The Chocolate Falcon Fraud (7 page)

We had tried to be quiet, but apparently we weren't as successful as we should have been, judging by a woman who opened the door to the room across the hall as we left. She left the security chain hooked, but she sent a stabbing glare through the opening between the door and the jamb.

“I hope you're through,” she said angrily.

“I hope so, too. Sorry if we disturbed you,” Joe said in a low voice.

Her door fell to with a slam louder than any noise we had made.

Joe and I looked at each other and shrugged. I whispered, “This place is full of strange people.”

He whispered back. “Let's get out of it.”

The silver car was gone from out front. Joe slung the duffel bag into the backseat of his truck, I tossed the kit in beside it, and we climbed into the front. As we drove away our headlights hit the small silver car, now parked near the parking lot's exit. To my surprise, the man who looked like Peter Lorre was sitting in it, talking on a cell phone.

“I guess he hasn't found his ID,” I said.

“Who?”

“Never mind. I'm tired, and if Jeff isn't having a crisis, I hope I can catch a nap at the hospital.”

But when we went in the emergency room door, Hogan met us with a different plan.

Hogan, Aunt Nettie, and Tess were standing in the waiting room, apparently anticipating our arrival.

The huge room was almost deserted at that hour. All the kids with earaches and the grandpas with heart attacks had been moved into the inner sections of the emergency room. The only people left in the waiting room were one man with two sleeping kids in a corner, and a wimpy-looking guy in a floppy hat who was reading a magazine.

Jeff was being moved to a room, and we should all go home.

I was appalled. “Hogan! We can't all go off and leave Jeff.”

“Why not? The doctors say he's not likely to wake up for a while. Maybe even a couple of days.”

“But somebody may have tried to kill him! We can't leave him alone. Unprotected.” I leaned in and tried to whisper. “A hospital has only limited security. We can't assume they could stop a killer if he comes back.”

“We don't know that somebody tried to kill Jeff. Besides, I've asked that his room number not be given out. To anybody.”

“A fat lot of good that will do! You may remember that
I—me, Lee McKinney Woodyard—got around that request without any trouble when we got involved with the clown case a few months ago.”

“Jeff is facing very little risk. Go home.”

“No. I'll stay.”

Tess broke in. “I already offered to stay, but Chief Jones said I shouldn't.”

“He can't stop us! Somebody should be here.”

Hogan smiled icily. “I don't think either you or Tess would be too much help against a determined killer, Lee. And I'm sure Jeff is in no danger.”

“I can't stand by—”

“Lee!” This time Hogan's voice was sharp. “I know you're fond of Jeff, but he's just a spoiled rich kid who gets in trouble through his own actions. We're not wasting any more law enforcement time or money on him!”

“If it's a matter of money, Jeff's dad has plenty! Tell him you had to hire private security.” I pulled out my cell phone. “I'll call and get the okay from Alicia right now.”

“I'm not going to authorize it,” Hogan said firmly. “Jeff is just another kid who may face a charge of reckless driving. He's not going to get special treatment.”

We exchanged glares for at least thirty seconds. Then I held up Jeff's kit and spoke with what I hoped was icy calm. “I assume Jeff's razor and toothbrush are in here. May I take it to him?”

“I'll handle it.”

Hogan took Jeff's kit and disappeared into the inner workings of the ER, but he was gone only a moment. When he came back, he didn't look at me. He took Aunt Nettie's arm and turned toward the hospital's exit.

“Tess?” he asked. “Are you coming with us or going with Lee and Joe?”

“My stuff's at Joe and Lee's house. I'll go there.” She sounded miserable.

Joe took my hand. “Come on, Lee. You too, Tess.”

His grip was firm enough that I felt that he might drag me along if I resisted. This was extremely unusual behavior for Joe. Something was going on. Why wouldn't Hogan tell me what it was?

I was still glaring and fuming, but I followed Joe out to the truck, with Tess trailing along. I could hear her snuffling unhappily.

Tess was so short and the truck was so tall that Joe had to boost her into the backseat, but we got situated in the vehicle, and then Joe climbed behind the wheel. Before he started the engine, he turned sideways to speak to us.

“Now listen, you two. Jeff's going to be okay. I'm sure Hogan has him protected. He just didn't want to talk about it in the lobby, with staff and visitors around. Right now we're all exhausted, and we're going home, and we're going to bed. I don't want to have any discussion about it. And I'd rather not have to make the trip with two women crying.”

Normally Joe didn't throw his weight around like that. Again I felt sure that something was going on. But why wouldn't Hogan—or at least Joe—tell me about it?

Joe started the truck and took off. He was certainly right about one thing. We were all exhausted. He turned on the radio to a talk show, which was what he always did when he was trying to stay awake. I didn't even try. I just slept from the hospital parking lot to our house. When the truck stopped, we went
inside, Tess stumbled upstairs, and I stumbled to the back hall, the shortcut to the bathroom. The washing machine was in the hall, and as I went by it, I realized I'd left the hospital's plastic bag—the bag that held Jeff's clothes—in Joe's truck. But I wasn't planning to do laundry right then, so I didn't go back out to the truck. By the time I hobbled out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, Joe had dropped his own clothes in a heap at the foot of the bed and was gently snoring.

I resisted the impulse to wake him up and quiz him about “Hogan's plan.” Instead I set the alarm for eight o'clock—seven o'clock Dallas time—and fell into bed.

All I could do was have confidence in Hogan. He wasn't a fool. He knew it was likely that somebody drove Jeff's car twenty-five miles away from where Jeff was hiding.

When the alarm went off, I couldn't remember why I had set it. In a few minutes memory returned, and I called the hospital to get an update on Jeff's condition. I felt relieved when the information desk denied he was a patient. Maybe Hogan did have a plan for keeping him safe.

I called Hogan and Aunt Nettie's house—thinking Hogan might have heard how Jeff was doing—but the phone didn't even ring before it went to the answering machine. I knew Hogan had an emergency number that the police station could call, but I decided not to try to reach him that way. After all, if Jeff had a major relapse, I told myself, Hogan would call me.

I still had to call Alicia about her boss' son, even if I didn't have an up-to-date report on him.

She answered on the second ring. “What's the latest?”

“Jeff was already talking last night,” I said. “He wasn't
making a lot of sense, so the doctors kept him in the hospital. But they said that talking was a good sign.”

“I could be there by this afternoon.”

“You suit yourself. But why don't you wait a little while, and I'll try to get more information? Have you reached Dina and Rich?”

“No. This trip, they actually are off the grid. But they're due home this weekend.”

“Since Jeff is no longer lost, I think you could tell them after they get home.”

I'd done my phoning from the dining room, and after I hung up I saw Tess standing in the door to the living room wearing nothing but a T-shirt. Well, I hoped there was something under it.

“Any word on Jeff?” she asked.

“Not yet. Hogan is the most likely to have news, and there was no answer at his house. I'll try to call them again in a minute. Are you a coffee drinker?”

“Sure. But call Chief Jones first.”

I left a message with Hogan's office, saying I urgently needed a report for Jeff's family.

“Ask Hogan please either to get me a report or tell me how to get one,” I said.

I made coffee. Tess added a few garments and got the toaster out. Joe was up and took a quick shower before Hogan called back. He had talked to the nurse, he reported. Jeff was eating a light breakfast and seemed fairly lucid.

“And just where is Jeff?” I asked.

“I kind of stashed him away. To be honest, I was sort of hoping some stranger would show a little interest. Someone who might have attacked him. But it didn't happen.”

“Joe assured Tess and me that was true, though we're both a bit miffed because you wouldn't trust us with his whereabouts. But Jeff might actually like to see Tess. How does she get in?”

“Ask for J. R. Ewing.”

I laughed. J. R. Ewing was the villainous but fascinating lead character in the prime-time soap
Dallas
—a television hit before I was born. But he was still famous, or maybe infamous, as the ultimate colorful and flamboyant Texan. My mom loved the show and we used to watch reruns.

I couldn't imagine anyone less like Jeff Godfrey. I howled with laughter. “Texas is never gonna live that guy down.”

“Just don't spread it around,” Hogan said. “Don't tell even your best friend. And don't go to the hospital before this afternoon. I got dibs on first chance to talk to Jeff.”

So we made our plan accordingly. Aunt Nettie, Tess, and I were to leave for the hospital at one o'clock. In the meantime I called Alicia again, and settled a minor crisis at my office by telephone. Joe went to the boat shop, and Tess primped and got a few things together for Jeff. Such as clean underwear. I snagged a robe for him out of Joe's closet.

Tess, Aunt Nettie, and I made it to the hospital by one thirty.

I've never felt sneakier than I did asking for J. R. Ewing at the hospital's front desk. But the volunteer in the pink jacket didn't turn a hair. “Mr. Ewing is in room 615,” she said. “His visitors are limited. Be sure to check in at the nurses' station.”

And that was all it took to get in to see Jeff. We just had to know the code.

However, I did note that Jeff was in a room right across from a waiting area, and in that waiting area was a husky blond guy who had “off-duty cop” written all over him. He was probably
a member of the Holland Police Department. At least, I'd never seen him before, so he didn't come from Warner Pier.

He apparently was expecting the three of us, because he gave a little wave.

At Tess' insistence, Aunt Nettie and I went in first, just the two of us. I thought Tess was worried about seeing Jeff now that he was awake, since she had followed him to Michigan in a very sneaky fashion.

Jeff seemed quite pleased to see us. He was in his right mind, as far as I could tell, though he said his head was aching.

“Actually I ache all over,” he said. “Chief Jones said he thinks I was in a wreck. So I guess hurting all over is normal. How's the car? Does it have much damage?”

Aunt Nettie and I looked at each other blankly. It was obvious that neither of us had given a thought to Jeff's car.

I spoke quickly. “I haven't seen the car, Jeff. But I'm sure your dad has good insurance. I gather that you don't remember anything about an accident.”

“Not a thing. I remember being in your office, Lee. We were talking about all of us going to dinner. And that's the last thing I remember until about six this morning.”

Aunt Nettie took Jeff's hand. “Don't worry about it. I'm sure nothing important happened.”

“As long as I didn't kill anybody.” Jeff smiled. “But Chief Jones said you found me at your house. How'd I get there?”

“Drove, I guess,” I said. “We haven't figured it out exactly.”

“What was I doing? Sitting on the porch waiting for you?”

“No. Not on the porch,” I said. “We found you inside.”

“Inside? How'd I get in?”

“I figured you must have remembered where Aunt Nettie
hid her extra key. We use the same spot. Anyway, I checked this morning, and the key isn't there.”

“I don't remember that.” Jeff looked distressed.

“I wouldn't worry about it,” I said. “Like Aunt Nettie says, either it will come back to you, or it didn't matter.” I wasn't sure that was true, but it sounded good.

Aunt Nettie patted Jeff's hand again. “We're not supposed to tire you out, young man. And you have another visitor. So Lee and I will go find a cup of coffee.”

She went to the door and beckoned to Tess, and then she and I left. I heard Jeff squawk as the door shut, “How did you get here?”

I was going to let her explain that.

Aunt Nettie and I took the elevator down to the basement, where there was a coffee shop. Aunt Nettie was silent as we found a table, but she was thinking so hard I could practically see the wheels turning under her wavy white hair.

As soon as we were settled and our coffee had been stirred, she leaned forward and spoke very quietly. “Hogan doesn't need my help.”

“Oh?” Why was she volunteering that information?

“And I would never interfere with his investigations.”

I chuckled. “I'm sure of that.” Where was my sweet aunt going with this?

“But you and I could drive out Big Pine Road and look around, couldn't we?”

I gave up the struggle and began to laugh.

Aunt Nettie spoke again. “As long as we didn't get out of the car . . .”

I was still laughing when Tess got off the elevator and came to join us. She didn't even notice I was laughing.

“The nurse ran me off,” she said. “But Jeff wants me to come back. If you're going home, I thought I'd pick up my car from your house, Lee. Then you won't have to worry about getting me back to Warner Pier later.”

“No,” I said. I gave another chuckle. “All I'll have to worry about is getting Aunt Nettie and me home from our snooping excursion.”