by Andrea Speed, A. B. Gayle, Jessie Blackwood, J. J Levesque, Katisha Moreish
“I don’t know how. Archer had a face-off with Vale soon after I started working at the funeral home. I don’t know what it was about., but the kid has been convinced since then that I was part of Vale’s circus. Something he did say to me, though, was to ask Vale ‘about the hands’... Miles Sutherland seems to know a lot more about Archer’s situation than I do. He thinks Vale killed my predecessor, Stan Riley, too. Riley was nosing around and maybe Vale found out. If he didn’t have anything on Riley, like he does on me, maybe he decided to simply burn him up.”
“Sutherland is a doctor at the local hospital?” Breslaw was taking notes.
“Yes. I first met him when collecting a body from their morgue, little Bernie... “
“Did Vale tell you any specifics of his business...the illegal stuff , I mean?”
“Not really. He was more interested in trying to make me feel frightened, helpless and insulted. Arrogant bastard was really full of himself, telling me how easy it would be to sell me out and how much he was going to enjoy forcing me do his dirty work. I guess he gets off on that crap.”
By the time Breslaw had asked all his questions it was too late for him to find somewhere else to stay, so he’d appropriated Lyle’s sofa. Lyle wasn’t too sure if he felt better or worse for having the hulking great law officer in his home. At least he could sleep in his own bed now though, rather than having to hole up in the panic room.
Lyle was quite glad to have his nightmares shattered by the ringing of his phone a few hours later, even though it was Breslaw who picked up the call.
*****
Gil watched as the medevac team strapped Flynn to a backboard and immobilised his head and neck, wiring him to a portable heart monitor and hooking him up to an IV. He still hadn’t regained consciousness. Gil left Miles with them and went to check Aiden over, wanting to determine for certain he had nothing wrong with him that might be life threatening. At least one rib was broken. He knew Flynn had taken priority but he could still take issue that Miles should have let him make sure before ordering Aiden upstairs. Still, Miles was a small town doctor, not a field medic. He was working with what he had after all.
All at once, Gil thought of Lyle. He quickly flipped his phone out, hitting speed dial and waiting for it to ring. “Come on, come on, pick up...”
“Hello?” Definitely not Lyle, Gil thought in surprise, unless the hormones were really working well. The voice was much deeper, gravelly.
“Er...who is this? I’m trying to reach Lyle Tate...” the hair on the back of Gil’s neck stood up as alarm rushed through him. What if this was one of Vale’s goons?
“And who might you be?”
“I’m a friend...is he okay?” Great, how not to give much away?
“Mr.Tate’s friends usually have names. And do you think he might not be okay for some reason?”
“He lives alone. I’d like to know what you’re doing at his house at this time of night...?” There was the unpleasant chance that Lyle had found himself another guy. The unwelcome thought sneaked into Gil’s mind alongside his fears that Vale’s people had found him. Anyhow, acting the aggrieved lover wouldn’t be beyond belief.
“That’s Mr.Tate’s business. Now can I get a name from you, or should I just hang up?”
Gil debated the possibilities. “I’ll leave a message thanks. Ask him if this is a 007 moment? and ask him to call me back, within the next two minutes, or I’m asking the cops to call at his house. The same cops who are on their way here right now to take our statements...”
The conversation burbled on in the back of Lyle’s head. It seemed to be taking a bit long for a wrong number. He slid out of bed and headed for the lounge to see what was going in.
“Police? Where are you?” Breslaw demanded, suddenly really curious about who he was speaking to.
Lyle heard the change in Breslaw’s tone moments before his brain registered what he had just said. “What’s going on? Who is it?”
“Just get Lyle to call me back.” Gil said, cutting the connection. Damn, now he was worried on so many levels. Who the hell was that, and why the sudden interest when he’d mentioned the police? He stared at his phone, willing it to ring. Please let Lyle be alright.
As Gil waited, the medevac team passed him, carrying Flynn out to the chopper. Aiden rose to his feet, making it clear he wanted to be near Flynn. Gil handed him over to one of the EMTs to be taken with them; Aiden was also in need of treatment and he might as well get it from Asher Bay as Haven Falls. Gil had done what he could to dress his facial injuries but there was little he could do to for the rest, he didn’t have the resources. He passed his assessment to the EMT as Dante struggled to go with his master and Gil took a firm hold of the dog. “Don’t worry, we’ll take care of him for you,” he assured Aiden. “He can keep Roofie company.” Gil also assured Aiden he would be in touch tomorrow and if he needed anything to leave a message for him at Haven Falls Hospital. He wasn’t sure if the young man had heard. Gil kept firm hold on the Akita’s collar as they watched the chopper get airborne. He was suddenly aware of the silence, and the fact that Miles was standing beside him, watching it into the distance.
Before he could explain anything to Lyle, Breslaw’s own phone rang. Lyle waited impatiently as the officer spoke in fierce whispers to someone at the other end of the line, then realising Breslaw had put his phone down to answer his own, Lyle picked it up and checked the caller display. It had been Gil. He hit call-back, worried what his lover might be ringing for so late at night. It couldn’t just be that he was missing him and wanted to come over, could it?
His ring tone sounded abnormally loud in the present surroundings and Gil pounced on it. He almost breathed a sigh of relief as he saw it was Lyle but he didn’t let himself believe just yet. It could be that guy calling back. “Lyle? is that you?”
“Yes babe, it’s me.”
Gil let the breath he had been holding go in a rush. “Thank God.” he said, with feeling. “Who the hell was that guy who answered your phone? Are you okay? Can you talk?”
“That was Agent Breslaw. I’m going to be okay, just need him to try and sort something out for me. I’m delighted to hear from you, Gil, but what are you calling for at this time of the night...morning?”
“You did find something then?” Gil knew Lyle had lied to him, even with the best will in the world, it still stung. “I mean, there was something wrong...”
“Don’t worry, I didn’t kill anybody,” Lyle huffed a laugh. “Need to know, hun. No need to fret though, okay?”
“Lyle...” Gil paused. How to break this news? “Lyle, I’m at the funeral home...”
Lyle’s heart jumped to his mouth, allowing only a strangled squeak to escape for the moment. Gil was in exactly the place he had hoped he wouldn’t end up. That damned Sutherland must have roped him into some stupid scheme to expose Vale, he supposed. “Gil, you’ve got to get out of there. Vale, he’s connected, and a psycho to boot. If he finds you he’ll kill you. Please, get out of there fast.” He twisted to tug at Breslaw’s sleeve as the Agent continued to speak animatedly into his own phone too.
“Lyle...slow down! Panic over. Vale’s dead.”
“What!? Vale’s dead, how?”
“It looks like there was a fight and Flynn killed him. Vale was holding Aiden Parker prisoner... there’s some kind of secret room at the back of the basement.”
Breslaw broke his call. “I have to go, Mr.Tate. It seems Henry Vale has been murdered. I need to go see what damage limitation I can put on it so that you’re not compromised...I suggest you retire to your panic room until I can clarify matters.”
“Lyle...Flynn was pretty badly hurt. Aiden was beaten up but I think he’ll be okay. I’m not so sure about Flynn, he’s in a coma, severe head injury. If he lives, he probably won’t remember anything about this...”
Lyle was stunned. What the hell had he missed? How was Gil involved? “Are you okay, you’re not hurt?”
“I’m fine, when Miles a
nd I arrived it was all over. We got here in time to pick up the pieces...or try to. Medevac just left, they’ve both been taken to Asher Bay. The cops must be on their way...I expected Dispatch to call them...”
“Thank God. Hang on a minute Gil, I need to talk to the Agent I have with me.” Lyle covered the mouthpiece of his phone before turning to Breslaw. “My friend, Gil, he’s a paramedic, he’s on the scene...”
“I need to go, Mr.Tate. Let me talk to your friend. Go get yourself tucked in upstairs, okay?” Breslaw took Lyle’s phone, rather than waiting for it. Annoyed, Lyle stood his ground and listened to as much of the exchange between the agent and Gil as he could.
“Hello? I’m Adam Breslaw, law enforcement. Who am I speaking to please?”
“Carter Gillespie, Paramedic with Haven Falls Hospital. You were the guy who answered Lyle’s phone just now?”
“Yes, sorry, I’m here to protect Mr.Tate. He tells me you are at the scene of the murder of Mr. Henry Vale, is that correct?”
“Yes, it is.” Gil paused. How the hell did he know? He hadn’t heard Lyle repeat anything. He stifled the question for the moment. “What do you want to know?”
“Is there a Doctor on the scene, or a Medical Examiner?”
“Yes, there is. My colleague from Haven Falls, Doctor Sutherland, he’s here.”
“Miles Sutherland? Excellent. I need to speak to you both, I’m on my way there.”
“You know Lyle had nothing to do with this, don’t you?” Gil was suddenly concerned. “I mean, the guy who did it, we found him here...Vale was holding someone prisoner...it looks like a rescue attempt gone wrong.” Haven Falls was getting a bad track record concerning rescue attempts.
“I need to speak to the officer in charge there too, can you get him to this phone please Mr.Gillespie, right now?”
“I’m.. I’m sorry...” Gil suddenly wondered where they were. Dispatch should have called them out already. “The police aren’t here yet...” The implications were horrific, if Breslaw didn’t suspect Lyle, then he or the local cops might now suspect himself or Miles... Aiden had gone with the chopper team. What the hell had they been thinking? They had seen Vale’s body too.
“Don’t worry Mr.Gillespie, I’ll sort things out with the police from this end. You and your colleague just hang tight. Which hospital have the casualties been sent to?”
“Asher Bay. Haven Falls is too small to cope with this. They should be arriving there about now.”
“Great, I’ll have someone meet them there. You’ve done a great job, Mr. Gillespie. Sorry if I upset you earlier. I’ll be with you soon.” He finished the call and picked up his weapon and jacket.
“I can drive you...” Lyle started to say, desperate to find out first hand what had happened.
“Not a good idea, Mr.Tate. We haven’t secured all Vale’s known associates yet, you could be placing yourself at risk by going to the funeral home. Just stay tight here; as soon as I can I’ll be back for you.”
“I’m not leaving Haven Falls.” Lyle had to say it. He wasn’t going to give up and move on yet again. Quite why he was so determined to make Haven Falls his permanent home he couldn’t say, but that was his resolution right now.
“Sir, for now, let’s just keep you safe, okay? That’s my job... I gotta go, so stay put and we’ll talk about it all later, okay?” Breslaw left at a run, slamming the door behind him, hoping his charge had the sense to lock it and do as he’d asked.
*****
As Gil turned back towards Miles a shadow fell across him. He looked up to see a tall woman with long, curly, brown hair. She was made up perfectly, and he noticed that her nails were well-manicured and painted to match her dark, formal clothing. “Good evening, my name is Nicole Tyler, I’m with the Federal Marshal’s Office. I believe I can be of assistance to you, Mr. Gillespie.” Without giving Gil a chance to answer she strode away toward the still-open door of the funeral home.
Haven Falls #203 Tit for Tat
Miles Sutherland, Carter ‘Gil’ Gillespie, Agents Breslaw and Tyler
with mentions of Lyle Ashley Tate, Flynn Archer, Aiden Parker and Henry Vale (deceased)
____________________________________________________
Once the helicopter lifted off, a quiet, spooky silence had descended. The cold breeze wafting over his skin, tingling his nipples made Miles suddenly remember he was only half dressed. He’d only intended to take the dogs out for a quick walk, and in his haste to leave, he’d just pulled on a pair of sweat pants. Was that the reason the hair on the back of his neck was standing up?
They’d had a hard time stopping Dante from getting into the helicopter with Aiden and Flynn. The dog had whined and struggled for a while but eventually they’d managed to calm him down. As soon as the shape loomed up on them from the darkness, though, the tension was back.
The street lighting didn’t penetrate the shadows around the portico in front of the funeral parlour. The woman’s face was indiscernible as she passed into the building. “Who the hell was that?” Miles asked Gil, but the paramedic’s gaze was following the woman’s disappearing back. He looked about as puzzled as Miles was by the woman’s sudden appearance. Dante made a lunge to follow, but Gil restrained the dog before he could run off after her.
“I have no fucking idea,” Gil said, dragging his gaze away from the retreating figure and turning to Miles with a frown. “I think we just entered either the Twilight Zone or the X-files. All we need now is for Agent Mulder to turn up... Where the hell are the cops anyway? I would have expected them to be crawling all over the place by now.”
“You may feel like you’re in the Twilight Zone, I feel like I’m in The Prisoner,” Miles replied. “Totally clueless about what’s going on. I knew it couldn’t be the local crew, not unless our Sheriff has had a sex change?” Miles sniggered to himself. That might explain why no-one had seen Lance Peabody for ages... but why would the Federal Marshal’s office be involved?
Gil glanced across at Miles when he made that comment. If only he knew.... The Sheriff wasn’t the one getting a sex change.
Miles was still pondering as a dark car came flying out of the night, pulling up sharp in the funeral home’s car park and disgorging a tall man in a suit.
“Agent Mulder, I presume.” Gil put on his most innocuous expression and added, “Agent Scully is already inside.” The guy had obviously heard the joke before, and wasn’t any more amused by it now than he had been on previous occasions.
“You’re Gillespie? Tyler’s inside already? Thanks.” The newcomer headed for the open door, but paused to pat Dante, quieting him in the process. Gil recognized the deep gravelly voice. So that’s who these people were—Lyle’s goon squad. The sound of a different set of loud barks ripped through the night air, distracting him from sharing the revelation.
“Roofie.” Miles groaned. He’d forgotten about his dog. “I’ll go get him.”
“I tied him to the fence near the back door.” Gil followed Miles around the side of the building. The second agent had shut the front door behind him, so they were locked out.
Miles crouched down beside the mutt and stroked his head. “It’s okay, mate, I’m here now.” The dog’s teeth were bared and his gaze was fixed on the back door which was now closed. Had the woman done that?
Gil fastened Dante’s lead to the fence and straightened. “Miles, I know who they are.” He paused and amended, “Well, I know who the man is. At least, I think I know why they’re here.”
Gil was just standing there, his attention flipping from the door to the dogs then up to Miles as if he didn’t know what to say next. How could he know who the couple were? It just didn’t make sense. Miles opened his mouth to get him to fess up, but as he did, the back door opened again and the man walked out.
“Gentlemen, my colleague and I will take this from here. We just need one favour before you can go home... Doctor Sutherland, we need Mr. Vale’s death certificate to indicate death by natural causes.”
> Miles straightened and eyed off the man. He knew his jaw had dropped open. He shut it with a snap. Fuck. How did this guy know his name? “Whoa, mate. I don’t know what planet you came from, but it’s going to be hard to pass a pen in the eye off as natural causes... unless you’re suggesting he did that to himself? Pinna accidentalis maybe, death by rubbing your eye while holding your pen. Anyway, won’t there have to be an autopsy or a coroner’s report?”
“Casus Pinna,” Gil corrected, smiling at Miles’ attempt at humour.
“As pronouncing physician, Doctor Sutherland, you can call it whatever the hell you want, so long as it means natural causes.”
The man bent down and patted Roofie’s head as if he was assuming his demands would be met. Roofie’s hackles might have lowered under the guy’s patting, but Miles felt his rise. If there was one thing he hated more than anything else in the world, it was being told what to do with no explanation. He couldn’t help himself. Standing toe to toe with the man, he shoved him in the chest with his finger. “I don’t know who the fuck you are, mate, but I don’t go around signing false death certificates.” He swatted the guy’s hand away from Roofie’s head. “Why would I want to do that anyway? The whole thing was pretty straight forward. The guy was a kidnapper and Flynn killed him in self-defence.”.
“Miles.”
Miles shook off Gil’s restraining arm. “No, for once I’m going to be the guy who follows the letter of the law. I know Flynn would prefer to keep his identity quiet, but there’s no way all this won’t come out. It’s a wonder the local cops and media aren’t here already.”
“Your friend, Mr. Archer, isn’t the only one touched by this incident. I’m a Federal Marshal, Doctor Sutherland, and I’m looking after the interests of a very brave person whose life could be forfeit if this incident were to be mishandled... Mr. Vale has some... unpleasant acquaintances who could cause a lot of trouble for the young men who were airlifted out earlier, as well as for my...charge.”