Wrongly Accused

by Erin Wade

  “I want her life support removed,” Sylvia demanded. “If we’re taking her home, she needs to be breathing on her own.”

  “Taking her home?” Dawn was dumbfounded. “Who said anything about releasing her? She isn’t strong enough to be moved. That could kill her.”

  “She’s my daughter,” Sylvia wailed. “I want her at home where we can take care of her.”

  “No,” Dawn growled. “I won’t release her.”

  “Please, Dr. Farnsworth.” Sylvia’s cunning expression made Dawn sick to her stomach. “You’re not her doctor. You’re her lover. Does the hospital board know that?”

  Dawn felt as if Sylvia had slapped her face. She stepped back. “I thought you’d see it my way,” Sylvia sneered as she motioned for Willard and Renfro to enter the room.

  “Guard,” Dawn yelled. “These people are endangering my patient. Please call security and remove them immediately.

  “Mommy Dearest, you need to take the Tweedle boys and leave before I have you all arrested.”

  Sylvia pulled herself up to her full height.

  Dawn leaned into her face. “Don’t make me throw you down an elevator shaft!”

  Sylvia backed away from the fury she saw in Dawn’s eyes. “I’ll be back tomorrow, Dr. Frankenstein, and I’ll have my attorney. You will release my daughter to me.”

  “Over my dead body,” Dawn shouted.

  “That can be arranged,” Sylvia hissed through gritted teeth.

  As hospital security pushed the Searses from the room, Dawn dialed Libby. “I need you now,” she whispered into the phone. Then she called Bobby Joe. She knew she was on shaky ground. She had no legal right to make decisions for Niki, even if they were in her best interest.

  ##

  Bobby Joe, Libby, Flint, and Dawn huddled outside Niki’s room.

  “I can hold her in protective custody,” Bobby Joe said, pacing the floor outside Niki’s room. “Legally I can only hold her for twenty-four hours, but that might give Libby time to get a court order to stop Sylvia from taking her.”

  “I filed that motion this morning,” Libby said. “Even if they go to court, we can prolong the court proceedings for weeks or months. However long it takes for Niki to come around.”

  Father Garza walked toward the small army of Niki’s protectors. “You look like you’re planning a revolt,” he teased.

  Dawn explained the situation.

  “Is there any chance you two got married somewhere along the way?” Father Garza asked.

  “No, everything happened so fast. We haven’t had time.”

  “That’s a shame.” Libby sighed. “That would solve all of our problems. As her wife you’d be next of kin and have the right to make her medical decisions.”

  “You need to get a marriage license,” Libby advised. “Apply for one. In Texas you must wait seventy-two hours to use it, but it’s good for ninety days. Surely in three months Niki will revive.”

  “Yes,” Father Garza said. “When Niki wakes up, I can perform a marriage ceremony for you, and you’ll be legally married.”

  “Sounds like we have a plan,” Bobby Joe said, clapping his hands.

  “I’ll get the marriage license,” Dawn said. “Flint, can you sit with Niki while I take care that?”

  “I’ll do anything you need, Sis.” Flint slipped his arm around her shoulder, and for a minute she let herself relax against him.

  “Thank you, Flint. I’ve always been able to count on you.”

  “I’ll stay too,” Libby volunteered. “Just in case the wicked witch and her flying monkeys return before you get back.”

  ##

  Dawn checked to make certain she still had Niki’s driver’s license and birth certificate she’d used to admit her to the hospital. Bobby Joe drove her to the Tarrant County Court House and located the county clerk’s office. There was a long line of people waiting to be served. The clerks were obviously overworked and understaffed.

  The man in front of Dawn was loud and obnoxious, complaining about the long wait and how he was missing an appointment because the clerks were so slow and stupid.

  The clerk gave him the copies he’d requested and informed him the charge would be ten dollars.

  “Ten dollars?” the man bellowed. “I’ve been standing in this line for an hour. Do you have any idea how much I make an hour? You should pay me ninety dollars for wasting my time.”

  “Sir, please just pay the ten dollars and get out of line so someone else can be served.” The clerk gritted her teeth.

  Dawn could tell the clerk was about to reach her wit’s end. She dug into her purse and pull out a ten. “Here. I’ve had a wonderful day. Please allow me to pay it forward.”

  The man looked at her as if she had set the counter on fire. The clerk grabbed the bill and said a thankful, “Bless you,” to Dawn.

  “I need a marriage license,” Dawn said, leaning around the man who still blocked her access to the counter.

  The clerk shoved a form to her and glared at the man who still stood there. “I thought your time was too precious to waste,” she blurted.

  “Yeah, buddy,” the man behind Dawn growled. “Why don’t you move along? You got what you wanted.”

  Dawn pulled out her driver’s license and showed it to the clerk, who glanced at it while eyeing the two bickering men.

  Dawn started to fill out the form.

  “Where’s your fiancé?” the clerk demanded. “Both of you must sign in my presence.”

  “He’ll come in later,” Dawn said.

  The man behind Dawn slugged the troublemaker who was still holding up the line, and all hell broke loose. Two deputies handcuffed the men and led them away.

  Dawn filled out the form using Niki’s name and information. She signed Niki’s name and shoved the form to the clerk with the necessary payment.

  The clerk gave her a receipt. “Just tell him to ask for the form by your name, Miss Sears. It’ll be right here in the pending folder.” The woman never noticed that the name on the form was not the same as the name on the driver’s license Dawn had presented.

  “I’m sorry,” the flustered clerk muttered. “It isn’t normally this chaotic. Thank you for paying his fee.” The clerk placed a tent sign at her station that said, “Next Clerk Please.”

  “Happy to do it.” Dawn smiled and walked away.

  She headed to the end of the dimly lit hallway and waited until the clerk went into the ladies room. She returned to the clerk’s office and stood in the shortest line, praying she would be waited on before the other woman returned.

  “May I help you?” a smiling clerk asked.

  “Yes, I’m supposed to come by and sign our marriage license,” Dawn said, blushing appropriately. “My partner came in earlier today and signed. The name is Niki Sears.”

  The woman thumbed through the pending file and pulled out the marriage license. “I’ll have to see your driver’s license.”

  Dawn produced the required identification, and the woman checked it thoroughly. Dawn filled out her part of the certificate and signed it.

  The clerk studied the license. “Looks like everything is in order.” She leaned across the counter toward Dawn. “Are you marrying another woman?”

  “Yes. Yes, I am,” Dawn said proudly.

  “You’re so beautiful,” the clerk whispered as she pushed the license to Dawn.

  “So is she,” Dawn whispered back. Just saying the words made her heart ache.

  Chapter 56

  Flint and Libby were laughing and talking when Dawn entered Niki’s room. It was good to have normal activities going on around the patient.

  “Did Mrs. Sears come by?” Dawn asked as she looked around the room.

  Flint laughed. “Yeah. Bobby Joe arrested Tweedledum and Tweedledee. One of them took a swing at me, and the other joined in. The officer outside the door handcuffed them together and hauled them away with their mother squawking like an injured grackle.”

  “Be careful,
” Libby said. “If any of her curses come true, you’ll be buried in fire and brimstone by morning.”

  “Did she bring her attorney?”

  “Yes,” Libby said, “but my assistant showed up at the same time with the injunction needed to keep them from moving Niki or interfering with her treatment.

  “I’m sure he’ll counter file just to get the billable hours. But I’ll drag this out so long they won’t even remember Niki’s name.”

  Dawn shook her head. “I don’t know what I’d do without you two.”

  “We’re going to dinner,” Libby said with a smile. “Your handsome brother has finally asked me out.”

  Flint blushed slightly. “Why don’t you join us, Sis?”

  “No,” Dawn said. “I just want to be with Niki, but thank you.”

  After Flint and Libby left, hospital food service brought dinner. Dawn suddenly realized she was starving. She hadn’t eaten all day.

  She watched the news as she ate. Just as Val had predicted, the state of Texas was all over the national news with its latest scandal, feeding dog food to prisoners. No one ever explained that VitaMaxPro was a meat substitute with added protein. That it was used to enhance many products, including dog food.

  To make the story more sensational, the main news feed was always, “Texas prisoners fed dog food.”

  She was glad Val had been exonerated and named the interim director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. She suddenly had a desire to hear Val’s voice. She pressed the button to dial the warden’s cell phone.

  “Dawn!” Val said, her voice a breathy whisper. “I’m so glad you called.”

  “I called to congratulate you,” Dawn said. “I’m watching the interview you did earlier today. You’re so confident, so sure of yourself. You’ll make a perfect director.”

  “Thank you,” Val said. “That’s sweet of you. Are you home?”

  “No, I’m at the hospital. I’m not—”

  “It’s late,” Val interrupted. “You should get some sleep. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “Okay, good night,” Dawn said.

  She pulled her chair closer to Niki’s bed, opened her Kindle, and began to read.

  ##

  Val poured a glass of wine and leaned back in her recliner to watch the replays of the announcement of her promotion. It was only interim director, but she had been promised the job and would drop the interim part as soon as things calmed down. The governor thought it would be good to have a woman at the helm of the Texas prison system to counter the good-old-boy accusations flying around.

  She called the Reata, one of Fort Worth’s most expensive restaurants, and made reservations for two for the next night. She was certain Dawn would want to celebrate her promotion with her.

  Dr. Dawn Fairchild. She let her mind wander as she envisioned pulling the beautiful blonde into her arms and kissing her. A slow, easy kiss that morphed into a smoldering need to touch the woman, to run her hands up her long legs and kiss her flat stomach. She was sorry Niki was dead but glad she now had a chance with Dawn Fairchild.

  I won’t screw this up, Val thought. I’ll take as long as she needs to fall in love with me.

  I also need to renege on my promise to appear on television with her. I’ll contact the controller’s office and pick up Dawn’s check myself. I’ll deliver it to her. Yeah, that’ll make her like me more.

  ##

  Libby entered her office to find a busload of lawyers milling around her waiting room. “Who are they?” she asked the receptionist.

  “Sylvia Sears’s legal team.”

  Libby’s vision of tying up Sylvia in court evaporated. If the woman had this kind of manpower she would overwhelm Libby and her staff.

  The yappy Chihuahua appeared as the lawyers around her opened a path to Libby. “Miss Howe, you really should come to work earlier.”

  “What can I do for you?” Libby asked, trying to be civil.

  “Drop this ridiculous injunction so I can take my daughter home.”

  “I have to wonder why Niki has suddenly become so important to you.” Following her hunch, Libby went for the jugular. “A will, perhaps? Does Niki get half the farm or maybe all of it? You’d really rather see her die than recover, am I right?”

  Libby knew by the gleam of hatred in Sylvia’s eyes that she had nailed her motives.

  “Foolish girl, your injunction has already been overturned. In court this morning the judge threw it out since you didn’t show up to defend it. Our counter injunction prevailed.” Sylvia slapped the folded papers into Libby’s hand.

  Libby looked at the documents. The judge had granted the Searses an injunction forcing the hospital to remove life support from Niki. Sylvia had also filed a petition to have herself named executor of Niki’s estate because her daughter was medically incapacitated and unable to represent herself.

  “I wasn’t notified of any hearing this morning.” Libby scowled. “You’ve pulled a dirty trick. I’ll fight it.”

  “Miss Howe, it is imperative that I get my daughter out of the hospital immediately and take her home where she belongs. I know that you can slow down that process with your constant court orders and petty legal moves, so tell me how much I need to pay you to make you go away.”

  Libby seethed. “I’m sure you’re used to dealing with unprincipled people who will do anything for a dollar, but I’m not one of them. Take your intimidation team and get out of my office.”

  Oh Dawn, what have you gotten yourself into? she thought.

  Chapter 57

  Bobby Joe was no closer to finding the would-be murderer of Dawn and Niki than he had been the day Niki was rushed to the hospital. Forensics on the bullet they’d dug from Dawn’s porch column had failed to match anything in the database.

  Lucky had been apprehended but had an ironclad alibi. She had been in a lesbian brothel that provided security videos to prove it.

  Edward Merrick had no alibi but seemed clueless about the internet. “Besides, I’d have to kill at least four people and destroy a video that even you have a copy of, Detective Jones.” Bobby didn’t really consider him a suspect.

  That left the Sears family and Val.

  He could tell by talking to Val that she was in love with Dawn, so that left only Sylvia Sears and her rabid sons.

  Yep, Bobby thought. My killer’s last name is Sears. Now to prove it.

  ##

  Val waited in Dawn’s office. The nurse had informed her that the doctor was in surgery but would return to her office as soon as the surgery was complete.

  She looked around the neat, organized office. The awards and certificates on Dawn’s wall caught her attention. The woman had received every humanitarian award imaginable and had numerous letters of praise from important people, including the US president, two Texas governors, and multiple mayors. For the first time, Val was genuinely ashamed of the part she had played in sending Dawn to prison. I’ll find a way to make it up to her, she thought.

  The door opened, and Val turned to face the woman of her dreams.

  “Val, what a nice surprise.” Dawn removed her hospital jacket and motioned for Val to sit beside her on the sofa.

  “I wanted to hand-deliver this,” Val said as she pulled the check from her purse. “I know things have been tough and thought you might need it before the state comptroller got around to putting it in the mail.”

  Dawn stared at the check. “Thank you. I can’t tell you how much this means to me.” She exhaled a breath she had been holding for days. The check would more than cover Niki’s hospital bills, with extra in case they needed it.

  “It’s the fair thing for us to do.” Val included herself among those who had wronged Dawn. “I’ve made reservations at the Reata for tonight. I hoped you would help me celebrate my promotion and us settling this suit.”

  “Oh, I’d love that.” Then Dawn sighed, thinking of Niki. “But I’m pulling two shifts with Richard in jail. I must turn down your invitation.”

/>   “I understand,” Val said as she took Dawn’s hand. “Maybe after things settle down.”

  Dawn nodded and stood as her name was called over the PA system. “My public awaits!” She leaned down and kissed Val on the cheek. “Thank you so much for this.” She put the check in her lap drawer. “I’ll ask Flint to deposit it for me,” she said as she escorted Val from the room.

  Val touched her cheek where the softest lips had been only seconds before. I will make her fall in love with me, she thought as she headed for her car.

  ##

  Dawn looked around the surgery prep room and found it empty. She walked to the nurses’ desk and asked about the page over the PA.

  “It was me.” Libby grinned as she stepped out from behind the desk. “I stopped by your office and saw Black Heart in there, so I decided to get rid of her.”

  Dawn chuckled. “She’s really a good person. Our entire thing was an awful, painful misunderstanding.”

  “The only one it was painful for was you,” Libby declared. “But that’s not why I’m here. The judge granted the Searses’ injunction to stop you from keeping Niki on life support.”

  “What? How can a mother do something she knows will kill her child?” Dawn sobbed.

  “Maybe that’s what she wants,” Libby said. “I’m certain there’s a will and huge amounts of money involved. I’m trying to find out, but it’s slow progress. Bobby Joe can keep her away from Niki for another day. After that it’s just a matter of what the judge decides.”

  “I need to check on Niki,” Dawn said. “Keep me informed.”

  “I will. Dawn, don’t trust the Searses. Don’t be alone with them or leave them alone with Niki. We’ll fight this.”

  Dawn headed for Niki’s room. Outside the door, she pulled herself to her full height, threw back her shoulders, and put a smile on her face. Just in case Niki is awake, she thought.

  Niki wasn’t awake. She was as still and lifeless as she had been for weeks. Dawn sat down in the chair beside her bed and leaned forward, resting her forehead on Niki’s arm. She closed her eyes and prayed.

  Chapter 58

  Dawn held Niki’s hand in hers and traced the angles of Niki’s face with her free hand. “You’re so beautiful, so small. I want to gather you in my arms and rock you like a baby.” She gently pushed a stray strand of red hair away from Niki’s face.