Dead Girl in a Green Dress

by Loucinda McGary

  Unable to speak around the lump of tears in her throat, Byrony nodded. She attempted to dislodge the clog with a sip of coffee, but the bitter liquid brought no relief and she gave up after two sips. Replacing the plastic lid, she carefully placed the cup on the floor under her chair and settled in for a long haul.

  Minutes crawled by measured with the beeps of Tate’s heart monitor as she and Sloan kept their silent vigil. After a couple of hours, the growling of Byrony’s stomach over-rode the monitors. Her gaze met Sloan’s and a brief smile flickered over his mouth, revealing a dimple just like Tate’s. "Why don’t you and Paige go to the cafeteria? I’ll call if anything happens."

  Even though Byrony doubted she’d be able to eat anything, she also doubted she’d win an argument with Sloan Madison. She found Paige pacing in the waiting area at the end of the hall, and the two of them took the elevator to the sparsely populated cafeteria. Byrony bought a bowl of soup and Paige got a dinner salad. Neither of them ate more than a few bites.

  When they got back to the ICU, Byrony sent Paige into Tate’s room and she went down to the waiting area. After what felt like a never-ending hour, Sloan appeared and sent her back in for another turn with Tate. The three of them continued to rotate every hour or two until shortly after midnight. After the shift change, the new nurse encouraged them to go and get some sleep, but none of them was willing to leave the building.

  "You and Paige go down to the waiting area and catch a few z’s," Sloan insisted a half-hour later. "I’ll come and get you when I’m tired."

  Byrony didn’t believe for a minute that he was any more lively than her. However, Paige looked dead on her feet, so Byrony went along with Sloan’s suggestion. She and her exhausted friend stumbled down the hallway. They curled up on opposite ends of the couch, and Paige was asleep within minutes. Byrony didn’t think she’d be able to sleep, but very soon, she found her head nodding.

  Someone shaking her shoulder brought Byrony back from a dreamless sleep. Pale light filtered in from the windows on the back wall. Through her sleep addled brain, she gazed up and recognized Sloan standing over her. Fear and awareness flooded her and she jerked to attention. Then her mind registered the fact that he was smiling.

  "He’s awake and asking for you."

  "Me?" she squeaked in disbelief.

  Sloan’s dimples deepened. "He said ‘Where’s Sunshine?’ and I didn’t think he meant the weather."

  Chapter 13

  Byrony sprinted down the empty hallway to the door of the ICU, where she almost collided with a man pushing a dust mop. Muttering an apology, she slipped through the door. She didn’t see anyone else as she hurried around the nurse’s counter toward Tate’s room.

  With her back facing the door, the nurse stood making adjustments to one of the monitors, while Tate’s blue eyes followed the woman’s movements.

  He really is awake! Byrony gasped aloud at the realization.

  The noise drew Tate’s gaze, and a hint of a smile tugged at his lips. "Hey, Sunshine." His hoarse tone croaked like a toad, but was the most beautiful sound Byrony had ever heard.

  "Hey, yourself, Cowboy." She slid into the chair on the opposite side of the bed from where the nurse stood.

  His hand rested atop the sheet, and she covered his fingers with hers. Stress lines creased his forehead. "Did – did we get her?"

  Nodding, Byrony reassured him. "Of course we did."

  "Good," he murmured on a long sigh.

  "Try not to talk," the nurse scolded. "You need to rest." She gave Byrony a censorious look as she left the room but Byrony pointedly ignored her. All the dirty looks in the world were not budging her from Tate’s side.

  With the nurse gone, Byrony raised his hand to her lips and lightly kissed each of his fingertips. "You gave me quite a scare."

  "S--sorry, but I…"

  She let go of his hand and placed two fingers against his lips. "Shhhh. Don’t talk, just listen." The unmistakable gleam in his eye left Byrony giddy with relief and happiness. She was even able to keep her tone cavalier to deliver the news. "Mrs. Prince fell down the hill, and apparently she broke her neck before she got to the bottom."

  Tate’s eyebrow rose ever so slightly. "Fell?"

  "Okay, maybe I helped her a little." Byrony admitted with a hint of a grin. "By the way, that was a smooth move releasing the ammo clip. Mrs. Prince almost shot herself in the foot with the bullet still in the chamber."

  He gave an unmistakable snort that caused his heart monitor to give a jagged blip.

  "Hey, none of that or the nurse will kick me out for sure."

  "That’s right, knock off the stuff with your monitors." A familiar voice scolded, and Paige walked into the room, a dazzling smile on her face.

  "Hey, Sissy," Tate greeted in his hoarse whisper.

  "Don’t you ‘hey’ me after what you’ve put us through." Paige tried to sound stern but she couldn’t control her grin. "We’ve been sitting here all night while you snoozed. Thanks to your niece, I’m used to sleep deprivation, but Byrony and Sloan are practically zombies."

  "Speak for yourself," a male voice groused, and Sloan entered the room.

  "Lil Bro." Tate lifted his chin in acknowledgment and the monitor jiggled again.

  "I just talked to your doc." Sloan informed all of them. "He’s out there with the nurse ordering up every test the two of them can think of – EEG, MRI, cat scan, dog scan – basically they’re going to turn you every way but loose." Tate snorted again, and managed an eye roll while his brother continued. "So since you’re going to be shuttled around from one lab to another, I’m taking these two someplace for a few hours of sleep."

  Byrony started to protest but Tate lowered his eyebrows and glowered at her. He opened his mouth but Sloan spoke first. "Is she always this stubborn?"

  "’Fraid so." Then he made eye contact with Byrony and mouthed the word, "Go."

  The younger Madison gave his older brother a nod of sympathy. "Figures." Then he made a shooing gesture at Byrony and Paige. "Let’s go, ladies."

  Making a face at Sloan, Paige walked over and gave Tate a loud smack on the cheek. "Maybe they’ll find something inside that hard head of yours."

  Byrony leaned over and kissed his other cheek, whispering in his ear, "As soon as the doctors get done, I’m going to turn you every way but loose."

  Tate’s heart monitor gave a steep jerk.

  ***

  Three days later…

  Byrony rounded the corner to Tate’s room and heard a familiar voice. What was Detective Shaffer doing here? Tate was being released this morning. As nerves prickled down her spine, she hurried into the room. Tate sat on the side of the bed, dressed in jeans and a plaid wool shirt, while Shaffer, in rumpled slacks and sport coat, sat in the chair Byrony usually occupied. Both men went silent at her approach, though Tate’s dimples flashed beside his tightly pursed lips.

  Detective Shaffer rose quickly to his feet. "Miss Long, I heard Mr. Madison was being released today, so I stopped by to say thanks and wish you both well."

  "Thank you, Detective." Byrony gave Shaffer’s extended hand a single shake. Nice and ambiguous, just like her feelings for the man.

  "Take care." Shaffer’s nod included both of them.

  "You too, Jim." Tate’s voice had pretty much returned to normal the day before, and he sounded sincere.

  Interesting, and a bit of a surprise.

  As Shaffer shuffled out the door, Tate no longer tried to suppress his grin. "Tell me we can blow this joint, Sunshine. I am beyond ready to go."

  "We’ll be out of here as soon as the aide arrives with the wheelchair." Her fingers itched to brush the hair off his forehead, but she didn’t dare touch him for fear she couldn’t stop.

  Byrony had been on her best behavior for Tate’s entire hospital stay. As long as Paige and Sloan were around, she didn’t have too much trouble. But Tate’s siblings had both left yesterday, Sloan on his motorcycle, and Paige had driven Tate’s car back to Chicag
o. Byrony turned away and crossed the room to the long cabinet against the wall to get Tate’s shoes and leather jacket.

  "I don’t need a wheelchair." He groused behind her.

  Big surprise there – Not.

  "Just go along with the program for a little while longer, Cowboy, and we’ll stop for pizza on the way back to the hotel." She dropped the shoes in front of him and backed away. Images of what she planned to do to him once they reached the hotel danced through her mind, and none of them involved pizza.

  "Now you’re talking." He stood to shove his feet into the sneakers and sat back down to tie them. "Want to know why Shaffer was really here? I asked him to fill me in on the wrap up."

  Byrony blinked twice in surprise. She had to admit she was curious, but she was surprised that Tate shared her nosiness. "And he came here in person?"

  Tate shrugged with one shoulder and gave her a wink. "More privacy than a phone call."

  He took an unusually long time to finish tying his shoes, which Byrony suspected he did on purpose. And, as usual, his ploy worked. "Are you going to tell me or not?"

  "Still the impatient little bean counter," he teased, dimples in full view. But then he turned serious. "Your sales clerk identified Mrs. Prince as the woman in the red wig who bought the two green dresses. Sergeant Brandon recovered the syringe she stuck me with. It and the contents matched a supply of prescription drugs Shaffer found in Mrs. Prince’s bathroom along with her insulin and syringes."

  "So there’s no doubt that she…" She still couldn’t make herself say the last few words.

  "Between that and the shoes, none," Tate confirmed. "Jealousy is a powerful force, especially for someone like Cristina Woodleigh-Prince, who thought she was losing everything."

  Byrony rubbed her forehead with her uninjured hand. "I still can’t quite believe that someone would purposely kill another person, much less my little sister. I’m not sure I’ll ever understand."

  "Not much to understand, Sunshine." Tate’s tone went soft, soothing. "Just that there are bad people in the world. Always have been, always will be. Luckily there are good people, too."

  Taking a deep, cleansing breath, she fought down the urge to throw herself into his arms. Instead, she gave him a wavering smile. "So what else did Shaffer tell you?"

  Looking pensive, Tate steepled his fingers and spoke over them. "They released Justin Saunders and he took off on the first flight to Detroit without even packing his bags. Michael Prince also took off for parts unknown after being put on administrative leave. And our buddy Sergeant Brandon just left on an extended vacation, hunting in the Upper Peninsula. In Shaffer’s estimation, he’s contemplating a transfer."

  Byrony stood in open-mouthed wonder during his recitation. "Is anyone left to run the island?"

  "Not many, good thing it’s the off season."

  The appearance of a burly man pushing a wheelchair temporarily stopped their conversation. Glad she hadn’t given into her impulse to touch Tate and be caught in the act, Byrony eyed the hefty aide with growing amusement. Whoever was in hospital discharge must be familiar with Tate’s stubborn disposition.

  The man squinted at a printed list. "Madison? Ready to go?"

  Tate’s blue gaze traveled slowly over the beefy aide. Then to Byrony’s complete surprise, Tate rose from the bed, walked over and sat down in the wheelchair.

  "I’ll just bring my car around to the front." Byrony grabbed the plastic bag of prescriptions on the night table and sprinted out the door before she lapsed into giggles.

  By the time she found her car and maneuvered it from the parking lot to the entrance of the hospital, Tate and his large assistant were waiting for her. Tate had his phone up to his ear. Before she could get out of the car and open the door for him, he was out of the wheelchair and sliding into the passenger’s seat.

  "Thanks, Corey." He nodded at the aide as he closed the car door. Then he shoved the phone into his pocket. "Just calling ahead for a pizza."

  "How did I know?" Byrony asked with an eye roll.

  "Well, there is one more thing I’d like to know," he said, reaching for his seat belt. Then his gaze slowly moved from the cast on her arm to her face. "Did you really tackle Cristina Prince and club her in the head with your brace?"

  "I suppose Shaffer told you that." She accused with mock outrage.

  "Did you?" He persisted, his dimples flashing.

  "Of course I did. Nobody messes with the man I love."

  His throaty chuckle made goose bumps prickle up and down Byrony’s uninjured arm. "Why Miss Long, this is so sudden, especially for a bean counter."

  She slanted him a sassy look as she started the car. "In case you didn’t notice, Mr. Madison, I’m not an ordinary bean counter."

  "Believe me, I noticed." His blue eyes twinkled with the promise of naughtiness. "In fact, that’s why I love you."

  Happiness and desire rushed through her like a parade of soap bubbles and she planted a swift kiss squarely on his tempting mouth. "I hope you ordered that pizza to go."

  "Was there ever any doubt, Sunshine? Of course I did." And he kissed her back.

  THE END

  Loucinda McGary has been a storyteller and writer all her life. In 2003 she left her day job to pursue her twin passions of travel and writing. To date she has visited forty-seven states, thirty-four foreign countries, and taken twenty-four cruises. She likes to set her stories in some of the fascinating places she has visited. Her stories have placed and won several contests and awards including the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart contest, the Australian Romance Readers Awards, and the Kindle Book Review's Best Indie Book of 2012. Dead Girl in a Green Dress is her seventh published work.

  Learn more about Loucinda, her travels and her work at: www.LoucindaMcgary.com

  If you enjoyed this story, please check out her other books, all available as ebooks on Amazon and Barnes & Noble:

  Her novelette:

  The Sidhe Princess (2011)

  In the rural Northern Ireland of the 1960s, sixteen-year-old Moira Mullins is newly released from her second stay in a mental institution. Her problem is that she can’t seem to escape the notice of the other-worldly inhabitants of the wild lands bordering her family’s farm. Creatures nobody else can see or hear.

  When one of these beings, a fairy princess called the Maid of Ulster, offers to foretell the future, Moira jumps at the chance. But the Maid has ulterior motives that could have tragic results for Moira, who learns the future is sometimes better unknown.

  A dark modern-day fairytale, this 14,000 word novelette (easily read in a couple of hours) is a prequel to Ms. McGary's award-winning debut release The Wild Sight.

  ***

  Book 1 in the Adventure Cruise Line series:

  High Seas Deception (2012)

  A DANGEROUS MISSION

  The Irishman is a ruthless mercenary who performs any task for the right price. His current assignment involves intercepting a dangerous package smuggled aboard the cruise liner Intrepid. If the contents of the package reach Los Angeles, millions will die.

  But only if the Irishman fails.

  A DEADLY ATTRACTION

  When Adventure Cruise lines' security officer Skylar Davidson finds the stowaway, she recognizes him from a bloody shoot-out she witnessed at LAX airport. But rather than being frightened, she's drawn to the enigmatic Irishman, and quickly becomes embroiled in his desperate scheme.

  Can they win this deadly fight? Or will it cost them their lives?

  Riveting danger, fast action, and sensual romance make High Seas Deception a thrill-ride of a read!

  ***

  Book 2 in the Adventure Cruise Line series:

  His Reluctant Bodyguard (2012)

  The last person cruise director Avery Knox expected to see aboard her very first trip out on Valiant is former college football star, Rip Pollendene. A decade ago, she had turned down his advances at the University of Miami and lived to regret her decision. Why is she so reluc
tant to take the second chance she's been handed?

  Rip Pollendene is the heir apparent to a beautiful island nation. But it's a heritage Rip has ignored and rejected for twenty years. Now his homeland is on the brink of a bloody civil war with outside forces trying to manipulate the outcome. Is that why someone wants him dead?

  How much should Rip sacrifice for a country he hardly knows? And is it sheer coincidence that has thrown golden girl Avery Knox back into his life? Can they stay alive long enough to find out if their love really is meant to be?

  ***

  Also available in mass market paperback and ebook formats:

  The Wild Sight (2008)

  The Treasures of Venice (2009)

  The Wild Irish Sea (2010)

  All from Sourcebooks Casablanca and available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

  ***

  Please continue reading for an excerpt from Book 1 in the Adventure Cruise Line series: High Seas Deception:

  HIGH SEAS DECEPTION

  By

  Loucinda McGary

  Copyright © 2012 by Loucinda McGary Munoz

  Chapter 1

  From the balcony of the ninth story condominium, the Irishman drained his coffee cup and walked to the railing. Lifting a pair of small field glasses to his eyes, he focused on the boxy white ship gliding across the smooth waters of Banderas Bay. Through the early morning haze, he took a moment to distinguish the black, stylized 'A' on the vessel's smokestack, but once he did, the tingle of anticipation zipped along his nerve endings. Adventure Cruise Lines Intrepid – his objective was right on time.

  He saw the harbor master's gleaming metallic cutter rushing out to meet the huge ship and guide her into the port. Slipping the field glasses into his pocket, he walked back inside to ready himself for his own meeting with Intrepid.