by Ann Mullen
“We just convinced her to move out of her house. We can’t ask her to get rid of her car. Besides, she loves that car. She calls it her grandma mobile. Where’s this coming from, `ge ya? You never said anything before.”
“Hey, you can let her use your old Mercury to do surveillance. Nobody pays attention to that car. They like new, shiny ones, not something that looks like poor people own it. They think it has a disease and they want to get as far away from it as they can.”
I was pacing the floor. “And where’s that darn cat? If he goes out and gets himself killed, the children will be devastated.”
Billy looked at me as if he was trying to figure out what had come over me in the last few minutes. He could tell something was wrong. He stepped in front of me, stopping me in my tracks, and then put his arm around me. “What is it, `ge ya? You’re not acting like yourself.”
Helene wiped her hands on the kitchen towel. “She’s nervous, Billy. All that stuff you said about everything being all right and the case being closed… well… she has her doubts… and frankly, so do I.”
We had no idea that soon our doubts would prove to have merit. Things were not all right, and the case was far from being closed.
Chapter 13
The weatherman had hit his mark this time. The front brought in streaks of lightning, followed by thunder that rolled and cracked overhead. Then the snow started falling. Once the snow came, the thunder and lightning faded away, much to my relief. Nothing scared me more than lightning. I’d seen its power and destructive force and what it could do to anyone in its path. I had refused to go out in it, delaying us from going to the hospital as planned. I wanted to know the status of Dakota Stone and Savannah Kelly just as much as anyone, but I put my curiosity on the back burner. I couldn’t bring myself to step outside until the lightning had completely quit, and now that it had, it was time to go.
Billy and I were getting ready to leave when I heard the cat meowing in the utility room. “Ah, he’s back. That little rascal. He’s probably covered with snow.” I went to check on him.
Spice Cat was indeed covered with snow, right down to his soaking wet paws. I grabbed a towel and started wiping him. That’s when I discovered it. “Billy, come here! Spice Cat has something stuck in his paw.”
Billy examined Spice’s paw, and then chuckled. “It’s just a bur, Jesse. He’s been out in the woods again.” He gently removed it and showed it to me. “See, nothing but a little old bur.” He rubbed Spice’s head. “You do manage to get into everything, don’t you?” He ran his hand down the length of Spice’s back, and then stopped. “What’s this, little fellow?”
I laughed. “He doesn’t look so little when he gets his winter coat. I wouldn’t be surprised what you’d find in there.”
Billy slid something off Spice Cat’s tail and held it up for me to see. “It’s a wedding band. Now that’s odd. Someone put it on him. There’s no way he could’ve done this to himself. It’s as if someone slid it on his tail like you would when placing it on a person’s finger. We were meant to find the ring.”
“If I remember right, the last time anyone saw Spice Cat was last night when he woke up Eddie. I wonder if he had it on him then. Do you think Nancy did this when she was lurking about?”
“She could have. What other explanation is there?”
Billy looked closer at the ring. “There’s an inscription and date on the inside—R & D 4ever 2008. Hmm…”
The wheels started spinning in my head as I counted off the years. “That was… six years ago. You think the D could stand for Dakota? I bet she’s married, or was, and this was her wedding ring. She’s been leaving us clues. Why can’t we piece them together?”
“I think we just did.” He stood and called to Helene. “Grab me a sandwich bag, would you please?” He looked back at me. “She just made it easier for us to trace this ring.”
“How so?”
“Tracing a plain gold wedding band would be almost impossible if it didn’t have an inscription, but this one does. We’ll trace the scriber. It might take a while, but it’s not impossible. Jewelers keep good records.”
Helene grabbed a plastic bag from the kitchen cabinet and brought it to him. “What you got there, Billy?”
“I think it might be Dakota Stone’s wedding band. Guess she doesn’t want it anymore.” He dropped the ring in the bag, zipped it up, and then shoved the bag in the pocket of his jeans. “We’ll drop this off at Jonathan’s and get him to run a trace on it.”
I looked over at Helene to explain. “It has an inscription on the inside—R & D 4ever 2008. Six years ago. The timeline fits. Billy says we might be able to get a trace on it.”
“I guess the D stands for Dakota. Very good! It’s about time we got something on her we can use. Boy was she ever stupid.”
“Wow! Déjà vu! This reminds me of the time Athena and Thor dragged home that severed hand with that big fat diamond ring on the finger. Creepy. Remember that, Billy?”
“Of course I do. I remember it quite well. Y’all had a fit when I wanted to put it in the freezer to preserve trace evidence.”
“Yeah, and after you put it in the freezer, you kicked the refrigerator for emphasis. Freaked us out.” I glanced at Helene. “You should’ve seen the look on Mom and Claire’s faces. At first, they were startled because they were already scared, and then the idea of a body part being put in the freezer just grossed them out. When I think about it now, it’s funny, but it sure wasn’t funny back then.”
“I bet.”
Spice Cat had given us all the time he was going to. He shook as if to throw off any snow I might’ve missed, and then walked out of the room, leaving a trail of damp paw prints behind.
I walked over to the back door, unhooked the latch holding the doggie door to the opening in place, slid it down, and then locked it. “I don’t want the dogs or Spice Cat to be able to go outside without one of us knowing about it. This is the only way to make sure they don’t. The dogs will bark if they need to go do their thing, and Spice Cat has a litter box, so we’re covered.”
Helene shook her head. “A cat isn’t like a dog. Spice Cat has always been able to come and go as he pleases. You change that and he might show you his displeasure by peeing on the carpet… your clothes… the sofa. Cat pee smell is nasty, and it’s hard to wash out.”
“He’ll adapt. Besides, it won’t be for long.”
Billy put his hand on my shoulder. “Okay, the doggie dog stays closed if it’ll make you feel better, but you gotta snap out of it. Focus. You’re letting your fear take over, and that’s not good.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. My anxiety’s kicking into overdrive. Where’re my crazy pills? I need to chill out.”
“I’ll go get you one.”
Helene turned, walked out and was back before I had a chance to tell her that I didn’t need a pill. I was fine, just a little jumpy. I had heart palpitations, but they, too, would pass. I had places to go. Then, I thought about it and decided that this might be the right time for a pill, before my anxiety gets out of control and I have a full-blown panic attack. I took the Xanax, tossed it back, and then chased it with a glass of water.
“I’m good. Let’s go. This pill ought to kick in just about the time we get to the hospital. Who knows what’ll I say or do, but at least I’ll be calm. I might be zoned out, but I won’t be anxious.” I laughed.
Helene rolled his eyes. “I can’t imagine you’d do anything to embarrass Billy.” She was still laughing when she walked out.
“You’re not funny, Helene. I know how to act. I got everything under control, even when I am crazy, right Billy?” I didn’t wait for him to agree. “Grab your coat. I’m ready.”
The snow was already an inch deep when we pulled out of the driveway and according to the weatherman on the radio, there would be plenty more of it to come. Before it quit, we could get as much as a foot. By nightfall the roads would be treacherous, and people were being warned to stay off t
he roads for their own safety.
“He’s not talking to us.” I pointed to the radio. “Can’t stop a Dodge Ram.”
“Yep, this baby will take us through anything.” Billy patted the dashboard, and then leaned over and kissed me.
“Keep your eyes on the road, Injun Joe. I no wanna die.”
“Me no wanna die either.”
Twenty minutes later, Billy pulled into the UVA Hospital parking garage, and as always, we had to search for a parking spot. We finally found one on the third level next to a black, Lincoln Town Car.
“It looks like Russell’s here. That’s his car. I recognize it by the license plate.”
“Yeah, you know it’s gotta be a lawyer’s car when the plate says SUE EM.”
“Thank God for elevators,” I said as we entered. “I got a little buzz going on. I don’t think I could stand a flight of stairs. It’d wear me out.”
“You’re not getting old on me, are you, `ge ya?”
“Never.” I grabbed him and gave him a sexy, lingering kiss. “Nope, not me. Do I kiss like I’m old?”
He didn’t say anything; instead, he took me in his arms and kissed me passionately, stirring my emotions and jacking up my sex drive.
“It’s been a while since we’ve done anything naughty. Want to go back to the truck?”
“We could be naughty right here.”
“I don’t think so.”
I kissed him again, egging him on. We were locked in an embrace, his hands caressing my body and mine doing the same to his when the elevator door opened. Facing a group of people, I said, “We just got married.”
They smiled and wished us well.
Billy smiled back, and then whispered to me, “You’re terrible.”
“I know. Don’t you just love me even after all this time?”
“I sure do. Come on.”
“What about the truck? Not interested?”
“Later. Business first.”
“Who are you, and what have you done with my husband?”
We were walking to the entrance of the hospital when Billy felt his pants’ pocket. “I forgot to stop by Jonathan’s and drop off the ring.”
“Call him. He doesn’t need to see the ring to run a trace on it, does he?”
“In fact, no he wouldn’t. I’ll give him a call and see what he can find out.” Billy pulled out his cell phone, called Jonathan, and gave him the information. He put the cell phone back in his pocket. “He isn’t holding out much hope, but he’s going to give it a try. Finding the owner of this ring could prove to be a long, painstaking job, unless he gets lucky.”
The hospital was a buzz of chaos. The snow had caused numerous accidents, and victims were being brought in one right after the other. It was non-stop. Hospital staff was running around shouting orders, while others were wheeling patients to different destinations for treatment. Billy walked up to the woman manning the desk and asked about Dakota Stone, and was told that she couldn’t have visitors. Then he asked about Savannah.
“Are you family?”
“Yes, she’s my wife’s sister.” He pointed to me as the lies flowed. “We were told that she’s awake now, and my wife wants to see her. It’s been such a trying time for us since this happened. We’ve been so worried.”
The lady punched keys on the computer, and then said, “Room three-sixteen.”
Billy grabbed my hand and we speedily headed to the elevator. When we got to Savannah’s room, there was a policeman standing at her door. After a brief conversation and a few more lies later, he allowed us to enter.
Savannah looked awful. She was covered in bandages and her face was badly burned. Her hair had been singed off to the roots. But she was alive… and awake.
“Come on in,” she said in a barely audible voice. “Don’t let… my looks fool you. The doctor says… I’m going to be okay. I’m lucky… to be alive.”
Russell Shank was sitting in a chair by her bedside. He’d once had a crush on Savannah, but it was short-lived, like all of his past crushes. However, she was one of the few he had kept on as a friend. He stood when we walked into the room, held out his hand to Billy and then to me, and asked us how we were doing.
“We’re doing well. How about yourself?”
We exchanged a little small talk, and then Savannah spoke up. Her voice sounded scratchy. “The doctor said I was lucky the firefighter got to me… when he did. The dryer had protected me… from the flames… but the heat was unbearable. I had to get out. I balled up… and gave the door a kick… crawled out… and that’s when the flames got me. God… this has been a nightmare. I hurt… all over.”
I walked over closer and lightly touched her shoulder. “You survived. That’s what counts. It’ll take a little time to get back to normal, but then everything will be all right.”
“When I came to this morning… all I could think about was Kaleb.” She looked at Russell. “Russell told me… that Cole’s taking care of him. Have you seen him?”
“No, but if Cole’s taking care of him, I’m sure he’s fine.”
“I was so afraid he’d… died in the explosion.” She looked back at Russell. “I don’t remember much… after that woman knocked me out. I remember waking up… and realizing I was in a dryer… and then I heard an explosion. I panicked when it… started getting so hot.” Savannah closed her eyes and dozed off.
“She’s in and out of it,” Russell whispered.
“Has Cole been here?”
“He came earlier this morning, but she was still unconscious. He’ll be back, I’m sure.”
“We hear you’re Dakota Stone’s attorney.”
“She’s crazy, Billy, but everyone deserves representation. They have her up in the psychiatric ward. She’ll be lucky if she isn’t permanently committed to a nut house. She has a lot of issues.”
“You can say that again. We’re still trying to find out who she really is.”
Russell had a strange look on his face. “What are you talking about?”
Billy explained what we knew of the woman and all that had transpired since we’d met her, ending with saying that she was a danger to our family. “She’s out for blood.”
I added my account. “I was talking to her on the cell phone when she had the accident. She’s going to blame me for the death of Olivia Swales, and she’ll be looking for revenge. She has to be stopped.”
“I think she has been. She’s handcuffed to her bed, and the minute the doctor says she can go, Captain Trainum’s hauling her off to jail. I talked with him this morning.”
“Did he tell you what the charges were?”
“The list is long, but at the top of it is murder. Gavin Preston’s body was autopsied this morning. I spoke with the medical examiner and he said the COD was poison, but there’s no way they can lay this on the Stone woman without proof that she actually did it. Trainum’s hoping to pull a few rabbits out of his hat.”
I smiled. “Meet the rabbits.”
“What?”
“Just before he died, Gavin Preston told us that she poisoned him with antifreeze.”
“Hearsay. Prove it.”
“Don’t tell me you believe that woman.”
“I didn’t say that. All I said was prove it.” He looked at Billy. “Without proof, she’s going to walk on the murder charge, if one is even filed. Trainum knows it. He’s scrounging for evidence, but as it stands right now, he won’t be able to charge her with murder. He’s threatening to, hoping to get a confession out of her, but that’s not going to happen. And if he does get a confession, I’ll file a diminished capacity claim.”
“I don’t believe it. You’re taking her side.”
“Look… I’m just telling you like it is. She’ll get a slap on the wrist for the accident, but without hard evidence, she’ll walk. I’m just doing my job. When she called me, I had no idea how deep this went. She paid me a retainer, so legally, I can’t back out now. The judge would have my butt. I could lose my license to practic
e law.”
“She’s not mentally incompetent. She knows exactly what she’s doing. She’s acting.”
“That may well be, but if she is, she’s doing a good job. She’s got the doctors convinced. Heck, she even had me convinced. That’s why she’s in the psych unit. So… that’s where this is headed. No evidence, no conviction.” He winked at us. “Get the evidence, or walk away.”
“How are we supposed to do that?”
“I don’t know. Snoop around. That’s what you guys do best. Bring something to the table, or she walks. Find the container laced with antifreeze… with her fingerprints on it.”
“Yeah, right, I’m sure that went up in flames when the bomb went off.”
“Not necessarily.” Russell hesitated. “Talk to Jonathan’s wife. She’s a profiler. She could probably give you some insight as to where the evidence might be, if there is any. A serial killer always keeps something from their victims. Maybe she has something in her suitcase.”
“You think she’s a serial killer?”
“I didn’t say that. I’m just giving you a place to start. Talk to Lu Ann.”
“You know more than you’re telling us.”
“She’s my client. I can’t divulge aspects of the case, unless it comes out in court. Do your job, and let me do mine.”
“She’s confessed something to you, hasn’t she?”
“That’s all I can tell you. The rest is confidential and was said under extreme duress. She wasn’t coherent when she was brought to the hospital. When I first talked to her, all she did was rant. Half of what she said is suspect. I’m going to talk with her again after I leave Savannah, but I won’t be able to share.”
“Well… thanks for the advice, Russell.” Billy looked at me, and then shook Russell’s hand. “I’m glad I’m not in your shoes. I imagine this is hard on you, what with us being friends and all. You do what you have to, and we’ll do the same. No hard feelings.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“Tell Savannah that Minnie will probably come see her now that she can have visitors. She’s been worried sick about her.”