A Detective's Heart

by Sioux Dallas

  Hannah pushed the correct button, “Hello, this is Hannah Rutherford.”

  “Helllooo Miss Rutherford. I owe you so much and I hope someday to do you a favor. You have been a blessing to me.”

  “Wait a minute. Who is this, please?”

  “Hey. I’m sorry. I’m just so happy I’m forgetting myself. This is Alexander Falls. Remember you sent me to another agency to determine if my wife was trying to have me killed?”

  “Oh, yes. How are you? What happened?”

  “Tracers were placed on the phone, surveillance was carried out, pictures were taken, they were observed meeting and now all are arrested. I don’t know exactly what they’ll be charged with, but they’ll have to face the consequences of their deeds.” He chuckled. “I’m so relieved and thank you over and over.”

  “I’m just happy it turned out well for you. Thank you for telling me.”

  She hung up smiling. That’s what this work is all about.

  The next week Herb was jumping up in the air and yelling. “Chandler has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. Brian will be too happy to express himself. Hannah, I’m going to offer to drive to Virginia with him and pick up his babies. He wants to go get them himself. Even though he’ll have Mrs. Morton taking care of them, he’ll need some relief. I want to go any way.”

  “Be my guest,” she laughed. “Do you have any cases pending?”

  “Only one and it’s fact finding. I can take the time, if it’s all right with you.”

  “Go ahead. Have you ever been to Virginia?”

  “No,” he said sheepishly. “That’s one reason I’d like to go.”

  “Take long johns. It gets awfully cold up that way. Bring me some Virginia apples. Stop in North Carolina on the way back and get some good clover honey with the comb in it.”

  “You don’t want much, do you?” he teased her.

  “Go. Go meet Brian and make your plans. I know he’s more excited than you are.”

  Hannah was settling down to work when Victoria came in looking as if she had lost her last friend. Hannah didn’t say anything. She didn’t know what to say not knowing what was on Victoria’s mind.

  Victoria sat down with a big sigh and tears in her eyes. “I’ve been for an appointment with my doctor.” She sobbed. Hannah got up and came around the desk to hug her.

  “Would you like to tell me what he said, what is so upsetting to you?”

  She kept crying until finally she said through sobs. “He said I’ve inherited my mother’s genetic defect in my heart. I’ll need a heart transplant within a year or I’ll di di die“. She sobbed.

  “How fortunate you live in these days with all the advances in medicine. Heart transplants are becoming common now. Your mother didn’t have that opportunity.”

  “I know. I know I’ll be in good hands, but I’ve just earned my license and now I have to give it up.” She cried harder.

  “No, you won’t have to give it up. You’ll take a leave of absence and then return stronger than ever.”

  Herb came in and had to be told. He hugged her. “Little sister, we’ll all be beside you fighting with you and God is always with you.”

  “Little sister?” she almost giggled.

  “Yes, you’ve become very dear to me. All of you have.”

  Jim came in and was told the news. He was distressed even though he had not known her long. Victoria was an easy person to know and feel affection for since she was such a caring, sweet person.

  It wasn’t long until all the others came in. Richard suggested that they form a circle and have prayer.

  Hannah, Victoria, Herb, Mrs. Harkins, Elizabeth, Jim and Richard stood with arms around each other’s shoulders and Richard led in prayer for Victoria to have peace and comfort and for the skill of the doctors. He ended by thanking God for being with Victoria and helping her through this.

  The days passed rapidly with Victoria making plans for her surgery as soon as a compatible heart was found.

  The last day of February was Victoria’s twenty-sixth birthday. Hannah had arranged a surprise party for her and had her family flown in from Minnesota to surprise Victoria. Even the nieces and nephews were to be included. She had told the family of Victoria’s health problems and they had promised to make it a celebration for her. Victoria’s mother was fifty-one when she died with a heart defect, but everyone was hopeful that Victoria would get excellent medical care.

  At six Hannah told everyone to get ready and she was going to take everyone to the Seacoast Grill for a birthday dinner for Victoria. Needless to say, Victoria was surprised and very pleased.

  They drove down and parked in a valet area. They went in together in such a way that Victoria and Hannah came in last. Victoria walked innocently and calmly behind the group until they got to the reserved seating area. Everyone stood aside so Victoria could see who was seated at the tables. She gave a cry of joy, hugging her father and the whole family.

  Everyone took turn about helping her wipe the tears from her eyes.

  “Gee sis, I didn’t know we’d make you so miserable or we wouldn’t have come,” he teased her.

  “Shush,” she slapped his chest. “Brother dear, I love you, but you’re not funny. Everyone knows these are tears of joy.”

  The lobster and shrimp almost went unnoticed with everyone trying to talk and bring Victoria up-to-date on family business. After the dinner, she hugged Hannah and thanked her and then hugged all her co-workers. She elected to go to the hotel rooms and continue visiting with her family as they were flying home again the next day.

  The next day Victoria was bubbling with joy and appreciation for her birthday and for Hannah bringing her family together. “You think I’m dying, don’t you, and you wanted us to have one last time together.”

  “No, silly. Get that out of your head this minute. It was just a love gift for all you’ve meant to me. I knew how long it had been since you saw your entire family. The children are precious and the two new babies made me wish I had made different plans.”

  Victoria looked surprised. “You mean you wanted a husband and children? Why didn’t you ever get serious about all those fellows that kept fluttering around you?”

  “I wasn’t ready because I was concentrating on developing this business. Don’t count me out yet. I’m not too old.”

  “I know you aren’t, and you’ll make a wonderful wife and mother.”

  Richard came in to hear the last statement. He asked surprised, “Hannah, are you getting married? I didn’t even know you were seeing anyone.”

  “I’m not. I’m not.” She assured him. “We’re just talking.”

  “Whew. That’s a relief.”

  “What do you mean?” Victoria asked with ‘ruffled feathers’. “What does it matter to you what she does?”

  Richard looked like a little boy that had been caught in something he shouldn’t. “Maybe it’s because I’m interested and hoped I’d stand a chance with her.”

  Hannah was too surprised to speak, but not Victoria. “Well, dummy. All you have to do is ask.”

  Richard looked embarrassed. “Hannah, would you consider going to the Civic Center dance with me Saturday? We could have supper somewhere before we go or eat later in the evening.”

  “Well, whoop-ti-do. How romantic can you get? Did you expect her to fall at your feet with that invitation?”

  “Victoria!” Hannah finally found her voice. “Stop teasing Richard.” She looked at him. “I hadn’t thought about going, but I’d love to go with you and whatever plans you make will be fine.”

  With a shy smile and a sigh of relief he ducked his head and walked back to his office.

  Hannah let Victoria knew she was disappointed in her behavior. “You’re like my big sister and I love you. I want the best for you.” Victoria explained.

  “What makes you think Richard isn’t the best?”

  “Not one blessed thing. I guess he just surprised me.”

  “He surprised me,
too, but now I’m glad he asked. Now let’s all get to work.”

  Hannah walked out and told Mrs. Harkins that she was going to see Attorney Archibald Worthington about her will. “After hearing about Victoria’s problems, I thought I should bring my will to current status.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with you, is there, Hannah?” Mrs. Harkins asked worriedly.

  “Oh, no. I’m just doing what all of us should do and keep everything current.” She left and was gone almost two hours.

  When she returned the group was waiting anxiously for her return.

  “For pity’s sake,” she was exasperated, “what do all of you think you’re doing?”

  “We love you and are worried that there is something you’re not telling us.”

  “What ever gave you that foolish idea?”

  “You wanted to check your will. We were afraid there might be something wrong that we didn’t know about.” Elizabeth spoke softly.

  “And after my glorious news, we’re all concerned about each other.” Victoria declared.

  “How many times do I need to reassure you? There’s. Nothing. Wrong.”

  “Okay. Okay. We’re sorry,” Herb rushed to say. “We just care.”

  “I know and I love you all, but I’m going to be around for such a long time, you’re going to be sick of me.”

  Little did she know that this was an untrue statement.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  A week later, Hannah started out of the office an hour early.

  “Where are you headed?” Mrs. Harkins called after her.

  “To my house where I shall be perfectly safe. Is that all right with everyone?”

  They all laughed with her. Victoria called, “May I go with you? I need to discuss something very personal with you.”

  “Oh course. Come on.”

  Hannah pulled her car into the garage and Victoria pulled up behind her in the driveway. Hannah waited on her so she could push the button to pull the door down. They walked into the kitchen.

  Hannah stopped. “Something is not right.”

  “What is it?” Victoria asked worriedly.

  “I don’t know, but the feeling in the house isn’t right.”

  At that two men stepped out of the hall and stood in the door of the kitchen. They were dressed all in black with black ski masks and black gloves. Even their shoes were black sneakers. They each had a device on their necks which caused their voices to sound garbled.

  “You’re smart police lady, and you’ve outwitted us many times, but your clock has run down.”

  “Get out of here or we’ll call the police. If you leave now they won’t be able to find you.” Victoria tried to reason with them. They just laughed loud and long.

  One pointed a pistol and shot just as Hannah tried to run at them. He jerked and shot her in the leg. The blood spurted as Victoria kept screaming loudly enough to alert the entire neighborhood. In fact, men were out in their lawns trying to determine where the screaming was coming from.

  “Idiot,” the second man yelled, “now you’ve done it.” He too pointed a dart gun at her and yelled, “Get out of here. I’ve shot her with a dose. The poison will get her.” They both ran out the back door, jumped over the hedge between the next house and ran down the back alley.

  Two neighbor men finally located where the trouble was and ran in. They could not stop Victoria from screaming. By now several neighbors had gathered.

  One neighbor ran to the kitchen wall phone and called 9-1-1. By then some women had taken Victoria in hand and quietened her enough to ask her whom they should call. She finally gave them the office phone.

  The ambulance was just leaving when Herb, Jim and Richard drove up. They found Hannah was being taken to the Seacoast Medical Center. They took Victoria with them and quickly drove there.

  They were not allowed in where she had been taken. Victoria finally got herself together enough to call Hannah’s father, Andrew. He was shocked and devastated. Common sense told him he shouldn’t drive, so he asked a friend to drive him.

  Hannah’s staff was elated to see him because now they could get some news. Her father was the only one allowed back in the surgery unit. He came back about ten minutes later followed by a Doctor Huw Chang. The doctor said Mr. Rutherford had given permission for him to tell them what had happened to Hannah.

  He patiently explained. “First Miss Rutherford has lost a tremendous amount of blood and her blood pressure is dropping dangerously low. We are giving her transfusion constantly.”

  “But she’ll be all right, won’t she?” Several spoke at once.

  “That I can’t say. We’re working better than the best of our ability to save her.”

  “When will we know for sure?” Richard asked.

  “I don’t know that either. I’m sorry, but I need to get back to help the team that is working with her.”

  “Wait,” Herb spoke quickly. “You haven’t told us what the damage is.”

  Dr. Chang looked at Andrew and he nodded his head. His eyes were red from crying and he looked ages older in his grief.

  “The bullet fortunately missed the kneecap. It did go through to tear the femoral artery back of the knee which has caused the alarming blood loss. The unusually large transfusion has diluted some of the important factors in the blood and prevents the blood from coagulating. Internal organs, like the kidneys, can collapse. The next few hours are critical. We’ll take a vein from her other leg to repair the torn artery. Now I really must go.”

  By now Mrs. Harkins and Elizabeth had joined them. The staff was around Andrew for prayer.

  In about six hours, Dr. Chang and a Doctor Grant Morton came to them.

  Dr. Chang looked beaten. “I’m sorry. We did all we could, but we could not save her.”

  The staff, men and women, were holding each other and crying. Andrew collapsed and was taken into ICU to be sure his heart did not fail him. He did hear Dr. Morton speak to Victoria.

  “Miss Stallard, if you’re prepared, Miss Rutherford’s heart is compatible for you. We can do the transplant this morning if ------”

  “No.” she cried. “I can’t take Hannah’s heart.”

  With tears streaming down his cheeks, Richard placed an arm around Victoria’s shoulder. “Honey, Hannah would want you to have it. You know she would. She loved you very much and would want this for you.”

  “I’ll have to think about it.”

  “There isn’t time to think. It has to be done within the next hour.” Dr. Morton informed her.

  The staff kept urging her. “You’re an adult and can sign your own papers,” James told her. “We’ll notify your family. Please, please do this.”

  A nurse came out and told her Mr. Rutherford wanted to speak to her.

  “Victoria, I heard the offer of Hannah’s heart. She would want you to do this. Please take it and I’ll always feel that part of my baby is still with me.”

  Victoria reluctantly and fearfully gave in. There was no formal funeral for Hannah as everyone was involved in something heartbreaking. A month later, Victoria was up and felt wonderfully well, but still not ready for a full day’s work.

  A week later Archibald Worthington called the staff in for the reading of Hannah’s will. She did not include her father except to give him all her love, because he was wealthy in his own right. She had decided that Victoria and Herb would be co-owners of the business and everyone was to get a substantial monetary bonus in addition to her gifts to charities. She did stipulate that everyone was to keep their job if they wanted it.

  The staff held a private meeting and voted to make Victoria and Herb Presidents and Jim and Richard Vice Presidents. Mrs. Harkins was to keep her job as long as she wanted it as was Elizabeth

  A few days later the newspaper had printed all this information even though no one knew how the news got out. One day a very drunk mayor, Alice Barker, came staggering into the office.

  “You low lifes think you’re so smart carrying on th
e precious, Hannah’s work. She was no saint. She arrested my twin sister’s son and her old man prosecuted him. He was sent to prison for life with no parole. My twin sister was so heartbroken over her son that she committed suicide. See, your precious Hannah was no saint. I thought I’d never get rid of her. My men kept doing a lousy job until one finally got it right.” She giggled and staggered around.

  “Are you trying to say,” Richard said through clinched teeth, “that you had Hannah killed.”

  “Yeah.” She stuck a foul-smelling bleary eyed face right in his. “And none of you idiots caught on. See, I’m the smartest.”

  Victoria had called and the newly created Sgt. Liam O’Brien had eased into the office. He placed handcuffs on Alice and over her loud protests took her off to jail.

  “Whew. It’s a good thing he took her out of here before I got into trouble by strangling her,” Richard declared. They all agreed.

  Victoria was very proud of Liam because he was seeing her seriously now.

  Richard ran in the office a few days later. “You folks remember when Hannah came to Florida to find information about a bigamous husband and an innocent second wife?”

  Yes, they remembered even though they weren’t familiar with the case. Richard was eager to share the news and James was eager to hear since he had also been involved.

  “That upstanding military officer has been court martialed, stripped of all rank and jailed, and all his holdings have been given to his legal first wife. She was sweet enough to allow Anna Marie to keep her house and the local bank account. All’s well that ends well,” he finished with a big grin.

  A beautiful memorial service was held for Hannah. It seemed the entire town was present. Andrew sat with bowed head and the comfort of Hannah’s staff around him. Dozens of people stood and told how Hannah had come to their aid, sometimes with actions and sometimes with money.

  The Myrtle Beach Police Pipe Band played “Flowers of the Forest” which was a tribute to fallen soldiers. They then played “Scotland the Brave” and ended with “Amazing Grace”. A bugler played taps with loud sobs filling the sanctuary.

  Two days later Herb called a staff meeting to discuss how the business was to be carried on. “Our former mayor is in the insane hospital.”