Leann Sweeney - Pushing Up Bluebonnets

Cooper's features relaxed and he almost smiled. The tension that had been strung like a tightrope between the two of them suddenly slackened.

"I believe you, Mr. Richter," Cooper said. "But I will examine your life if necessary. Right now I need to find out about that stranger who parked himself outside the ICU, not to mention the man who warned Abby off the case and then drugged her."

"Could Dugan have hired those two men?" I asked.

Cooper considered this for a second or two. "I don't know. Since his attempt on JoLynn failed, Dugan might have been concerned we'd find evidence to nail him for the wreck, or he was worried any future blackmail plans involving Mr. Richter would be ruined if certain facts about JoLynn came to light."

"But he would have to get rid you, too, because you know everything I know," I said. "And then he'd face the wrath of your officers, maybe the FBI, and of course Jeff's large network of friends—also known as HPD. Dugan couldn't have been that stupid."

"Your garage assailant was very careful not to seriously harm you. Maybe you've figured out why," Cooper said.

"You think?" I said.

Cooper didn't answer.

But Richter's concern was evident. He said, "With JoLynn out of ICU and with at least two men connected to these . . . these crimes, JoLynn's still in danger. And you are, too, Abby. I'm the one who put you in that position and—"

"Don't even think about firing me, Mr. Richter. I can take care of myself. That man caught me off guard once, but I guarantee you, he won't get the jump on me again."

"I won't fire you, Abby. But please be careful," Richter said. Then he got the call he'd been waiting for. Guess his cell worked down here after all. Scott gave him JoLynn's new room number and we were off.

On the elevator ride, I thought about the cop Penny had told me about and wondered if Shauna Anthony could give me any leads that might provide Elliott Richter with the information he still wanted about JoLynn. Then my brain skipped to the evidence at the condo. We assumed those newspaper clippings belonged to Dugan, but what if they'd belonged to JoLynn?

"The newspaper clippings," I said as we got off the elevator.

"What about them?" Cooper said.

Richter wasn't listening. He was off like a cat with its tail on fire, heading for JoLynn's room.

As we trailed behind, I said, "Maybe those articles belonged to JoLynn and not Dugan."

We stopped to allow an orderly pushing a gurney to pass and ended up with our backs against a wall.

"I see where you're going with this," Cooper said. " JoLynn created JoLynn Richter—not Dugan. After all, she had learned at the foot of the master—and I hate saying Dugan was masterful about anything, but JoLynn's driver's license was the best fake I've ever seen."

"She could have split after using Dugan's ID shop to make herself over," I said. "Which would have pissed off Dugan in a major way. The ultimate betrayal— conning the con man. Maybe it took him an entire year to research all the people in those articles, figure out exactly who she'd chosen as her new family. But we do know he found her. I mean, his prints were all over that wreck."

We started down the hall again.

"And that explains the attempt on JoLynn's life, but again, it doesn't explain why someone wanted Dugan dead. We're missing something, Abby."

"Right," I said. "And maybe we missed whatever that something is during the condo search. What about the pictures of JoLynn taken at the cemetery? I don't understand why he took them, aside from him being a twisted, angry stalker."

Cooper and I halted outside JoLynn's room and looked at each other and he whispered what I was thinking. "Maybe Dugan didn't take those pictures."

I would have loved to think this through more, but Cooper opened the door.

The security guard, a large black man, stood and blocked our path the minute we tried to enter.

I liked him already.

"They're okay, Henry," we heard Richter say—only heard because we couldn't see around the mass of humanity that was Henry.

The guard stepped aside and we squeezed into a room where the bed alone would have made the room crowded. Add six people and a patient with equipment, and I was thinking we all might have to grease our hips to turn around.

Scott said, "Henry and I will wait in the hall."

Once they were gone, I could actually see JoLynn and my sister. Kate was on the window side of the bed, helping JoLynn drink water through a straw.

Richter stepped back into the far corner and gestured for us to come closer. "JoLynn's doing much better today."

Cooper went to the bedside and looked down on her. He gently said, "Do you remember me?"

Her eyes moved in his direction and Kate carefully took the straw from between JoLynn's dry lips.

"Police?" JoLynn said.

"That's right." Cooper glanced at me. I'd taken the

only available floor space, near the foot of the bed. "And her?" Cooper said.

JoLynn said, "Abby, right?" Then she glanced at Kate. "Your sister?"

Kate smiled and nodded. "These are the people helping you. They have questions."

JoLynn closed her eyes. "I remember what you said, Chief Boyd."

"What's that?" Cooper asked.

"You said someone tampered with my car." Then tears escaped from the corners of both eyes. "I lied. I deserved to die."

Richter stood taller and took a step forward, ready to jump in and rescue the girl he'd taken in as his own. But Kate set down the water glass and held up her hand to stop him. Softly she said, "We all tell lies sometimes. Especially when we're afraid."

When JoLynn opened her eyes, she found Richter. "I am so sorry."

Cooper took over this time. "He knows, Elizabeth. We all know. And it doesn't matter."

JoLynn was still focused on the man she'd called Grandfather. "Elizabeth should have died."

The small space between Kate's eyes furrowed with concern. "But that's you. JoLynn is Elizabeth. And you don't deserve to die."

JoLynn's glance flicked briefly toward Kate, then returned to Richter. "Can you forgive me?"

Richter seemed all verklempt again, as he had been downstairs. I wasn't sure he could respond, but he managed to say, "There is nothing to forgive. But please talk to Chief Boyd and Abby. They have questions. I'll leave you with them."

Then he walked to JoLynn's side and Kate scooted her chair away so he could get close to his once and perhaps future granddaughter.

Richter bent, kissed JoLynn's forehead and said, "I love you, Elizabeth . . . or JoLynn. Whatever name you like best. I'll be back when they're done talking to you."

I had to lean forward so Richter could get by me, and then he was gone. Mr. Man of Stone had cracked. He needed time to repair.

"Which name do you like?" Kate asked.

"JoLynn. I've always liked JoLynn." She repositioned her shoulders and pain brightened her eyes.

"Are you okay?" Kate said.

JoLynn nodded, lips tight.

"Before the chief and Abby talk to you, I need to ask one important question. Did you try to take your own life? Are you the one who tampered with your car?"

I could understand why Kate might have concluded this, seeing as how these last few minutes had revealed JoLynn's rather guilty conscience.

"I'm not that brave," JoLynn said. "I don't know who was that angry with me. Maybe one of them."

"Them?" I said.

"The family. No one but Scott and Grandfather liked me. The family probably knew I was lying. That's why they hated me."

"The truth is, we have credible evidence that Kent Dugan tampered with your car," Cooper said.

Kate shot him a look—one I knew. It's the "Why can't you be more sensitive?" look. She probably didn't think JoLynn could deal with this information on the heels of the suicide query.