The Priest Who Ate a Poison Petit Four

by Kee Patterbee

  “You do that.”

  Hannah continued around the room until she came to one with curtains closed. Glancing over, she saw the name York written. She yanked the glass door open and parted the curtain. Her eyes fell to Calvin, who lay sprawled on the floor. Two small stun marks showed on the back of his neck. She could tell by his chest movements that he was still breathing. Wormwood stood next to Susan on the opposite side, drawing fluid from a vial. Seeing Hannah, she paused. As the sleuth moved toward her, Wormwood withdrew the syringe from the container and held it high in the air, ready to plunge it into the IV.

  “Don’t,” Wormwood threatened.

  Hannah came to a stop. “I’m stopping. Let’s just talk about this.”

  “No time for that, I’m afraid.”

  Glancing the woman over, Hannah noticed that she had cut her hair short. She had dyed it a darker shade than before and she wore no glasses, but did have on a nurses’ uniform. It occurred to her that this was how the woman had slipped past everyone without recognition.

  The two women stood locked in their respective places. Hannah’s mind raced. She drew back upon the lessons of negotiating a situation from her training as an agent. In a standard negotiation, the threat, being Wormwood, would want something. Freedom, money, or some other goal, but in this particular situation, that presented a problem. What the threat wanted was for Whipson to suffer. At present, that meant seeing Susan dead, something Wormwood was self-capable of achieving. Need something to negotiate for.

  All of a sudden, the intercom sounded. “Code Blue. ICU waiting. Code Blue. ICU waiting.”

  Hannah watched Wormwood as her face pulled a slight bit. Her eyes rolled to the ceiling as if she could see the words. A second call followed the first. “Security needed in ICU. Security to ICU.” Hannah repressed a grin. She found her answer. Let’s negotiate.

  “You’ve got time now. The Reverend’s dead.”

  Wormwood’s expression changed from confusion to slow building rage.

  Clarify the situation.

  “No reason to hurt her now or my friend. Where is she?”

  Reassess.

  Wormwood’s hand hovered above the IV infusion point. “Bastard.” Her voice was cold, distant, and angry. Over sixty years of pent up rage, without warning, lost its outlet.

  Off track. Situation critical.

  “He owed us.”

  Sympathize.

  “I get it. He caused your mother’s death.”

  “He destroyed us. Tore us apart.”

  Stall. Let her talk it out. Empathize.

  “I can see that. Your brothers and you. Raymond. He’s your twin, right?”

  By this time, Wormwood was struggling. Uncertainty played on her face and she talked less to Hannah than to herself.

  “I imagined making him suffer for years, even after Ray found me.”

  Wormwood let out a distraught laugh. To Hannah, it sounded almost sad. Like that of a lost child who confused emotions. Taking the opportunity, she stepped closer to the bed, more toward Susan. Wormwood did not react.

  “When did you find him?”

  The woman looked up. There were no tears in her eyes, just fury. Unbridled anger, but she was calm for the moment.

  “Four years ago. He took over the chapel. I met him at a function. He mentioned where he was from and it hit me like a bolt out of the blue.”

  “So you recognized him.”

  “Gabe built this community.” She gave an odd half chuckle. “What, eighteen years ago was it? Some crazy dream he had. A place to retire his parents and us. Happiness.”” She laughed once more but when her eyes came back again to take in Hannah, the ire showed again. “But I was anything but.”

  Losing her. Sympathize. Empathize.

  “You had to get even. He wronged you.”

  Wormwood’s eyes turned to slits. “Gabe tried to help me. After we met, he sent me to see people. Signed me up for classes. Stress relief. Yoga. Even martial arts. He was always into healing. Holistic or pharmaceutical. He wasn’t opposed to either.”

  She’s losing it. Offer a solution. Hannah thought about this for a brief second. There was no real solution. The woman was going down, but Susan’s life was at stake and she needed to make a decision. The escalation in Wormwood’s anger indicated to the sleuth that she was on the edge. She opted to offer the one thing she could not provide. A distraction via a lie.

  “What about your brother? You could still get him and make it out. I’m sure you made an exit plan. Use it. I won’t stop you.””

  Wormwood held Hannah in her gaze for a second before her eyes drifted to the door.

  Considering it.

  The woman’s hand eased back a little as Hannah relaxed a slight bit. However, Wormwood’s eyes widened as the curtain behind the sleuth jerked back.

  “Don’t move,” a shaky voice called out.

  Everything went into slow motion for Hannah. Without turning, she could see what played out behind her. One of the elder security guards came from the intercom call. Her mind’s eye imagined his shaky hands grasping an unloaded pistol. Her eyes never left Wormwood. Instead, she lunged across Susan’s body and grabbed the hand holding the syringe, causing Wormwood to drop it. It plunged into the pillow beside the doctor’s unconscious form.

  “Not today.”

  To Hannah’s surprise, her target did not jerk back. Instead, she threw the palm of her hand upwards, catching Hannah’s jawline. It was enough to send the sleuth backwards. She stumbled over the still unconscious form of Calvin, which in turn sent her reeling into the guard. Both fell to the floor. She rolled over in time to see Wormwood make it over both of them and out the door.

  Unexpected, Hannah thought as she rose. She grabbed her jaw and shook her head, recalling the woman’s words just before about her husband signing her up for martial arts. She bolted out the door following after.

  Reaching the hallway, Hannah caught a glimpse of her prey as the woman rounded the corner. It was in the opposite direction of the elevators.

  Hym stood in the waiting room doorway, waving his cane, indicating the direction. “Stairwell.”

  “Call Borden,” Hannah yelled as she ran past.

  By the time she reached the stairwell, the door had almost closed. Hannah yanked it open and followed. Glancing down between the stairs, she could see Wormwood, who was a full half flight ahead. Though the woman was fast, Hannah began making gains. Still, she calculated that it would not be enough. As she reached the last half landing, she took hold of the rail and hurtled down, landing next to the woman. The sleuth shocked her prey just enough to grab hold of one arm. With her free hand, she threw a knuckle punch to Wormwood’s side. The force pushed her back to the wall, but when Hannah attempted to throw a second punch to the woman’s face, her opponent blocked it with her forearm.

  Crap.

  Hannah did not have time to finish her thought before Wormwood pushed her backwards. The suddenness of a formable opponent unbalanced the sleuth. She did not have time to react to a punch to her eye. Blood shot from the sudden opening of a cut, and splattered down her face. It gave Wormwood enough time to exit.

  Again, Hannah shook her head and wiped the blood away. She grabbed the door and followed after. The exit led out into the main lobby and as she exited, she saw Gran rise down the way as she recognized Wormwood. Fear seized the sleuth. Don’t, Gran, she thought, hoping that the elder Starvling would just let the woman pass. However, to her surprise, Gran tossed a magazine under the woman’s foot as she ran passed. It sent Wormwood in a spin, from which she could not recover. Her head slammed into the glass exit door, which shattered. Wormwood rose and turned to face Hannah. Gran stood to the side between the two. All stopped. Wormwood wiped the blood from her brow. The cut was similar to Hannah’s. She shot Gran a look and grinned.

  “Nice,” she offered, before turning to exit.

  Once more, Hannah started after.

  “You’re hurt, dear,” Gran noted as she pass
ed.

  “I’m fine. Get Borden.”

  When Hannah pushed on the door, it gave way and shattered from the previous impact. When she stepped out into the air, she saw Papa Jay pushing himself up from the ground. Though she wanted to pursue Wormwood, she moved toward him. He waved her off.

  “Dogs are after her. Follow the barking.”

  Hannah glanced off into the hospital lawn. She saw Wormwood running, chased by two tiny canines whose leashes flapped behind them. She ran after as hard as she could push herself. For a woman in her sixties, Hannah noted that she was more than fit. She was fast, but Hazelnut and Gigantor kept pace, each barking and attempting to nip at the woman. When Wormwood slowed to kick at Gigantor, Hazelnut dipped between her legs. The dog’s leash wrapped around the woman’s shoe, causing her to fall forward. It was all the delay that Hannah needed. She reached the woman, grabbed her shoulder, and flipped her over. She drew back her fist.

  “Was it worth it?”

  Wormwood lay silent before she spit in Hannah’s face. With one punch, Hannah slammed Wormwood in the chin with all the force she could muster. She neutralized the threat. Hannah plopped to the ground to catch her breath as Hazelnut freed herself and came to Hannah for licks and love. Gigantor took to tugging on Wormwood’s sleeve as he growled. After all this, Hannah laughed. “Good puppies,” she said half aloud.

  *****

  An hour and a half later, Hannah sat on an examination table as Holmes stitched her brow. Her eye was black and swollen.

  “Are you sure she’s okay?”

  “Your friend is fine. A little sedated still but she will come around. She should be fine for you to visit after we’re done. I spoke with her fiancé. He asked me to let you know that he will be here in a short while.”

  “Was she able to tell you much?”

  “Some, but I believe the question you are asking is why they took her here.”

  Hannah affirmed.

  “It is just speculation, but I would offer that they meant to use her as a distraction, but upon arriving, they found her presence more a hindrance. Unnecessary if you will. No one would notice someone asleep in the emergency room…There. Completed.””

  “Will it leave a bad scar?”

  “I am quite adept at suturing. This should heal fine.” He leaned back and admired his work. “There, you will need to have the stitches removed in ten days or so. I take it you have a family physician?”

  Hannah glanced at the work in the mirror Holmes provided. “I believe I do now,” she said with a smile. “If you are willing?””

  “It would be my honor. Ten days. I will write you a prescription for some pain medication.”

  Hannah shook her head. “No, thank you. I have an aversion.”

  The physician nodded. “Good for you, my dear, good for you. Now, if you will excuse me, I believe Jack would like a moment.”

  Holmes exited. A few moments later, Borden came in.

  “Well, that was fun. She’ll be spending the night here under supervision, and cuffed to the bed. Concussion. Broken jaw. Stitches. Not to mention she’s straight up nuts.”” He smiled, looking at Hannah. “You are a force to reckon with.”

  Hym laughed. “You don’t know the half of it. Did you find out about the Reverend?”

  “I just spoke with a nurse. He’s been admitted, and he is stable, but all this has taken a toll. Dr. York is fine. Both of them. Although they are still transferring her at some point to implant the device her husband mentioned.””

  “You got the box from waiting, right?” Hannah inquired with some urgency.

  “I took care of it,” Hym said.

  “Its bagged and tagged as evidence,” Borden added. “Oh, and the guard you landed on. He’s okay, but he’s not volunteering anymore. How are you, though?”

  “Bruised ribs.” She pointed to the cut. “Five stitches. This.” She indicated the darkened eye. “She was tough for a woman her age.”

  “And what does age have to do with anything,” Gran said, pushing herself into the room along with Papa Jay, Magdalen, and Buster. “Old don’’t mean useless.”

  “I can see. Nice move with the magazine.”

  “Just something I picked up for when your Papa Jay tries to slip out on me.”

  Papa Jay crossed his arms. “Woman, I ain’t never slipped out on you.” He smirked and addressed all the men. “Too dangerous. Best just to put up with it.” He looked to Buster. “Remember that, young man.”

  Both Buster and Magdalen blushed as they agreed.

  “Oh, hush, you old Grumpus. The only danger you’re in is from yourself.”

  Everyone laughed as Gran pulled her husband in for a smooch.

  Borden offered his hand in round. All shook.

  “Well, nice work, all.” He focused on the newlyweds. “There’ll be paperwork, as you well know, but I can handle most of it. I’ll call you if I need more information. So, you off for that honeymoon now?”

  Hym and Hannah looked at each other. Hym was about to answer when Hannah interjected.

  “I need a vacation before I’m ready for my honeymoon.”

  “Oh, that’s a good idea,” Gran said. “A lot of time relaxing……in bed. Before you go on your honeymoon which is all about---”

  “Gran.”

  The elder Starvling gave a ‘what’ gesture.

  Hannah and Papa Jay rolled their eyes.

  Epilogue

  Eight weeks later.

  “Tell me again why we just didn’t take the plane?”

  “I’m a man who likes to see things through. We started on our honeymoon in Baby. We’ll get there in Baby.”

  “Baby, Baby, Baby,” Hannah quoted from one of her favorite movies. She turned back and retrieved the last item from a bag marked Hoolies. ““Nice of Will to pack us a lunch…and snacks.” She unwrapped a large piece of pecan pie and bit in. “Man. I love his pie.””

  “I don’t suppose there’s a piece left for me?”

  “If you tell me where we are going, I’ll give you a bite.”

  She grinned as Hym looked over to her. He shook his head.

  “Oh, you.” She glanced out at the fading afternoon light. “Hmm, headed to the ocean. A cruise. Where to?”

  Hym rolled his eyes.

  “You’re no fun.” She broke off a bite and leaned over to pop it in his mouth. “How you holding up?”

  “I’m good. I mean, it’s hard. I’ll miss him, but he’’s in a better place. I know that’s not your thing, but I do.”

  “I never said I didn’t. I just think of it differently is all.” She broke off another bite of pie and drew it into her mouth. ““I’m sorry it all happened the way it did, but I’m glad he went knowing Calvin and Susan were innocent.”

  Hym agreed. “It made him happy. That’s good enough. He’s with Ophelia now, and Rhoades.”

  “It’s odd, you know. The same day. Like they knew the other was letting go.”

  “They were close. Close as brothers. I guess that’s why the Reverend wanted him next to him.”

  “That was a nice gesture. He was a good man who left a legacy in another good man.”

  Hannah took hold of her husband’s hand and squeezed. He tapped his cheek and she obliged him with a kiss. “Thank you.”

  “Plenty more where that came from.”

  “No, thank you for helping him.”

  Hannah smiled. It gave her great pleasure knowing that her husband appreciated her. “You’re more than welcome, Sweet Face.” She offered him the last bite but he declined. ““Didn’t Magdalen call before we left?”

  “She did. Sorry, I was so busy packing that I forgot. She loves the new job. Busy but she’s glad she’s out of Chicago. Susan’’s doing fine. A long recovery period but she can go back to work on a partial basis in a few weeks. Having Magdalen there to ease the load helps.” A strained look came over Hym’s face. ““She got some bad news. She won’t be able to have kids. Too much strain, but Calvin’s open to a
doption, so…”

  “Always an option.”

  “Yeah. It’s kind of strange, given Janus and Wormwood and all.”

  Hannah straightened up at mention of the names. “Yeah, amazing how people react to life. Look at Buster. Abandoned and adopted in an unconventional setting, but he turns out fine. Janus turned into a killing machine.”

  Hym shrugged. “Well, yeah. I guess, but Buster’s parents are good people, and he was too young to remember his birth parents. Janus and Wormwood remembered. Perhaps too much. We don’t know what kind of families took them in. The other brothers didn’t fare too well for sure.”

  Hannah agreed. “Oh, speaking of Buster. He got cast in a pilot that will shoot in Atlanta. If it is picked up, he’s moving back. Did Ed tell you yet?”

  “Magdalen did. She was rather excited that he would be within two hours of Happiness.”

  “And how are you dealing with that?”

  “She’s dated worse.”

  Hannah reached out and popped Hym on the arm. “Hey now, Buster’s a catch and you know it.”

  Hym laughed. “Yeah, I know. He’s all right. I’m just protective of those I love.”

  “I like the sound of that.” Hannah took in a deep breath. The salty brine hit her nose and she smiled. “I hope we have a room with a porthole.””

  “The view’s fine, I promise. A lot better than Wormwood’s going to be seeing.”

  Hannah noticed the bitterness that remained in Hym’s voice at the mention of the woman. A lot to process, she noted.

  “You know they’ll push the insanity thing, right?” She studied Hym’s face for a reaction. “She might get it.”

  “I know, and I know that Jonathan would want me to forgive her. I’m trying. I am. It’s just hard.” Hym twisted his lips a bit. “You know though, I find it strange that he ended up in the same town as her almost sixty years later, and to want revenge for all those years on. To let it fester.” He gave an unconvincing laugh. “I guess it did drive her insane. In the end, she didn’t get it. That, in and of itself, is enough to drive you nuts.”

  “Well, as they say, revenge is a dish best served cold in a bitter sauce. It doesn’t get much bitterer than that.”