Deadly Gratitude

by Lori Donnester

“He is a sweet man, isn’t he?” Haley’s eyes crinkled. “He’s awake and he just finished giving me a dissertation on why he forgives the guy that did all of this.” Haley shook her head. “Either Father Bill has a big heart or he’s crazy.” She pointed out the door. “His room is right across the hall.”

  Kate sat up. “Is there any way I could visit him?”

  “Let me think.” Haley tapped her foot as she read Kate’s chart. “I hate to tell you, but you’re really hurt.” She peered at Kate. “You lost a lot of blood. Don’t you feel weak?”

  “I refuse to answer on the grounds that it may incriminate me.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Haley put down the chart and folded her arms. “We can’t get you up right now, not even to get into a wheelchair. That’s just the way just the way it is.”

  “Phooey.”

  “I can understand after having gone through what you did with Father Bill that you’d want to see him.” Haley sighed. “That’s good medicine too. How about if I give you his hospital room number so you can call him?”

  Kate gave a thumbs up. “Yes, that’ll work. But could you be in here while I call him? I have a surprise for him.” She tapped her chin in thought. “Give me about thirty minutes or so. Would that be all right?”

  “Looks like you’ve got something up your sleeve.” Haley’s eyes twinkled as she looked at her watch. “I’ll be back in thirty minutes.”

  Kate made a couple of calls. Haley was back in no time with Father Bill’s number.

  Kate dialed. “I hope I didn’t wake you,” she said when the priest answered. “I know it’s late. But I couldn’t go to sleep until I knew how you were doing.”

  “No problem, I appreciate the call. I’m all right. How about you? I was worried about you, too.”

  “I’m okay, I guess. I have to admit I’ve felt better. I can’t even get up to go to the bathroom. Normally I’m not fond of hospitals, but I’m glad I’m here right now.”

  “Yeah, me too.”

  “Have you heard how things are at Regis?”

  “Barry destroyed most of the toys. We have a few deliveries coming tomorrow, but that won’t be enough.” His voice shook. “I don’t know how we are going to be able to replace them in order to give those families a nice Christmas like we promised them.”

  Kate heard the tears in his voice. “That’s another reason why I wanted to talk to you, Father. I think I can help with that. Hang on a minute.” Kate took off her necklace and handed it to Haley. She put her hand over the mouthpiece. “Please go give that to Father Bill,” she whispered, and then waited a few seconds.

  “Did Haley give you the necklace?”

  “Yes. What is it?”

  “This is what we can use to get the funds to replace those toys. I’ve already called a couple of ladies and they will drop everything to shop for a couple of days to replenish the gifts. Can you reschedule the event for the families?”

  Father Bill gasped. “Kate, I don’t know how to thank you! You’re the miracle I’ve been praying for.”

  Kate smiled and shook her head. “No, Father, it’s just like Jesus always said. Love is the miracle.”

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Early the next morning, Belinda’s phone rang and she reached for it. Her caller ID indicated it was the police commissioner. She cleared her throat. “Hello Chief, what can I do for you?” She listened. “Yes, I’ll be free then. I’ll see you in my office at 5:30 tonight.” She set her phone back down on her nightstand and stared at it.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Sitting in the Crown Vic at the cemetery, Don’s stomach was in knots. He kept wiping the sweat from his palms on his pants. He took his time exiting the car and stepping over to Uelle’s headstone. “Hi, honey.” He shuffled his feet. “Uh, I have something I need to tell you.” He scratched his cheek and moved over to rub the rose-colored marble for a minute. “I met someone. I…I met a woman during this last case. I’ve grown to like her. She’s nice. She’s an accountant and she really likes football. She knows a lot about it, too. She’s intelligent and she’s a very caring person.” Don smiled. “She can be a little weird sometimes, but in a good way.” He touched the marble again. “I think you would like her if you met her, Uelle.” He inclined his head towards the headstone. “I think you would approve.” He looked up to the sky. “I want you to know that she’s not taking your place. No one could ever take your place.” He stood there, looking at the sky. “Crazy, huh?” He kept looking at the sky, watching the clouds as they drifted east. Soon, he nodded. “Thanks honey. I love you.” Then he got into the Crown Vic and drove to work. The clock seemed to crawl until he could leave to go visit Kate. Hours passed. He finally got up from his desk and rode the elevator down to his car.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  A few minutes later, Police Commissioner Craig knocked on Belinda’s door. Belinda straightened some papers on her desk, then got up to greet him. The assistant commissioner was with him as well.

  Tall and imposing with dark hair and blue eyes, the commissioner came in and studied the framed articles for a few moments, then turned towards Belinda. He stroked his well-groomed beard for a minute. Then he motioned for everyone to take a seat.

  On her guard, Belinda sat.

  “I hear you closed the Kendrick case.”

  Belinda beamed. “Yes. We got our man. That brutal killer won’t hurt anyone else.”

  “Three dead.” He looked up at the ceiling and then back at Belinda. “Let me ask you something. How many detectives did you have on the case?”

  “Along with my help, two experienced detectives brought him down.” Small beads of sweat broke out along Belinda’s forehead. “Of course, if they needed other help it was available.”

  “Of course.” He paused. “Belinda, what’s your mission?”

  “Be efficient as possible in solving crimes.”

  “Sounds to me like you have the priorities mixed up. Your first goal is to keep the citizens of Denver safe by solving crimes. You have a fiduciary responsibility, but solving crimes is number one. Period.”

  “I thought my bonus was based on efficiency.”

  “Bonus?” The commissioner’s eyebrows drew together. Then his jaw dropped. “You mean the $250 gift card at the end of the year?” He rubbed a hand over his face. “That’s not a bonus. It’s a gift card.”

  He shifted in his chair. “Belinda, we’ve looked into how your department is being run. Not only have you cut things too thin, but you treat your staff poorly. That is never acceptable, and we have signed forms in your file indicating you’ve been trained on that. Your priorities are not in line with mine or with the city of Denver. You’re fired. Doug here will help you pack up your things and take them out to your car after you sign the paperwork.” He got up and walked out the door.

  Belinda’s jaw dropped. She just sat there, blinking.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Later that evening, Don stood at Kate’s bedside and pulled a phone charger out of a plastic sack. “I figured your phone needed this. Where is it so I can make sure it fits?” He tested it. “Perfect. Want me to plug it in for you?”

  She gave him a thumbs up. As he plugged in the cord, a familiar voice came into the room from the television mounted on the wall. Kate turned up the volume.

  Sarah Snow stood next to the mayor of Denver. He wore a conservative gray suit and a yellow tie. Sarah had on a smart looking red suit. She turned towards the mayor. “Mayor, what do you want the citizens of Denver to know about the staffing of the police force?”

  “I want them to know that their safety and well-being is our priority. When I came into this office, the police department was too heavily staffed. But if my directive to take care of the people’s tax dollars was taken too far, studies will show this and action will be taken to correct that.
As a matter of fact, some steps have already been taken. I want our citizens to know that I would match our police force against that of any city in the world. We have outstanding people on our squads and we want to take care of them. We want them to be operating in an environment that fosters success. You have my heartfelt assurance that I will do what it takes to make that happen.”

  “Whoa!” Don looked at Kate. “I’m shocked!” He ran his hand over his hair and beamed. “I’m scheduled to have a meeting with a guy by the name of Ethan Hamilton. He’s from the mayor’s office.” He raised his eyebrows. “Some of the guys have already been through it. They weren’t supposed to talk about it, but they told me anyway. It’s about staffing and how we’re treated.” He shook his head. “Huh. It’d be great if it got better. But that’s almost too good to be true.” He folded his arms. “I wonder how this will affect my boss…” His grin widened as possibilities swirled around in his head.

  “I didn’t know. Are you understaffed?”

  Don nodded his head and pulled up a chair to tell her about it.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  The intoxicating scent of grilled steak greeted Don as he walked into the restaurant with Kate by his side. Don rubbed his hands together. “Yeah, baby! There’s a smell I know and love!” He turned to Kate and grinned. “And this place is within walking distance of your condo. I have a feeling we’re going to be on a first name basis with the folks who work here!”

  “And they were nice enough to be open on Christmas Eve,” Kate laughed. “I think that’s a good omen.”

  “You crutched it over here pretty well,” Don mentioned with a glance at her crutches.

  “I don’t let minor details keep me from a good dinner.”

  The hostess found their reservation and seated them at a deuce table near a window. Don looked around observing the leather chairs near the mahogany bar and the hundreds of bottles displayed behind the bartender. Their waiter appeared. “I’d say the size of the crowd is a good omen too. That means good food and good service.”

  Their waiter poured water out of a gleaming silver pitcher and lit a red candle on their table. “It’s great food and great service.” He gave a slight bow and smiled at Don and Kate. “My name is Jack and I will be your server this evening. What would you like to drink besides the water?”

  After their wine was delivered, Don looked across at Kate. “You look great!”

  Kate laughed. “I think that’s the fifth time you’ve told me that tonight. I believe this emerald green dress is your favorite.”

  “No, the lady in the emerald green dress is my favorite,” Don responded. “I can’t believe how lucky I am to be with a beautiful, intelligent, and energetic woman!” He held up his glass. “Merry Christmas, Kate Fitzgerald. Having you in my life is the best gift I could ever imagine. You make me feel alive again.”

  Kate’s eyes sparkled as she held up her glass to meet his. “I feel the same way. Not only do you make me feel alive, but I actually am alive thanks to you!” They clinked glasses and sipped. Kate tilted her head. “We have so much to be thankful for. It was good to spend some time with Luke and Sabrina and watch Lucy jump up and down every time she thought of Santa Claus.”

  “No kidding!” Don let out a deep breath. “That hospital scene was bad news. I’m so grateful to see her at home and back to normal.”

  Don enjoyed the rest of the meal, chatting animatedly and rarely taking his eyes off Kate. He didn’t notice anyone else in the room and found himself wishing the night would last forever.

  Epilogue

  Later that evening, Kate’s neighbor, Elaine, looked out the window of her condominium as she pulled on her mittens to take her pet outside. Snow drifted down out of the sky and the block was quiet. She saw Kate exit a restaurant down the street with an attractive man. They headed toward the condo building. Kate stopped to catch the snowflakes on her tongue and her male partner laughed and kissed her on the forehead. They crossed the road and walked into the building, Kate hobbling on crutches assisted by the very attentive man.

  Elaine stooped to put the leash on her Pekingese. She exited her condo as the elevator bell dinged and announced its arrival. The doors opened and Kate and her date stopped at Kate’s door. They chuckled as the man jiggled a bell on a wreath, causing it to play Jingle Bells. Kate’s date sang along to the tune.

  Giggling, Kate found her keys and they entered the condo. As Elaine passed by the door, she saw the couple in a passionate kiss. Without looking up, the man booted the door with his foot and the wreath jingled its merry song as the door closed.

  Book Club Questions

  Was the book hard to put down? If so, why?

  Who was your favorite character in the book? Why?

  Who was your least favorite character in the book? Why?

  Were the characters well-developed? Did you feel as though you knew them?

  If you could meet one of the characters right now, who would it be and what would you say?

  What purpose did Kate’s necklace serve?

  Share a favorite quote from the book. Why did this speak to you?

  What was the theme of the book?

  Did you like the pace of the book? Why?

  How did the characters change throughout the book? Did your opinion of them change?

  How do you feel about the ending of the book?

  Did the book change your outlook about anything?

  If so, how?

  How would you summarize this book in a couple of sentences?

  If this book became a movie, who would you want to see play the main characters?

  Acknowledgments

  It takes a team.

  You’d think writing is an individual sport. Like tennis, you don’t have a team to help you succeed. You serve up an idea and wallop it over the net. You’re confident that it will do well, because you practiced and practiced. You refined your stroke, working on it over and over.

  At least, that’s how I thought it worked.

  But after lots of classes; lots of effort; and lots of pounding my head against the wall, I learned the truth. Writing is a team sport.

  And I wound up with a great team. Stacy Dymalski was my story editor. She read through my manuscript over and over, making excellent suggestions and imparting much wisdom having to do with the craft of writing. Just like a pro tennis player, I had my own coach.

  Michelle Rayner created a beautiful cover. She is astonishingly talented, and I feel incredibly fortunate that I found her.

  Katie Mullaly did the publishing and my web site. She was patient above and beyond the call of duty as I put her on hold during budgets, forecasting, and all the projects that required lots of time while I was still employed as a controller. Then she was patient again as I researched marketing, found punctuation editors, and established connections in the writing community. I’m one of those people who has to learn before I leap, and Katie was kind enough to let me do that.

  My husband provided constant support over the years, and my children have too. My instructors, my classmates, my writing groups, my church, my on-line friends, and my friends that I know in the flesh and blood have all bestowed their time and encouragement. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.

  I also appreciate my readers. You make writing fun. Hearing you tell me how much you enjoyed reading Deadly Gratitude absolutely makes my day. I’m thrilled to know the time you spent reading my book was enjoyable.

  Last but not least, thanks to God for this beautiful life and all of the wonderful people in it. He helped me walk not once but twice. His work and words inspire me each and every day.

  About the Author

  Lori Donnester started out life in Illinois and then traveled west to study ballet at the University of Utah. Deciding
finance would be a better bet, she made the switch, but her creative genes encouraged her to study writing as well. It all worked out because today she is a newly retired financial controller, is writing full time, and recently won an award in a writing contest.

  Lori remains steadfast in her conviction that her parents’ prayers and positive thoughts helped her overcome a devastating bicycle accident from which doctors said she would never walk again. (Spoiler alert: She walks just fine today.) When her father passed, she decided to honor him with a story that both entertains and inspires, thus leading to her to write the suspense, crime novel, Deadly Gratitude.

  In her spare time, Lori skis, hikes, and enjoys life with her husband in the beautiful mountains that surround her Salt Lake City home.

  Note From the Author

  Thank you so much for buying and reading Deadly Gratitude. If you enjoyed the ride, please leave a review on Amazon for me. The number of reviews received by a book really helps it sell. Plus, I love writing and I love entertaining my readers. I know your time is precious to you, and if I gave you a few hours of fun, then it makes me happy! Reading or hearing someone say that they enjoyed it warms my heart the way a flickering fire warms a room. You can contact me or read more about writing and other good things on my website: www.loridonnester.com.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  If you want to know how I got into the amazing world of composing cliffhangers, keep reading.

  I wanted to write something positive, hopeful, and inspirational. So I wrote a story about murder.

  It all started in 1995. I went on a bike ride. I believe I was looking at the sunset as I rode west on a residential street.

  The next thing I remember is a feeling that I was in a hospital. But I couldn’t wake up. I heard my husband near me. But I couldn’t talk to him.