Coffee & Crime (49 page)

Nose. The odds sucked. I yelled against the shrieking wind. "You have to let go of my ankle."

Lily wept while the wind whipped her around like a twig in a dervish. "I'll fall!"

"You have to move your hand to the railing." I pointed. "Let go of my ankle and grab onto the railing."

"I can't! I'm too scared."

Dizzy with pain and numb from the wind, my hands were a clumsy useless tool. I tucked the gun behind my back in the waistband of my jeans. Crouching, I anchored my free foot under the bottom of the railing and with both hands pried Lily's grip from my ankle then guided it to the bottom of the railing. My breath came out in trembled stutters. "Hang on. I'm going inside to find something to get you up."

"No!" Lily screamed. "You can't leave me here! No!"

I ignored Lily's screams and crab-walked backwards into the house and closed the door with my foot. It was so quiet inside that I wanted to lay down on the floor and sleep. I was so tired and I hurt and my head spun. My eyelids were heavy and the seduction of sleep whispered in my ear – then Zelda barged her way into my brain and ordered me to man up. My eyes popped open and I pushed myself to my feet. A wave of pain shot through me, and I buckled over. With the sleeve of my shirt, I wiped the sweat and tears that slicked my face. Screaming I pushed off my thighs with my arms and stood up.

The wind howled, and Lily screamed outside as I scanned the room for a tool or anything I could use. But I wasn't in a hardware store, and a few pieces of stylish furniture, and a couple of lovely framed lithographs wouldn't help. Panic rumbled through me — Lily would die, and it would be my fault. I'd be put on trial for murder and only see Ted every other Wednesday. Zelda would starve to death, and Boomer would go back to living in trash cans. "Oh shit."

The wind gusted and blew open the door then whipped through the room. The sheer drapery panels at the windows danced and billowed. I grabbed a handful of curtain. Sheer, yes
—
but also made of silk. Silk is strong. I ripped down panels and knotted them together. It wasn't like rope climbing in gym class, but it was all I had.

I looped and knotted the rope of curtains around the handles of the French door and tugged as hard as I could. It had to hold. Then I crawled out onto the patio and fed the other end of the knotted panels through the bars of the railing. It whipped and twirled in the wind. I cupped my hands around my mouth and yelled to Lily. "Grab the rope and climb up!"

Lily looked at me in horror and screamed. "That's not rope! Are you crazy?"

"It's all we've got."

"No! You pull me up!"

"I can't, you nut job! You broke my ribs. "

"I won't do it!" Lily cried.

Operating on adrenaline alone, I could already feel my engines stalling. If Lily didn't get too it soon she wouldn't even have me to help her. "Shut up and do it, Lily! There aren't any more choices." Lily shook her head. "Do you want to live?" She nodded her head violently. "Then you have to try. I'm right here. I'll help you." I pulled the makeshift rope back up, looped it and fed it back down to Lily. After many tries and fails, she caught it and held fast. "Okay," I yelled. "Start climbing and I'll start pulling."

I crab-walked backwards to the door, backed inside and struggled to my feet. Wedging my side between the door jamb and wall for leverage, I grasped the makeshift rope with both hands and pulled. The rope went taut as both of us pulled on it and I worried it would shred. My feet slipped on the polished tile floor and my grip loosened. I was so tired and everything hurt. I couldn't feel my hands. It was hopeless.

I started to cry, but then the top of Lily's head crowned above the railing. Then her face. Then her arms. She hoisted her leg over the railing and then the other. It was a freaking miracle. She stood for a moment, swaying, and panting — trying to get her bearings.

I stared in awe, never really believing it would work. "Lily?"

She steadied herself and grinned at me. "You stupid bitch!"

She bent and charged toward me. Unable to compute, I froze as she came at me. How much adrenaline could one skinny woman have? My brain couldn't get my muscles to respond. Everything slowed down like in an instant replay. Sound fell away. Lily got closer. And closer. My feet wouldn't work. My heart roared in my ears and I tasted blood in my mouth.

Boom!
Like a canon firing a round. Lily went wide-eyed then crumpled to the floor.

I turned my head. Nick Farmer came up behind me, gun arm still outstretched and aimed at Lily. He turned to me. "You okay?"

"What?"

Farmer's face was two inches from mine, his eyes filled with concern, like he cared. "You okay? Scotti, can you hear me?" I couldn't speak. Farmer grasped me by the arms. "Are you hurt? Christ, you're bleeding!"

Ted screamed. "Scotti!"

I turned and reached to him, then slipped into the black and calm.

Everything was gray and fuzzy. "Scotti? Baby, can you hear me?" Ted's voice? "She's awake. Get the nurse." Definitely Ted's voice but where was he? The fuzzy shapes moved, and voices talked over me. A steady beep, beep, beep. Cool fingers on my wrist. Light in my eyes. Black dots danced. Nausea rose then quelled. The fuzz got less fuzzy. I squinted and it stabbed my eyes. Ted and Zelda stared down at me.

I moved, and pain crawled through me like a snake. My voice came out in a rasp. "Where am I?"

"You're in the hospital."

I lifted my head, but the nausea pushed me back against the pillows. "Lily's hanging from the balcony. She's going to fall..."

Ted stroked my hand. "Lily's okay. You're okay."

I turned my face to Ted. "Hi honey."

He bent down and kissed my cheek softly. "Hi baby."

"I'm so tired."

He stroked my cheek. "I know."

"It hurts."

"What hurts, honey?"

"Everything hurts."

Voices mumbled and slipped away.

When I opened my eyes again, I was disappointed that the hospital room and pain weren't a dream. "Crap, I'm still here." Ted, slouched in a chair next to the bed, asleep. Zelda stood at the window, looking out. "Hey roomie, any chance you can bust me out of this place?" I croaked.

Zelda whipped around and flew to my bedside. "Are you awake? Do recognize me? Is my voice familiar?" She wiggled her fingers under my nose. "How many fingers am I holding up?"

Groaning, I struggled into a sitting position, which hurt like hell. "Shut up. I wasn't that bad, was I?"

Zelda put out a hand. "Don't stress yourself
—
you're pretty banged up. You need to lay back and relax."

"You think?" Gingerly, I touched my face. "Did she break my nose? Am I missing teeth? Do I look like a circus freak?"

Zelda sat her butt on the edge of the bed. "I'm not going to lie to you. It ain't pretty. Avoid mirrors." She cocked her head and smirked. "But the nose is okay. It's the shiners that really make a statement."

Ted stirred and opened his eyes. "Hi, beautiful."

Zelda winked at me. "Now, that's what I call true love."

Within twenty-four hours, word got out that I was officially awake, and a parade of visitors from Marge to Franky the copy guy, stopped by with flowers, chocolates and balloons. I was horrified to have people see me looking like a freak show but they all wore frozen smiles and assured me it wasn't so bad. Liars, all but I appreciated the thought. I couldn't eat the chocolates because my face hurt so bad that even broth was a challenge. Not to worry, Zelda stepped in and obliged. She also got a kick out of the balloons, magazines and video games my visitors had so thoughtfully brought.

According to my doctor, who didn't look old enough to drive a car, I'd be fine in a few weeks. The bullet had grazed my hip and only three stitches were needed, but I'd lost a lot of blood, which is why I passed out. I had two cracked ribs, two black eyes, a sprained ankle, cuts, scratches, abrasions and bruises everywhere. But some bed rest, anti-inflammatories and pain killers would fix me up like new. If I was a good girl, took my meds, got my rest and ate my Jell-O, I'd be out of there in a few days.

Zelda brought me a pair of sweats and a tee shirt, so I wouldn't have to suffer the humiliation of a hospital gown. And she spent two hours helping me brush the mats out of my hair. She begged me not to take a shower, afraid I'd catch sight of my reflection and lapse into a coma, but I couldn't stand the stench. Like a true friend, she covered the mirror with a towel anyway.

Ted made jokes about basic training and threatened to bring in MRE's if I didn't eat the hospital food. And I enjoyed listening to Zelda and Ted bicker about who was going to take care of me, once I left the hospital. I was exhausted and hurt like hell but grateful

to have people in my life who loved me that much.

<<>>

The day before I left the hospital, Ted shooed everybody out of the room, closed the door and pulled his chair up to the bed. Serious eyes, set jaw
—
Ted's bad news face.

"Okay Captain America, spit it out. What's the matter?" He took my hand and pressed it to his lips. I snatched my hand away. "You better not be breaking up with me. After everything I've been through, at least have the decency to wait until I look good again."

He laughed. "Break up with you? What do you think I am, a lightweight? It'll take more than a melon face to make me walk away."

I frowned and teared up. "Did you just call me a melon face. That's so mean."

Ted cringed. "No, I was kidding." He took my hand. "Okay, okay, bad joke. I'm sorry, okay?"

I frowned. "Then why the face? That is not a happy face."

"Honey, I have to tell you something, so you've got to shut up." I sucked in my lips and nodded. "Somebody's here to talk to you, from law enforcement." He held up his hands. "And no, you aren't being arrested. It's an investigator from the U.S. Attorney's office." He hesitated and watched me for a second. "It's Nick Farmer."

I bolted forward and then cried out from the pain of the sudden movement. "What?"

He put his hand on my shoulder and eased me back against the pillows. "Yup, and that's what we were trying to avoid." He stroked my arm. "He's been waiting to talk to you for a couple of days. But you don't have to if you're not up to it. He knows you've been through a lot..."

Oh, I wanted to talk him all right. "Bring him in."

Ted cocked his head. "You sure?"

I grunted. "Oh yeah."

Ted frowned but went to the door and stuck his head out in the hallway. He called to Farmer, then came back to the bed and sat next to me.

When Farmer strode through the door he was barely recognizable in a gray suit and red tie. He carried a soft-bodied leather briefcase and walked with purpose. Without the stubble, straggly hair, and crappy clothes, he was an attractive man with a nice smile. Crossing to the bed, he extended a hand. "At last we meet, the famous Scotti Fitzgerald."

I kept my hands in my lap and squinted at him. "Who are you?"

Farmer hesitated a moment, then nodded and took a card from his breast pocket. Laying the card on the tray table he said, "John Tanner, U.S. Attorney's office."

I picked up the card and examined it
—
seemed legitimate. "What do you want?"

Tanner's gray eyes flitted to Ted. I shook my head. "Anything you have to say to me, you say in front of him. So, I'll ask you again, what do you want?"

In a soft, calm voice, Tanner explained that he worked in the White Collar Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney's office. During the course of an investigation of a money laundering scheme, Jake Kannanack became a person of interest. George Manston was approached and agreed to be part of a sting to set up Jake. When George died suddenly, Tanner believed that Jake had discovered the set up and killed George.

When Zelda and I broke into George's office a few days later, Tanner believed we were Jake's accomplices, looking to scrub the evidence. Zelda's paranoia about being watched was justified because Tanner had installed surveillance equipment in George's office that recorded our break-in.

"So you were tailing us? Not the cops?" Tanner nodded. "Jake didn't sic the cops on us, you did?" Tanner nodded again. I bolted forward and didn't care how much it hurt. I wanted to slug the guy with the bedpan. "You had me arrested!"

Tanner remained calm and patient. "You must understand Ms. Fitzgerald, you were an unknown quantity. We didn't know whether you had simply stumbled into the situation unaware or were helping Kannanack evade detection."

I scoffed. "So you thought just asking me made less sense than smashing Joe over the head and bugging his place? And breaking Zelda's window seemed like a better idea than calling us? And when that didn't work, you figured ruining Ted's business would get you the answers you needed?" I smirked. "Sounds to me like you’d decided what kind of quantity I was from the beginning."

Tanner held up his hands. "No, now for the record, I didn't attack Mr. Enders. We did liberate his files, hard drives and other items. And the listening devices were ours." He held up an index finger. "But Mr. Enders was enjoying pie and coffee during our document search." He shrugged. "We honestly don't know who attacked Mr. Enders. Perhaps Lily Bennett or a local thief. There were reports of break-ins in the neighborhood at the time of his attack."