Garage Sale Diamonds (Garage Sale Mystery) (3 page)

But there was more. The ER doctor’s staff could call the patient’s personal physician to determine whether a death appeared natural. If so, the patient’s doctor signed the death certificate. If not, they requested autopsy. For heart attacks absent heart-disease history, as in today’s case, the radio dispatch Sommer made earlier to his headquarters would alert the EMS supervisor to consider sending a policeman to interview the family and neighbors.

As lead medic, Sommer felt responsibility for the outcome because he ran the calls. His years of experience and refresher training enabled him to quickly evaluate the big picture in each situation. He directed the unfolding second-to-second patient emergency, giving calm orders to the other techs. Every emergency call needed one person in charge to coordinate the team. His job: make quick but correct decisions, coordinate efficiency and move fast. Time was never on his side. He needed to stay hands-off to direct the call and record developments. For Sommer, letting other techs do the work was the hardest part. If the run was shorthanded, he relished the occasional chance to pitch in hands-on to save a life.

Sommer walked out of the ER toward the ambulance. He hated telling his crew their patient died. Sure, on the drive back to the station they would critique what took place. They always did, searching for insights from this experience to improve the next run. Today’s by-the-book performance delivered their patient to the ER alive, suggesting a job well done. But as seen-it-all surgeons sometimes phrased it, “The operation was a success but the patient died.”

He tried—his whole team tried—to leave disappointment at work when they went home. But the job rolled on… The sheer urgency of attempting to save lives during the next five calls would overshadow the memory of this loss and reset their resolve until the next successful rescue rebalanced the scale.

5

Thursday, 10:57 AM

Jennifer comforted Tony at the hospital when they learned Kirsten’s fate. Surprised that he seemed to handle this devastating situation better than she could, she dried her tears to phone Jason, explain the situation and ask him to meet them there. When he arrived at the ER, he found the two of them sitting, shoulders hunched, in a hospital room where Kirsten’s body lay in a bed next to their chairs. Jason put a sympathetic hand on Tony’s shoulder.

“She’s gone, Jay…”

“We’re here to help any way we can. Have you told your children?”

“Not yet….”

“Do you want us to drive you home where you can do that?”

“I guess that makes sense,” Tony agreed.

“Jen, shall we both drive Tony home in my car and come back later for yours?”

“Absolutely.”

Ten minutes later Jason drove while Jennifer sat with Tony in the back seat. She caressed his hand to comfort him and lend him her strength. Though silent, he seemed grateful. Tears dampened his face as he gave her what seemed grief-stricken looks but, except for a few ragged sighs, he controlled his emotions and squeezed her hand.

Jason noticed Adam Iverson’s unmarked police car in front of Donnegans’ house.

“That’s right,” Tony recalled, “the lieutenant said a supervisor or policeman might come by. Glad it’s your son-in-law Adam.”

“Hello, Sir.” Adam shook Tony’s hand. “I’m very sorry to hear about your loss.”

“Thank you, Adam. When Kirsten and I attended your wedding a few months ago, I didn’t imagine I’d see you next under these bizarre circumstances.”

“Right, Sir. I know this timing isn’t good, but could we talk for a few minutes about what happened so I can fill out a report?”

Tony frowned, contemplating him a long minute before deciding. “Sure, Adam. Come on inside. Your parents and I were about to call my kids. This won’t take long, will it?”

“No, Sir, it won’t,” Adam assured as the two of them walked toward the Donnegan house.

Jason called after them, “Tony, when you finish, let us know if we can help.”

When the Shannons entered their house, Jennifer hurried to answer the ringing phone.

“Hi, Mom. It’s Hannah.”

“Hello, Honey. What a nice surprise to hear from the little bride. Everything okay?”

“Oh, yes. Everything’s wonderful. Sorry not to call oftener, but Adam and I are still so wrapped up in each other we haven’t made much time for the other people we love.”

“Not to worry. We all understand. But I’m afraid we have some bad news. Kirsten Donnegan collapsed and died this morning. We just saw Adam, who’s across the street for a police report.”

“Oh, Mom, I’ve known her since I was little. What a blow for their whole family. Was she sick?”

“No, very sudden and unexpected.”

“Well, I wonder if you and I could have lunch today. Are you up for that, given the situation? We could talk and you could fill me in about what happened to Mrs. D.”

“Hang on a minute, Hannah.” she turned to Jason. “Could you take the afternoon to help Tony but drop me at the restaurant beforehand so Hannah can take me by the hospital later to get my car?” He nodded. “Okay, lunch sounds great. How about Pulcinella at 12:30 if you don’t mind dropping me by Fairfax Hospital afterward to pick up my car?”

“Glad to, Mom, and you picked a favorite restaurant. Just like old times. See you there.”

“I’ll make a reservation in case they’re extra busy today. Love you, Sweetie.”

“Love you, too, Mom.”

Jennifer glanced at her watch. If she hurried she could dress quickly, meet her daughter on time, get her car and multi-task several errands afterward, including buying ingredients for the casserole dinner.

6

Thursday, noon

When Jason returned from dropping Jennifer at Pulcinella, Adam knocked on the Shannons’ door.

Jason invited him in. “Are you still on duty or would you like a beer?”

“I’m still on but thanks anyway. Post-rescue follow-up isn’t my usual job, but I was headed this way anyhow and know the family so I volunteered. If you have a minute, could I ask you the same questions I did the other neighbors.”

“Sure, Adam, but what’s this all about anyhow?”

“In cases like this, we try to rule out foul play while the deceased is still at the hospital—whether the death looked suspicious in some way. So, how long have you known the Donnegans?”

Jason did the math. “About twenty-one years.”

“And during that time did you witness friction or violence between them?”

“Just the opposite. They’re well-liked in the neighborhood and from everything we saw, devoted to their children and each other. He’s also a respected member of the community. You probably know he owns a popular veterinary practice.”

“That matches accounts from other neighbors. My last stop is Mr. Donnegan’s office to talk with his staff. If that checks out, my work here is over.”

“Any progress on developing the Yates property?”

Jason recalled walking some of the fifteen acres of valuable farmland located on the McLean/ Great Falls border, land that Adam had inherited from the Yates estate when he became the only surviving heir. During his first six years of life, when Adam was called Mathis Yates, his parents had abused him and his younger brother, Ruger. Jason understood that Adam’s emotional survival of these horrific childhood experiences required him to totally repress those early years.

“That’s just what I wanted to speak with you about. We have impressive offers from two developers. We’re studying them to make the best choice. Both allow us to subdivide the property but still keep one terrific lot for building our own house.

“Good for you, Adam. Take your time. Choose well.”

“Would you give us your opinion about our finalist? We’ll also ask my other new dad for his input. With so much at stake, we want to pick the best option.”

The “other new dad,” Jason knew, referred to lawyer Greg Bromley. Greg’s youthful romance thirty-five years earlier with Adam’s mother, Wendey, had produced an unwed pregnancy she feared would ruin Greg’s budding law career. To protect him, Wendey had eloped in a loveless marriage with Tobias Yates. She’d discovered too late that her husband was an abusive monster who, for years, terrorized her and the two hapless children.

“Of course, we’ll share our knowledge and experience,” Jason assured him. “I can look at your project as an engineer and Greg can as an attorney.”

Adam smiled in gratitude at his new father-in-law. “Thanks, Sir…er, Dad.”

“You’re welcome, Son.”

After farewells, Adam left.

I like that young man, Jason thought. He and Hannah make a fine young couple even though each brings some baggage to their relationship. Hannah needs to trust men again after ex-boyfriend Kevin broke her heart with his cheating, and Adam must face his awful childhood trauma if and when it surfaces.

He hoped their marriage would survive whatever lay ahead.

7

Thursday, 12:33 PM

Hannah’s reference to “old times” at this restaurant conjured Jennifer’s memories of family meals there before their children grew up to lead their own lives. At a Shannon son’s wedding rehearsal dinner in the Pulcinella party room, the owner’s gifted friend, operatic tenor Antonio Salvatore, had provided the evening’s entertainment. Not everyone received such treatment. They were truly blessed.

As Jennifer pushed open the restaurant’s heavy front door, one of the owners hurried to greet her.

“Mrs. Shannon, good to see you again! Your daughter is at your favorite table by the windows.”

“Thank you, Moe. We’re looking forward to a wonderful meal, as usual.”

As they approached the table, Hannah jumped up to hug her mother.

“So glad you thought of this, Hannah,” Jennifer said as Moe seated her and moved away. “Is our little bride still a happy girl?”

Hannah beamed. “Oh yes, Mom. It’s almost embarrassing how much Adam and I are in love.”

“Wonderful. So if you’re a happy girl, you must want to talk about something else.”

“Yes, but first, what happened to Mrs. D this morning?”

Jennifer told her the whole story and they shared dismay at Kirsten’s passing.

Finally Jennifer asked, “So why did you suggest lunch together today?”

“You know we live in Adam’s bachelor apartment, the one attached to his mother’s house. It’s private and in a good neighborhood close to downtown McLean, so it offers many advantages. But from the start we thought it temporary until we found our own place.”

“Does this mean you’re house-hunting?”

“We want to stay in the McLean area. We both grew up here, Adam’s police work is here, both our families live here. My last year of college at George Mason is nearby. But what real estate agents call ‘upscale, affordable McLean’ may be upscale but it isn’t affordable, at least for us just starting out. Rents are steep. Buying is out of the question. For our budget, prices are astronomical. So Adam’s decided to subdivide and sell some of his inherited property on Winding Trail Road. His new dad, Greg Bromley, helped him start a corporation to offer the land without revealing Adam’s name. Developers drool over such prime real estate between McLean and Great Falls. When he sells it, we’ll have money to buy or build our own house.”

“That makes financial sense.”

“True. So we visited the old farm to evaluate the situation. Mom, it’s beautiful and peaceful there. Unlike downtown McLean where we live now, it’s fresh and open—like countryside. You know how I’ve loved nature since childhood. This place has unusual birds and wildflowers. At night, away from the lights of town, the sky is filled with stars. We both love the location.”

Hannah’s obvious excitement touched Jennifer. She remembered early days when she and Jason had viewed the world and their life in it with just such idyllic eyes. Anything you wanted enough and worked together to achieve seemed doable when you combined energies with this incredible person you loved so much. She smiled, encouraging Hannah to continue.

“We talked with a developer who showed us how the fifteen acres could be divided into six two-acre lots and one three-acre. He suggested we keep the bigger piece for building our own house one day. According to him, our three acres and new house would be on the choicest part, which happens to be the site of the old Yates house where Ruger lived as a child.”

“Oh?” Jennifer tried to hide sudden discomfort. Was Hannah’s failure to mention that Mathis also lived his early years there a glaring oversight?

“Yes, because the land slopes in such a way that if we build near the top we’ll have gorgeous views in several directions and good water run-off. Adam’s already knocked down most of those old weathered sheds except for the barn and hen house.”

Frightening images of the old house swam into Jennifer’s mind. The awful place where many had suffered and she’d expected to die after her capture. With conscious effort, she changed the subject. “After college graduation will you job hunt?”

“Yes, I’d like one in the McLean/Tyson areas so we’ll both live close to work. That’s part of the new ‘green’ strategy. Rather than gas-guzzling, time-wasting, environment-polluting killer commutes, my generation hopes to work near home.”