Night of the Living Dandelion (20 page)

At ten minutes after nine, a strikingly attractive young woman walked in with Marco, chatting animatedly. She had pale blond hair that fell in loose curls around her shoulders, lively, sparkling eyes, and a figure that would turn any male head. She was wearing a beige belted jacket over green nurse scrubs and rubber-soled tan shoes.

Marco spotted me and ushered her into the room where I waited in the wheelchair.

“Courtney Anne O’Keefe,” Marco said, “this is my fi—partner, Abby Knight.”

If the word
fi-partner
puzzled her, Courtney Anne didn’t show it, but she did cast a discreet glance at my bandaged foot. She held out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Abby.”

“Same here.” I lifted my right foot. “In case you’re wondering, I sprained my ankle.”

“I’m sorry. Sprains can be extremely painful.”

“Would you like to sit down? We have plum scones today”—I pointed out the basket in the middle of the table—“and gourmet coffee or tea, whichever you’d like.”

“Coffee, please.” She thanked Marco as he pulled out a chair for her. She sat and unbuttoned her belted jacket as she glanced around. “I love your flower shop. It’s so pretty and cheerful.”

“Thank you. Are you on your way to work?”

“I work the afternoon shift,” she said, “but I wanted to do some shopping while I was in town. I knew I wouldn’t have time to go back home and change, then make that long drive to Chicago. That is one killer commute.”

Grace bustled up with a coffeepot in one hand, a teapot in the other. “Three coffees,” I told her.

Marco, seated across from me, waited for Grace to leave before he took out his notepad and pen. “Thanks for coming in on such short notice. As I explained on the phone, we’re looking for information on Lori Willis to help with our investigation.”

“I’m not a suspect, am I?” Courtney Anne asked, a flicker of fear in her eyes. I figured her for about my age, but she seemed much younger.

“We’re just hoping you’ll be able to point us in one direction or another,” Marco said.

Good answer. I’d have to note that for the fut—Oh, rats! Now I was doing it.

“Have you been contacted by the New Chapel police department?” Marco asked.

She shook her head, her soft curls swaying with the motion. “No.”

“Would you tell us what led to your being fired from County Hospital?” Marco asked.

Her cheeks flushed a soft pink. “It’s a little embarrassing. I was a new hire at County, assigned to the floor where Nurse Willis was supervisor. I followed her orders. I was kind to our patients. I never missed work.” She shrugged. “But for some reason she took a dislike to me.”

I was betting the reason was jealousy. Judging by Lori’s photo, she was trying to look like what Courtney Anne already was—young and beautiful.

Courtney Anne held up her index finger, signaling a break. “Sorry. I have to try this yummy-looking scone.”

“Take your time,” Marco said.

She chewed and swallowed a bite, then sighed. “Wow. It’s wonderful! I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist. Anyway, one day Dr. Holloway introduced himself to me in the cafeteria and asked if he could join me. As if I would mind! A handsome, sophisticated cardiovascular surgeon? Be still, my heart!”

If anyone would know how to pluck heartstrings, it would be a cardiovascular surgeon.

“We talked for hours, and there was instant chemistry,” she said. “I found myself telling him all about my life, even about how Nurse Willis was treating me.”

“I don’t mean to interrupt,” Marco said, “but what was Dr. Holloway’s reaction to that?”

“He was completely understanding. He said he’d talk to her if I wanted him to, but I told him I’d rather he not because it might cause more problems. Anyway, after that, things just sort of happened. One day we’re having lunch in the cafeteria. The next we’re meeting in a supply closet.” She blushed a deep red. “That sounds terrible, but it’s true. We were madly in love.

“Then one day Nurse Willis walked in on us.” Courtney Anne brushed crumbs off the table. “It was terrible. I’ve never seen anyone get so angry, and not just at me. At Dr. Holloway, too. Nurse Willis called us vile names and said I was suspended until further notice, then stormed out of the closet.”

“What did Dr. Holloway say about it?” Marco asked.

“He said not to worry. That Nurse Willis suspended me because she was in love with him and couldn’t stand it that we were together. He promised to talk to her and said that everything would be fine. Then she called me at home the next day and fired me.

“I cried for an entire day. I thought Dr. Holloway had let me down, but then I heard what she did to him . . . Getting an official reprimand is devastating to a doctor’s career. At least I found a new position within two weeks, but he’s had to live with his humiliation. And then his wife dragged him through the courts . . . It was a horrible mess.”

“Did you have any contact with Nurse Willis after you left County?”

She shook her head.

“Have you seen Dr. Holloway since you left?” I asked.

“Only once, right after I was fired,” she said with a sad sigh. “We met at a coffee shop. I thought maybe he’d contact me after his divorce was final, but I haven’t heard a word. I guess he’s moved on.”

Many times, no doubt.

“At the coffee shop,” Marco said, “did Dr. Holloway express any feelings about Nurse Willis’s actions?”

At that, Courtney Anne balked. “Look, I don’t remember it all that well, and I really don’t want you to think poorly of Dr. Holloway. He’s a good guy.”

A good guy who cheated on his wife and compromised a young nurse’s career?

“What you tell us will not cause an innocent party to become a target,” Marco told her. “We have several strong suspects already. We just don’t want to leave any stone unturned.”

She gave Marco a grateful smile, as if he was the most understanding man on earth. “Thank you. It was a horrible time in my life. I’ve tried to put it behind me, but Nurse Willis’s death brought a lot of it back.”

“Tell us what you remember about your last meeting,” Marco said.

Courtney Anne stared into the distance, as if trying to recall their conversation. “He was very concerned about me and promised to contact someone he knew to help me get a new nursing position. That’s how I got my job, as a matter of fact. I asked him how he was coping with having to work with Nurse Willis every day—but I shouldn’t have brought it up. He got ugly about it. I’d never seen him be anything but charming, so it was rather unsettling to hear—”

Her face drained of color. She reached for her cup and held it to her mouth with trembling hands.

“What is it?” Marco asked.

“Maybe Dr. Holloway wasn’t such a good guy after all.”

M
arco gave me a look that said,
This is your department
. So I put my hand on Courtney Anne’s shoulder.

“I know this is rough. You probably think you’re betraying his friendship, but trust me, you’ll feel better if you get it off your chest.”

She nodded, blinking back tears. “Dr. Holloway said he told Nurse Willis she was insane if she thought he’d go for a dog like her, and if she ever came near him again, there’d be some bloodletting.” She put her hands over her mouth, as though she couldn’t believe she’d told us.

“Did Holloway explain what he meant by that?” I asked.

“I’m sure he was just blowing off steam.” She glanced at us, seeking reassurance.

“Guys talk tough when they’re angry,” I said.

“I knew him intimately, you know?” she said. “I would have sensed something if he was a . . .” She let her sentence die, unwilling to utter the word
murderer
.

Not to burst her happy bubble, but Marco had once told me that anyone was capable of murder under the right circumstances. But I said I agreed with her, and that seemed to ease her mind.

I knew Marco hated snap judgments, but I was ready to cross Courtney Anne off our list. For his sake I would withhold my opinion until we’d interviewed all of our suspects.

“I have just a few more questions,” Marco said. “At your present job, do you change shifts or are you always on the afternoon shift?”

“I’m permanently on afternoons.”

He jotted down her answer. “What time do you start and end?”

“I start at three o’clock, end at midnight. Then I have to commute home.”

“Do you drive, carpool, or take the train?”

“I usually take the train, but today I’m driving in.”

“How did you get to work last week?”

“I took the train.”

“Do you ever go to the casino boat at the Little Calumet River?”

She shook her head. “I don’t have money to waste on gambling.”

“Were you seeing anyone at the time of your affair with Dr. Holloway?”

“No. I was between boyfriends.”

“Last question,” Marco said. “Is there someone I can contact at the hospital who can verify your employment information and work schedule?”

Courtney Anne gave Marco the information, then reached for another scone. “These are heavenly. I’m going to have to buy some to take with me to the hospital. The other nurses will go crazy over them.”

“I’ll have a dozen packed up for you,” I said. “On the house.”

“Thank you! You’re so sweet.” She leaned over to give me a hug, then sat back and smiled at Marco. “You’re right. Abby
is
gorgeous.”

Snap!
Not guilty by reason of flattery.

 

After Courtney Anne left, Marco and I sat at the table to reconnoiter and eat scones. The second part was my idea. After watching Courtney Anne devour hers, I was so ready.

“What did she mean when she said you were right about me being gorgeous?” I asked between bites.

“I met her coming into Bloomers, so I introduced myself and said you were waiting in the parlor. I told her to look for the most gorgeous woman in the room.”

What could I say to that? “Thank you.”

He shrugged as though it was no big deal. Little did he realize how much that meant to a girl who’d never even been asked to a high school dance. “What do you think about Courtney Anne?” Marco asked, breaking off a chunk of my scone and popping it in his mouth.

“I don’t think she killed Lori Willis,” I said, placing a fresh scone in front of him, “and yes, that’s a snap judgment, but I didn’t get any negative vibes from her. I’m pretty sure she still has feelings for Dr. Holloway, but I didn’t sense any malicious intent toward Lori. It felt like she was able to move past that part of her life.”

Marco sat back, tapping his pen on the table as he studied his notes. “What are your thoughts about Lori Willis now?”

“Lori was definitely jealous over Courtney Anne’s affair with Holloway, and when she found them together, she decided to punish them.”

“So far I agree with you one hundred percent. And Holloway?”

I loved it when we were on the same page. “Your typical egotistical surgeon who thinks he’s God’s gift to the earth. And I say that as someone with brothers who are surgeons. That’s why I’ve made it my duty to keep them humble.”

Although flunking out of law school wasn’t the method I would have preferred.

“I also think Holloway had plenty of motive. Courtney Anne might have been right about him just blowing off steam, but it was a bit too coincidental that he’d used the term
bloodletting
.”

“There’s no sense speculating about Holloway’s guilt until we’ve had a chance to interview him. You see him tomorrow, right?”

“Yep. Two p.m.”

“Are you okay going to that appointment alone? I’ll be happy to go with you.”

I toyed with the top button of my shirt. “I can’t very well work my feminine wiles on him with you there, can I?”

Marco leaned toward me until we were practically nose to nose. “If he lays a hand on you—”

Ever my hero, ready to jump to my defense.

“—belt him with your crutch.” With a little grin, he got up. “I’ll be back at noon for that trip to the casino boat.”

 

“Good meeting?” Lottie asked, when I wheeled into the shop. She was standing behind the cash counter, filling out a phone order form. The coffee parlor had pretty much emptied out.

“That young nurse was quite lovely,” Grace said, coming out of the parlor.

They both smiled at me, hoping I’d share a tidbit of information with them. They didn’t know how much I wished I could. I missed our lively discussions. Instead, I pointed toward the curtain. “I’ll be in the back working on orders until Marco picks me up at noon.”

I rolled through the curtain and turned to find Grace behind me. “Abby, love, I believe I’ve found a place to hang your mum’s mobile.”

“Where?”

“Behind the new dieffenbachia.”

“Behind it? Won’t it be obvious to my mom that we’re hiding it?”