by Terri Reed
“That is very philanthropic of you. Your parents must be so proud.”
Not wanting to get into her family dynamics, Kris made a noncommittal noise. She hadn’t really thought of her work with the various ministries as philanthropic. That was a label she placed on her parents’ endeavors. They gave of their monetary resources and encouraged others to do the same, while Kris gave of her time and equipment to encourage others to give. Was either form of charity better or worse?
Could it be she and her parents weren’t so very different after all? The realization was a heavy one especially after the revelations of her misconstrued ideas of their relationship with Sadie from a few days ago. Her perceptions of her parents kept changing. And she truly liked what she was seeing. Go figure.
“I don’t see your parents here often.”
Vivian’s comment brought Kris’s mind back to the conversation. “Their visits were too upsetting for Sadie. Ms. Faust thought it best they not visit often.”
Vivian’s gaze wandered toward the window. “Ah, yes, Cynthia does take direction well,” Vivian murmured.
Kris frowned. “What?”
Vivian brought her gaze back to Kris and raised her eyebrows in question. “What? I’m sorry. I was lost in thought.”
“You said something about Cynthia? Who’s Cynthia?”
“Did I?” Vivian shrugged. “Silly me.” She leaned in closer in a conspiratorial way. “Did you know that a police officer took Mrs. Tipple away?”
Kris smoothed her hand over the wooden arm of the rocker. She should feel safe with Evelyn Tipple in custody but anxious little butterflies still fluttered in her gut. “Yes, I’d heard.”
“Do you know why?” Vivian stared at her with wide bloodshot eyes.
“Um…I’m sure the police have their reasons,” Kris said, unwilling to get into the specifics. She didn’t want to upset Vivian.
A smug smile spread over Vivian’s round face as she straightened. “She did bad things. She made people sick with her tea.”
Kris blinked. “You know?”
A dry chuckle turned into a slight cough. Vivian cleared her throat and then said, “Oh, yes. But she doesn’t.”
Kris drew her eyebrows together in confusion. “She doesn’t?”
“No.” Glee lit up her expression. “But she’ll be arrested and put in jail just the same. I have it all worked out. The police are so easy to manipulate.”
Shocked by the words so incongruent with the genial woman, Kris vaulted to her feet. “I don’t understand.” A slithering of apprehension galvanized Kris to stand protectively beside Sadie. “What have you worked out?”
Vivian slid from the bed and crowded closer to Kris. “You see, dear, it’s questions like yours that get you in trouble. You should have listened to my first warning.”
Shock sent a tremor cascading down Kris’s spine as the meaning of the words solidified in her mind. “You defaced my apartment door?”
Vivian casually put her hands into the pockets of her bulky sweater. She rocked back on the heels of her tennis shoes. “I did. I had hoped you would do as you were told.” She shook her head sadly. “But no. You just kept pushing, didn’t you? Had to involve the police. Just had to go searching for Denise. What a nuisance you’ve been.”
Her mind reeling with the implications of what she was hearing, Kris’s hand sought the call button on the bed while she tried to distract Vivian by keeping her talking. “You did something to Carl, Lena and Denise. Where are they?”
Vivian’s now razor-sharp gaze pierced through Kris. The physical change in her demeanor was as unsettling as her words. “That won’t help you. I’ve already disabled the alarm.”
Swallowing back her rising fear, Kris considered bolting for help, but fear for Sadie kept her feet in place. “How? When?”
She smiled serenely. “Everything is plug and play these days, so high-tech around here. And I came in last night when I brought your grandmother some delicious pudding.”
Rage roared as thunderous as a train through Kris’s mind, pushing back the fear. “Is that why she’s sick? Did you lace the pudding with something?”
“Oh, you are a smart one, aren’t you? Yes, I used the same ingredient to taint Evelyn’s teas.”
Infuriated, Kris demanded, “How could you do this! Why?”
“It needed to be done.”
Vivian’s expression showed no remorse; instead her benevolent smile made Kris shudder. The woman was clearly deranged. Kris’s gaze searched the room for her purse with her cell phone. Crud! It was over by the sink. She couldn’t risk moving from her place beside her grandmother. Who knew what Vivian would do? Kris stole a glance at the door. Where was Gina?
Vivian chuckled, the sound ripping along Kris’s flesh like the thorn of a sticker bush. “I can see what you’re thinking. But your friend Gina won’t be returning. She was taken to the infirmary and I would hazard a guess that the man who’s been guarding you is there by now, as well.”
A rocket of horror launched in the pit of Kris’s stomach. “What did you do to them?”
“Well, to your young man, I acted the gracious host and gave him a big cup of coffee. He did look like he was fighting to stay awake in the lobby. And Gina, well, she was a little harder to convince. But she took the hot chocolate I offered, I think mainly to get me to shut up.” Vivian giggled. “I just love when my plans come together.”
Kris’s gaze landed on the bedside phone. Unfortunately it was on the other side of Sadie. If she worked her way around the bed, then she could at least knock the receiver off. The receptionist would figure something was wrong when the light continually flashed at the front desk, right?
Vivian followed her gaze. “Uh-oh. No, no.” She wagged a finger. “Don’t even think about it. You’ll have to get by me to reach the phone. And that’s not going to happen.”
Kris’s gaze narrowed on the other woman. Kris could take her down in a heartbeat. But her mind worked to formulate a less violent plan. Keep her talking. Someone had to check on Sadie at some point. Besides, surely Gina or Don would let Gabe know they were sick and he’d come here. She sent up a prayer for help. She really didn’t want to have to hurt Vivian.
Gently taking Sadie’s hand in her own, Kris drew strength from her love. Sadie stirred but didn’t wake. “You didn’t answer me. What did you do with Carl, Lena and Denise? Where are they?” Kris imagined them trapped in some dark room, wasting away. She shuddered at the image.
“Dead,” Vivian stated simply, her voice holding not a trace of regret. “Cremated, actually.”
Gabe’s words about the mortuary rang in Kris’s head. The van that had tried to run her off the road belonged to the mortuary. She swallowed back the bile that rose in her throat. Anger pounded at her temples. “How could you?”
“Oh, it was quite easy, really. Of course I did have some help. I don’t get around like I used to.”
Thinking of Sadie’s suspicions that Ms. Faust was up to no good, Kris asked, “Is Ms. Faust aware of what you’re up to?”
Vivian face twisted in confusion. “Of course. Didn’t I already say that?”
Kris blinked. No. “Why would she agree to this madness?”
“As I said, Cynthia Faust follows direction well, though she wasn’t on board at first. It took some fancy talking on Henry’s part to convince her, but eventually, Cynthia saw the wisdom in relieving these poor souls of the burdens they carried.” She let out a small chuckle. “Besides, she liked cashing their checks and pocketing the money.”
“Burdens? Who’s Henry? She did this for money?” Kris had never faced evil before and had certainly never expected it to come from someone like Vivian, who appeared like such a nice motherly type.
“Henry’s my son.”
The words barely registered. Kris’s gaze was riveted to the hypodermic needle Vivian pulled out of her sweater pocket. Alarm swamped Kris in a violent wave. “What are you planning to do?”
“Rid myself of you.
You’ve made me very angry. I don’t like to be angry. It’s not pleasant.”
The words were delivered with a congenial smile as if she were talking about something mundane rather than about something as insane as murder. Kris’s muscles tensed. Every fiber of her being screamed attack before Vivian could do anything. Mentally, Kris picked out the other woman’s vulnerable spots—eyes, throat, knees, instep.
“Krissy?”
Kris jumped in surprise at the sound of her grandmother’s reedy voice. Sadie stared up at Kris, her cloudy blue eyes full of confusion and fear.
Kris squeezed Sadie’s arm. “Shh. It’s going to be okay.” Oh, please, let it all be okay. God help us. Send Gabe.
“Hmm, I didn’t take you as a liar,” Vivian said as she moved closer, trapping Kris against the bed railing.
Kris planted both hands on Vivian’s chest and shoved. Vivian stumbled back a step. Keeping herself between the madwoman and her grandmother, Kris ground out, “I’m not a liar. God will protect us. You and your evil are not wanted here.”
Vivian gave a short laugh. “Ha. Let’s see how well He protects you from this.” She raised the needle high and lunged toward Kris’s neck.
Using both hands, Kris grabbed Vivian’s wrist, and with every ounce of strength she possessed held her attacker at bay. But Vivian was strong, stronger than Kris would have imagined.
Enough of this! Kris rammed her knee into Vivian’s stomach, but they were so close because of the bed, Kris’s angle was off, making the blow less powerful. A swoosh of air left Vivian but she didn’t relent. Instead, she seemed to gain strength, pushing forward. Kris kicked repeatedly, connecting with Vivian’s shin. Unfazed, Vivian bared her teeth with a guttural growl.
Disbelief and fear clawed at Kris’s mind. Please, God. Hanging on to Vivian’s wrist, Kris bent backward, nearly lying atop Sadie.
“Oh, my. Oh, no. Help!” Sadie screamed, her weak voice barely carrying from the bed.
Taking her grandmother’s cue, Kris began to scream while keeping her whole focus on the sharp tip of the needle held inches above her skin and moving ever closer.
She so did not want to die. There was still so much she had to do in her life, so much unsaid. She wanted to tell Gabe she loved him.
A woman’s scream filled the hallway.
Gabe’s heart slammed against his chest with terror as he raced toward Sadie’s apartment. Not even taking the time to see if the lock had been engaged, he used his good shoulder as a ramming device, throwing all his weight against the door.
The lock did indeed pop and the door swung open. Gabe stumbled forward, quickly regained his balance and sucked in a terrified breath at the sight of Kris locked in a deadly battle for control of a syringe held in the tight grip of the shorter, elderly woman whose picture he’d just seen on a rap sheet.
Rage colored the world as he shot forward, his arms encircling Vivian Kirk in a bear hug. In a swift movement, he easily lifted the older woman off the floor and dumped her in the corner. Angie had stormed in right behind him and already had her cuffs out. Vivian greeted her with curses as Angie and an officer worked to subdue her.
“Krissy!” Sadie’s weak cry instilled fear in Gabe’s soul and brought his attention flying back around to see Kris sink to the floor. Were they too late? Had Kris been injected with a drug?
His heart cried out to God. Please, no. Show me You love me. Don’t let her die.
Gabe dropped to his knees and gathered Kris in his arms. Her breathing was shallow and her pupils dilated with shock.
He searched her neck for a puncture wound with trembling fingers. Her delicate skin was unmarred. The needle hadn’t made contact. Adrenaline drained from his veins and left him feeling light-headed. He hadn’t been too late.
Around them the room became a buzz of activity as more law enforcement personnel arrived, taking Vivian away, and the retirement center’s medical staff rushed in to care for Sadie. Nurse Annie checked Kris’s vitals and confirmed that Kris was in shock but would be all right.
Relieved, Gabe smoothed back Kris’s hair. “Kris, honey, you’re okay. I’m here.”
“Gabe?” Kris blinked, her gaze focusing on him. “Grams?”
“She’s fine.”
Kris stiffened. “Vivian!”
“Dealt with,” he replied. “You don’t have to worry about her anymore.”
Kris’s lip trembled. “The missing residents are dead. She killed them.”
Though he’d suspected as much, the knowledge left a bitter taste. “She’ll be going away for the rest of her life.”
Kris clutched at his shirt. “She had help. Her son Henry and Ms. Faust.”
Gabe blinked, stunned to learn that Henry was Vivian’s son. And Frank, for that matter. Okay, that added another twist. One he’d sort out later. “Don’t worry. Henry and Ms. Faust are in custody. You and Sadie are both safe now.”
“What about Gina and Don? Are they okay? That woman poisoned them!”
Gabe had guessed that was the cause of both bodyguards’ and several nurses’ sudden illnesses and had dispatched paramedics to the center while Angie drove him at a breakneck speed to Miller’s Rest. “They’re being cared for. Though Don was found crawling his way here from the men’s room. He was trying to do his job, but…he’s pretty sick.”
Kris melted against him with a sigh of pure relief. “You’re here. I prayed you’d come.”
Tears burned the back of Gabe’s eyes. He lifted her into his arms and carried her out of the chaotic room to a quiet alcove down the hall. “He answered both of our prayers.”
She sat next to him on the couch. She stared at him, her clear blue eyes wide. “You prayed? For me?”
Tightening his hold on her, Gabe nodded. “I told Him if He really loved me, to show me by keeping you safe.”
Her expression fell slightly. “You can’t bargain with God. That’s not true faith.”
“Ah, but I’m a Doubting Thomas, remember? I needed a little visual aid to help in my faith.”
She seemed to consider his words for a moment, then relaxed back against his chest. “You know Thomas went on to preach the gospel throughout the world.”
Gabe kissed the top of her head. “Let’s just take things one step at a time, okay? God and I have to get to know each other a bit first.”
She snuggled closer and lifted her face. “I can live with that. And I have to tell you—” She tugged at her bottom lip with her teeth.
He smoothed back her hair. “What?”
“I love you.”
Unexpected joy exploded in his chest. He opened his mouth to speak, to say…what? He didn’t know. He clamped his lips tight. All the emotions he’d been holding back since he’d first met her eight years ago expanded, making his heart ache.
Something in his expression must have made her believe the worst, because she put her fingers to his lips.
“I know you don’t believe in love and I’m not telling you this to make you feel bad or guilty. I just…For a moment, I thought Vivian might win and I hadn’t told you.” A tear rolled down her cheek and dropped to soak into his shirt.
Gabe pulled her to his chest and held on tight. “You were scared. Everything’s going to be all right now.”
He wanted to tell this strong, spirited, brave and beautiful woman she was wrong, he did believe in love. She’d taught him that love was there all along, he just hadn’t recognized it. But common sense told him that he should wait for a more appropriate time. Like next Saturday night when they went on their date.
He eased away from her. He had no other choice. If he didn’t get moving, he’d give in to her inviting lips and kiss her. Not a good idea when there was so much that was still unresolved in their lives. “Is it okay if we talk about all of this later?”
She wrapped her arms around her middle and nodded.
He could only pray that love would be enough.
Kris paced the living room of her apartment waiting for Gabe to arrive for
their date. It had been nearly a week since she’d seen him, though he had called several times to check on Sadie. And when he’d called earlier today, he wouldn’t tell her where they were going, so she’d had to guess on the appropriate attire and went with soft tan cords and a lightweight rainbow-striped sweater. She’d pulled her hair back into a ponytail and applied a touch of mascara.
Maybe he hadn’t told her what the plan was because there wasn’t one.
She was sure her declaration of love had shocked him and probably built a higher wall between them. His promise to “talk about this” was probably nothing more than his segue to a royal rejection. A repeat of the past.
Taking deep cleansing breaths, she tried to keep her mind and heart from throbbing with conjecture. She’d taken a risk in telling him of her love. She had to be prepared for him to walk away again. Just as he had eight years ago. Only this time, she wouldn’t regret loving him. He’d taught her so much about life and helped her to see her family in a new light. She’d do whatever it took, no matter how long or how hard it would be to make him see they belonged together.
Her heart would always belong to Gabe Burke.
Anticipation held back the exhaustion she should have been feeling. Sleep hadn’t come easily since that fateful day when Vivian attacked her. And every day Kris had spent time with Sadie as the doctors worked to rid her body of the toxins Vivian had given her. Even Kris’s parents had visited the center. Kris was relieved to confirm she’d misjudged her parents. There were so many layers to their relationship with Sadie that Kris had been unaware of. She supposed neither her parents nor Sadie had explained the many facets in an effort to protect her, from what she wasn’t sure.
The knowledge was freeing in some ways, yet left Kris emotionally on new and unfamiliar ground. She felt like she was finally seeing her parents through adult eyes. Took her long enough.
She glanced at the clock. Just a few more minutes and Gabe would arrive. She couldn’t wait to see him. He’d become such an important part of her life again. He’d saved her life.
And now her future hung in the balance. Nervous energy had her quickening her steps.