Black Moon Rising

by Ann Simas

  “So he lied about having called an ambulance,” Sunny said. “And then he reported me as the one who hit Della using an alias.” She turned bewildered eyes on Luca. “Why would he do any of that?”

  But Luca was watching his partner. “What?”

  “Bill James.” He shared another look with Luca, who nodded as if he got whatever confidential communiqué was going on.

  Neither of them offered her an explanation, but Sunny’s mind, though slow-churning, managed another question. “What is this man’s name?”

  Detective Stevens hesitated. “William James Morgan.”

  “Bill James,” she said after several moments of silent contemplation. “The bastard’s not much for originality, is he?”

  Luca’s attention focused again on Sunny, but before he had a chance to speak, Dr. Madani entered the room.

  “I hear you gave staff quite a scare last night, young lady.” His dark eyes roamed the room. “What say you gentlemen wait outside while I complete my examination. Then, if Sunny is up to finishing whatever discussion you’re having, I’ll let you back in.”

  Luca opened his mouth, probably to protest, but his partner elbowed him and jerked his head toward the door. The three officers moved out of the room, closing the door behind them.

  “How are you feeling?” Dr. Madani asked.

  “Not great,” she answered.

  “An understatement, I’m sure. Let me tell you what happened, in medical terms.”

  Chapter 12

  . . .

  “This is weird,” Brant said, rubbing the back of his neck.

  “Completely,” Trey said. “Since my partner is not supposed to be on the case, I’m going to need you to do some footwork for me, kid. You up for it?”

  Unoffended at being called kid by a detective who was fewer than ten years older, the patrol officer said, “You bet.”

  “Okay, I’ll clear it with your sergeant. I need you to get over to the Honda dealership and find out everything you can about this Williams character. I’ll forward his photo to your phone.”

  Brant gave Trey his number and pulled out his phone to input the detective’s info.

  “Once you do that, get back to HQ and dig up everything you can on the woman who reported the call.” He looked at his notes. “Bonita Hargreaves. Get transcripts and copies of both nine-one-one calls. I want Luca’s sister and the Fyfe woman both to listen to the audios, see if they recognize the voices.” He glanced at Luca. “Della should take a look at this photo, too. A confirmation on Fyfe’s ID is crucial.”

  “This is total BS,” Luca said. “I should be working this case.”

  “Simmer down, partner. I’ve got something for you to do that should keep you under the LT’s radar.”

  “Like what?” Luca growled. “Run out and buy donuts for everyone?”

  Trey shot him an amused glance. “Nothing that exciting. I’m going to have Records pull all the Toady Morgan files and you’re going to go over them with a fine-toothed comb, see if you can find any connections.”

  “And what the hell are you going to be doing while I’m sitting on my ass reading?”

  “I’m going to talk to the vice and drug guys. See if anything’s been popping with Toady.” He narrowed his eyes on his partner. “Are you going to be a good little boy and keep out of it?”

  “I’m not making any damned promises!”

  Trey slapped him on the shoulder. “Figured you say that. Want me to bring you back some lunch?”

  . . .

  Sunny listened in shock as Dr. Madani described her medical ordeal from the night before. No wonder she felt like she’d tumbled down a rocky hillside.

  “How long do the side effects last?” she asked. “Do they repeat?”

  “Given your condition this morning, I’d say you’re on the road to recovery.” He peered over the top of his reading glasses at her. “You were extremely lucky, Sunny.”

  “I suppose,” she conceded, “but I ache everywhere and my head is killing me, too. Oh, yeah, and this broken rib reminds me it’s broken every time I take a breath. Can you give me something for that besides ibuprofen?”

  “I’d rather not, but if it’s unbearable, I’ll consider something mild.”

  “Why don’t you want to give me a stronger pain medication?”

  “Your body is trying to rid itself of the flunitrazepam. They pumped you full of some other drugs when you started having adverse reactions, not to mention the meds you’ve been getting because of your assault injuries.”

  “I haven’t taken anything stronger than the ibuprofen,” she said in her own defense.

  “That can’t be right.” He flipped through her chart. “Well, I’ll be damned. It is, but if you can survive with just the ibuprofen, I’d rather not add to the little drug pharmacy inside your body right now.”

  From that perspective, Sunny couldn’t disagree. “I can tough it out.”

  “What if we close the blinds to darken the room and put a cool cloth over your eyes?”

  Sunny nodded. “The nurse did the chilled cloth thing the other night and it helped immensely.”

  “Good. Maybe you can sleep, as well. I’ll put the DND sign up on your door to keep everyone out, but I suspect the police will still want someone in the room with you.”

  Two days ago, Sunny would have protested. Today, relieved that her children still had a mother, she welcomed the extra pair of eyes watching over her. “Fine by me.”

  He glanced at the door. “I don’t think they’re through questioning you, either.”

  She let out a long sigh. “I think you’re right.”

  “I’ll check in with you later.” He got to the door and turned. “I’m relieved you made it through the night, Sunny.”

  She offered him a wobbly smile. “Me, too.”

  . . .

  Luca was reading through files when Dr. Madani entered the lounge. “How is she?”

  “Fighting a horrific headache, but otherwise, in good shape, considering.”

  “She sure has been through the wringer the past few days.”

  The doctor nodded. “Her body will heal, but mentally, she may have a tough time. Ordinary people aren’t used to such turbulent experiences.”

  Luca’s jaw flexed. In some ways, he felt responsible for what had happened to Sunny Fyfe. Not only had a fellow officer beat the crap out of her, but the deed had been done because, in a single moment of kindness, she’d stopped to help his sister.

  “The man who dosed her IV drip, he was working alone?”

  “We don’t know yet,” Luca answered honestly. “The guard will remain in the hallway, checking anyone who enters either Della or Sunny’s rooms.”

  “Good. Our hospital administrator has also authorized security walk-throughs every thirty minutes. It’s bad enough we sometimes lose patients here at the Heart. We don’t want them being murdered, as well. I presume you or someone else will be in the room with her. If so, enter quietly. She’s resting.”

  Kendall Graves, Brant’s replacement, immediately rose from his chair after a nod from Luca and went to Sunny’s room. Luca had already given him the lecture.

  The doctor stood a moment longer, staring at Luca. With a sorrowful shake of his head, he said, “I don’t envy you having to make things right with Sunny, but I wish you luck.” With that, he turned on his heel and left the room.

  Luca stared after the doctor, sensing both a little hostility and a little compassion in his tone, and who could blame him? One bad apple had tainted the entire police barrel and it was up to the good cops to make it right.

  Every twenty minutes or so, he peeked into Sunny’s room, then Della’s. Maria was keeping Della company and the two of them were having a chat fest with the young patrol officer assigned to her room. Sunny, by contrast, slept on. Luca hoped that meant her body was rejuvenating while she rested. Her parents sat at the other end of the lounge, talking quietly.

  It took him three hours to finish with the
Toady files. Once he’d closed the last one, he slid them all back into to Trey’s messenger bag and secured the closures. He stood and stretched, then approached the Keenes, who had been back and forth to check on their daughter. “How are you holding up?”

  “As well as can be expected,” Harry said. “Didn’t sleep well after we got home last night, either one of us. We finally got up at dawn.”

  “The grands are early risers,” Bebe said. “We got them fed and bathed, then let them watch TV.” Her voice caught. “Sunny usually restricts their TV viewing, but…I just couldn’t explain one more time why they can’t see their mom right now. Television is a great diversionary tactic.”

  Harry grasped his wife’s hand. “Sunny won’t hold it against you, sweetheart. These are extenuating circumstances.”

  “I hope you’re right,” Bebe fretted.

  “Has your other daughter arrived?” Luca asked.

  “Yes, she’s with the children now. Our neighbor, Molly Willsey, has been a godsend, too. She’ll watch the children this afternoon so Libby can come to the hospital.”

  Harry stood and walked to the window. He stared out pensively for several minutes.

  Luca waited. The man obviously had something on his mind. Bebe stayed in her chair, her elbows on her knees, her head against her clasped hands. He thought she was probably praying.

  Finally, Harry turned. “Someone tried to kill our daughter. He may not have been working alone. How do we protect her once she’s discharged from the hospital?”

  “I’ve been thinking about that,” Luca said.

  “And?”

  Luca moved his shoulders up and down, trying to limber up. “I think I may have a plan.”

  “Care to share?”

  He looked from Harry to Bebe, who had such a hopeful expression on her face, he almost did an about-face. After all, what mother would think it was a good idea for her unmarried daughter, the mother of her grandchildren, to move into Luca’s parents’ home with him and Della and Maria, all of whom were total strangers to them?

  . . .

  “Are you out of your mind?” Harry demanded.

  “No, sir. My parents live on a gated property. They also have electronic surveillance and the house has a state-of-the-art alarm system. They’re in Italy right now, so it won’t inconvenience them to have a police and security presence there.”

  “Police? Security? Who else would be there besides you and your sisters?” Bebe asked.

  “My partner Trey Stevens, in the house, plus frequent uniformed officers patroling outside.”

  “Not good enough,” Harry said.

  Luca held up his hand. “Let me finish.”

  Harry opened his mouth, but snapped it shut when Bebe put a hand on his arm.

  “The security piece will be handled by Sentinel.”

  “Isn’t that who installed our security system?” Bebe asked Harry.

  He nodded. “I thought you said their house was alarmed.”

  “Sentinel also does personal security.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  “Positive. My parents own the company. It was started by my grandfather in the forties and my father expanded it to include personal security in the seventies. They have offices in several major cities across the U.S. If you want, I can get you personal endorsements from a number of clients.”

  Harry’s glower subsided somewhat. “So what would the security entail?”

  “Someone in the house, someone at the gate, and someone patrolling the perimeter, twenty-four/seven.”

  Harry shared a look with his wife. She gave him a nod.

  “All right.”

  “Just so you know, we have a big family. A lot of them work for the company. They’re taking this threat against Della personally, so their stake in the job is going to be higher than usual. I’m telling you this so that you understand that your daughter will be in good hands. In addition, my former captain at FPD took retirement last year and went to work for Sentinel as head of personal security. He doesn’t tolerate fools or foolish behavior. Anybody slacks on this or any job and they’re gone.”

  “Darren Crewson. We met him when we were having a overzealous fan problem.” Harry exchanged another look with his wife and again, she nodded. “We’ll pay for half the security expenses. I don’t know about Della, but Sunny may require some nursing care for a day or two. We’ll pay for that, as well, and the nurse can see to Della, if need be. Bebe and I will keep the children at our house, but they’ll need to be allowed to visit their mother. That may necessitate me and Bebe and our daughter Liberty coming along.”

  “You’ll get no argument from me.” Luca had discussed in depth the issue of security with his parents. Not only had they insisted on Luca using their house to keep Della safe, they had also instructed him to spare no cost for manpower or medical issues. Their generosity had included Sunny, who quite possibly had saved their daughter’s life. “However, my parents will pay for any nursing services.”

  “I thought they were in Italy,” Bebe said.

  “I spoke to them earlier on Skype and they’re one-hundred percent on board with the plan.”

  “Are they coming back?” Bebe asked.

  “No, I convinced them it would be better if they finished their trip and return, as planned, at the end of the following month.” That was only a little over four weeks away. God help them all if they didn’t have this figured out by then. Or if something happened to Della, despite all his counter measures.

  “Sunny owns a gun,” Harry said unexpectedly, “and she knows how to use it.”

  Luca’s first reaction was to forestall any discussion about Sunshine Fyfe entering his parents’ home armed, but then he considered the possibility of things going FUBAR. Della and Maria also knew how to handle a weapon, and though neither owned a gun, his parents owned several. His sisters knew where they were kept and how to use them. “She won’t need it. There’ll be plenty of armed people around her.”

  Bebe and Harry exchanged a worried glance.

  “Do you know when they plan to release her?” Luca asked.

  “Dr. Fenton told us when we came in that they want to monitor her for another twenty-four hours because of the Rohypnol. If everything looks good, she’ll go to the floor for a day, then she can leave. She wants our girl to remain on oxygen for a while longer because of the collapsed lung.”

  Two days for Sunny and one more for Della. That should give him plenty of time to set things up.

  If they got damned lucky, they’d know long before either Della or Sunny left the hospital if Toady was working alone, or if he wasn’t. Maybe his accomplice or accomplices would even be in custody by then.

  And pigs were green and cats didn’t hate humans.

  About that time, the nurse came in to tell the Keenes that Sunny was awake and asking for them. Luca left them to their alone time.

  He plugged some coins into the coffee machine and took a cup over to the TV. Terrorist activity around the world dominated the news. Secondarily, an upcoming election for several bond issues, none of which had a chance in hell of passing, was worth three minutes of air time. No mention was made of the cop-related shooting at the hospital.

  Luca wondered how FPD had managed to keep the story away from the press, who so readily jumped in to crucify cops these days.

  And then he wondered if somebody in the upper echelons knew something he didn’t know that he should know about what was going on.

  While he pondered his little conspiracy theory, Trey arrived toting two bags of food.

  Brant trailed in behind him, a drink carrier in his hands. “Man, what a day.”

  “You got that right,” Trey agreed. He set the bags on the table and moved the messenger bag to the floor. “The minute anyone walks through that door, we stop talking, got it?”

  Intrigued, Luca moved over to join them.

  Chapter 13

  . . .

  Every time Sunny thought nothing more coul
d throw her for another loop, Fate reared its cocky head and laughed at her.

  “Detective Amorosi wants to what?”

  Patiently, her mother explained the plan once more.

  “No. Absolutely not.”

  “Be reasonable, Sunny. If someone’s trying to…well, that is…if someone wants to…um—”

  “Kill me, Mom. Just say it. I’m already freaked out about it, so nothing you can say will freak me out more.” She felt instant remorse when her mother’s face screwed up in horror. “Oh, God, Mom, I’m sorry! I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

  “Someone tried to kill you,” her father said. “Twice, if you count that cop. Look, Sunny, your mother and I think the detective’s plan has merit. We’ll have the kids at our house, where they’ll be safe. If you’re at our place, or at your house, they could be in peripheral danger, at the very least.”

  Sunny considered his rationale for several minutes while her stubbornness and her desire to see her children waged a war within her. Ultimately, she gave her begrudging agreement. “Will Libby stay to help? Both the kids together are too much of a handful for you guys over an extended period.”

  “I wish I didn’t agree with you,” Bebe said, “but I know you’re right. Liberty says she can stay as long as we need her and Molly has offered to come over at a moment’s notice, bless her heart.”

  Hot tears suddenly filled Sunny’s eyes. “I need to see my babies. They must be so confused….”

  “They are, but we explained you’d had an accident, sweetheart.” Harry’s eyes darted around the room uneasily before they came back to rest on her face. “You’re pretty banged up, Sunny. Mom and I are afraid it might scare them more to see you in this condition than not to see you at all.”

  What with being beaten to a pulp and then almost being murdered, Sunny hadn’t really given any consideration to what she must look like. It was bad enough that she had to constantly be reminded of her pain every time she breathed. She put out her hand to her mother. “Your compact, please.”

  “But—”

  “Mom, please, don’t argue.”