Everywhere She Turns (16 page)

Why hadn’t Braddock told her? Another easy answer: They hadn’t been on speaking terms. And he had known she wouldn’t agree with the decision. Even now, he knew more than he was sharing. Every time they discussed the investigation, she got that feeling that he was leaving something out.

And Jesus Christ, she had been right.

This was her sister, dammit!

She had a right to know what really happened. She had a right to see Shelley’s killer brought to justice.

She had a right . . .

Tears spilled past her lashes. CJ scrubbed them away. No more crying. She damned well wasn’t going to be vulnerable. She was going to see this through.

She braced her arms over her chest and surveyed the street, the homes. Most of the residents she could name, had known them her entire life. This was where she’d grown up, where she’d learned the hard way that life was what you made it.

Her sister, these people, deserved justice the same as anyone else in this damned city.

Like she’d told Braddock, she wasn’t going anywhere until this was done.

An approaching car slowed, rolled to the curb in front of her house.

Edward.

As if to defy her decision, he emerged, his gaze seeking and unerringly finding hers.

He was not going to be happy about her plans.

“I was worried.” He closed the car door and made his way to the rickety gate. “I hadn’t heard from you since this morning. Are you all right?”

No, she wasn’t all right.

“I’m sorry.” She raked her fingers through her hair. “I should
have called.” She motioned for him to come in. “I’m glad you’re here. We need to talk.”

He didn’t ask any questions. But he didn’t have to. She could already see the disappointment on his face.

Inside, he waited until she’d settled on the sofa before taking a seat. Always the perfect gentleman.

“Have you eaten?”

And always concerned for her well-being.

“At some point today.” She would, she just hadn’t taken the time yet. But he would worry if she told him the truth. She couldn’t tell him about last night’s break-in, either. He would insist she stay at his home. She needed to be here. He wouldn’t understand, given the circumstances.

Having Edward here made her feel even guiltier about what had happened between her and Braddock. She was a grown woman and Edward wasn’t her father, but she had worked hard her entire life not to disappoint him.

“Have you made a decision about when you’re returning to Baltimore?”

She pushed aside the unsettling thoughts of last night. Her decision. It hadn’t been an easy one to make, but it was the right one. “I went to the clinic today.”

“I’m surprised the village clinic is still in operation.”

She was too. “Wednesdays and Fridays only.”

“But today is Monday.”

“The nurse practitioner was there catching up on paperwork. Juanita Lusk. We actually attended the university together.”

“Was there a reason you visited the clinic? You’re not feeling ill, are you?”

CJ leaned forward, braced her elbows on her knees. “Edward, I learned that Shelley was pregnant. About six weeks.”

Sadness settled in his features. “I’m certain that news makes this all the more difficult for you.”

She tamped down the emotions that threatened. “Very much so. But,” she went on, bracing for his disapproval, “this news only reinforces my feelings. I can’t leave until the police have done their job.” She held up a hand when he would have spoken.

“If I leave now, Shelley’s case will get pushed to the back burner. She’ll be forgotten and nothing will ever get done. I can’t let that happen.”

Edward nodded thoughtfully. “And what about your residency? You must not forget your own future, CJ. I understand what you feel you need to do for your sister, but you can’t rationalize yourself out of the equation.”

“You’re absolutely right.” She’d thought long and hard on how to go about this without damaging her future. “I called my attending this morning. I discussed my options with him and he agreed that my plan is a viable one. Since I’m a third-year resident, I have a number of elective hours remaining. I’m going to stay here and ensure Braddock does his job. While I’m here, whether for a few weeks or a couple of months, I can help out at the clinic to fulfill my elective hours. My attending was quite impressed with the idea. He believes the experience will serve me well in the future, both personally and professionally.”

CJ took a breath. She’d gotten it out without falling apart or stumbling. There was no reason for Edward not to see the brilliance in her plan.

He considered her announcement for a time. “Your proposal is sound. And your attending is quite right. Service in a disadvantaged area such as this will show compassion and selflessness.”

There was a
but
coming. She steeled for it.

“I understand that you feel you must do this. My only reservation would be about allowing yourself to get caught up in the people and problems here. This is your hometown and it’s very easy to permit a sense of obligation to stand in the way of better things. The misery in this village will drain your determination and ambition if you are not very careful.”

He presented a rational, practical case. That was true. But Shelley hadn’t been his sister. As hard as he tried, he couldn’t possibly know how she felt. Not deep inside, where this horrific act had left a hole so deep CJ worried she might just fall in and disappear.

Before she could restate her case, he went on, “Let me hire a
private investigator to find the truth. Waiting for the police to come through will be frustrating and perhaps pointless.”

There was an option she hadn’t considered. “I appreciate the offer, Edward.” She clasped her hands, struggled to find the right words to explain what she felt. “You’ve always been there when I needed you. But this is something I have to do personally.”

“Do the police have anything at all in the way of evidence or suspects? What about that Banks fellow? He was the one who hurt Shelley a few weeks ago, was he not?”

“He says not.” CJ understood perfectly that, like Braddock, he wasn’t telling her the whole story. “He also swears he’s not the father of Shelley’s child. But I’m not so sure. Shelley had been tangled up with him for most of her life. My work at the clinic will give me the opportunity to talk to the people who come in. Maybe find the answer to this awful puzzle.”

“Do you have a theory as to why Banks resorted to murder? There has to be a motive even for an unsavory character such as him.”

That was the part she didn’t quite understand yet. “Banks claims he’s innocent. He says Shelley was involved with Tyrone Nash. But so is he. I don’t know if he’s just trying to shift guilt. But . . .” CJ shook her head. “I can’t get past the idea that he is most likely the father of the baby she was carrying. I have no choice but to wait for the answer to that question. A DNA test can determine paternity. But that takes time.”

“We could offer a reward for credible information,” he suggested. “Money talks, as they say.”

He was so sweet. To be honest, the idea was tempting. “That’s a very kind gesture, Edward. But I’m afraid we’d be inundated with false leads and misinformation. I really believe the only way to do this is by using the back-door strategy. Anything we do that tips off the person responsible is going to blow up in our faces.”

Edward stood. “Let me take you out for an early dinner. I’m sure you’re exhausted. And tonight you’ll stay in my home. A good night’s sleep will do wonders.”

CJ willed her body to rise. He was right. She was exhausted. “I thought I’d continue to stay here.” Other than last night, she hadn’t stayed here in months . . . not since learning about Shelley and Braddock. She’d stayed with Edward whenever she visited, which had only been twice since late February. “I need to be here.” She didn’t know any other way to explain the urge to be near Shelley’s things.

“I’d like to be able to convince you otherwise, but . . .” He bowed his head in acquiescence. “If you feel staying here is necessary, so be it.”

Relief left her already weary body weak. That had gone far more easily than she’d expected. Edward was a good friend. He wanted the best for her. But he didn’t understand that no matter how Shelley had hurt CJ and taken advantage of her, she was still CJ’s little sister.

She walked him to the door. “Thank you, Edward.” She drew in a satisfying breath, the first in several days. “I can always count on you.”

“Call me if you need me.”

He gave her a hug. She inhaled deeply. The subtle scent of his crisp sandalwood cologne reminded her that there were some things she could depend on.

Standing in the door, she watched him drive away. Then she closed the door and sagged against it.

Alone again.

She looked around the sparsely furnished room. Inhaled the familiar pungent scents.

Alone with the ghosts of her past.

She shuddered when she thought of the message she’d washed off the bedroom wall:
Stay and there’ll be two dead bitches
.

Neither Tyrone Nash nor Ricky Banks was going to scare her off. She would find some boards or something to nail over that broken window. And until this was over, she would keep every one of them locked no matter how damned hot it got in the house. Motivated by the thought, she checked the windows to ensure they were locked.

She was going to finish this.

As if her determination had somehow summoned him, she recognized the sedan across the street and halfway down the block. Jenkins was back on duty.

Braddock wasn’t backing off the surveillance.

She closed her eyes. Wished she could put him out of her mind for good.

Last night had done nothing to facilitate that end.

That could never happen again. She had to protect herself from a number of dangers . . . and Braddock was definitely one of them.

Downtown Free Clinic

Tuesday, August 3, 10:30
AM

The waiting room was packed. Standing room only. CJ weaved her way through the crowd and waited until the receptionist was free.

“Good morning, I’m Dr. Patterson. I understand Juanita Lusk is here today.” Actually CJ was hoping Lusk was here. She’d mentioned working at this clinic, too.

The harried receptionist glanced from the line to CJ. “We’re a little busy right now. Are you here about the referrals?”

CJ hesitated, then said, “Yes.”

The gentleman next in line abruptly bent forward and puked.

“Jesus!” The receptionist jumped up, shook her head, then said to CJ, “Go on back. She’ll be in one of the exam rooms. She’s expecting you.”

“Thank you.” CJ slipped through the tangle of people and entered the double doors marked personnel only. She wasn’t in the habit of lying, but she was definitely getting in some practice here.

Whatever it took. Like the old days.

The first three exam rooms she passed housed waiting patients but no doctor. Six other patients waited in chairs along the wall. A nurse entered the fourth room. CJ peeked inside—no
Lusk. The final room on the left was the one she was looking for. CJ waited outside the door since Lusk was with a patient.

“I won’t have the money to get the prescription filled before Friday.”

“Ms. Tyler,” Lusk said as she made her final notations in the chart, “Nikki needs the antibiotic now.”

The patient was a girl, seven or eight years old. Pale, skinny. The mother looked pretty much the same.

“I know,” the mother said, her face worried, “but I don’t have the money.”

“Okay.” Lusk heaved a big breath. “I think we have a few samples around here somewhere. Just wait here and I’ll find them.”

“Thank you, Doctor. Thank you so much.”

Lusk nodded and turned to the door. She missed a step when she saw CJ watching from the corridor.

“I don’t know how you got back here,” Lusk said as she moved past her, “but I don’t have time for any more of your questions.”

CJ lengthened her step to keep up with the woman. “This isn’t about the murder.” It was, but Lusk didn’t need to be made aware of that.

“Talk fast, Patterson.” Lusk stopped at the lab station and started going through cabinets.

“I’m going to be in town for a while.”

“Great.” Lusk slammed one door and opened another.

“Anyway, I checked with my attending and he authorized me to volunteer here in Huntsville to fulfill the requirements of some of my elective hours.”

Lusk glanced at her before diving into the row of drawers.

“So, if you don’t have any objections, I’d like to help you out at the village clinic.”

Lusk grabbed a handful of samples, then stared at her. “What’re you up to, Patterson?”

“I need to stay,” she admitted. “Make sure the cops do their job. But I don’t want to put my position in Baltimore at risk, so I’m working the only option available to me.”