Something Bad (22 page)

Wanna staggered from the bathroom as Gabe pulled on his overalls.

Her beetle-browed look broke through his armor for an instant. “You all right?” He lifted a shield to cover the breach. He was sure her mind was spinning this all out of proportion. “I have to go out this afternoon. Let me know what you need done and I’ll get to what can.”

“Don’t need nothing. I can do it myself.” She burst into tears.

“I’ll be at the chores, then. Ring the dinner bell if you need anything.”

“Gabe, what are we going to do?”

“Not now, Wanna. I’m not discussing that until you get control of yourself.” He closed the door after him, chopping an obscenity in half.

Gabe burst through the doors of the Edge and smiled. Only two other customers were there. He settled on his stool and smiled at Deena Lee, who filled his cup to the brim.

“Nice to see you, Gabe. What brings you in? To see me, I hope.”

He thought he detected an evil tilt to her smile.

Miz Murtry’s head, Wanna’s body, hay loft … His pants tightened. He looked down at his lap and tried to slide forward but the stool was bolted to the floor.

“I always look forward to seeing you,” he said.
Ten more degrees of elevation
. He exaggerated a smile to keep her eyes on his face.

“Well, get a good look because in a couple of weeks there won’t be so much to look at.” She turned to show her profile.

Gabe noticed the swollen abdomen and the arch in her back, apparently necessary to compensate for the change in her center of gravity. The thought of her settling on top of him in the hayloft was unusual enough to break the spell.
Negative twenty-five degrees and falling
. He turned his attention to his mission.

“You or Teddy know anything about Father Costello? You know, the one who killed all the animals in the church years ago.”
All calm on the southern front
.

Teddy leaned around the corner of the kitchen. “Before my time here. Sorry.”

“Me, too, but you can come in and ask anytime,” Deena Lee said with a wink.

Back to battle stations
.

Gabe tried to maintain his concentration. “Do either of you know anyone who might know his whereabouts? I need to ask him a few questions.”

Teddy walked from the kitchen and centered himself in front of Gabe, forcing Deena Lee to move over a step. “Why? What you got going? You needing some fresh meat?” He laughed.

“Meat’s right here, sweetie,” Deena Lee said, and exaggerated a hip wiggle timed to her giggles.

Sweat would have appeared on Gabe’s forehead if he had any excess fluid in the top half of his body. He slid forward to the very edge of the stool.

Too late
. Deena Lee did a double take and let out a loud guffaw. She grabbed a dishtowel and tossed it onto Gabe’s lap. “You got a license for that monster?”

It was sauna-hot in the Edge now, but the flow of blood to Gabe’s face took his mind away. The towel started to descend.

“I’m really sorry, Miz Murtry.” He thought about running out, but that would accentuate his predicament.

“Don’t you dare be sorry, Gabe Petersen. It’s nice to know I can still do that for a man, and you in particular. Especially as big and round as I am right now.”

“You look great to me,” he said. It was barely audible, but her smile told him she heard.

“You want anything to eat? Teddy’s got a winner of a special today.”

“No, thanks. I’m just trying to get some information on Father Costello.” He looked down. The towel was flat on his lap. When he looked up, he noticed

Deena Lee watching.

She looked down at the towel with an exaggerated stare. “I bet I can make that towel dance.” She wiggled her hips in a mock hula.

Teddy and Deena Lee’s laughter was contagious—Gabe let loose with an uzi burst. He grabbed the towel and flung it at Deena Lee, who dodged it, allowing it to fall to the floor. She grabbed a pair of long tongs and picked it up by its extreme edge, holding it at full arm’s length.

“My tip’s not on here, is it?” With a loud laugh, she flipped the towel into the laundry box.

Gabe wanted to gather her up and take her home. He wondered if she felt the same.

The bell over the front door silenced their laughter and Gabe turned to see a large man in a state police uniform pigeon-toe in. He clomped up to the counter and lowered himself on a stool, two over from Gabe.

“Name’s Officer Ralston. I’ve been assigned to the Tri-counties until you can search for a new sheriff.” He offered a hand to Gabe.

“Gabe Petersen.” He gave the officer’s hand a firm shake.

Deena Lee rounded the kitchen half-wall. “Officer Ralston, I’m Deena Lee. That there’s Teddy in the kitchen. This here’s his place. He makes the best specials. You hungry?”

“Smells great. I shouldn’t, but I believe I’ll give the special a try.”

Gabe estimated he was around six feet and two-fifty, minimum.

“Seems like you folks have had a streak of bad luck lately,” Ralston said. “I knew young Merriwether and his old man. Terrible thing. The old man is really broken up.” He drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Anything I should know about the Tri-counties that’ll help me get adjusted to the place?”

Gabe wasn’t tempted to get into what he saw at Thibideaux’s.

Deena Lee leaned over the counter. “Just the usual. People coming in here getting excited over a pregnant girl.” She smiled at Gabe.

“Ain’t against the law, is it?”

Ralston looked at Deena Lee, then at Gabe. He smiled and stroked his chin. “Not that I know of, but I can check the local statutes. Sometimes these small counties have really old laws on the books that cover the dangdest things.” He looked at Deena Lee. “You want to file a complaint?”

“Only if he stops.”

Gabe looked down at his coffee and smiled.
Battle stations again
.

Ralston cleared this throat. “Anything I can do for you people? I’m here to serve.”

Gabe’s head turned to the officer. “A long time ago, about twenty-five years, there was a priest in these parts, a Father Costello.”

“Yeah. I heard about him. He’s the one who cut up a bunch of animals in the church.” Ralston swiveled on his stool so he faced Gabe.

“Right. I’m trying to find him. I want to ask him a few questions. Can you find out anything about him?”

“I have some connections at the Capitol. Let me see what I can do. Any other way I can help?” Ralston turned back to the bar as Deena Lee slid a full plate in front of him.

“You can carry this here bundle for awhile,” Deena Lee said. “It’s paining my back something fierce.” She supported her stomach with both hands.

“I’ve got one of my own,” he said. “I can sympathize, but yours will be gone soon. I have to carry this one around for the duration.” He patted his midsection and chuckled. The laughter made the rounds.

Gabe rose from his stool and reached for his wallet. “I’d better get back home.”

Deena Lee walked through the split in the counter and came close to Gabe’s side. Her voice was low. “Thank you for coming in. Come in anytime. And you can bring that monster with you, especially after the baby’s out.” She pointed at his beltline and giggled.

Battle stations
.

Gabe took a deep breath and bent over. He kissed Deena Lee’s cheek and ran out the front door, leaving the overhead bell to say his goodbye.

D
EENA
L
EE DIALED
the phone and waited for Teddy to pick up. “Teddy, I don’t think I can make it in this morning. My head’s hurting so bad I can’t see straight. I’m going to go to see Doc. Will you be okay at the café?”

“I’ll be fine. You take care of yourself. Let me know if you need anything.”

One in a million, she thought. She struggled to her feet and with the change in posture, the throbbing in her head intensified. She had to stop and squint her eyes until the pounding let up a little. Driving would be a bitch since the morning sun would be in her eyes most of the way.

“Deena Lee. Wake up.”

Deena Lee’s eyes focused on Misty Rondelunas.

“Doc wants you to wake up now,” Misty said. “He wants to talk to you.”

“What time is it?”

“Four o’clock.”

“I’ve been asleep the whole day?”

“We didn’t want to bother you.”

Doc Halvorson stepped into the room and nodded to Misty, who left. “Good afternoon, sleepy head.”

“You let me sleep all day?”

“It was probably the best thing for you.” He slipped a blood pressure cuff on her arm and pumped on the bulb.

“How’s the baby?” she said.

“Shhh.” Doc let the air out slowly and frowned at the dial. He slipped the stethoscope from his ears and smiled. “Good. Pressure’s down a little. I bet your head feels better, right?”

“Yes. How’s the baby?”

“The baby is fine.” Doc sat down on a four-wheeled stool next to the bed. “It’s you I’m worried about.”

“What’s wrong with me?” She grabbed his right arm and squeezed. “Am I going to be all right?”

“You’ll be fine. You have pregnancy-induced hypertension. What that means is your blood pressure is up a bit.” His voice was calm. “It’s not serious at this point, but if it goes up much more, we’ll have to do something.”

She dug her fingernails into his skin. “Do what? Will I lose my baby?”

Doc grabbed her hand and lifted it from his arm, then put it down again, back on his arm. “No. If the situation worsens we’ll have to either induce labor or take the baby by Cesarean section.”

“That bad?”

“Both are routine medical procedures. I’ve done them both many times. You’re far enough along and your baby is big enough that … it … should be fine.”

Deena Lee’s eyes widened. “You know the sex?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t tell me. It’s bad luck.” She pulled her hand from his arm and put it to her forehead. “I want to be surprised.”

Doc smiled.

Deena Lee leaned up on her elbow. To her surprise, her head didn’t pulse with pain. “What should I do now? I can’t stay here.”

“You need total bed rest, and I mean total. You can get up to go to the bathroom, but that’s all. Do you have anyone who can take care of you?” He slid the stool over to the desk in the corner and picked up a laminated card. “If not, I’ll have to check you into the hospital.”

Deena Lee slumped back into the bed. “I’m alone at my place. I can’t ask Teddy—he’s too busy. But I can’t afford the hospital. I have enough saved to get me through the birth and all, but a stay in the hospital is expensive.”

Doc ran his finger down the list of numbers on the card. “Don’t you have anyone who can help? It’s really important.”

She rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. “Can I use your phone?”

Gabe washed his hands—he wanted to get through the paper before supper. He caught the phone on he third ring.

“Gabe, It’s Deena Lee. I’m at Doc’s—”

“You all right?” Gabe said. It felt like the air was sucked from his lungs. “You need me? I can be there in a shake—”