Death and Deceit (26 page)

The receptionist gave her a clouded look. “I believe your friend went the other way.”

“Oh? Did he? I’d lost sight of him. Thank you.” Liz bolted down the corridor to catch up with Kent, who she’d known very well had taken the stairs. At the bottom of the stairway, she rushed to the exit door and caught a glimpse of Kent standing by the car looking around.

“Wait,” she called, waving her arms excitedly. She caught up with him as he was unlocking the car door. On the drive to the police station, Liz filled Kent in on Dr. Ryan’s conversation with the police chief.

“I just overheard the doctor telling Davis about Ricardo. It seems that he took the bullet out and Ricardo might be okay.”

“That would be a giant relief. And if he recovers maybe he’ll do the right thing and tell Davis the truth of what happened out there.”

“I’m amazed that he even made it to the hospital.
He was in shock all right at the cabin and he went unconscious by the time the paramedics got there.”

“He’s strong though,” Kent said. “He’s an outdoor person…very fit.”

“He
was
fit,” Liz reminded him.

Once they arrived at the police station, Liz jumped out of the car and headed into the station. Kent followed her. They went directly to the jail cell in hopes that the guard would let them see Jessie. He did, but he wouldn’t let them go inside again.

Jessie stood inside the bars and looked out at them. “What happened at the hospital?”

“Ricardo had the bullet removed and the doc says he’s holding his own,” Liz told her.

Jessie let out a sigh of relief. “Thank God. Maybe this will all be over soon. Once Davis gets to talk to Ricardo, I hope he’ll tell him what really happened.”

“We were just saying that on the way over here,” Liz said. “And, Jessie, I called Alan. He’s going to find you a good lawyer and he’s coming as soon as he can get here.”

Jessie took a step back, looking puzzled. “You…you called him? So I guess you told him what happened.
What did he say?”

Liz raised her eyebrows in surprise at Jessie’s response. She’d expected her to react differently, to maybe yell at her or something for calling Alan. Instead there
was nothing, just a mild curiosity of Alan’s reaction. Relieved, Liz explained, “He
said it was unbelievable. I gave him a rushed version of what happened. I’m sure he’ll want to hear the whole thing in detail when he gets here. I didn’t want to waste time so I did it for you. I hope you’re not mad at me.”

Jessie smiled at Liz. “Of course not, thank you, Liz. If Ricardo talks to Davis, I might not need a lawyer. I might be out of here tomorrow.”

Liz looked at Kent who had a vague expression on his face. No one really knew what would happen next. But Liz hoped that Jessie’s positive attitude would not be in vain. It all sort of hinged on Ricardo now, and what he told Davis, if he told him anything at all.

“Alan said your house is liveable,” Liz told Jessie. “The power’s still on and the phone’s still
hooked up. All we need is to get some food in.” She turned to Kent. “Will you drive
me back to my car? I hate to leave it out there in the woods any longer.”

“We? You’re staying?” Jessie said.

“Of course. What are friends for?”

“And I’m staying too,” Kent said. “I’ll not leave you again, Jessie.” He looked through the bars at her with affection. “Have you seen Davis lately? I guess they’re keeping you here for the night.”

Jessie looked glum and returned to the narrow bed in the cell. She sat down then looked back at Kent. “I’ll be okay. It’s only for tonight. I’ll be out of here by tomorrow…I hope.”

Kent smiled at her and changed the subject. “Let’s go get some groceries, I’m getting hungry,” he said to Liz. “We’ll get your car later, okay?”

They left the police station and Kent hoped that Jessie was not getting her hopes up for nothing. Even if Alvarez couldn’t talk to Davis in the morning, he was hoping that Alan would be able to arrange bail for Jessie so she wouldn’t have to spend one more night in that horrible place.

At Jessie and Alan’s family home, both Kent and Liz carried a bag of groceries. They dropped them by the door and Liz ran over to Sandra’s and got a key. Liz inserted the key into the lock. She pushed the door open.

Liz was the first to drop her bag on the table. “Whew,” she remarked, “a little stale in here.”

Kent sat his groceries beside Liz’s. “Hot too. We’ll get some windows
opened.”

Liz
started unloading the groceries into the cupboards and fridge, then followed Kent upstairs. “It’s even hotter up here,” she mentioned to Kent.

Kent was already flinging open a window in the upstairs hall. “Why don’t
you go down to the bedrooms, Liz? You know, with Alan coming home you want to check and see if the beds are made up or not.”

“Oh, sure. Of course, that makes sense.”

Kent turned from raising the third window. He looked sadly at Liz. “Does
anything make sense anymore?”

Liz put her arms around Kent. “It’s been a crazy time I know. But it’s almost over. You and Jessie are back together, aren’t you?”

Kent moved away from Liz’s supporting arms. “I know. But coming in this house
without Jessie here is hard to handle. And what about Alvarez?”

Liz moved forward again, leaning her hands on Kent’s shoulders. She stared into his eyes. “Alvarez is a creep, Kent. All we want out of him is a confession that Jessie shot him in self defence.”

“I know that, Liz. But you don’t know how responsible I feel. It was me who put Jessie in danger in the first place. If she hadn’t been thinking I was the culprit, then she wouldn’t have gone to the police.”

“I’m sorry, Kent. You’re right. I don’t know. But it wasn’t anything you did. It was me, if it was anyone, who put Jessie in danger. I started the whole e mail thing then I put it in her head to not trust you. I don’t know if she’ll ever forgive me…if she finds out.”

Kent was silent and Liz had hoped for some encouraging words from him, something like maybe he wouldn’t tell Jessie and it would be their secret. But Kent said nothing, he just stared at her, and she wondered what he was thinking.

“I’d better get to those windows in the bedrooms, or we’ll all have a hard time sleeping tonight,” Liz mumbled and went down the hall to the bedrooms.

When the evening meal was finished and the dishes washed and put away, Kent, and Liz retreated to the living room. Liz glanced at the pile of photo albums that she and Alan had leafed through during his mother’s illness. The thought of seeing Alan again sent a thrill through her. That was followed by a guilty feeling over Ricardo Alvarez. She hadn’t meant to be so hard hearted, but she really didn’t care too much if he survived, except that it would ease Jessie’s conscience. She decided to keep her opinions to herself from now on.

Liz was the first to head out of the living room when she heard the knock on the kitchen door.
“I’ll get it.” She thought it was probably Alan, but wondered why he’d be knocking on his own door, unless for some reason he didn’t have a key. She pulled open the door. “Oh, Mrs. Norton.”

Sandra Norton loomed over Liz’s medium-sized frame. Liz backed up as Sandra pushed her way into the kitchen. Jessie’s neighbour certainly wasn’t shy, Liz thought.

“Kent’s in the living room. We…ah…were just sort of sitting around waiting for Alan to arrive. I’ll get Kent.”

“Don’t bother,” Sandra called, as she made her way into the
living room.

Liz closed the kitchen door and followed her. When she reached the living
room, she found Sandra making herself at home in the rocker beside the fireplace.
“So what brings you two here?” Sandra asked, while rocking.

Liz hesitated and glanced over at Kent. She noticed he had been looking at some of the photo albums. Kent looked past her and over at Sandra, and Liz decided that she might as well begin.

“It’s a very long story, Sandra. But you’ll hear about some of it on the news
fairly soon.”

Sandra’s eyes bugged out and she continued to rock the chair. “The news? Like on TV?”

“Jessie’s had a horrendous experience, Sandra,” Kent said. “She was kidnapped, you could say, and in the end she had to shoot her abductor to get away.”

“Oh, Lordy. Is this all true, Liz?” Sandra asked.

Liz nodded, wondering why Sandra would even question what Kent said. She was reluctant to go into details, but she knew that Sandra Norton would not be satisfied until she learned every gruesome detail.

****

Trace lines on the ECG monitor turned erratic. The small team of doctors and
nurses in the ICU hovered over Ricardo Alvarez’s bed once again.

Wakefield’s police chief stood at the far corner of the room. Ricardo
had been stable when he’d arrived. He’d stood over the bed and looked at the young man he had watched grow up. Even though Ricardo resembled his father, there were traces of his mother in that face. The lips for instance were definitely like hers, well shaped and sensuous, although his lips were larger than his mother’s, more manly. Today though Ricardo’s lips, as well as the rest of his face, were a ghastly grey tone. And right now, all hell had broken lose.

“We’re losing him,” Dr. Farley yelled. He’d just arrived on the scene, being
called back from home when all else had failed. “We’ve got to get him back on the ventilator.”

Dr. Ryan glanced at Davis. “Get him out of here,” he told a young nurse.

Before the nurse reached him, Davis turned his back on the action and fled
from the room. He walked hastily to the small room which served as a chapel or praying room. It was in darkness when he entered. Before long the room was ablaze with lit candles. Alton Davis knelt before the wooden alter, his head bent into his knees, and the room took on a silent, trembling glow.

****

Liz’s story to Sandra had just begun when Alan walked into the house. Liz’s heart jumped when Alan came into the living room. He immediately walked towards her and she rose to accept his embrace. Liz glanced over at Sandra and realized that even a busybody like her could keep quiet on certain occasions. But not for long.

“Well, Alan. Good to see you. I’m glad to see that you came to your sister’s rescue. Too bad
your dear mother, God rest her soul, couldn’t be here to see this. She grieved her heart out you know, when you two were feudin’.”

Alan stepped back, his arms dropped to his sides and he scowled at Sandra.
“What are you doing here?” he said in an irritated voice.

Liz sat back down. “I was just telling Sandra what had happened.”

“Is that necessary right now?” he asked.

Sandra made no attempt to leave, and Alan looked into Liz’s eyes. She looked about to burst and he felt himself feeling the same way. Suddenly he wanted to just hold her, but he controlled his emotions. It wasn’t the
right time. Jessie was in trouble and if Liz had to tell the story she might as well get it over with. He sat down across from Liz. “Well, if you’re set on telling the tale, I probably need to hear the long version. I still can’t get over Rick Alvarez’s part in all this.”

“Ricardo Alvarez!” Sandra boomed and almost lifted straight off the rocker.
“What’s
he
got to do with this?”

“You know him?” Liz’s eyes searched Sandra’s face.

“I knew his mother well, poor little thing, and him, when he was a little tyke.
His mother was the sweetest soul...until she got married up with that foreigner.”

“Seems you have a story to tell too, Sandra,” Liz said. “One I’d really like
to hear.”

“Oh, I’ll tell it all right. But I want to hear yours first. Mine’s old stuff. What’s Ricardo been up to?”

When the room turned quiet, Liz began her story. She started with the computer, then the e mail messages. She cringed, hoping she’d never have to talk about those e mails again. But she kept on, not daring to look at Kent. She prayed he’d hold his tongue and keep the silence about her — for everyone’s sake.

The room was like a tomb when Liz finally finished up the story. She sat
twisting her hands together, remembering her part in the whole thing and wishing to God that she had the courage to blurt out the truth. At least it would take away the damn guilt that had built up inside of her. Suddenly, Alan reached across and laid his hand over hers. He squeezed her hands to calm them, not realizing the part she had played in getting his sister in jeopardy. Liz looked over at him and he smiled at her.

“Well, now,” Kent broke the silence, “if you’re not too speechless, Sandra, maybe you could fill us in a little on what you know about Alvarez. Maybe it would help us understand better why he did what he did. Not to say in the least that it would ever excuse him for what he’s done to Jessie.”

Sandra sighed. “You’re right, Kent. For once in my life I’m almost speechless, but not totally. I always knew Ricardo had troubles, deep troubles. But
when he grew up, I thought he’d outgrown them. I remember though when his poor mother passed...she killed herself you know...it was the talk of the town. I’ll never forget the look on Ricky’s face at the cemetery. I went up to him to pay my condolences, and you know he looked right through me. He looked straight through me and walked away. He’d just become a policeman then.”