Chapter Fifteen
Michelle read confusion and dismay on Tony’s face.
“I know the mayor thinks I did this, but I swear I didn’t. What reason could I possibly have? I cared for those kids as if they were my own.”
“I don’t know why, but Ron’s confident that you’re his man—too confident. He’s made it seem as if anyone else committing these murders is impossible. He even tried to blame it on Lissa and that’s ridiculous. Then he suggested you might have been playing fast and loose with Lindsay.”
The color drained from Tony’s face. “That bastard. You know it’s not true.” His tone begged for support. “I’d never do anything like that. I’d love to get my hands around his throat.”
“Don’t worry. I didn’t believe him. I think that’s what made me suspect something was off—well, one of the things. I think he knows something, and we’ll figure out what it is. If the mob’s involved in the meth production, they could be blackmailing him into helping them. This was the last thing they’d planted.”
“What is it?” He stared at the tissue she held.
“I’d guess it’s some of your blood. It was on the back of his hand. He’d have gotten it if he’d punched you. Who saw that mark on your cheek when it was fresh? The one you probably got running away from your pursuers.”
“The mayor, his dragon secretary, anybody who saw me Friday. I must have scratched myself in my sleep. It bled like the dickens too. I mean those dreams felt real, but…”
Michelle giggled. “I don’t know. I’ve had some interesting bumps and bruises too. I found leaves in my hair one night, and that scared the daylights out of me until I realized I’d left the window open and they’d blown into the room. As far as Mildred goes, she does look mean. She reminds me of a particularly nasty substitute teacher we had when I was a kid. Whoever went into your room to get the hair might have found the bloody tissues. As far as frames go, it’s one of the best I’ve seen. If it weren’t for the fact I speak to the dead, they’d have you cold. It might all be circumstantial, but without an alibi, and the one Jackson could give you would be worse than none, you’d be screwed.” She felt her cheeks heat at the double meaning in the word. “It’ll be interesting to see how things work out tomorrow morning when the evidence they planted isn’t there. Give me that.” She reached for the letter, the hairs, and the tissue with which she’d removed the blood someone had rubbed onto Aaron’s hand. She placed the items on her plate and reached for the lighter she’d used to light the candles. “Now you see them, now you don’t.”
They watched the items burn and she crinkled her nose at the stench of the burning hair as did Tony.
“That stinks. You’re incredible, you know. Won’t you get in trouble for that? For destroying evidence?”
“What evidence? It was planted. Aaron knows it, I know it, you know it, and the one who planted it knows. Otherwise, it doesn’t exist and never did.”
“Did Aaron know anything about the wine bottle?”
“No, he had no idea where it might have come from, but I suspect whoever did this drugged him with scopolamine, the zombie drug. It’s a date rape drug popular because it prevents memories from forming in the mind. It isn’t a case of not remembering. There simply isn’t anything to remember. The Columbian authorities are having a real problem with it too. Tourists are being drugged and used for everything from sex to murdering others. I’ll know for sure when the blood tests are in. I sent all new samples to Kingston with Chad. Things don’t add up when they’re handled here.”
She smiled and stood. “Let me get this cleaned up and then, I’d like to talk about us.”
He nodded. “I’d like to talk about us too. Come on. I’ll help you clean up.”
* * * *
Tony carried the dishes into the kitchen. He glanced at his watch. How could his life and everything he’d believed about himself have changed in such a short period of time? He didn’t doubt a word of what she’d said about them being reincarnated spirits. And as for her talking to ghosts, too many of the things she’d told him couldn’t have come from anyone but Aaron himself. Hadn’t Joseph said he spoke to the spirits—if Joseph did, why shouldn’t she? Why should the one be harder to believe than the other? Besides, if she couldn’t speak to ghosts, he’d be in deep trouble.
Michelle stood by the counter and filled the sink with liquid detergent and water while he scraped the plates and put the rest of the salad in the fridge. The sense of anticipation he felt about what was to come made each little domestic task seem marvelous.
I can see myself doing this for the next two hundred years.
He looked over at the door. “Why the extra bolt by the way? You did add it?”
She nodded, and he watched some of the happiness fade from her eyes. He was sorry he’d mentioned it.
“Whoever came into my room this morning had a key. Their chain can be opened with a key from the outside too. I won’t feel safe alone tonight without that extra chain.”
“Who said you’re going to be alone tonight?” He cursed when she jumped at his words. Had he read the signals wrong? He watched her teeth snag her lower lip and smiled. The gesture was a familiar one. He put down the towel he’d been holding and pulled her against him.
“I think we have about two hundred years to catch up on. I hope you aren’t planning on much sleep. Come on. Let’s finish this. I can think of a few other things I’d like to do, and we still have plans to make. I’ll take Jackson to collect the samples—I’m not sending him by himself, so there’s no point in arguing about it.”
“I wasn’t going to argue. None of us should go anywhere near the lake alone.”
He nuzzled her neck.
“Hey. If you’d rather we didn’t…you know, tonight…It isn’t like this is the first time, right?” He felt her heartbeat race as he kissed the pulse point in her neck. She threw her head back to give him better access. “Are we done here?”
She turned and nodded shyly. Gone was the take-charge woman who’d met with the parents. In her place stood the shy Mohawk maiden of his dreams. He bent his head and claimed her lips, the way he’d wanted to do for the last couple of hours. Her lips were soft and moist, and he sipped them. He licked at them, begging for admission to the sweetness of her mouth. She opened to him like a bud blossoming, and he delved into her freshness. That flavor he’d come to crave filled him, and he couldn’t wait any longer.
He lifted her into his arms, carried her into the bedroom, and stood her beside the bed. He pulled his lips away from her trembling, swollen ones. Her red lips pulsed from his kisses.
“You’re so beautiful. I want you. I’ve always wanted you.”
He raised his hands and undid first one braid and then the other. Slowly, reverently, he ran his fingers through her hair. He claimed her lips again. He fed from her as if he’d never get enough. Her response fueled his desire. He moved his lips away, rained kisses along her face and neck.
“You’re wearing too many clothes.”
She giggled. “So are you.”
“I can fix that.” He moved away and quickly stripped. His gaze never left hers as he disrobed until he stood before her, naked and ready. He heard her heavy breathing and watched as her hand lifted to untie the buttons at the neck of her sweater. He reached his hand out to hers to stop her.
“No, let me. I want to see you.”
He stepped away from her and turned on the lamp beside the bed. Her eyes were glazed with desire, and she licked her lips. He moved closer to her and with utmost care, he removed first her sweater and then her slacks. He kissed her shoulders and then the tops of her breasts protruding above the delicate ivory lace bra she wore. Taut nipples begged for attention, and he unclasped her bra, taking one and then the other in his mouth. She moaned.
His hands moved down the sides of her torso, and he could feel her skin burn beneath is calloused palms. He saw the flush of her arousal as she stood before him in her panties and calf high buckski
n moccasins. She was lean and toned, half-modern woman, half-Mohawk maiden. Carefully, he removed the last of her garments and stared transfixed at the woman standing naked before him.
She was the same, yet different—if anything she was more desirable than ever and he ached for her. Her skin had the faint tan lines of a bikini, a concession to modern day, but it glowed as it had in his dreams.
She devoured him with her eyes, probably intent on seeing the differences. She smiled.
“You have fewer scars, than I remember and no tats.”
“I can get some if you want.”
She giggled. “No, I like you like this.” She raised her arms and put them around his neck, pulling him down to her. “Tony, make love to me, Michelle, not your mystery woman.”
He needed no further invitation. He pushed her back onto the bed and worshiped her body with his hands and his mouth, branding her, searing the memory in his mind. If he’d thought the dream sex had been good, it was nothing compared to making love to this flesh and blood woman. Her hands scorched his flesh, taking him higher and higher. When he couldn’t stand it any longer, he sheathed himself in her, filling her, and finding his completeness. She bucked beneath him as the climax gripped her, and he fell into her, joining her in an earth-shattering release.
* * * *
Michelle awoke to the sound of Tony’s even heartbeat pounding under her ear. He held her tightly in his arms, cradled against his chest, almost as if he were afraid she’d disappear if he let her go. She smiled. Not much chance of that.
How many times had they made love last night? It had been the most incredible experience of her life. She felt his engorged penis against her stomach and sighed. She was slightly tender, but she’d gladly open to him again. He shifted slightly, and she knew he was awake.
“Good morning,” he whispered and placed a chaste kiss on her hair.
“Hi.” She felt shy despite the way they’d explored one another’s body during the night. Audra had been right—a dream lover couldn’t hold a candle to the real man.
“As much as I hate to say this, we have to get up. I’d much rather stay here and make love to you again, but it’s almost eight. I told Jackson I’d take him for those samples at nine.”
“Damn!” She moved quickly out of his arms. “Eight! I have to get to the morgue. I need to be there when Milo and Jamie come in. I want to make sure no one’s messed with my corpses again. I’ve got to shower.”
She bent her head, kissed him tenderly, and pulled back. “Rain check tonight?”
He laughed and gave her a quick peck. “Tonight and every other night from now on. I’m not letting you get away this time, Doctor.”
“And I have no intention of going anywhere.” She jumped out of bed. “I’m late. Can you separate the samples for me while I get ready?”
“Sure thing.” He laughed, and his voice followed her to the bathroom.
Fifteen minutes later, Michelle stood in the kitchen gulping orange juice and eating a granola bar.
“You’ll be careful getting those samples from Ron’s place. I don’t want anything to happen to either of you.” She kissed him, grabbed the samples he’d prepared for her, and hurried out the door. Tony would lock up when he left. He’d call her cell after he took Jackson to the train so she could get the samples from him to give to Chad. By the time he called, she hoped to have news for him.
As soon as she was on the road, she contacted Chad and arranged for him to meet her near the airport where she’d give him the samples Tony and Jackson had collected yesterday. The lab could get busy on those while they waited for the rest. She felt like James Bond at the moment and almost tingled with excitement. Between the thrill of a night spent in the arms of the flesh and blood man she loved and the satisfaction of fulfilling her obligations to The Three Sisters, she had more energy than she’d had in months. The hand-off to Chad went well, and the rest of her ride to the morgue was uneventful. She arrived at the hospital at ten to nine, surprised to find Jeremy Runions in the staffroom. She hadn’t expected to see him today. He looked haggard.
“Wow! You look like you’ve had a tough weekend.”
He ran his hand through his disheveled red hair.
“You don’t see me. I’m hiding. Tough weekend would be an understatement—disastrous would be closer to the truth. The hospital security system went down yesterday morning. They didn’t get it back on line until after six last night—some kind of computer glitch. They’re inventorying the narcotics now. My biggest problem involves the staff. No employee time sheets registered yesterday—they may have punched in, but the system was dead and none of it got recorded. I’m trying to input the information manually, but the program is giving me all kinds of grief. George, the coroner should have been back today, but he called and apologized. It seems he’s been delayed. He should be here tomorrow. I can help you later, but I really have to get this straightened out. My first time in charge, and this happens.”
“I’m sure you’ll get it fixed. I’ll leave you to it. I can manage on my own today.”
Jeremy nodded. Whoever had been in the morgue had covered his tracks well. She rushed to get ready. When she crossed to the autopsy room she’d been given, Jeremy was busily cursing his computer. Milo and Jamie hadn’t arrived. She hurried over to Aaron.
“Any more visitors?” She touched the corpse.
No, it’s been quiet since you left. How long will I hang around here?
“Not long. Once your killer’s been caught, you’ll move on to the spirit realm.” She closed the drawer and waited for her techs. Jamie was the first one in.
“Morning, Michelle. Milo’s been called to help count inventory, and the coroner won’t be in until tomorrow. Dr. Runions is busy. Can you manage with just me for a while?”
“Of course.” As a diener, his main function was to move the bodies and clean them.
She’d planned to do Lindsay’s internal, but it could wait.
“Do you want to do the external on the boy now?” he asked.
He seemed eager. Was he the leak?
“Sure. Why don’t you go and get him.”
Jamie went to the drawer, pulled out the body, and moved it onto a rolling table. He stopped beside her, his brow furrowed.
“What’s the problem?”
“I don’t know. The body looks different—almost as if it’s been searched. My imagination, no doubt.”
“He does look a little disheveled. Probably from when we separated them. Shall we get started?”
Michelle, with Jamie’s help, catalogued each item. He didn’t seem surprised when the pockets yielded no mysterious notes, the knuckles no blood, and the jacket no hairs.
“Do you want me to send these to the police lab like we did hers Saturday?”
So, he hadn’t caused that delay either.
“No, I’ll take them myself. I want to see if they found anything we missed on hers. Let’s brush the hair and clean his nails, and I’ll take those with me too.”
* * * *
They’d just finished cleaning Aaron and had returned the body to its drawer when her cell phone vibrated. She pulled the phone out of her packet and picked up the call. It was Tony. Heat suffused her.
“Just a sec.” She turned to Jamie. “I’ve got to take this call, and then I’m going to leave for a while, deliver the evidence and stuff. Why don’t you take your lunch and come back around one?”
“Sure thing.” She waited until the autopsy room door closed behind him.
“Hi. Did you get what you needed?”
Tony’s voice came across the line. The warmth in it made her wish he was here with her. Her hands itched to touch him. He was soft and hard in all the right places.
“We did. I have the samples with me. What do you want me to do with them? We managed to sneak onto the slaughterhouse property too. I’m in Belleville. Jackson’s train just pulled out.”
“I’ve made arrangements to meet my RCMP contact at Papa Joe’s, a
coffee shop near the reserve. Do you know where it is?”
“I do. When?”
“Half-an-hour?”
“Sounds good.”
She hung up, just as Milo came into the room.
“Hey, doc. How was your morning? I’ve been counting pills.”
“So I heard. I won’t need you until after lunch. I have errands to run this morning.”
He pointed to the evidence bags.
“Find anything good?”
“I think so. Is there anything else? I have paperwork to complete.”
He was visibly upset about being dismissed.
“I guess not. Just wondered what you’d found, but I guess I can talk to Jamie. See you after lunch.” He eyed the evidence bags. “I can take those upstairs for pick-up for you.”
“Not necessary. I’ll deliver them myself.”
With no excuse to stay, Milo waved and left. He didn’t look happy. Did he have more evidence to plant? It looks like I found my snitch.
Michelle waited until he was gone, grabbed the evidence bags, and hurried across to the break room. She quickly changed into her regular clothes, sprayed cologne on herself, and prayed there was no scent of decomp attached to her.
She walked briskly to her car, evidence bags in her arms. These were all going to Kingston, and it would be interesting to see who’d object to that. Chad and Tony were waiting for her. It was time the two men met.
* * * *
By mid-morning Thursday, Michelle was more confused than she’d been all week. She stood in the ladies’ locker room, her phone pressed to her ear, watching the door to make sure no one entered.
“Yes, Colin, that’s right.” Her voice was low. “The results from Kingston confirm what I assumed, and contradicted all the lab results from here. George, he’s the coroner, was furious when he realized I hadn’t sent Aaron’s clothing and the rest of the forensic evidence to the local lab. He didn’t get back until today. I don’t know where he’s been, but as my best friend would say, ‘he looks like he’s been rode hard and put away wet.’ I’m convinced he and one of my techs may be involved in the cover-up, as well as someone at the police station. It takes someone with intimate knowledge of the hospital to falsify all my tests like that. The person who doctored that photo would have to have good computer skills too. I’m afraid this goes way up the line—I just don’t know how far up yet.”
Echoes of the Past Page 22