Death and Deceit (25 page)

Kent’s heart softened. She was worried about Alvarez. That skunk. The dirty rat that tried to rape her and might even have killed her, if she hadn’t shot him first. What kind of woman was Jessie anyway? She had a heart so soft and big that even a criminal like Alvarez was worth something to her. Or maybe she’d grown to care for him while they had been together. What a sick thought. Kent felt like little worms were crawling around in his stomach. He truly didn’t know how to react to Jessie’s sudden show of concern. But he knew one thing, he wasn’t leaving town without her.

CHAPTER TEN

Liz looked at Jessie, wondering how she was really doing. “So, what’s going on with you, Jessie? I mean, how long are they going to keep you here? What did Davis do to you when he brought you in?”

“He took my statement, asked a lot of questions, said I was under arrest for the attempted murder of Ricardo Alvarez.” Jessie stared at the floor of the cell. Her shoulders were hunched forward and her hands were tangled together in her lap.

On impulse Kent reached down and laid a hand over hers. He noticed they felt cool and clammy. “He arrested you?”

“That’s normal, Kent,” Liz put in. “There will be a trial I imagine and you and I will be Jessie’s witnesses.”

“But can’t you get released on bail?”

Jessie looked at Kent. “I think I need to call my brother. But there’s something I want you guys to do.”

Kent shifted his feet and a look of impatience spread over his face. “What are you talking about, Jessie?”

Her eyes were big and serious as she looked into his. “I have to know how he’s doing.”

Kent just stared at her. “What are you talking about? You want us to go to the hospital?” he asked incredulously.

Jessie searched his warm blue eyes, looking for the understanding she had often found there before. She knew he thought she was crazy. After all, why should she care about a guy who had kidnapped her then tried to rape her?

“I don’t expect you to understand, Kent. But I have to know. I shot a man today. It doesn’t matter why. He’s a human being and he might die.” Her voice drifted down to a murmur. “He might already be dead.”

Her eyes flushed with tears and Kent dropped an arm around her shoulder. “I
do
understand.” He sighed. “I’m human too. We’ll go to the hospital. It’s the right thing to do.”

Jessie brushed back tears and rose. “Thanks for understanding, Kent,” she said.

****

At the hospital they inquired for Ricardo at the nursing station and were told he was still in the operating room.

“My God,” Liz remarked. “It’s been hours. Is he going to make it?”

The nurse glanced at her inquisitively. “I can’t tell you that, Miss. Are you a relative?”

“No.” Liz backed away from the desk. She and Kent walked into the waiting room and took seats.

“There’s nothing to do but wait, Liz,” he said. “It can’t be much longer now. At least we know he’s still alive.”

Liz excused herself and slipped away to a phone. After establishing Alan’s
number, she punched it in. Relieved to hear his voice, she took a deep breath.

“Alan? It’s Liz Barrows. How are you?”

Alan’s voice was friendly. “Liz? I’m...fine. Just surprised to hear from you.
Is everything all right with Jessie?”

“Well...not exactly. That’s why I’m calling.” Liz hated herself for taking
advantage of the situation with Jessie in order to put her in contact again with Alan, but in her heart she truly believed he should know what was going on with his sister. Jessie had said she needed to call him, but Liz wondered if she would. And by the way Jessie was acting Liz wasn’t sure when she might call Alan, if she even did. If these two were going to get back together as loving siblings, Liz had her work cut out. And if it meant she got to see Alan again, then all the better. Besides, Alan was a lawyer, and although he wasn’t a criminal lawyer, he should know what to do about Jessie and how to get her out of that cell.

Alan’s voice rose in alarm. “What’s wrong with Jessie?”

“She’s fine,” Liz cut in quickly. “But something’s happened.”

“You’re scaring me, Liz.”

“Okay, I’ll explain. Jessie
is
fine. But she’s in trouble.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“Alan. Would you please just let me tell you, okay?”

Alan turned silent and Liz continued. “There’s been something going on for
a while now. I know Jessie never told you, but she started getting e mail threats. It spooked her so bad that she finally went to the police. But low and behold the cop she got involved with kidnapped her.”

“What?”

“It happened last night. Kent and I followed them. The cop took her to an old shack and tied her up.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“It’s no joke, Alan. Please listen. To make a long story short, Jessie escaped
but in the struggle she shot Ricardo Alvarez.”

“Ricardo Alvarez! I know him!”

“I know you do. But Jessie didn’t. She had no idea he was the guy you wanted her to date.”

“This is unbelievable. Is he dead?”

“No. He’s being operated on right now. We’re at the hospital...waiting.”

“Let me speak to Jessie.”

Liz hesitated. “She’s...not here.”

“Then where is she?”

“She’s…been arrested for attempted murder.”

“Jesus. I can’t believe this.”

“It was self defence, Alan, but they arrested her anyway and now she’s in a jail cell. I…thought you’d want to know.”

“You’re damn right. I still can’t believe this. Does she have a lawyer?”

“No, she doesn’t. She said something about needing to call you, but I wasn’t sure she would. The chief of police took her into custody at the old cabin, and Kent and I went to the police station and made our statements. We’re at the hospital right now. Jessie wanted us to come and find out how Alvarez was doing.”

“Leave it to Jessie to care about that.”

“Alan.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t sympathize with Rick on this one.”

“I know. But I thought you might want to be with Jessie now.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can. I need to make a couple of calls first. I have to get Jessie a lawyer.”

“I’m so relieved you’re coming. Things will be all right, won’t they? I mean, Jessie will get off, won’t she?” All was quiet on Alan’s end and Liz held her breath, but the silence made her wonder. “Alan?
Are you still there?”

“Yeah, I’m here. I was just thinking. Look, I’ll leave right away. Will I find you at the
hospital?”

“Come to the hospital, the second floor. If we’re not in the waiting room, call Sandra. I’ll see that she knows where we are, if we’re not at her place.”

“Why would you be at Sandra’s?”

“Ah...she’s the only one in town I know of, Alan. I don’t know what else to tell you.”

“You could go to our house.”

“Oh? Is the house equipped? I mean, like, is the power on?”

“Everything’s working there. There’s no need to stay at Sandra’s.”

“What about the phone? Is it still connected?”

“Of course.”

“Then call there. If we leave the hospital, that’s where we’ll go.”

“Liz, how is Jessie doing with all this?”

“She’s actually doing good. I think she’s still in a bit of shock over it all, but she’s hanging in.”

“Tell her I’m coming and not to worry. I’ve got a good lawyer in mind.”

“I will. I’ll get Kent to drive me back over there so I can tell her.”

“You’re a good friend, Liz.”

Liz swallowed hard remembering the e mail caper. Her guilt rose in her throat and she cleared it quickly. “I’ve gotta go now, Alan. We’ll be waiting for you.” She hung up quickly and paced the corridor. She had to go back now and tell Kent what she’d done. She only hoped he would be receptive to her calling Alan. Hauling in a lung full of air, Liz walked hurriedly down the corridor to the waiting room. Kent was pacing the floor.

“Any news yet?” Liz asked.

Kent held a magazine in his hand, turned and slapped it on the table in front of her. “No.
Where were you?”

Liz sat down and Kent sat beside her. She folded her hands on her
knees and looked into Kent’s eyes. “I was on the phone. I...I called Alan.”

“What? Why did you do that? Jessie said she was going to call him.”

“I know she said that, but she isn’t thinking too straight and she needs a lawyer, she also needs her brother.”

“So I finally get to meet Alan,” Kent said.

“I guess so. But it’s going to be a while. He’s out of province you know.” Liz got up and walked towards the admittance desk, where a tall, grey-haired man in a long white hospital coat was accepting telephone notes from the receptionist. Kent followed Liz to the counter.

“Are you a doctor?” Liz asked the man.

He looked at her curiously. “Yes. I’m Dr. Ryan. Can I help you?”

“I’m inquiring about Ricardo Alvarez. He came in here with a gunshot wound. I was wondering—”

“Who are you?”

Liz’s face turned ashen. Her voice dropped. “I’m...a friend.”

Dr. Ryan rubbed the stubble on his chin and continued to gaze at Liz. Kent
stepped up and confronted the doctor. “Is Alvarez
alive or not?”

The doctor riffled through the pink messages then glanced back at Kent. “He’s alive...for now. I prefer not to go into detail. You should talk to the operating
doctor. Dr. Reg Farley. But if you’re that interested, you’ll have to wait because Dr. Farley has gone home.”

“We just want to know if he’ll survive,” Kent said.

“No,” Liz intervened. “We, I mean I, want to know the details. And what do you mean he’s alive...for now?”

“He’s not out of the woods yet. But he’s resting comfortably. We’ll know more in the morning, if he survives the night, that is.”

“You don’t sound hopeful,” Liz said.

Dr. Ryan stuffed the messages in his coat pocket. “Mr. Alvarez was in grave
condition when he arrived here. He lost a lot of blood and was in shock. I can’t say anymore. If you’ll excuse me now, I have some calls to make.”

“Will you be telling the chief of police more?” Liz asked.

Dr. Ryan turned his eyes on Liz, but he didn’t reply. He just gave her a brushed-off glance and walked down the hall and disappeared into an open doorway.

“Creep,” Liz mumbled.

The receptionist took notice and glared at Liz. “There’s no point of you two hanging around,” she said. “Mr. Alvarez will have no visitors today. He’s in ICU.”

Kent grabbed Liz’s arm. “Come on. Let’s go. We can call and inquire tomorrow. We’ve gotta find a place to stay I guess, and —”

“Alan said we could stay at their house.”

“Oh, that’s good.”

“But, Kent, we have to go back to the police station. I told Alan that I’d let Jessie know what was going on.”

Liz and Kent made tracks down the corridor to the stairway, but Liz stopped Kent when she saw Dr. Ryan duck into a doorway. She put a finger to her mouth and motioned to Kent that she was going to follow him.

Kent stood and watched as Liz sidled down the hall where she saw the doctor enter the door.

Liz stopped abruptly when she saw the door was ajar. Pressing her back firmly against the wall, she stood by the door as if waiting for someone. With her ears pricked up, she listened intently.

Dr. Ryan’s deep voice was easy to pick up. “I don’t know why you want all the details, Davis. I’m a busy man you know...Yes, I understand your involvement and that you are the police chief.” He sighed and Liz could imagine him tiredly rubbing his brow. “All right, all right. The bullet entered the chest and damaged the lung. We removed the bullet and repaired the lung. We put him on a ventilator for overnight, if he survives the night. We don’t want to leave him on the ventilator too long if we can help it. There’s always the chance of leg clots and that can be fatal if they travel to the lungs. He lost a lot of blood and that worries me.”

The elevator door across from Liz rolled open. Her muscles tensed as two males in green garb pushed an empty gurney into the hallway. They barely took notice of Liz, and when they moved away she relaxed and listened again.

“I won’t be, Davis. Alvarez is holding his own for now. Let’s see what the morning brings. If he’s feeling better you can question him, but he can’t talk until he has the ventilator removed. If he’s conscious you can get him to write maybe. We just have to wait and see. Be patient.”

“Can I help you, Miss?”

Liz turned slowly in the direction of the reception desk. The woman was leaning over her desk staring down the hallway right at Liz. Liz moved away from the doorway quickly. “I’m...just waiting for someone,” she explained.