Mellow Yellow, Dead Red

by Sylvia Rochester

  The nurse nodded. “For now, you’ll have to take a seat in the waiting room. The doctor shouldn’t be long.”

  Susan looked back at Wesley as the EMTs followed the nurse through double doors and into a room with several beds.

  The nurse assisting Susan was middle-aged with short, auburn hair. “Can you stand?” she asked.

  Susan noticed her name tag—Evelyn Sawyer, R.N. “Yes, but I probably could use some help.”

  The nurse smiled and supported Susan. Once she was off the gurney, the paramedics handed the nurse Susan’s purse and then they left, taking their equipment with them.

  Nurse Sawyer put the soggy purse into a plastic bag. “I heard you went for a swim in your car,” she said. “This gown might be a little drafty, but at least it’ll be dry.” She paused and gave Susan a studied look. “I thought you looked familiar. Now I know where I’ve seen you—your ads in the paper. You run the Bawdy Boutique. I’ve been dying to shop there.”

  “Make sure you ask for me when you do.”

  It was so good to lose the wet clothes and slip into something clean and dry, even if it was a little airy. Susan added her wet garments to the plastic bag that contained her purse then climbed onto the bed.

  Moments later, a doctor stepped behind the curtain. “Ms. Griffin? I’m Doctor Zachary. How do you feel?”

  “Not bad, considering I flipped my car. It’s upside down in the bayou.” Susan started to ask if Jack Evans was on duty but decided against it. Jack would call A. K., and she’d get all upset. Besides, there was nothing either could do at this time. Tomorrow would be soon enough to tell her tale.

  The doctor listened to her heart, checked her eyes with a light, and physically examined her. “Someone must have been looking out for you. You have a pretty bad bruise where the seatbelt restrained you, but your clavicle isn’t broken. I’m sure other bruises will manifest themselves tomorrow, along with strained muscles. Except for minor cuts and scrapes, you managed to come through without serious injury. Do you hurt anywhere?”

  “Just a bad headache.”

  The doctor scribbled something on a chart and handed it to the nurse. “I don’t see any reason to keep you overnight, but you should take it easy for the next day or two. Tylenol will help ease the pain. If you have any problems, don’t hesitate to give us a call.”

  The doctor signed her release and exited the cubicle.

  “You stay right there. I’ll be right back,” the nurse said. In minutes she returned and patted Susan’s hand. “My mother would have my hide if I sent you home in a drafty hospital gown. Try these on.” She handed Susan a pair of scrubs. “This is nothing like the merchandise you sell in your shop, but it’s the best I can do.”

  “You’re a Godsend. I can’t thank you enough and promise I’ll get them back to you.”

  “Don’t bother. I’ll come by the boutique next week. I’m past due for something new.” She picked up the bag of wet things. “I’ll give these to your friend and let him know what the doctor said. Then I’ll have him bring his car around to the emergency entrance.”

  Wesley helped Susan into his car. “I feel better knowing the doctor checked you out. Did he give you a prescription?”

  “No, just suggested over-the-counter pain medication.” Her mouth curled in the corners. “You can stop worrying. I’m fine.”

  “Huh, I’ll never stop worrying about you.” He reached over and squeezed her hand.

  Susan laid her head on the head rest and closed her eyes. They rode the rest of the way to her apartment in silence.

  When they arrived, Wesley helped her inside and to the sofa, where he covered her with an afghan. “What you need is a good night’s sleep. A cup of hot chocolate might help with that. I won’t be but a minute. What do you want me to do with your wet clothes and purse?” he asked.

  “Put them on the washing machine, please.”

  Susan liked having Wesley pamper her. When she thought about what could have happened—that she might have lost him forever—she shivered. The doctor was right. Someone was watching out for her.

  “Here you go,” he said. “I even sprinkled mini marshmallows in it.”

  “Thanks.”

  Wesley pulled the overstuffed chair closer to the sofa. “I almost had a heart attack when I heard the call on the scanner. Don’t do that to me again, little girl.”

  “Trust me. It’s not in my plans.”

  “Maybe after you’ve had a chance to rest, you might remember more about the incident, something that could help find who did this.”

  Susan looked up from her mug of hot chocolate. “I know who ran me off the road.”

  “But you said—”

  “I described what I saw, not what I felt. Wouldn’t do any good to explain the sensation I had to the police. When he walked to the edge of the road and stood hovering above me, I didn’t need to see his face to know that he was the man I surprised in the woods. It was the same heavy footsteps, the same ragged breathing. And although my face was mired in mud, the smell of a campfire oozed from his body.”

  Wesley put his cup on the coffee table and took the empty cup from her. Easing beside her on the sofa, he rocked her in his arms. “My poor baby, I’m so sorry. I’m gonna’ find that s.o.b., if I have to check out every dark colored truck in the parish. If he bumped you, he probably picked up some of the Camaro’s yellow paint.”

  After a while, Wesley stood up and scooped her into his arms. “Time for you to get to bed. I’m going to sleep on the sofa. I doubt whoever assaulted you tonight will try again, but I don’t want to take that chance.”

  “I’ll be okay. You don’t have to stay.”

  “I’m afraid I do. And you wouldn’t get any rest if I were next to you.” He chuckled. “I imagine your keys are still in the ignition. Do you have another set? We’ll need to lock the door.”

  “I keep a spare set in my purse. Would you mind dumping its contents on the kitchen table so things can start drying?”

  He tucked her into bed and gave her a goodnight kiss. “I’ll take care of it. Now try and get some sleep.”

  Chapter 8

  Susan woke with a headache, but that was only the start of it. Swinging her legs out of bed brought renewed pain, as if she had run a marathon. The deep bruise on her shoulder warned her not to raise her left arm too high. Slipping on her robe was an exercise in pain. A warm shower should help.

  First, she needed to wake Wesley. Poor baby, no way he had a good night’s rest on that sofa. His eyes opened when she pushed his hair from his forehead. “Good morning, sweetie. How did you sleep?”

  “A little cramped. How are you feeling?”

  “Sore.”

  “What time is it?”

  “Seven.”

  “Oh, no, I’m usually dressed by now.” He pushed off the covers, stood up and stretched. “I need to get on the road. You gonna be okay?”

  She nodded. “Once I start moving, I should work out the kinks.”

  “You know what that doc said—you’re to take it easy.”

  “No argument there. In all the excitement, you didn’t mention the murder. Have you learned anything about the victim?”

  “A little, but it’ll keep till later.” Wesley grabbed his jacket then gently hugged her. “No more late nights at the boutique, okay?”

  “You got it.”

  After Wesley left, Susan locked the door and put on a pot of coffee. She threw the scrubs into the washer, along with other clothes before taking her shower. The hot water was better than a massage, and she could feel her muscles relaxing. While she dressed, she dried the clothes. She wanted to have the scrubs ready for whenever the nurse decided to stop by the boutique.

  Over her first cup of coffee, Susan used her landline to contact her insurance agent. He said he would send an adjustor to look at the car. In the meantime, she was cleared to get a rental. Her next call was to A. K.

  “You what?” A. K. blurted. “Why didn’t you call me? I would have
come to the hospital. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Yes, I got the all clear. I didn’t want to worry you, and there was nothing you could do. Besides, Wesley was with me. But today, I really need your help. I have to pick up a rental and buy a new phone.”

  “Are you sure you shouldn’t stay home and rest?”

  “I’m just sore. That’s all. What time can you be here?”

  “How about eight thirty?”

  “Sounds good. It’ll give me time to call Mom and Edward. Let the family know I’m okay. Don’t want them to find out about my accident by the grapevine. Let’s stop by the boutique first. I want to square things away, and let everyone know what happened.”

  A. K. arrived on time and gave Susan the once over. “I don’t see any injuries.”

  “I told you I was okay.” Susan pushed up the sleeve of her sweater. “See, only a few scratches and a big bruise from the seat belt.”

  As they walked to the Mustang, A. K. followed Susan. “Hmm, seems to me your giddy-up is dragging.”

  “It’ll get better. Trust me.”

  All the employees made a fuss over Susan and told her not to worry about the boutique or the costume shop. She thanked them, confident they would do a good job.

  “Where to?” A. K. asked as they climbed into her Mustang.

  “Hammond and the Best Buy store. I have to buy another phone. I heard that most SIM cards are waterproof. Guess I’m going to find out if that’s true. I’d sure hate to have to recreate all my information.”

  Susan decided to stick with the iPhone, and at the AT&T store, she discovered the SIM card still worked. “Thank you,” she said, looking skyward.

  “Okay, what’s next?”

  “Some temporary wheels. I sure am going to miss my Camaro. Do you know that place on First Street?”

  “The one with all the flags out front?”

  “Yeah, I forgot its name, but I remember seeing their ad. They offer full-size SUV’s.”

  “Oh, going in style are we?”

  “No, going for safety. If that monster truck comes after me again, I want to be in something that will give me a fighting chance. If I could, I’d rent a tank.”

  The rental agent said he had two Ford Expeditions on the lot, one white and one black.

  “I’d like the black one,” Susan said. “You’re going to have to show me all the features. I’ve never driven anything that big.” After some instructions and a ride around the block, Susan thanked the agent and signed the necessary papers.

  “You know that SUV is not you,” A. K. said as they walked out of the rental office.

  “I did feel lost behind the wheel, but I’ll get used to it. Right now, I can’t think about buying a new car.”

  “Just make sure you call me when you start looking.” A. K. glanced at her watch. “It’s almost noon. You want to grab a bite before we head back to work? Sue Ling’s is across the street.”

  “Beats pizza. Lead the way.”

  Susan and A. K. left their vehicles and walked to the pagoda-styled restaurant. They paid for the buffet, served up their plates, and took a seat at a front window overlooking the road.

  “Have you heard any more about the murder?” A. K. asked. “Have they identified the body?”

  “I was too upset after the accident and didn’t think to ask Wesley until he was leaving this morning. He said he’d bring me up-to-date sometime today.”

  “Hmm, so he stayed the night,” A. K. said.

  “Yes, on the sofa. He wanted to make sure that guy didn’t show up again.”

  Between bites, Susan glanced out the window. She noticed a familiar, white Lexus pull into the parking lot of the bank, which was next door to the rental agency. Moments later, a black Ford Escort parked beside it. No sooner had the drivers exited their vehicles than an argument erupted.

  “Is that who I think it is?” Susan asked, pointing across the street.

  “If you mean, Kara, you’re right. But who’s that sleazebag with her?”

  The man wasn’t much taller than Kara. His complexion looked like tanned leather and his clothes were disheveled. A wrinkled, brown suit hung on his gaunt frame like an oversized flannel shirt on a scarecrow. Although they were too far away for Susan to make out what they were saying, the man was obviously agitated. He wagged his finger as much as his tongue.

  Kara didn’t seem intimidated by his outburst, only angry. With hands on hips, she was in his face, giving as good as he sent. Just when it seemed they would come to blows, they backed off and glared at one another. Then the man lowered his voice, said something, and Kara nodded. Together, they crossed the street.

  “Oh, my, gosh, they’re coming this way,” Susan said.

  She and A. K. slunk down in their seats and hid behind menus. Thankfully, the hostess escorted the couple to a table on the other side of the restaurant.

  “They’re behind a folding screen,” Susan said. “Let’s get out of here while we can. Whatever is going on, I don’t want to become part of it.”

  A. K. left a twenty dollar bill on the table, and she and Susan hustled from the restaurant and down the street to the right, out of eyesight of the two. There, they crossed over and made their way to the bank’s parking lot, where Susan pulled a piece of paper and a pen from her purse.

  “Let me get his license number. Maybe Wesley can find out what’s up with that dude. I so want to believe that Kara is right for Edward, for his sake. But she isn’t making it easy.”

  “You’re not going to say anything to Edward about this, are you?”

  “Of course not, unless...”

  “There’s no ‘unless.’” A. K. gave Susan a don’t-you-dare look. “If there’s a problem, it’s up to Kara to explain to Edward. You have no idea what this involves. Maybe it’s as simple as a disgruntled customer. Who knows?”

  “I hope that’s all it is, but just in case, I’ll hang onto this.” Susan tucked the paper and pen into her purse.

  That afternoon at the boutique, Susan worked on flyers and advertisement for an up-coming sale. She also took a few minutes to look at new cars on the internet, just to see what might catch her eye and what kind of financing was out there. She chuckled to herself, knowing she’d better have something in mind or A. K. would decide for her. Before closing, Wesley called.

  “I see your cell number is working,” he said.

  “I have a new iPhone, and my SIM card was not destroyed. I also rented some mean wheels—a Ford Expedition.”

  “That’s quite a change from a Camaro.”

  “I wanted something big and heavy.”

  “You made a wise choice. It can’t hurt to play it safe until we catch the jerk.”

  “Speaking of my accident, there’s something you should know. Earlier that same day, Kara had begged me to be careful. She said the Tarot cards showed pending danger for me. As usual, she wasn’t specific, saying only that she saw darkness and water. Just once, I’d like to hear her give specific information. At the time, I didn’t put much stock into her warning. Now, I’m not so sure. Maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to doubt her.”

  “If you feel that way, would you be okay with me giving her a shot on my cold case?”

  “I’m for anything that’ll help you.”

  Susan retrieved the license number from her purse and twisted it around in her fingers. She so wanted to give the information to Wesley, but decided against it. She did, however, tell him about the meeting between Kara and the stranger.

  Wesley barked a laugh. “Maybe the guy didn’t like Kara’s prediction.”

  “You and A. K. think alike, but I have a feeling it’s more than that. Anyway, enough about Kara. A. K. and I were wondering if you’d found out anything more on the latest victim.”

  “No name as of yet, but the coroner’s waiting on DNA results. The victim was a woman in her early-thirties, blonde, about five-nine or ten. Vince put her time of death a few hours before the fun run. Cause of death was blunt force trauma to
the head. You’ll be glad to hear that she was dead before the killer dismembered her. We have her blood type, and possibly that of the killer. Maybe Vince will get lucky and track down her dentist. Once we identify her, we’ll back track her last days. The killer has to be someone who knew her comings and goings, and it’s obvious he also knows those woods. We’ll find him.”

  “It can’t be soon enough for me. What are your plans for this evening?”

  “As much as I’d like to see you, I need to catch up on paperwork. The chief is a stickler about that.”

  “Maybe it’s for the best,” Susan said. “I know the sofa didn’t do you any favors last night. I’ll make sure I’m locked in and won’t answer the door for anyone. A good night’s sleep would do us both wonders.”

  “Okay, I’ll give you a call in the morning.”

  Susan hung up and stuck the license number back in her purse. For the next hour, she finished making the payroll and placed an order for certain lingerie. When time came to close, she made sure she left with the other employees.

  The overall feel of the Expedition gave her a sense of security. Riding high in the SUV, she imagined herself driving one of those big military vehicles. Let him try. Just let him try. She made the drive home without incident and hurried into her apartment.

  Chief Smith was waiting for Wesley when he and Charlie arrived at the department the next morning. Nursing a steaming cup of coffee, he waved a piece of paper and signaled for them to come into his office. “Two things,” he said. “First, how’s Susan? I heard about her accident.”

  “She’s sore and bruised but is going to be okay,” Wesley said. “You know she got a glimpse of a man in the woods near where we found the woman. If he’s the killer and thinks she could identify him, then more than likely, he was the one who caused her wreck.”

  “Any leads?”

  “No. The bullet went straight through the windows. It’s buried somewhere out there in the swamp. Slim chance we’ll ever find it. But if he’s local, we’ll find him. I’m pretty sure his truck sustained damage and is sporting the Camaro’s yellow paint.” Wesley paused and followed the chief’s gaze to the piece of paper in his hand. “You have something on it?” Wesley asked.