by Judith Rolfs
“Still…why shoot your benefactor? A confrontation about work skills didn’t mean she intended to fire him. Or did she?”
“I don’t know.” He ran a shaking hand through his hair. “Maybe it was just a warning but it scared him. Who knows the workings of a criminal mind?”
“Did the police find the weapon?”
“Not yet.”
Lenora had a strong passion to help ex-convicts. How horrible for her attacker to be someone she’d rehabilitated. She’d bragged to me about Kirk being her first success story when she’d hired him as the Second Chance rehab counselor. How many people would be dissuaded from helping ex-cons if they read about consequences such as this? “Tucker, I’d give Kirk every benefit of the doubt at this point. That’s what Lenora would want.”
Tucker pressed his palms together. “She had to be wrong about this man.”
“She’s usually an excellent judge of character. I find it hard to believe she’d make such a mistake.”
Tucker raised his voice. “No one’s judgment is infallible.”
“Perhaps I can assist with the investigation. Maybe one of her clients will know something. Lenora may have told you I’ve helped with a criminal case before.”
“Thanks, but your sleuthing isn’t necessary. The police are quite competent, and there’s no doubt in my mind Kirk shot her. I’m not surprised. I’ve never shared my wife’s enthusiasm for social engineering.”
I stared at him. “But you helped establish the Second Chance Foundation?”
“Because I love my wife.” He lifted his chin and gritted his teeth. “Rescuing people was my wife’s love.”
“An awesome undertaking.”
He seemed not to hear me. “Kirk will be punished.” He studied his hand then pounded his right fist into his left palm. “I’m going to personally see to it.” Tucker stood.
I said nothing. He might be right about Kirk, but the fact Kirk called for an ambulance made me skeptical. I decided to do a little checking on my own. If Kirk carried a ton of repressed anger, Lenora should have glimpsed it with her skills of perception and stayed clear. Sometimes I disliked being a psychotherapist, always questioning. Might someone else have reason to harm Lenora?
“Lenora must have a file on Kirk. May I stop by tonight when you’re back from the hospital to collect it and get the names and numbers for those clients you want me to contact?”
“Fine. Come after nine.”
I followed him to the door and patted his shoulder. “Nick and I will pray for Lenora’s complete healing and for your strength through this.”
Tucker straightened his jacket. “Thanks for caring. Lenora is all I have…” He dragged himself through the doorway.
I stared at my hands, needing something tangible to assure myself this visit had been real.
If Lenora’s attacker wasn’t Kirk, her shooter was still out there, and she wasn’t safe even in the hospital.
I taught clients to guard themselves emotionally and keep their personal lives separate from their work through appropriate boundaries, vital for a healthy life. Truth was, I often abandoned my own rules.
As I walked back to my desk, I froze. Might this person be someone else Lenora and I both counseled at one of our joint workshops? I shuddered.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Judith Rolfs is the author of seventeen fiction and non-fiction books including the acclaimed children’s mystery fantasy series Adventures of Tommy Smurlee. She has Master’s and Doctoral degrees in counseling and is a licensed counselor as well as a published author. Her recent contemporary mystery novel Bullet in the Night was set in the Lake Geneva area where she resides with her husband and best friend, Wayne. She enjoys biking, hiking and finding new writing hide-outs that serve café au lait. Most of all Judith delights in spending time with her amazing four grown children and seven grandchildren. She divides her time between home bases in Wisconsin and Florida.
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