Eden's Baby

by Adrianne Lee

  Lynzy glanced up as they emerged from his office. David said, “We’re going to take a drive over to Colleen’s. If she should call or show up before I check in again, you can reach me on my cell phone.”

  A sudden wariness came into her eyes. “You don’t think she’s been—”

  “I have no reason to believe there’s any problem,” David lied. “And you shouldn’t let your fertile imagination run away with any such notions. I’m only checking on Colleen because—as you pointed out—this is unusual behavior for her.” He nodded at Eden. “Ready?”

  As he reached for the doorknob, it was already spinning. Eden and David stepped back, and the door swung inward. A breathless, rumpled Colleen stood there. She reared back in surprise. The tight knot in David’s stomach dissolved in relief.

  Colleen and David spoke each other’s name in unison. Then he said, “Where have you been? You had us all worried.”

  She came fully into the room and gestured with her hand that she needed to catch her breath. She moved to her desk, giving him time to assess her appearance. Wisps of her fawn brown hair poked from her French braid like snags on a ratty sweater, and beneath her large blue eyes the skin had a bruised hue as if she hadn’t slept in days. Her makeup, usually undetectable, was smudged. Her cheeks were crimson, but he knew that could be from whatever exertion had left her breathless.

  Lynzy said, “Why didn’t you call? I’ve been imagining all sorts of horrors”

  Colleen’s cheeks grew redder, and she lifted her shoulders defensively. “I—I didn’t think anyone would be here to take the call. Dr. Coulter was on leave, and you’re working with Dr. Levy.”

  “Never mind that, Colleen.” David’s voice was as soothing as balm. “Where have you been?”

  “In Renton. The nursing home called me about seven last night.”

  “Colleen’s mother has been in a nursing home since she suffered a stroke last winter,” David explained to Eden.

  Eden nodded and Colleen continued. “She suffered another last night, a severe one. They rushed her to the hospital. That’s where I’ve been. At Valley General. All night.”

  David, Lynzy and Eden each offered Colleen sympathy. Colleen thanked them and drew a sad, ragged breath. “She’s doing as well as can be expected, but she’s seventy-five....”

  David patted her shoulders. “You didn’t need to come in today.”

  “I know, but I didn’t want to be alone. I thought I’d get a book I left in my desk and eat in the cafeteria.”

  David had never seen his secretary so shaken. “Forget the book. I could use some lunch, too. How about it, Eden? We can’t see Beth for a couple more hours. Are you hungry?”

  Eden realized what he was doing, and she loved him for it. But to her surprise, she also realized she was famished. It had to be after noon. “That’s a great idea.”

  “Lynzy? I’m buying.”

  “Dr. Levy? Or a free lunch? Hmm.” Lynzy leapt up. “I’m starving.”

  On the way to the cafeteria, Colleen and Eden commiserated over their mother and sister respectively. Eden realized she faced hope today, while Colleen faced despair, and she counted her blessings. She had David and her sister... and her baby to share the bad times and the good times. When Colleen’s mom died, she’d be all alone.

  The cafeteria was a hive of buzzing chatter, personnel and visitors eating, talking, coming and going. As they grabbed their trays and joined the food line, Eden noticed a couple of women, strangers, glance at her, then duck their heads together. Obviously more media watchers, she decided, lifting her chin and ignoring them. She was innocent and she damned well wouldn’t act otherwise.

  David paid for their food and began weaving his way through the crowded tables to a place near the back wall. Colleen was right behind him, trailed by Lynzy. Eden was last in their little procession. As she followed, she felt more eyes on her, but she kept her gaze focused on David and the table he’d chosen.

  A white object rested on the tabletop. Her heart stopped. Someone rammed against her. Eden let out a startled gasp, nearly dropping her tray.

  “Sorry,” the grungy teenage boy murmured, momentarily blocking her view of the table.

  Eden stood frozen, unable to respond, unable to move. Please, God, not another rose.

  “Whatever,” the teenage boy said in exasperation, then shouldered past her.

  She could still feel eyes on her and realized she was blocking the narrow space between tables, making a spectacle of herself. She pushed ahead and plunked her tray down opposite David’s. Where had the object gone?

  “Ms. Prescott? Eden?”

  Recognizing Ariel Bell’s voice, Eden jerked around. She was seated at the next table with Denise Smalley. Denise’s face was set in a serene expression, neither friendly nor hostile.

  Eden ignored her. “Hello, Ariel.”

  “Denise tells me Beth is here for her kidney. Please tell her I’m delighted for her.”

  “I will. Thank you.”

  Eden turned back to the table and sat down. Next to Colleen’s tray was the object she’d thought was a rose. She almost laughed. It was only a white napkin someone had twisted into a shape that resembled the hated flower.

  THE WOMAN TWISTED on her cafeteria chair. Eden and David had thought they could run from her, but there was nowhere for them to hide. Didn’t they know that by now?

  She ate her salad in silence, wincing inwardly every time she saw Eden bestow a tender gaze on David. My David! The scream resounded inside her head, echoing off her pounding temples and blistering the blood that boiled through her veins.

  Temper, temper. She could hear her mother’s words whispering through the anger fogging her bram. The woman took another bite of salad, chewing thoughtfully. Was that witch Eden pregnant? Had she told David the child was his?

  Pain jabbed her heart, refueled her fury. But her expression remained placid, fixed. It was a technique she’d taught herself at the age of eight. As long as she controlled her expressions, Mommy and Daddy couldn’t see her emotions, couldn’t tell when she was scared or angry, wouldn’t beat her worse.

  Her gaze stole surreptitiously to David. You are running out of time, my beloved. Choose me and you choose life. Choose Eden and you choose death.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Leaving David in the waiting area, Eden strode down the transplant wing to the room assigned to Beth. A security guard stood outside. In deference to David, the head of security had agreed to lend one of his guards to watch Beth’s room until they knew whether or not she’d be staying for surgery. After that, they’d have to hire outside protection.

  Eden greeted the guard, donned an isolation mask and entered the fourth-floor room. The bed was empty, but she could hear the shower running, and the sour scent of antiseptic wafted on the steam.

  The window shades were drawn against the sun, and as the door closed behind her, she was pitched into near-darkness for two seconds. As her eyes adjusted to the change in light, she realized there was a nurse in the room.

  “This is Beth Montgomery’s room?”

  “Yes.” The nurse’s voice was muffled by her mask, but a shock ran the length of Eden as she recognized the crew-cut, frosted hair and coolly assessing sky blue eyes.

  Denise Smalley.

  Eden stepped closer. “What are you doing here?”

  “Readying your sister’s intravenous setup.”

  A sliver of fear snaked through Eden. Would this woman harm Beth? She took a step closer. “Under the circumstances, don’t you think it would be better to remove yourself from Beth’s case?”

  “If you have a problem with my being here, you may ask to have me removed.” Denise was as wooden as a tongue depressor. “But I assure you, I’ll take better care of your sister than you did of mine.”

  Eden blanched. “I had nothing to do with your sister’s death.”

  “You got off on a technicality.” Although she hadn’t said it, the tone of Denise’s statement held a save-
it-forsomeone-who-believes-you quality. “That’s not the same as being innocent.”

  Innocence was such a fragile thing, Eden mused, taking a deep breath. More than half of the Northwest believed she was guilty of double murder, but at this moment it was only Denise’s opinion that mattered... and how it could affect Beth. “I—I didn’t even know your sister.”

  “That makes it all the worse.” Denise sighed. “She was a great kid, and I miss her every minute of every day. Do you understand that? Do you know how painful it will be for you if this kidney isn’t a match for Beth and the right one can’t be found in time?”

  Oh, dear God, yes. Eden had lived with the fear of that outcome for the past year. “I’ve had to face the possibility of losing Beth.”

  “You’re luckier than I in that regard. One day Shannon was healthy, so excited about her life, the next she was gone. Snatched from me like that.” She snapped her fingers, but the rubber gloves she wore reduced the snap to a snick, “I loved her so much. And like some insidious cancer, it eats at me every day, because it wasn’t fair and because I had no chance to preadjust to the loss.”

  The heartache in Denise’s voice both frightened and confused Eden; she sympathized with the loss of her sister, but the murder of a loved one often roused the need for retaliation in grieving relatives. And if Denise was the woman obsessed with David, she was already over the edge. She watched Denise finish with the IV and walk to the bed. Could Eden risk placing Beth in her care?

  Her stomach was knotted, and her palms felt damp. It struck her that she was branding this woman guilty without more than circumstantial evidence—exactly as she’d been branded by the police and the press. Her gaze swept over the IV bag, innocently hanging from its metal post. Would a nurse risk poisoning a patient when she would be the first one suspected? No. Denise was not stupid. Besides, would a woman who loved her sister as much as she professed to have loved Shannon be able to take a gun and shoot her?

  Eden couldn’t imagine it was possible, and she suspected David and she would soon erase Denise’s name from their suspect list. But that didn’t mean Beth should be left in her care.

  Denise folded the covers back from the bed. “I understand Beth is all the blood family you have left.”

  “Yes.” Her stomach gave another anxious twinge. What would happen if she had Dr. Ingalls remove Denise from this case? Would she seek revenge? Eden decided this topic would best be discussed with David. The sooner the better.

  “Then her death would be doubly hard on you. Oh, don’t look so distressed. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Not even—”

  The unspoken “you” hung between them as the bathroom door clicked open, emitting the steamy antiseptic scent into the room and grabbing their attention. Eden stepped to one side, allowing Denise, who was more sterile, to assist Beth in fastening her gown.

  Forgetting that the mask hid most of her face, Eden smiled at her sister. “How are you holding up, sweetie?”

  “I’m tired.”

  “Of course you are.” Denise helped her into bed. “But as soon as I start the IV, you can rest.”

  Beth’s rest was interrupted almost immediately by the arrival of the first in a series of doctors who would reexamine her. Eden promised she’d return in a while and left. Denise followed her into the hall. “Are you going to have me removed from this case?”

  Eden wasn’t sure what she was going to do yet. She said noncommittally, “I’m certain you’ll handle Beth as you’d wish someone would handle Shannon if she was in this same situation.”

  Her pugnacious stance eased marginally. “We should be hearing soon...about the cross-match.”

  With that, Denise turned on her heel and headed down the hall, disappearing into a supply room.

  Eden returned to the waiting area. David and Ariel occupied adjoining chairs and were chatting softly. They glanced up as she approached, but it was David who stole her attention. His gaze projected concern that she knew was as much for her well-being as for Beth’s. A rush of warmth swirled around her heart, and she longed to fold herself into his arms, to feel his heat and his love soaking through her, and to let them wash away her distress. She glanced self-consciously at Ariel and pasted on a smile.

  David rose. “Any news yet?”

  “No.” She gestured for him to sit, then she took the chair opposite. “Denise says we should be hearing soon.”

  “Denise?” His brows crumpled, and she could see he was having the same concern she’d had initially. She ached to talk to him about it.

  “Denise is Beth’s case nurse?” Ariel’s gray eyes widened beneath her fringe of sandy bangs. “Is that a good idea? Feeling as she does about...” Pink colored her cheeks. “I mean, surely it’s no secret how she feels about you, Eden?”

  “No. It’s no secret.” In fact, Eden didn’t doubt Ariel had heard an earful about it at lunch earlier. The thought of Denise at the IV packet bounced into her mind. She had done the right thing, hadn’t she—letting Denise attach the needle to Beth’s vein? “We had a talk about sisters, and I got the impression she’d give Beth the kind of care she’d have wanted for Shannon.”

  Ariel leaned forward, her hot-pink top straining against her ample bosom. “What exactly did she say about Shannon?”

  Wariness swayed through Eden. “Only that she loved her and missed her every day.”

  Ariel sat back, her bangs lowering over her eyes as she arched her brows. “I expect she misses the competition.”

  “Competition?” Eden glanced at David. His lips were pressed in a flat line, and she had the distinct impression he knew where this was leading. “What kind of competition?”

  “The usual. Sisters will fall for the same mean....” Ariel shook her head. “I think it’s an eleventh commandment or something.”

  Eden could not fathom the implication. “Are you saying Denise was in love with Peter?”

  “No, not Peter. Denise never mentioned him. She thought Shannon was interested in...someone else. I don’t think she knew about Peter before the murders.”

  “She claims she did,” David interjected.

  “Does she? Huh.” Ariel shrugged. “I was positive she didn’t know about him. In fact, if Shannon was seriously considering marriage, I can’t imagine her risking Denise’s predatory nature.”

  Eden grimaced. Although Shannon Smalley had fit Peter’s criteria for this year’s “trophy wife,” Denise with her boyish figure and crew-cut hairstyle did not. That didn’t mean she couldn’t have seduced him for a casual roll in the hay. “Just how predatory is her nature?”

  “She’d put a lioness to shame. Shannon and she competed for boys like opposing schools pursuing a state championship all during their teenage years and after. Denise claims she won more often than she lost, but honestly...Shannon had all the looks, and the sweet disposition. It’s like the old saying, blood tells.”

  David remained silent, but Eden could see he’d heard this all before and wasn’t going to gossip about a deceased friend. She wasn’t bound by that ethic; she hadn’t known Shannon. “Blood tells what?”

  “Blood. Relatives. You knew they weren’t blood sisters, didn’t you?”

  David nodded, but Eden shook her head. Renewed worry for Beth clawed her stomach. “Stepsisters?”

  “Yes. Shannon’s mom came from some fine old family out of Boston. When she divorced her first husband, the fine old bunch of them yanked the silver spoon out of her mouth, then permanently grabbed up the rest of the flatware when she married Denise’s widowed father, a hard-drinking dockworker.”

  The image of Denise extolling love for her sister and talking about the importance of blood relatives ripped across Eden’s mind. It had been a lie to put her at ease, to keep her from getting Denise dismissed from Beth’s case.

  Something dark and ugly slithered through her chest. She leapt to her feet, her gaze locked with David’s. “Denise was in Beth’s room when I arrived. She was doing something to the IV—”

 
; She couldn’t say it, couldn’t put her fear into words. Fortunately he understood and stood immediately. “You can’t suspect she’d do anything to the saline solution?”

  “Hey, Denise is a good nurse.” Ariel, also abandoning her chair, sounded offended. Apparently it was all right for her to bad-mouth her friend, but not for them to do it.

  “Three murders have been committed,” Eden reminded them, struggling to keep the hysteria from her voice. “The police are no closer to solving any of them than the day Shannon and Peter died. We cannot afford to take unnecessary risks.”

  Ariel’s hands were on her hips, her face red with outrage. “Denise did not kill her sister!”

  “No one’s saying she did,” David offered in a lowered voice.

  “Maybe not, but Ariel has to admit she just supplied Denise with motive.” Eden didn’t know if she was more afraid that Denise was a murderer or a revenge-seeking victim.

  “Well, I—” Ariel blanched. “Look, how can I help prove she’s innocent?”

  “What’s important right now is getting that IV she gave Beth changed.” Eden struggled against the panic nipping her nerves.

  David’s eyes were rounded. “Denise wouldn’t poison one of her patients.”

  “It’s doubtful, I agree. But I’m not willing to risk Beth’s life in case I’m wrong. Are you?”

  He considered, his face turning into an unreadable mask. It was likely he was recalling the rose they’d found that morning, recalling that they still weren’t certain why it had been left. “I’ll find Dr. Ingalls and arrange for a change of nurses.”

  “Thank you” Eden gave him a loving smile. “I’ll meet you in Beth’s room.”

  He headed into the hall ahead of her. Ariel called out Eden’s name.

  Anxious to get to Beth, she turned an impatient, questioning glance at the woman.

  Ariel said, “If you don’t mind, I’ll stick around for a while. If Beth is going to have surgery, I’d like the chance to wish her well. You see, I’m starting a new case tomorrow—on Bainbridge Island, a little girl in a body cast—and I don’t expect I’ll get back to Seattle for a couple of months.”