collar had punctured her flesh, as it had mine. Other than sitting forward in the visitor’s chair to avoid putting pressure on her injured back, she seemed to be okay. Thinking of what had happened in the kiva had reminded me of an important issue. I was relieved to see that she seemed okay, physically, but I couldn’t let her think she or any of us were totally free from harm just yet.
“PJ,” I whispered, gripping her hand so tightly she flinched. “You’ve heard of corpse powder?” My words formed slowly. I couldn’t get my mind to work fast enough. Whatever they were pumping into me was so powerful it had turned my brain to fluff.
She nodded, though her frown indicated that she wasn’t sure why we needed to discuss the topic.
“Corpse powder was in the kiva. Terry brought it in ajar and it broke open during our fight over the gun.”
PJ raised an eyebrow and shot me one of her “yeah, so” looks.
“You must listen to me.”
“Honey, I know what corpse powder is supposed to be and what it’ll do to a person. But it’s just an old Indian story. There’s nothing to it.”
“We can’t ignore it. There’s too much at stake. Your life, the medics, and rangers. All of them are at risk.”
“Don’t forget yourself, then, if you insist on believing it’s evil.”
“My life doesn’t matter.”
“It certainly does matter. Anyway, where could Terry have found the stuff, if there’s really such a thing? It’s not good for you to get all worked up over this right now.”
“But you have to - ”
“All I have to do is stay here with you.” Her hand caressed my face, tenderly stroking my forehead and cheeks. It felt so cool, so soothing, comforting. I was tempted to let it lull me into a peaceful sleep, but I couldn’t.
“Please listen to me.”
“Okay.” She took a long breath. “Go ahead. Get if off your chest.”
“I don’t know for sure it was corpse powder in that jar, but we can’t play with fate. I’m in bad shape. A little corpse powder isn’t going to make much difference to me.”
“Don’t say things like that.” A tear trickled down her cheek and more threatened.
“I just want you to have someone test the powder from the kiva to see if it’s human in origin. Are you listening to me?”
PJ sniffed. “I’m listening.”
“It has to be done for your sake, and for those who helped us in the kiva.”
She closed her eyes and took another breath. “If it’s corpse powder, is there an antidote? And what happens to the people who collect the specimens and those who process it in the lab? Won’t they be endangered too?”
I puckered my forehead, trying to sort through the fluff. “They’ll wear hazmat clothing, and they’ll have experience with handling deadly substances. You can arrange it. Your dad can help you. He’ll know who to contact. Promise me you’ll do it.”
“Oh, Kim, I - ”
“Please.”
“Okay, I’ll do it for you. But I think it’s a waste of time.”
“Go, then. Get on with it.”
“Right now? This is the first time they’re allowing me to stay longer with you.”
“Yes, right now. It’s vital.”
She kissed my cheek and gave my hands a parting squeeze. Before exiting the cubicle, she turned and gave me a crooked grin. “I love you to pieces, you know, even though you drive me crazy sometimes.”
I nodded my response.
Chapter 25
“I wondered when I’d see you again.” I was in the waiting area next to the ICU when Gina walked in and sat beside me. Her timing was perfect. It’d be at least another half hour before I could see Kim again, and I’d finished leafing through all the magazines. Gina and I had a lot to discuss. I told the volunteer aide where to locate me, and the detective and I found an empty table in the cafeteria.
“Coffee?” Gina asked.
“No, thanks. I’m not that brave. I’ll take some tea, though.”
“I’m sorry to have been so long in getting back to the hospital,” Gina said, when she returned with our beverages. She stirred her coffee and took a sip. “Shit, this stuffs awful. Worse than the State Police Barracks, and that’s saying something.”
“Switch to tea. It’s a bit better.”
“Why didn’t you warn me?”
“You’re a tough-as-nails policewoman. I figured you could handle strong coffee.”
“Mmm. I’m thinking this is payback for neglecting you.”
“I’d like to exercise my Fifth Amendment rights, Sergeant Esperanza.”
She took another sip and shuddered. “It’s probably aiding and abetting an ulcer as we speak.”
“You’re too tough for ulcers.” I drank my tea and watched her smile. “So, what do you have for me?”
“I’m here to tie up a lot of loose ends.”
“Great. I didn’t appreciate getting my news from Detective Nelson. He’s not exactly a wealth of information. And is he ever uptight.”
“He’s still tongue-tied around you.”
“Tongue-tied?” I frowned at her. “Are we talking about the same Detective Nelson?”
Gina shook her head. “Damn it. He still hasn’t explained.” She consulted her notebook. “Forget I said anything. Let’s start over.” She looked up at me. “How’s Dr. Blair?”
“She’d want you to call her Kim.”
“Sorry. I forgot. How’s she doing?”
“It was pretty scary at first, but the doctors are more optimistic about her recovery now. There may be psychological stuff to deal with later on, though. I think they’ll keep her in intensive care for another day, and then transfer her to a private room. It’s going to be a long road back for her, but she’s tough and stubborn. She’ll make it, if I have anything to say about it.”
“Good. That’s really good. And how are your injuries?”
“Oh, they’ve patched me up just fine.”
Gina’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t say anything more on that subject. “By the way, Karen and Mike send you their thanks. Her car was fixed in record time and at a remarkabl
y cheap rate. Karen suspects you had a hand in all of that, and I concur.”
“Again, I plead the fifth.”
“Yeah. I figured you would. Anyway, she’s grateful and sends her thanks.”
“I’m glad it worked out for her. And I’m grateful for the rescue effort she led on our behalf.”
“I’m sure she’d tell you that it’s all in a day’s work. She’s got good instincts. She wasn’t about to let you go off on your own for very long. When she saw what had happened in the kiva, and how you and Kim worried about each other, she knew you were more than just colleagues, too.”
“Oh,” I said. “I wasn’t sure how she’d react if I admitted the extent of our relationship.”
“It’s not a problem. Karen’s a romantic at heart, and she’s just glad you two are together again.”
“Me, too.”
I took another sip of tea.
“So what’s the big mystery with the bones?” I asked. “Your partner said you’d found more.”
“Pup did. He led us to another buried cache. You know, he’d be a great addition to the police force.”
“Forget it. He’s got enough to do with saving our hides on a regular basis.”
“True. I don’t know if Mark told you, but Pup was acting weird just before we got the call to come to Chaco to rescue you and Kim.”
“No. This is the first I’ve heard anything about that.”
“He whined and howled and ran to the door, trying to pry it open. Once we got the message, though, he settled down. It was as if he understood that we were going to help you both. He’s an amazing animal.”
“We think so. I’m glad he found more bones for you.”
“Oh, right. I got side-tracked. We’ve identified the remains. It was a banker who disappeared several years ago under mysterious circumstances. The former owner of Kim’s ranch went to him for a loan and was refused. The rancher was forced to sell the property. He looked good for the possible homicide, but no evidence turned up and the banker’s body was never found. It was hard to make a case, until now. We tracked the alleged murderer to a jail in northern Mexico, confronted him with the evidence, and got a confession. We’re working on extradition with the Mexican authorities.”