Deadly Obsessions (Kensington-Gerard Detective series Book 3)

by K. T. Roberts

  The only thing she’d been able to do on the ride to the hospital was hold his hand. At the time, Zach was unconscious and probably unaware she was even with him, but that didn’t stop her from telling him how much she loved him and that no one could ever take his place. With so much havoc going on between territorial crap and the panic created by Ralph Morton’s threats, her head was swimming. Despite wanting to know where he’d been hit, her mind couldn’t seem to focus on the report given to the hospital in preparation for their arrival. She tried to shut down her mind, but the expression on Zach’s face when he went down scorched her mind. The minute she saw him stagger…. Stop, she told herself. She had to stop. Jessie knew the captain would hear she was still very much in love with Zach, but she didn’t care. If Reamer fired Gerard, she was going too. They were a team and wherever he went, so did she.

  Irrational thoughts had her praying Ralph Morton was dead, because chances were, he would have pled insanity and remained in a mental institution until he could stand trial. And most likely, he’d never go to trial because he was a smart guy who knew how to play the system.

  A team of surgical nurses and technicians strode down the hall pushing a gurney with a patient. The nurse stopped. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but you can’t be here.” Jessie showed her ID. “That’s all well and good, Detective, but you still can’t be here. Please wait in the room specified by the surgical nurse.” Jessie’s tears caught her attention. “I’m sorry. I know your friend is in there, but we need this hallway clear at all times for emergencies. So, please, go to the waiting room.”

  Jessie nodded and ambled back down the hall, but stopped mid-way. “Is there anything you can tell me about the officer in operating room four?”

  “I’ll check and have someone stop by the waiting room.” Jessie nodded and wandered aimlessly down the hall, pushed on the double doors into the waiting room where she found Guardino and Farino holding vigil.

  “Do you have any news?”

  “Nothing yet. He’s still in the operating room.”

  “Long surgery,” Farino said. “Why is it taking so long?”

  “I don’t know. Why? Does that make it more serious?” her panicked voice rang out. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Guardino nudge Farino and he suddenly started expressing himself with a stuttered explanation, glancing around the room as though looking for the right words.

  “Gosh no,” he said. “Waiting always seems much longer than it actually is. I mean it’s not like getting shot is just the removal of the bullet. It’s much more than that. They have to repair the tissue around the entrance wound, the muscles, you know, stuff like that.” He was rambling on like an idiot trying to cover his tracks, “but I’m sure they’re doing whatever they can to make sure he’s able to function after this.” Despite his botched explanation, this was a side of Farino’s personality that had been hidden. Not that she liked him any better, but she appreciated he was there to check on Zach. Jessie gave him an ‘A’ for effort. As for Zach’s condition, she was supposed to know all this, but somehow when it applied to her situation her mind became skewed into a jumbled mess.

  “What about Morton?”

  “Dead! Our SWAT team is incredible.”

  “I know this seems like a weird question at a time like this, but I need something to take my mind off Zach for a while. “What about the coats?” She had her reasons for asking, but she wouldn’t tell Farino or Mike. “Did you find any?”

  Farino had a confused expression on his face but answered anyway. “Yes, we found two coats in his car.”

  “So he was a copycat.”

  “No doubt. Truthfully, I think it started out that way, but then he probably realized he wouldn’t get the credit for it and stopped collecting them when he killed Keenan. Of course, I’m just speculating, but the profilers all agreed that his personality type was right out of a textbook, so I guess that’s fairly accurate. How about coffee?” Farino asked, obviously trying to get out of the room to repair the damage he may have done earlier.

  “Please. Black, no sugar.”

  “How about something to eat?”

  “No thanks, I’m not hungry.” She sat down in the seat he’d occupied after he left the room. Turning to Guardino. “What do you think? Is he going to be okay?” Guardino stammered trying to come up with an explanation. “Mike, I want the truth.”

  “Jessie, I honestly don’t know where he was hit. Things were so chaotic with Morton. The good news is he was wearing a vest so wherever the bullet entered, it isn’t life threatening.” He stood. “Listen, I need to call my wife. Will you be alright if I leave you alone?”

  “Sure. If your wife has been watching the news, she’s probably worried sick. Thanks for being here.” She watched as he exited the room when she heard a voice that sounded familiar. She racked her brain trying to figure out who it could be but then gave up and turned to see that it was Alan Gerard rushing up next to her.

  “How is my son?”

  “He’s in surgery, sir.”

  “Is he going to make it?”

  “I hope so.”

  “How long has he been in surgery?”

  “It seems like hours but I’m sure it hasn’t been that long. I spoke to a surgical nurse earlier who was supposed to give me specifics, but I haven’t seen her since.”

  “I’m sick with worry. If something happens to him, I’ll never forgive myself,” he confided. Jessie reached for his hand and held it. He squeezed her hand back. “Thank you.”

  “He’ll be fine,” she heard her voice say and wondered where those positive words of encouragement had come from. She attributed it to Alan taking her mind off her own fears. It was working temporarily.

  Alan drew in a deep breath and released it slowly trying to calm his nerves. “Your name is Tate Kensington. Is that right?”

  “Yes, sir. But everyone calls me Jessie.”

  “Jessie,” he snapped his finger. “That’s right. Please call me Alan.”

  “Thank you.” They looked up when Guardino and Farino entered the room carrying coffee. She introduced Alan to both men and took the cup from Farino’s outstretched hand.

  The surgeon entered and removed his surgical cap. They rose from their chairs. “Who’s the next of kin here?”

  Alan came forward, pulling Jessie with him. “I’m Alan Gerard. How’s my son doing?”

  “He came through surgery like a champ. Although the next twenty-four hours are the most crucial.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you never know how anesthesia will affect the individual. Everyone is different. His vitals are good, but he’s lost a great deal of blood, and he’s going to be in a lot of pain. We’re keeping him heavily sedated.”

  “Can you tell us more about his surgery?”

  “Yes, the bullet entered his shoulder and shattered the bone, tore the ligaments and muscle, then exited out the back. He’s going to be laid up for a while, and I’m unsure if he’ll still be able to use that arm. With therapy possibly, but I can’t guarantee it.”

  Jessie’s breath caught in her throat. If Zach lost the use of his arm he wouldn’t be able to perform his job, and he’d be devastated. So would she.

  “He’s in the recovery room right now. You can go into his room and wait for him, but he won’t be awake. I assume you’ll have guards right outside the door,” he asked the detectives.

  “Absolutely.”

  He pointed toward the door. “I’m told he’ll be moved to the fifth floor. I don’t have the room number but if you ask the desk nurse, she’ll be able to tell you.” He turned to leave. “I’ll check back in about an hour to see how he’s doing.”

  Alan shook his hand and thanked him.

  “Jessie,” Guardino said, “I need to head back to New York. Have you called your captain?”

  “Not yet, but I will.”

  “How about I call to fill him in?”

  “I’d really appreciate that, Mike. Thank you.” They all exited t
he room and were surprised to see a room full of law enforcement officers holding vigil. Tears welled in her eyes. Leaning over, she told Alan about Zach. “Your son is well loved. Even by officers who don’t know him personally, but his reputation precedes him.”

  “I know, Jessie. I know.”

  Jessie thanked everyone for being there. “I know he’d be very pleased to see you.” She told them what she knew about Zach’s condition. “He’ll be humbled to know you were here.” She watched them file out of the room and head down the hall. “Wow. Zach will be thrilled to know they were all here.”

  “I’m sure. Listen, I’m feeling pretty hungry. What about you?” he asked.

  “I don’t know that I could get anything down, but I’ll go with you.”

  “Fair enough. Thanks.”

  “Zach’s going to need a lot of care while he’s healing. Do you know of any good caregivers in your area?” Alan asked.

  “I know one who’s very good…me.”

  “I meant while you’re working.”

  “I’m not sure either of us will have a job after this. The captain was leery about us to begin with, but hey,” she threw her hands up, “I love the guy and I’m not going to hide it anymore. He’ll always have my heart. I have to tell you, if anything ever happened to him—”

  Alan reached for her hand and held it between his. “Nothing is going to happen to him. He’s going to be fine.” He searched her face. “I knew the minute I saw you two together that you were in love. Zach’s a lucky guy.”

  “I think I’m the one who’s lucky.”

  Riding up to the fifth floor with Jessie in the elevator, Alan excused himself to make some calls. Jessie found Zach’s room number and walked inside. He was still out cold. She stood over him and gently rubbed the hair from his forehead. Something her own mother had done to her when she was sick as a child.

  Jessie sat down and held Zach’s hand. She disciplined herself because she knew she’d been very selfish when they lived together—that she hadn’t tried hard enough to make it work. Zach had done everything he could to make her happy and what did she do? She walked out on him. The hurtful words she’d said to him before he got shot had replayed over in her mind a million times and cut her like a knife. She hadn’t meant to say she didn’t care if he got killed. God, that was the last thing she wanted. The tears rolled down her cheeks like a waterfall. She could never take back those words. He had to know she didn’t mean them. Didn’t he? Maybe he didn’t. But she did know.

  Jessie watched the rise and fall of his chest, the monitors he was hooked up to, the beeping sound reminding her of a truck backing up signaling those close by he was there. She told herself to stop worrying, so long as the machine continued to beep, he was okay. She had to stop checking the monitor like she was expecting it to flat line. But why hadn’t he opened his eyes? She checked her watch. It seemed much longer than the surgeon had suggested it would take.

  She soothed his forehead with a light touch and whispered. “I do know what love is, Zach. I love you more than life itself. Please wake up,” she begged. “I need to tell you that I don’t want to live another day without you. There’s nothing more that I want than to be your wife.” She looked away, the tears running down her cheeks.

  When she heard a moan and then Zach’s weak voice.

  “Is …that…a yes…then?” He licked his lips in between breaths and grimaced from the pain from moving too quickly.

  She laughed and cried all at the same time. “Oh thank God,” she said. “I can’t believe you heard me.” She gave him a skeptical side-glance when she noticed his slight smile. “Were you awake waiting to hear what I was going to say?”

  “Maybe. Did…you…mean…it?” he said through winded speech.

  “Oh my God, yes!” She leaned down and gently kissed him. “I love you.” Zach grimaced in pain. His eyes suddenly glanced past Jessie’s shoulder and she knew he must have seen Alan.

  “Hi…Dad.”

  Alan’s eyes filled with tears. He walked to the opposite side of the bed and held Zach’s other hand. “I love you too, son, and I can’t tell you how happy I am to see that you’re okay. Jessie and I have been so worried. How are you feeling?”

  He wet his lips. “Pain.” He made a face, “lots…of…pain,” squeaked out of his mouth with labored breaths in between.

  “I should tell the nurse you’re awake.” Jessie said and left the room.

  “You know,” Alan said, “I pretend to be a tough guy, but my walls crumbled when I’d heard you’d been shot. All sorts of ugly things went through my mind, and I begged God not to punish you for my mistakes.”

  The nurse entered. “There’s that handsome detective,” she said. Zach gave her a weak smile. “Hang in there with me, Detective. It looks like your sedative has almost worn off.” He watched while she hung a bottle from the IV pole, then inserted a tube and clipped it to the bed sheet. “This is for pain,” she said inserting the end into the portal taped to his arm. “Whenever you’re feeling pain, pump the end of this and it releases a measured amount of medicine into your vein.” She gave him a double dose. “This should stop the pain in a little while and is probably going to make you sleepy, but that’s what you need right now.” She turned to Alan and Jessie. “Please don’t wear him out,” she said on her way out of the room. “He needs his rest.”

  “We won’t.” Alan and Jessie walked over to say good night but Zach stopped them.

  “Sit…for…a…minute. Tell…me…about…Morton.”

  “He’s dead. His mom and Joey are safe. Joey’s en route to his grandparents’ home.” Zach’s eyes began to blink shut. “Okay, we have to go now,” she and Alan said in unison.

  His eyes blinked open again. “Wait…one…more…thing.”

  She grinned. “Okay, Detective. What is it?”

  “You…have…to…finish…this…case…for us.” He’d managed to finish the last two words without taking a breath in between.

  “No. I’m not leaving you behind while I work the case. They’re liable to give me someone I don’t want to work with.” She noticed he’d stopped grimacing. “I think the meds just kicked in,” she said looking at Alan.

  Zach looked at her and nodded, “Dad.”

  “Yeah, I know he’s your dad.”

  “Yours too.” His voice was still breathy, but his breathing was less labored.

  “That’s right. I’ll have a dad again.”

  “Is your father deceased?” Alan asked.

  “I don’t know.” She held up her hand, “That’s a long story for another time.”

  “Jessie,” Zach said, “Go solve our case. King and Queen. Remember?”

  “I do. I hate to leave you alone.”

  “You’re not,” Alan said. “We have a lot of time to catch up.”

  “Okay, I’m leaving. I’ll keep in touch.” Jessie leaned over and kissed Zach. “You behave yourself.” He nodded. She turned to leave when Alan stopped her and pulled her into a hug.

  “Thank you for making my son so happy.”

  “He’s made me very happy too, but I haven’t always made it easy.”

  “Despite any problems you may have had, it’s obvious you two are very much in love. Now it’s time to move forward and work as a husband-wife team.”

  “No precinct is ever going to hire us to work together as a team.”

  “You don’t need a precinct.” Jessie looked confused. “What’s wrong with being Gerard & Gerard Private Investigators? I pay a small fortune to strangers who do my research and investigations. I’d much rather keep it in the family.”

  She glanced at Zach and shrugged. “It’s something to think about. That would be one way of eliminating our bosses from keeping a keen eye on us, like Reamer’s been doing since we started in the department.” She noticed Zach grimacing when he tried to shrug. “Ooh, I’ll bet that hurt,” she said gently stroking his leg. She threw him a kiss and began to walk out again.

  “You’re
not going to change your mind, are you?”

  She released a low laugh. “Not a chance, Buddy. You’re stuck with me for life.”

  He nodded and closed his eyes, a slight smile creased his lips. Alan kissed her again and she practically skipped out of the room and down the hall.

  On the drive home, she couldn’t remember ever being as happy as she felt at this very moment.

  28

  FROM A DISTANCE, he watched the vagrants circle around the pile of coats, trying them on to make sure they fit. The coats were his Christmas present to them. Coats for Christmas! He’d dropped them off, as he always had, in the middle of the night. He remembered how it felt to be cold. Just like he’d shown Jennifer. She deserved to be shown the other side of life—the side where mothers didn’t support you when you were perfectly capable of working. That was irony at its best, wasn’t it? As a homeless man, all he’d ever waited for were handouts.

  He smiled to himself knowing he wasn’t really a bad person. Too bad the police would never see him like that. As for that beautiful redheaded detective, well, he’d just have to wait a little longer. He reached for the two remaining coats draped over the passenger seat and brought the one to his nose and inhaled the scent of her perfume. One he was keeping as a trophy, the other…oh, the other was to have her near to him at all times. Excitement surged through every part of his body. He’d just have to wait a little longer for her because someone this special would be on his mind until she was his.

  Entering the precinct, everyone gathered around Jessie anxiously asking about Zach. Once everyone stepped away, the captain pulled her aside.

  “How’s he doing?”

  “He’s awake, in a lot of pain, but he’s going to be okay.”

  “That’s good news. Um,” he uttered, “I’d like you to take advantage of grief counseling, and I’ve scheduled an appointment with Sarah Jenkins.” he said.