Margaret Daley - Detection Mission

The same dark screen mocked her. She’d never felt so alone in her life. She didn’t have to remember her past to know that was true.

* * *

After paying human resources and hospital security a visit, Lee caught his friend Gail in the hallway coming from the room where there had been a code blue earlier. “What happened?”

“Someone unplugged that man’s life support, and he crashed, but thankfully we revived him and he’s fine now.”

How convenient for Gus that everyone was in Room 253. Planned or a coincidence?

The nurse looked around him. “Why is an officer standing outside Heidi’s room?”

“One of your custodians assaulted her.”

Alarmed, Gail pushed forward. “Is she all right?”

Lee stopped his friend. “She’s fine. Just confused and scared. I asked her doctor to check her out before she’s discharged from the hospital.”

“Who was it?”

“Gus Zoller. What can you tell me about him? Any reason you can think of why he would do this?”

Her forehead creased, and she slowly shook her head. “It doesn’t make any sense. He’s new here. He started in January. But he always did his job and was pleasant to the patients when he interacted with them.”

“Was he friendly with anyone? Another staff member?”

“No, come to think about it. He kept to himself. Did his job and went home.”

Lee nodded. “If you think of anything else that might explain why he went after Heidi, call me.”

He continued toward Heidi’s room with the information he’d received on Gus from human resources. Later tonight after he interviewed the suspect, he intended to check his apartment out.

When he entered the room, he found Heidi lying on her bed, staring at the wall. “Are you sure you’re all right?” Lee brushed his gaze over her cheeks, which were still drained of color. He couldn’t blame her for being jittery with anyone she saw. She didn’t know what happened to land her in the hospital. Who was a friend? Who was a foe? Her aching despair spiked his protective instincts.

Heidi nodded slowly.

“Did Gail tell you I found a place for you to stay?”

“Yes.”

“I live in a Victorian boarding house run by Molly Givens. She lives on the bottom floor and another police officer lives on the second floor in an apartment across from me. Molly has wanted to open up her third floor for another tenant. It doesn’t require a lot of work so a group of my friends are going to put the finishing touches on it over the next several nights.”

“The doctor said I could still leave today,” she informed him. “And after what just happened, I want to get out of here.”

“I don’t blame you. I can keep an eye on you at the house so there isn’t a repeat of this afternoon. Molly has a spare bedroom downstairs for you to use. Your place should be ready for you to move into in two days. Are you okay with that?”

“Are you sure Molly is all right with it?”

“Meet Molly. You’ll see she’s fine about you staying. Like I said, I’ll feel better if you’re nearby.” He smiled gently. “Mark, my neighbor, works the graveyard shift. He’ll be around while I’m working if you run into a problem. I’ll be there at night.”

Her eyebrows slashed downward. “I hate not knowing what’s going on. I don’t feel like I’m the kind of person who made someone angry enough to want me dead.”

“This has to be hard on you, but I’ll help you find answers. I know you feel alone, but you aren’t now.” He couldn’t shake from his mind the haunted look he glimpsed a few times on her face.

Tears glistened in Heidi’s eyes. “Why are you doing this for me?”

“Several reasons. First off, I’m a cop. I became one to help others in trouble. And you’re most definitely in dire straits. Also, I want you to remember. You might be able to help us with what’s been going on here in Sagebrush.”

“What’s going on?”

“Last month Captain Slade McNeal’s father was almost beaten to death. He’s still in this hospital. Like you, he slipped into a coma. My captain’s K-9 dog was stolen at that time. Brady, the seven-year-old who lives down the road from Slade, was kidnapped because he witnessed both the beating and Rio’s abduction. I know how I’d feel if something happened to Kip. My dog is my partner. We’ve been through a lot together.”

“I think I like dogs.”

The vulnerability in her expression chipped away at his declaration he was through with women after Alexa. “In a while you’ll find out. There’ll be two dogs at Molly’s. Besides Kip, Mark’s pet is an ex-K-9 dog—Eliza, a Malinois.”

“Why would someone take your captain’s dog?”

“We’re working on that,” Lee said, not wanting to reveal to Heidi what Pauly Keevers had told them—that Rio was taken to find something valuable in the Lost Woods. “In addition to Slade’s father being hurt, his dog stolen and young Brady Billows being kidnapped, a number of lowlifes have disappeared. One turned up dead in the Lost Woods the other day.

“Who?”

“Ned Adams? Have you ever heard that name, seen him?” Lee showed her a photo of the dead man.

She shook her head. “Was he a criminal?”

“Yes, he was dealing drugs and working for another man we have jailed and awaiting trial. He was shot execution style. Someone is making a point. Something big is going on here, and no one is talking.”

“But you said you’ve checked around here and I’m not from here. At least you don’t think so.”

“True, but you may know something about what happened in the Lost Woods that can help us.”

“You think that’s why that man came after me?”

“Maybe, especially since you woke up and could possibly remember and talk. Speaking of which...do you know a man named William Peterson?

“You found another dead body in the woods?”

“No, but we found Peterson’s car wrecked at the edge of the woods, not far from the highway. He lives in San Antonio, but his neighbors said he left on business weeks ago and wasn’t expected back for a few more days.” He cleared his throat. “SAPD checked with his employer, and he never showed up to see any of his business clients. He’s a sales rep for a manufacturer. When his daughter hadn’t heard from him, she filed a missing-person’s report.”

“You think I know him?”

“It could explain your injuries.” He showed her a driver’s license photo of Peterson, a fifty-two-year-old with balding dark hair and a plain face.

She examined it for a long moment then scrubbed her hands down her face. “I don’t know. The name doesn’t sound familiar at all. Nor does his picture look familiar.” Frustration, mixed with concern, marked her features.

“Don’t worry. It might not have anything to do with you.” He wanted to touch her and comfort her, take the strain from her expression. He kept his arms at his sides. “I’ll go see if the doctor has signed your discharge papers while you get dressed.”

“Speaking of clothes, I need to go by a store and pick up some extra items. What you found me in is all I have.”

“There’s a Super Mart not too far from here. We’ll stop there, then maybe Molly or Gail can take you shopping when you get settled in.”

* * *

“I can’t believe all these people came to help fix up this place for me,” Heidi said, standing back from the group painting and preparing the hardwood flooring to be refinished. “I should be helping.”

“Didn’t anyone tell you that you just got out of the hospital a few hours ago? You’re to rest. Isn’t that right, Gail?”

Lee’s friend stopped taping the floorboard and looked up at Heidi and him. “I’d better not see you lifting a finger tonight. Consider this your welcome-to-Sagebrush greeting. It’s got to be better than the first one.”