by Ann Mullen
“I’m fine, doc, just a little sore,” I mumbled. “When can I see Billy?”
“As soon as we’re finished,” he replied, taking my wrist and checking my pulse. “Give me a few more minutes.” His manner was totally professional as he continued his examination. However, I did catch the smile that appeared on his face.
“What’s so funny?” I asked.
“I was just thinking about that new boat I’m going to buy. A couple more visits like this and it’ll be sitting in my driveway.” He looked up at me and winked, chuckling to himself. “You know, maybe you should get into another line of work now that you’re going to have a baby.” He stuck the cold stethoscope to my back and continued his exam as if he had just asked me what I wanted to eat for dinner, instead of telling me my whole life was about to change. “Take a deep breath, please.”
Stunned didn’t quite cover how I felt. I was going to have a baby! My mind was racing so fast, I couldn’t speak. Oh, man… the chief was right!
“No comment about what I just said?” Dr. Bryant hung the stethoscope around his neck and took my hand in his. His voice was gentle. “Billy told me there was a possibility that you could be pregnant. He said you weren’t sure yet, and for me to properly treat you, I had to know. Also, the police require a toxicology test. It’s standard procedure when there’s an automobile accident and a casualty is involved.”
“Does Billy know?”
“No, I can’t tell him, it’s confidential,” Dr. Bryant said. “I was saving that one for you.”
I hobbled off the examination table and pulled the curtain back. “I want to see him.”
“Wait a minute,” he said. He pulled the curtains closed and ushered me back to the examination table. “We’re not finished. First, I’m going to give you the name of an obstetrician and a therapist. I want you to make an appointment with both.” He scribbled something on a prescription pad and handed it to me. “Other than being a little banged up, I think you’ll survive. I want to see you in my office in a week for a follow-up. I’ll have one of the nurses make the appointment for you.” He stuck his head out of the curtain and called for someone named Jill, and then turned back to me. His look was stern and accompanied by a stiff warning. “I’m serious about the job. If you want to have a healthy baby, you’re going to have to limit the abuse you inflict on your body. Our bodies can only take so much. I think yours has reached its limit. ”
“Thanks, Dr. Bryant.” I leaned over and gave him a hug. “I will.”
Nurse Jill, the same one who had bludgeoned me with the needle earlier, walked in, ready to do more of her dirty work if needed.
“Take care of this for me, please,” Dr. Bryant said, handing her the clipboard. “Set her up with an appointment.”
She did as he said and then left quietly.
“I’ll take you to see Billy, if you’re ready,” Dr. Bryant offered.
“Yes,” I swallowed hard. “I guess I am.”
“You sound a little hesitant. You’re not nervous, are you?” he asked as he led me down the hallway. “After what you’ve been through, I’d think this would be a breeze.”
I stopped in my tracks, my mind flashing back to that awful scene.
“What about Cole James? He was brought in with a gunshot wound to the head. Is he going to make it, doctor?”
“He’s still in surgery,” Dr. Bryant said.
His tone of voice gave me the impression he wasn’t going to discuss Cole’s condition with me, but I had to know if he was going to be all right.
“Please tell me. Is he going to make it?”
“He’s still alive,” was all he would say.
When I pulled the curtain back and peeked in, Jonathan was leaning down and whispering something into Billy’s ear. They both stopped talking and looked in my direction when I walked up to the bed.
“Plotting again, I see,” I joked, leaning down to kiss Billy’s forehead.
Obviously guilty for what he had been talking about, Jonathan pardoned himself and turned to leave. “You two need to be alone.” He glanced back at Billy. “You can rest, brother. All is well.”
“What did he mean by that?” I asked the minute Jonathan left. “What are you two cooking up? Should I be concerned? You’re not doing... ”
“It is not for you to worry,” Billy replied, reverting back to his broken English. “Our tribe is at peace.”
“Did you get a bump on the head or something? You’re not making any sense. What were you talking about? Speak to me in English.”
Billy slipped off to sleep right in the middle of our conversation.
I was about to shake him and try to wake him, but not knowing the extent of his injuries, instead, I reached down and checked his pulse. “Well, at least you’re still alive,” I whispered to myself.
Billy was still sleeping when Dr. Bryant returned.
“He fell asleep while I was talking.”
Dr. Bryant giggled and said, “I can’t imagine why.” He continued to scribble on Billy’s chart.
Following his banter, I bounced back. “You’re the one who is in the wrong business. You should be on stage.”
Dr. Bryant laughed and then said, “I’m sorry, it’s been a long day.”
“You’re telling me?” I shook my head. “Boy, could I tell you a few things about long days. The past two days have been like ten days at their worst. I don’t think there’s much more that can happen to one person. I have been put through the wringer. I almost met my Maker today.”
The doctor reined in his laughter and said, “We’re keeping Billy overnight. He was injected with enough tranquilizers to knock out an elephant. If his mass body weight had been less, it might have killed him. We’re going to flush out his system and give him some medication to counteract the drug. The rest of his injuries will heal on their own.”
“What kind of injuries?” I inquired.
“He sustained contusions to the back, three bruised ribs, and a sprain to his left wrist, not to mention swelling and bruises to his face, arms and legs. He’ll be in pain for a while, but other than that, he’ll be fine. Don’t worry we’ll give him something for the pain later. After we clean him out, we’ll pump him full of drugs again. Only this time, it will be the proper dosage. Unfortunately, he’s not going to feel too good for a while.”
“Dr. Bryant, I didn’t get a chance to tell him... well, you know.”
“You can tell him when he wakes up,” he said and patted me on the back. “We’ll get Billy a hospital room and try to make him as comfortable as possible. Then you can go in and see him. But for now the police want to talk to you. They’re waiting in the ER lobby.” He turned to walk away. “Oh, your friend Cole is out of surgery and hanging on, but the next few hours will be critical. As you know, he has a bullet wound to the head. They can be rather tricky. He could recover fully or he could die at any time. We’ll know more as time passes. Check with me in the morning. I’ll update you then.”
Tears of relief came over me. “Thank you, Dr. Bryant.”
With a quick turn, the good doctor was gone.
The room was silent except for the faint sound of Billy’s snoring. I sat by his bed and waited for a few seconds. I didn’t want to leave, but I had a meeting to attend. As usual, the police were waiting to talk to me.
It would be different this time. Billy would not be by my side for this one. I was on my own.
Chapter 25
Billy was in a room waiting for me while I was in a room by myself waiting to be interrogated by the police. My patience was wearing thin. Five more minutes and I’m getting out of here, I told myself. A commotion outside the door caught my attention. The sound of Mom’s voice echoed in the hallway, loud and determined.
“I want to see my daughter and if you know what’s good for you, you’d better get out of my way! I’ve had just about enough of you cops sticking your nose in my business and telling me what to do. Is she in here?”
Mom burst into th
e room. She was frantic. “Missy, you have some explaining to do! I’ve been worried sick. Every time you leave the house, somebody winds up in the hospital. Billy’s laid up in a hospital bed, Cole’s about dead, and you look as if you’ve been beat up.” She flung her arms around me. She was holding back tears. “Whose clothes are those?”
“Mom, I’m sorry. It wasn’t my fault,” I said, coming to my own defense. “I made a mistake. I should have never...”
“I’ll say you did!” She was not finished with her lecture. “How many times have I told you not to pick up strangers? I can tell you one thing, Missy, your days of playing cops and robbers are over. I’ve had it! As soon as Billy gets better, I’m telling him the same thing!” Mom stopped long enough to get a second wind, and when she did, I butted in.
“Mom, I’m going to have a baby,” I softly said. A tear slid down my cheek. “Can you believe it?”
“Oh, honey, you are? Are you sure?” Abruptly, her demeanor changed. “You can bet there’s going to be some changes made. I’m…”
The officer, who had been quietly standing by, obviously in fear of his life from a crazed mother, spoke up.
“Ma’am,” he said to Mom, “you’re going to have to wait outside. The sheriff’s here and he wants to talk to Miss Watson.”
“I’ll be right outside the door, honey,” she said, leaving the room. “I’m not going anywhere.” She winked at me.
A line of police personnel filed into the room. Sheriff Hudson, Captain Waverly, two plainclothes detectives, and two uniformed officers surrounded me. Panic began to set in.
“Why don’t you have a seat, Miss Watson? We need to ask you a few questions,” Sheriff Hudson asked, motioning for me to sit down. “There’s been a new development in the case.”
“What kind of development? I thought the case was over. You have Clayton Tyler in custody. I just hope you do a better job of keeping him locked up than you did with Larry Hudgins. Speaking of which, have you caught him, yet? That’s where you should be, out there looking for him, instead of in here badgering me. I don’t plan on spending the rest of my life looking over my shoulder, sheriff. Somebody has to do something about that man. He’s a danger to society!”
“That’s just it, Miss Watson,” the sheriff said. “You won’t have to worry about him anymore. We’ve found Larry Hudgins a little while ago.”
“Please tell me you have him in custody. No, better yet, tell me you have him chained to his jail cell. I swear, Sheriff, if he gets out of jail and comes looking for me again, I’m going to...”
“He’s at the morgue,” Captain Waverly interjected. “He’s been killed.”
At first I was stunned by his statement, but it didn’t take me long to welcome the relief from worry. “Good!” I shouted. “My worst nightmare is over. I’m glad he’s dead. You have no idea how happy that makes me.”
The door opened and Mom stuck her head in and said, “Jesse Watson, you should be ashamed of yourself. I taught you better manners.”
“Ma’am, please,” one of the uniformed officers said, ushering Mom back. “We’ll be finished shortly. Please give us a minute. Then you can come back in, okay?” He closed the door.
I looked at the sheriff and the captain and said, “I’m sorry, but I don’t feel the tiniest bit of remorse. That man tried to kill me and Billy and he almost succeeded. You’ll excuse me if I don’t shed a tear.”
“Do you know anyone that would want him dead?” one of the detectives asked. His question caught me by surprise.
“Is he kidding?” I asked, looking at Sheriff Hudson. I looked back over at the detective and said. “You mean other than Billy or me? With a man like him, I’m sure the list is long and impressive.” I turned back to the sheriff, my patience wearing thin. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to go see Billy. I’ve had enough. I don’t know who killed Larry Hudgins, and I don’t care. I’m just glad he’s out of my life. I’m glad he’s dead.”
“You know I can charge you with obstruction of justice if you’re withholding information, Miss Watson,” Captain Waverly said.
“I don’t have any information. I don’t know anything and I don’t want to know anything. I’m just glad the man is history.”
“What about Billy Blackhawk?” the captain asked. “Did he tell you anything about Hudgins?”
“I’m afraid you’ll have to ask him,” I sneered. “You can’t possibly think he killed Hudgins. He was incapacitated at the time.”
“What time would that be, Miss Watson? Nobody said anything about the time. I think you know exactly... ”
“I don’t know,” I cried, realizing he was trying to trick me, and doing a good job of it. “I just assumed it was recently since I saw him only a few hours ago.”
“Do you remember what the time was?” Sheriff Hudson calmly interceded. “I need to know for the record.”
“Not exactly,” I tried to remember. “Maybe you can tell me. I left the restaurant sometime around one o’clock in the afternoon; wrecked my car right after that; and depending on how long I was unconscious from the accident, until the first time I actually saw Hudgins; I’d say your guess is as good as mine. I wasn’t wearing a watch. I know we were in the ambulance at 9:17, because I read it on the digital readout. Why don’t you just tell me when he was killed, and stop beating around the bush?”
“We believe he was murdered sometime around six or six-thirty, but that time has not been confirmed,” the sheriff replied. “A passerby spotted a man lying on the ground beside a car and called the police around six-forty-five. When the ambulance arrived he was still warm.”
“That means he was killed right after he left me,” I surmised. “Who knows? Tyler could have killed him. Maybe they got into a disagreement over which one of them was going to get the pleasure of killing me. Who knows, and who cares?”
“Tyler claims they left in separate cars. He said Hudgins was going back to the office and he was going to meet his boys.”
“Oh, and you take the word of a criminal like that?”
“Well, they were partners.”
“I wouldn’t believe a word that man says.”
“Enough,” Captain Waverly put a stop to our conversation. “Sheriff, I think we can safely say that Larry Hudgins was not killed by Miss Watson or Billy Blackhawk. We need to turn our attention in another direction.”
“Then why ask me all these questions?” I asked.
Captain Waverly stepped forward, his face inches from mine. “Although I don’t think Billy Blackhawk killed Larry Hudgins, I do believe he knows who did. This was not a random slaying. His throat was slit from ear to ear. His body was left out in plain sight. There was no attempt to cover up the murder. Somebody either wanted his body to be found just like it was or the killer was in an awful big hurry. The scene of the crime clearly indicates that the killer was a professional.”
Jonathan was the first thought that came into my mind. What was he whispering to Billy when I walked into the room? Had they planned the murder of Larry Hudgins, and Jonathan was here to tell Billy that the job had been done? No, that couldn’t be. Billy would never have anybody killed. If he had to defend himself that would be a different story.
“Like I said before, I don’t know who killed Larry Hudgins and I don’t care. As far as I’m concerned, somebody did the world a favor. My family will sleep better at night.” I turned to leave, feeling the need to get out of that room right then or suffocate. The captain had planted some serious doubts in my head and I had to get to the truth. I had to talk to Billy.
“You can go, Miss Watson,” Waverly said. “But if I find out you’re withholding evidence, I’ll have you arrested. I’ll give you one last chance to change your story.”
I gave him a dirty look and walked out of the room.
Mom was sitting in a chair in the hallway. As soon as she saw me, she jumped up and ran to me. “Honey, are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Mom.” I let out a breath and took her hand.
“Come with me. I want to see Billy.”
“He’s in room 428. I checked,” she offered, keeping up with my speedy stride. “What about Cole? Have you heard anything about his condition? That prissy girl at the front desk wouldn’t tell me anything.”
“The last thing that I heard, he was still alive.”
We took the elevator to the fourth floor, got out, and searched the hall for Billy’s room. Once we found 428, I turned to Mom and asked her to wait outside for a minute.
“I understand, honey,” she smiled. “You need to tell Billy that the chief was right. He’ll be happy. He told me that he was so thrilled when his dad told him the news that he almost cried. He loves you so much, honey.”
The scene with Cole in the bedroom of that house played back in my head. I was overcome with guilt. Does that mean I have something to hide? I didn’t do anything wrong. I will tell Billy about that moment before we get married. I don’t want Cole to have this hanging over my head. I would come clean.
“Yes,” I whispered. “I’d like to have a little privacy when I tell him about our baby.” I looked over at Mom. “That sounds pretty neat, huh?”
“It sure does! I can’t wait to see the expression on his face.”
“Just give me a couple of minutes before you come in, okay?”
“You go ahead. I’ll go find the nurse’s station and call Claire.” She turned her head to look down the hallway. “This crazy hospital won’t let me use my cell phone. That’s a silly regulation. I’d like to know who made up that rule.”
After finally getting up my courage to tell Billy the news, I turned the doorknob and walked inside. The room was dark except for the small overhead light that separated the two beds, one of which was empty. Billy lay asleep in the one next to the window.
“Hello, stranger,” I heard him whisper as he turned to look my way. “Come over here and give your future husband a big kiss, sweetie.”
I ran to his side and just about fell onto the bed as I kissed his face and neck, and finally taking his hand and holding it to my heart.