I would have loved to think this through more, but Cooper opened the door.
The security guard, a large black man, stood and blocked our path the minute we tried to enter.
I liked him already.
''They're okay, Henry,'' we heard Richter say—only heard because we couldn't see around the mass of humanity that was Henry.
The guard stepped aside and we squeezed into a room where the bed alone would have made the room crowded. Add six people and a patient with equipment, and I was thinking we all might have to grease our hips to turn around.
Scott said, ''Henry and I will wait in the hall.''
Once they were gone, I could actually see JoLynn and my sister. Kate was on the window side of the bed, helping JoLynn drink water through a straw.
Richter stepped back into the far corner and gestured for us to come closer. ''JoLynn's doing much better today.''
Cooper went to the bedside and looked down on her. He gently said, ''Do you remember me?''
Her eyes moved in his direction and Kate carefully took the straw from between JoLynn's dry lips.
''Police?'' JoLynn said.
''That's right.'' Cooper glanced at me. I'd taken the
only available floor space, near the foot of the bed. ''And her?'' Cooper said.
JoLynn said, ''Abby, right?'' Then she glanced at Kate. ''Your sister?''
Kate smiled and nodded. ''These are the people helping you. They have questions.''
JoLynn closed her eyes. ''I remember what you said, Chief Boyd.''
''What's that?'' Cooper asked.
''You said someone tampered with my car.'' Then tears escaped from the corners of both eyes. ''I lied. I deserved to die.''
Richter stood taller and took a step forward, ready to jump in and rescue the girl he'd taken in as his own. But Kate set down the water glass and held up her hand to stop him. Softly she said, ''We all tell lies sometimes. Especially when we're afraid.''
When JoLynn opened her eyes, she found Richter. ''I am so sorry.''
Cooper took over this time. ''He knows, Elizabeth. We all know. And it doesn't matter.''
JoLynn was still focused on the man she'd called Grandfather. ''Elizabeth should have died.''
The small space between Kate's eyes furrowed with concern. ''But that's you. JoLynn is Elizabeth. And you don't deserve to die.''
JoLynn's glance flicked briefly toward Kate, then returned to Richter. ''Can you forgive me?''
Richter seemed all verklempt again, as he had been downstairs. I wasn't sure he could respond, but he managed to say, ''There is nothing to forgive. But please talk to Chief Boyd and Abby. They have questions. I'll leave you with them.''
Then he walked to JoLynn's side and Kate scooted her chair away so he could get close to his once and perhaps future granddaughter.
Richter bent, kissed JoLynn's forehead and said, ''I love you, Elizabeth . . . or JoLynn. Whatever name you like best. I'll be back when they're done talking to you.''
I had to lean forward so Richter could get by me, and then he was gone. Mr. Man of Stone had cracked. He needed time to repair.
''Which name do you like?'' Kate asked.
''JoLynn. I've always liked JoLynn.'' She repositioned her shoulders and pain brightened her eyes.
''Are you okay?'' Kate said.
JoLynn nodded, lips tight.
''Before the chief and Abby talk to you, I need to ask one important question. Did you try to take your own life? Are you the one who tampered with your car?''
I could understand why Kate might have concluded this, seeing as how these last few minutes had revealed JoLynn's rather guilty conscience.
''I'm not that brave,'' JoLynn said. ''I don't know who was that angry with me. Maybe one of them.''
''Them?'' I said.
''The family. No one but Scott and Grandfather liked me. The family probably knew I was lying. That's why they hated me.''
''The truth is, we have credible evidence that Kent Dugan tampered with your car,'' Cooper said.
Kate shot him a look—one I knew. It's the ''Why can't you be more sensitive?'' look. She probably didn't think JoLynn could deal with this information on the heels of the suicide query.
Indeed, JoLynn seemed too stunned to speak, but Cooper had obviously gotten Kate's message, because he said, ''I didn't mean to upset you. But we found his fingerprints. . . . Well, we know he had his hands on your car.''
Then fear overwhelmed her shock. ''Where is he? Did you tell him I was in the hospital? Did—''
''Shhh,'' Kate said, taking JoLynn's hand. ''He can't get to you. You're completely safe.''
But JoLynn's eyes were darting everywhere. ''You don't know him. He found me once and he'll find me again.''
This time Cooper's tone was gentle when he said, ''He's dead, JoLynn. He can never hurt you again. But we need your help finding out who killed him.''
''Dead?'' She looked at Kate. ''Is that true?''
Kate nodded.
''We know all about his illegal business,'' Cooper said. ''A man like that had to have some serious enemies. Can you give us any names?''
JoLynn lifted her free hand to her forehead, a hand still swollen and scraped raw along the pinkie side. ''Enemies? I thought I was his enemy.''
Cooper looked disappointed, but egad, the kid probably still had major brain fog after her near-death experience.
Maybe we should test her more-recent memory. I said, ''We know Kent was on the Richter property recently, since he managed to mess with your car. You never had a hint he was lurking around? No hang-up calls, no sense you were being watched or followed?''
''Hang-up calls? No . . . oh my God.'' Her hand went to her lips. ''I remember now. He called me that night. That's why I left the house. That's why I was in the car. Oh my God.''
Kate squeezed her hand. ''You remember. That's good. And now you need to remember he can never do that again.''
Cooper looked down at JoLynn. ''I've already got permission from Mr. Richter to get the ranch phone records. Now that we know Dugan called you and you left in a panic, he could have called other times. Maybe he even asked for Elizabeth.''
And if so, I thought, that would bring the family into play, perhaps provide a connection between someone at the Richter ranch—someone other than JoLynn—and Kent Dugan.
Cooper was about to say something else, but Super Nurse Maxine Norman busted into the room like a rhinoceros, pulling Henry along by the hand. ''Mr. Richter told me how many people were in here. You may have his consent to torture this poor young woman with your questions, but you don't have mine. Henry, get them all out.''
Henry stood behind her and rolled his eyes.
''No problem. We're leaving,'' I said.
''They can stay, Maxine. Really, it's okay,'' JoLynn said.
But JoLynn was obviously exhausted and in pain.
Kate stood. ''I agree with—'' She squinted at the name tag pinned to Norman's olive-colored scrub top. ''I agree with Nurse Norman. We can come back another time.''
Norman said, ''I know these other two clowns, but who are you?''
She smiled sweetly. ''Dr. Kate Rose, a clinical psychologist consulting on this case at Mr. Richter's request. Can we call you about when might be a good time to visit JoLynn again?''
Kate's manner, which included her willingness to consult with Norman first, had an amazing effect.
Norman actually cracked a smile. ''Our baby doll is doing much better. Just let my patient get more pain medicine in her system and a little rest and she'll be fine. Y'all can come back tomorrow.''
Kate, you're a damn genius, I thought as we filed out of the room.
Back at my house after the hospital visit, Cooper and Kate huddled together and worked on some kind of todo list concerning the case—which probably included pressuring the phone company to release the requested information on the landline at Magnolia Ranch. I knew this because Cooper grumbled all the way to my place about how slow they'd been to cooperate.<
br />
I hadn't heard from DeShay about getting in touch with Officer Shauna Anthony and was about to search for her on Switchboard.com when Jeff called. He said he e-mailed me the completed police sketch, since he and Doris wouldn't be by the house until later tonight. Doris had her Saturday chores to do—things like laundry and cleaning her room. Jeff always spent time alone with Doris on his weekends off, and not out of guilt, like when he'd first brought her to live with him. He loved her, wanted to care for her. And that made me think of Elliott Richter. Same story, different version.
I hung up and hurried to my computer. I opened the e-mail attachment and printed out a few copies of the police-artist sketch, once again amazed at the picture. Unfortunately, this man's face was seared into my brain now and something else was going on in my head. This face bothered me and not only because of what he'd done. What was it?
I heard the ding indicating another e-mail message was coming through—a brief one from DeShay. ''Going into autopsy, here's what you need.''
It was Officer Anthony's phone number and address. I phoned her right away and told her who I was and what I needed. She preferred we meet in person to discuss an old case. She told me, ''People want to e-mail and yak on their cell phones all day long, but I never liked that when I was working. Face-to-face is my way. Besides, I can speak to you much more coherently that way. I have some concentration problems. You'll understand when you get here.''
She gave me directions and I left my office. In the living room, Kate and Cooper were deep in conversation.
I cleared my throat and they both looked my way. ''Officer Anthony wants to meet in person. Cooper, you want to come along?''
''Not a good time, Abby. I finally found someone who could make things happen at the phone company. She promised to e-mail the Richter phone records to your computer. Take good notes, though.''
Did the man not notice in the last week that I'm not the one walking around with a notebook in my pocket? But maybe he wasn't noticing anything but Kate right now, and waiting on those phone records was a great excuse to hang around her. No problem there. Not at all. I was happy to leave them alone.
After the events of this past week, I sure didn't want to be tailed. Staying away from the freeways made rearview paranoia far less stressful—far fewer cars to deal with. The drive to Anthony's retirement community—a gated neighborhood west of the 610 Loop, with welltended lawns and small brick homes—took a good thirty minutes longer than it might have.
I navigated the treelined road that wound around a golf course and passed the community pool. Since it was close to six p.m., and the hottest part of the day was over, the chaise lounges and umbrella tables were filled with men and women who'd probably saved their pen nies to live here among the pines. No one looked under sixty.
That's why I was surprised when Shauna Anthony answered the door, supported by a cane. This woman couldn't be older than late forties, early fifties.
''Abby Rose,'' I said. ''Thank you so much for seeing me right away.''
The woman's skin told me she was black and yet her beautiful dark eyes indicated she might have Asian blood, too. And then I noticed a golden retriever sitting like a statue behind her.
''Aren't you a pretty young thing?'' Shauna said. ''I would have come to you, but I don't drive much anymore. Come in and meet Oliver.''
But Oliver's concern was for his mistress, not meeting a stranger. Shauna hobbled around to face the other direction and the dog was close by her side as she slowly made her way through the tile foyer to a living room beyond. I passed a riding scooter, much nicer than what I was used to seeing in the supermarkets. I remembered Penny mentioning health issues. Looked like they were pretty big ones.
Two brocade wing chairs flanked a low, round oak table. A tray with a pitcher of iced tea and two glasses sat there along with a floral china dish of shortbread cookies. Slices of lemon gleamed in the sweating pitcher, and a bowl of sugar and spoons completed this welcome.
The dog hovered near Shauna, eyes on her face. She said, ''I'm fine, Oliver. Would you mind pouring the tea, Abby? My hands aren't obeying my commands today. Damn MS steals your life inch by inch.''
Shauna—she'd insisted on the phone that's what I should call her—settled onto the leather sofa facing the wing chairs and Oliver pressed close to her legs. After I fixed us both tea and eyed the cookies hungrily without taking one, I sat across from her.
''I'm not always like this,'' Shauna said. ''I'm in a flare-up right now.''
''I—I didn't know. We could meet another time or—''
''No. It's rare for me to be on the giving end of anything these past two years. Seems all I can do is take from others now. My friend next door fixed the tea and if you don't eat her cookies, she'll be offended.'' Shauna smiled.
''I'll have a couple to go,'' I said with a smile.
Shauna said, ''That's a promise.'' She then pointed my way. ''Visit Abby, Oliver.''
The dog came over and sat in front of me, head cocked, liquid brown eyes on my face.
I petted his silky soft head. ''What a beautiful animal.''
''Oliver has been a godsend,'' she said. ''He's always close. Even knows how to bring me my cell or the other phone if I fall down.''
My gaze fell on a photograph on the end table to Shauna's right. I was guessing the black man and the Asian woman in the picture were her parents. The man wore an HPD uniform.
Shauna caught me staring and said, ''He was shot by a crackhead on the east side ten years ago. Died at the scene. My mother took her own life six months later.''
I swallowed hard and managed to utter those inadequate words, ''I'm so sorry.''
''Don't be. They both made choices, choices they left me to live with. I'm okay with it all now. MS is good for something. It's taught me that most bad things that happen are not my fault. My father's murder and my mother's suicide? Those horrible events were out of my control. And getting MS? Not my choice, either.''
Choice, control and loss. That's what this case had been all about and still was. And here was someone who knew a great deal about those things. ''If you get tired,'' I said, ''let me know. I can come back.''
''Your line of work is adoption inquiries, right?'' Oliver returned to her side and rested his head in her lap.
''Yes,'' I said with a smile. ''Did you check me out after I called?''
''You don't think I'd let any old stranger walk into my house and ask me about my job?''
I should have known. Once a cop, always a cop. ''You worked with CPS on several cases?'' I said.
''True. Funny how a woman who never married and who never had kids would be suited to that job. Guess I didn't feel obligated to take them all home like some other officers I knew. Is this about an adoption that took place after we removed an abused child from a home?'' She looked at Oliver and patted the sofa beside her. The dog jumped up beside her and lay down.
''No, this is about something else. Do you recall picking up a nine-year-old girl from the bus station over a decade ago? Apparently she'd been abandoned there.''
Shauna's features changed from warm and welcoming to troubled. ''How could I forget?''
Oliver raised his head, looked at Shauna and whined.
''What can you tell me about her?'' I said.
Shauna licked her lips and reached for her tea with a shaky hand. ''Medicine makes my mouth so dry.'' After she took a sip by holding the glass with both hands, she said, ''God, that was an awful night—raining like hell. The child was soaked and I wondered if those blue lips came from being cold or from being sick.''
''You thought she was sick?'' I said.
''I did. And after I took her to medical and we stripped off those wet clothes, we saw that big scar down her chest, so I thought I was right. She sure didn't like getting a physical—cried through the whole thing, which sure brought her color back. The doc said all the crying was probably because she'd seen the inside of one too many hospitals. She'd had recent heart surgery.''
/> ''Did she talk about being sick?'' I said.
''That girl wouldn't talk about anything. Someone left her alone, chilled to the bone, in that hellhole bus station, so I couldn't really blame her. At first, anyway.''
''She wouldn't talk? Are you saying she had a choice?'' Back to that choice thing again, I thought.
Oliver relaxed, again resting his head in Shauna's lap. ''I remember thinking when I went home after that night shift, after spending hours with the child and getting nothing but a wide-eyed stare, that she knew her name, knew her parents, knew it all—and she'd been told to keep her mouth shut.''
Pushing Up Bluebonnets: A Yellow Rose Mystery Page 24