High Deceit

by C. E. Waterman

  A nurse hurried in, observed him for a moment and shut off the machine.

  His eyelids fluttered, then opened. It took a couple minutes before he focused on her face.

  The nurse moved closer to check.

  Robin stepped back to give her some room, and sniffled, trying to stop the tears streaming down her face.

  He reached up to finger the feeding tube, but the nurse stopped him from pulling it out. She wrote something on his chart, and said the doctor would be in right away.

  Mark smiled and reached for Robin. She half lay on the bed, trying not to dislodge the apparatus that had fed him for the last four days. “You scared me to death! I thought I was going to lose you, and I didn’t think I could bear it. Don’t ever do that to me again!”

  He smoothed her hair, and she kissed his hands, wanting so badly to hold him. Instead she sobbed. He stroked her back. When she got control of herself, she stood and smiled at him.

  The doctor came in.

  Robin slipped out to make her calls. There’d be no more sleep tonight. When Robin returned to Mark’s cube, the feeding tube was gone, but his throat was raw, and he had trouble speaking without coughing. She tried to avoid the questions in his eyes while helping him sip some water.

  Finally, he got out a raspy whisper. “What happened?” he croaked. “Car accident?”

  Robin’s face froze. How did you tell someone they’d been shot? Thankfully, her in-laws, and Peter and Maggie showed up. Everyone took turns being with Mark when he was awake and keeping her company while he slept.

  He drifted in and out the rest of the night, falling asleep sometimes in the middle of someone’s sentence.

  Silvia’s reaction was similar to Robin’s—she couldn’t stop crying. Respect for her mother-in-law grew as Robin realized how hard it must have been for her to step back these last few days and let Robin stay at Mark’s bedside.

  Maggie left around six to get the group breakfast, and while they were eating, Mark woke up hungry. He didn’t get to eat what they were eating, and he didn’t eat much. But he ate a little, and that bit of normalcy was a gift. A gift from God.

  The doctor came in just before lunch. While Mark’s throat was still sore, he could communicate somewhat better. “So, Mark, we’re all happy to see you with your eyes open. How do you feel?”

  “My head is killing me…shoulder feels like hit…sledgehammer. Otherwise, OK.”

  The doctor sat next to his bed and wrote on a clipboard. “What is the last thing you remember?”

  Mark raised his gaze to the ceiling. “Went to bed last night…woke up here. Robin says…shot…don’t remember.”

  The doctor explained when he’d been admitted, and Mark’s face scrunched. He put his hand to his head as if the information hurt. “Four days?”

  A pang hit Robin. How would she tell him he was under investigation for murder? Could such a shock cause a relapse or something? He watched her while he was awake, which wasn’t often. His friends would probably stop in later, and she needed to tell him before one of them did. She was exhausted, and her head pounded. Confiding her fears to her mother-in-law, she left Silvia to stand guard over him and went home to take a nap.

  19

  Peter left for work, straight from the hospital. Having been up since 3:00 AM, and not getting tons of sleep the previous nights, his body began to show it. He felt sluggish. If he sat down, he’d go right to sleep. He headed for the coffee machine. He wanted to people watch at the 9:00 AM progress meeting. Sipping his coffee, he slipped into the conference room and hovered. He could see the desks, and hear what was said, without being too noticeable.

  Even an hour early, he hadn’t beat Tammi. She hunched over her desk doing paperwork.

  Bill wandered in, rubbing his eyes and stopped by her desk. “How long you been here?” he asked.

  “Couple hours.” She glanced up, eyes bright.

  His desk sat in front of hers, so he swiveled his chair and faced her. “Didn’t you say you were working security last night?”

  “Yeah. But they let some of us go early, so I got home around midnight.”

  Peter grunted. She got home at midnight and still managed to get to work by six? No wonder she had circles under her eyes.

  “So what was going on at the event center last night?”

  “Nothing special. Some Denver group rented it out for their conference. Lots of people, but nothing controversial. So, like I said, they cut us loose early. I was kinda hopin’ for a couple more hours—the money’s good, and you don’t have to do anything but walk around. It’s a great gig.”

  Bill smiled and turned away.

  Tammi continued to work.

  Peter left the security of the conference room and wandered around. Maybe whoever brought donuts for the meeting set them out early. He headed for the squad room, only to hang back when he saw that Bill had the same idea.

  David was already in there laying napkins next to open doughnut boxes.

  “So, your turn for breakfast, huh?” Bill said, pouring himself some coffee.

  “Yeah, and they smelled so good in the car I just about ate one. Help yourself, so I can say I waited.”

  “I’m happy to oblige.” Bill picked up a donut and bit into it.

  Peter’s stomach growled.

  “Have you heard anything about Mark yet?” David crammed a whole donut into his mouth.

  “No, but I plan to go by today. Do you want to tag along?”

  David chewed for a minute then opened his mouth without swallowing. “When are you going, after work?”

  Bill glanced away, and Peter chuckled to himself. He’d had the same experience. David was good to have around if one was on a diet.

  “Probably around lunch,” Bill said.

  “Never mind then. I’m going after my shift. I want to talk to Peter, and he’s usually there about then.”

  Bill jerked his head toward the conference room Peter had just left. “I don’t think you’ll have to go to the hospital to see Peter. He’s here somewhere.”

  So much for remaining unseen.

  David lowered his voice, and Peter strained to hear. “Hey, did you hear they searched his house? They found all kinds of money in a briefcase.”

  “You mean Mark’s?” Bill took another bite. “Yeah, I heard.”

  “So what do you think? Was it Mark or are you like some who think it was all a setup?”

  Bill dusted some crumbs off the front of his shirt. “I don’t know what you mean about a setup, but I know one of the officers who found the money. And there were witnesses. They couldn’t all have been in on it.”

  David leaned in. Peter caught a few words. “I…searchers, but…somebody. A lot of people...Mark…involved.”

  “What do you think?” Bill stepped back.

  “I never trust anyone who’s that good, you know?” David shoved another doughnut in his mouth and proceeded to talk around it. “Nobody’s that perfect. And money corrupts people. Look at all those television evangelists. Greed, that’s all it is. Preachers trying to tell you how to live, when they can’t even manage to keep themselves straight.”

  “I wondered about that. Mark’s into religion big time.” He took a sip from his cup. “So do you think Mark is like that? Do you think he did it?” He moved toward the tables set up classroom style with all the chairs facing the front. “Let’s find a table.”

  David followed.

  Peter slunk back a little farther.

  “I don’t know if Mark did it or not,” David said, “but I’m not counting anybody out, not even your partner.”

  “Tammi?” Bill stopped in the middle of an aisle. “What makes you think it’s her?”

  David nearly bumped into Bill, sloshing coffee out onto the floor. “I didn’t say I thought it was her, but I overheard her talking to herself and she said something like ‘it will all be worth it.’ I don’t think she realized she’d said it, let alone loud enough for someone to hear.” He moved around Bill.
“I know she’s your partner and all, but how good can a woman be at a job like this? No wonder she’s having trouble. Maybe she’s letting someone in on what she knows so she can go home and do what she’s good at.”

  Bill backed away, looking around to see if they had been overheard. “I can’t believe you said that. Tammi is awesome at her job, and she works another one besides. She works harder than all of us put together, and I don’t think she could betray her unit, even if you do.” Bill turned away from David.

  “Hey, I didn’t mean anything. You don’t have to get mad,” David called after him.

  Peter slipped out the back, as other people were filing in. Did David honestly suspect Tammi? If so, it wouldn’t be a stretch to suspect Bill. Wonder if Bill knew that? And what would he do about it?

  Chief Donovan entered the room and walked to the podium. Tammi trailed behind him, and chose a seat near the front. Peter hurried outside, walked around to the front, entered, and stood in an alcove behind Donovan where he could see everyone’s faces.

  Donovan hesitated, waiting for the ones who were standing around talking to find their seats. “I have good news this morning. Mark’s awake and doing well. The doctor thinks he’ll be fine.”

  Claps, whistles, and general commotion erupted for several minutes.

  Then David asked the obvious question. “So are we going to make an arrest now or what?”

  He couldn’t see Donovan’s face, but everyone else was smiling.

  “Not yet. I talked to Robin and the doctor, and Mark’s not ready to answer questions yet. Apparently, he’s awake for short periods at a time, but it’s hard for him to talk, and it appears he doesn’t remember what happened to him.”

  Everyone started talking at once.

  Peter couldn’t make out anything.

  Donovan shuffled through his papers and withdrew one. He cleared his throat, and the room quieted, everyone attentive and eager.

  Peter studied his coworkers’ faces, searching for the telltale sign someone wasn’t pleased Mark was awake. Out there, looking back at the chief, was the face of Judas. But nothing gave him or her away, not a frown, not a facial tic, nothing. Everyone appeared happy, elated even. Whoever the leak was must be a good actor…very, very good.

  “The doctor said it wasn’t unusual for someone who has undergone head trauma to suffer temporary amnesia,” Donovan said. “Let’s see how he does, and when we know something concrete, we’ll take action. I don’t want Mark’s condition spread around yet. I know it’ll get out, but I’d like to keep it from the general public as long as possible.” He then started on the week’s assignments.

  Peter left the room.

  20

  While Donovan finished up, Peter slipped into the chief’s office to wait.

  It didn’t take long. Donovan blew in and closed the door. “I’m glad you’re here,” he said putting his notes down on the desk. “Tell me. Where are we with the investigation?”

  Peter told him about the interviews with Cindy’s mom and friend.

  “So you think she wasn’t actually at the dinner?” Donovan settled in his chair.

  “We’ve questioned many of the guests, and no one saw her there. Plus, her clothes suggest she wasn’t a guest, unless she changed first. Based on what I heard from her best friend, I think she followed someone, waited until they came out, and then trailed them to the warehouse.”

  “Did they say who she might have been following?”

  “No, but Dominic Rossetti was there that night.”

  Donovan sat up straighter. “That’s interesting. Have you questioned him yet?”

  “Yeah, but we can’t prove a link existed between them. Same with his smug business manager, Carlo Litzi. I’d sure love to knock the cocky smile off his face. He’s dirty, and he knows I know it. But he also knows I can’t prove it.” Peter tapped the arm of his chair. “We might be able to lean on Rossetti. He was nervous, I can tell you that much.”

  Donovan peered into Peter’s eyes. “Keep me informed. Internal Affairs and the mayor are breathing down my neck. We have to find something soon. Since Mark’s awake, they’ll want to move on an arrest warrant.”

  Peter jerked in his chair. “A warrant? They want to arrest Mark, the guy with the perfect record. The guy they loved for taking down the pusher in the same ring we’re looking for now. Does the mayor know how ridiculous this is?”

  “Internal Affairs feels they have a solid case with the cash and the unlicensed gun. Unless Mark can explain it, there’s nothing I can do. In all probability, they won’t tell me when they arrest him.” Bitterness tinged every word. “They might be kind enough to inform me after the fact.”

  Five minutes later, Peter slammed out of the station and accelerated out of the parking lot. How could the department believe Mark would arrest one dealer but save the others? It didn’t make sense. It was a quick solution, and they didn’t care if it was wrong.

  He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. How could he keep them from arresting Mark? Even if they eventually found him innocent, people would think he did it and the department covered it up. And later he would remember that the people he’d worked so hard to serve had turned on him. It couldn’t happen. Peter couldn’t allow it to happen. He had to do something, but what? What was he missing?

  21

  The alarm clock by Robin’s bed said three o’clock, later than she’d planned. She glanced at Mark’s empty place beside her and touched his pillow. He’d finally awakened—or had it been a dream? She swung her legs over the side of the bed, grabbed her clothes, and scrambled into them.

  Minutes later, at the hospital, she all but ran to Mark’s room.

  He waggled his fingers at her as she entered, dispelling her fears.

  Her whole body sagged as she shuffled closer. “Hi,” she whispered and settled in the chair beside his bed. She glanced at him, ready to fend off his questions, but he was asleep.

  Tammi and Bill stopped by a few minutes later. They hovered in the doorway with a huge bouquet of flowers. Not wanting to wake him, Robin met them in the hall. She waited as the officer wrote down their names and the time. “So,” she said, “did you guys hear the news?”

  Tammi handed over the flowers. “Yeah, we heard he’s awake. Does it mean he’ll be OK?”

  “He’s doing great.” Robin’s smile felt as if it took up her whole face. She took the flowers and danced them into Mark’s room, remembering to be quiet as she placed them carefully on the windowsill. She tiptoed back out. “He still falls asleep a lot, sometimes in the middle of a sentence, but the doctor thinks he'll be fine.” She glanced at the police officer and jerked her head toward the waiting room. “Let’s talk in there so we don’t wake him up. It’s funny, you know? We tried so hard to wake him up before, and now I want him to sleep.”

  Tammi fell in step beside her. “Yeah, circumstances have sure changed. I hear he doesn’t remember anything. Is that right? Nothing?”

  Robin glanced back at Bill to include him in the conversation. “That’s right. He remembers going to bed the night before and then nothing until he woke up here.”

  They reached the waiting room.

  “Wow,” Bill said. “That is really weird. Does the doctor think he’ll get his memory back?”

  Robin found a seat, and they sat next to her. She didn’t know what to say. If Mark continued to have amnesia, would that keep him safe? “I don’t know. The doctor said it’s hard to predict at this point.”

  Tammi smiled. “I’m sure he will. He’s such a great guy. The department isn’t the same without him.”

  “Yeah.” Bill nodded. “We all miss him. And we’ll get whoever did this to him.”

  Robin leaned in close. “I’m relieved to hear you say so.”

  Bill leaned back, eyes widening. “What do you mean?”

  She picked a piece of lint off her jeans. “You know Internal Affairs thinks he got himself shot trying to sell drugs.”

  Both of them r
emained quiet for a second.

  Tammi shook her head. “We had heard that, but it’s crazy. It makes me mad they’re so ready to believe the worst.”

  Bill put his hand on Robin’s arm. “It’s IA’s job to focus on one of us, but that doesn’t mean the rest of the department isn’t still looking outside for the killer.”

  Robin wanted to ask them what they thought about the money, but she didn’t have the nerve. What would she say if they told her they thought he was guilty? They made small talk and then left, leaving her wondering. If what Tammi said was true, not everyone believed Mark was a killer. But Bill’s answer was strange. Did they think Mark was hiding something? And was there another meaning behind Tammi’s “circumstances have changed” remark?

  David came in later, this time with a plant. Robin accepted it, and since Mark was awake, allowed him to come in and visit. She didn’t want to bring up the case for fear of upsetting Mark, so she didn’t get a chance to talk to David. He didn’t act as if he believed Mark was guilty, but she couldn’t tell. He did ask her if she’d seen Beth yet.

  “No why? Is she coming in?”

  “Her aunt fell last night at the nursing home and broke a hip. They were supposed to operate on her today.”

  “Oh, no! The few times we’ve met, I liked her. I hope she’ll be OK.” She’d have to visit Janice as soon as they put her in a room. It might cheer her up, and it would do Robin good to stop worrying about her own problems for a while.

  Beth came in around four thirty and said her aunt was stable and in intensive care for observation. Mark was asleep, so she didn’t stay. She said she hoped Mark was feeling better and left.

  Robin realized how bad the case against Mark was becoming when Maggie came in and she had a chance to talk it through. Mark had been out more than he’d been awake today, and she didn’t want to discuss the case with a policeman right outside the door. So she led Maggie to the waiting room.