Fragmented

by Colleen Connally

  “Understand you might be looking for this?”

  Startled, Cameron turned right into a warm body. He made no movement to back up. Instead, he gave her that irksome smile of his, a smile she knew all too well.

  Tall and lean, there had been a time when she had melted in the arms of the devilishly good-looking surgeon. His sandy blonde hair was disheveled from pulling off his surgical cap. His piercing blue eyes stared into hers. Matthew Halliday, her former fiancé.

  She grimaced and grabbed her cell phone from his hands. “What are you doing with it?”

  “Paul said that a nurse in the unit loaned it to a patient. Figured it had to be you, especially when I looked at the screen.”

  “I was just going to get it. Thank you very much,” she said curtly. She pushed by him, out the door. But any hope of leaving him behind diminished when she heard him walking behind her. She hoped no one noticed his sudden appearance. She slammed open the stairway door and quickly walked through the fire door to the stairwell.

  “Cameron, wait. Just give me a second. Come on.” He reached for her arm.

  She jerked it back, temper flaring.

  “Can you not take a hint, Matthew? Leave me alone. It was bad enough that you took a job here. I already transferred away from you, once. What is your game? To try to totally destroy my life? Don’t forget it was you that ended it…besides the little fact that you’re married.”

  She went silent as Liada came down the stairs, but given the circumstances, Liada didn’t say a word and disappeared quickly down the flight of stairs to the next floor.

  “Go home to your wife,” Cameron hissed. She tried to walk by him. He stepped in front of her.

  “Please, Cameron. Can’t you see I’m trying to rectify my mistake? I don’t want to go home to Allison, Cameron. I’ve been trying to tell you. You won’t listen. It’s all been a huge mistake. All of this. A terrible, terrible mistake. I miss you. I want you back.”

  Cameron laughed. “You have just figured that out? It’s been three years, Matthew. Three years.”

  “I have tried to tell you, Cameron. Someone tricked me three years ago. It was the pictures. It drove me crazy seeing you in those pictures.”

  She stared at him for a long moment. “What pictures, Matthew?” Cameron asked, confused. This was the first she had heard of this excuse. “Three years ago, you never gave me a reason. You just moved out. Moved out of the apartment we got to begin our life together. We were supposed to be married in less than four months and you just moved out without a word.”

  “I was hurt, Cameron. Jealous as hell. Now, though, I know the pictures were fake. Someone superimposed your face on a naked girl’s body.”

  Cameron stood silent for a moment. She stared at him. Her eyes widened, her breathing quickened. “You have some explaining to do. Exactly what are you trying to tell me?”

  “My mother…my mother received pictures in the mail, very lurid. It looked like you in an orgy. Naked people in sexual acts, Cameron. It wasn’t until six months ago that it came to light that the picture of you had been superimposed.”

  “You believed I would have ever…you didn’t have the courage to confront me…,” Cameron stuttered. Anger choked her words. “You mean to tell me you broke up with me over fake pictures? After all this time, and you have the nerve…”

  He grabbed her by both arms. “Mother hired a private investigator. He was the one to confirm the pictures. He had this…this report. It wasn’t until another client sued him six months ago that it came out about my case.

  “Don’t be mad…I’ll make it up to you, Cameron. I promise…I was a fool to believe her and the pictures. I had just completed my residency. Mother was concerned about us…”

  She eyed him harshly. “And it never occurred to you the extremes your mother might have taken to break us up.”

  She thrust her arms down in a manner that loosened his grip. She recoiled back toward the wall.

  “Don’t you dare try to touch me,” she said in exasperation. “How could you even think I would have participated in such a thing? You who knew me better than anyone. You knew you were the only one I’ve been with…ever. When was I supposed to have had this orgy, and with who? It makes absolutely no sense. Tell me, Matthew. And tell me why it’s of any importance now.”

  “I know it will take time to forgive me, Cameron, but you need to know I love you. I’ve always loved you,” he started. He reached for her and caressed her cheek. She slapped it back.

  “Not in your wildest dreams, Matthew. I don’t believe a word you’re saying. What, are you bored with Allison? Go find another dalliance. It won’t be me.”

  “Does it have to do with this Darren on your phone?”

  She shot him a cold look. “My personal life isn’t any of your business. How did you ever see what’s on my phone?”

  “You should vary your password, Cameron. It’s been the same since I met you. Your mother’s birthday. Besides, Nevy said he saw someone drop you off this morning.”

  She pushed past him down the stairs. “Leave me alone and stop having Nevy spy on me.”

  She ran down the flight of stairs and didn’t turn back. The nerve! She had never dreamed he would have ever accepted a position here. All the doctors in his family worked at Brigham and Women’s Medical Center across the street. When he had accepted a position here, it surprised her. When she found out she would have to work firsthand with him in trauma ICU, while he worked toward his surgical internship, she had asked for a transfer.

  She couldn’t work with him. He had torn her world apart. It had taken a long time to piece it back together. She wished he had never come to work here, but she wasn’t going to let him get to her. Not this time, not ever.

  She looked down at her hand holding her cell phone. She clicked on her calls. She had missed a text. She smiled.

  Look forward to tonight. Call you later with a time. Darren.

  * * * *

  Cameron stood in her friend’s sun-drenched kitchen with two cups of coffee in her hands. She placed the coffee down on the countertop. Swinging her bag over the back of the stool, she sat and waited for Meghan.

  Meghan had been her roommate in college, graduating with Cameron from Simmons College of Nursing more than three years ago. One couldn’t find two people so different, yet so close. Exact opposites, Meghan lived life on the edge, afraid she might miss a moment. She loved attention, men, and money.

  Meghan had made no qualms about going after what she wanted. Joel Warren didn’t have a chance when she set her sights upon him; not even being married had been a deterrent. At the time Meghan met Warren, Cameron had been deeply involved in her own personal life…before it came crashing down on her. The whole of her attention had been on Matthew, and Matthew hadn’t cared for Meghan.

  Meghan had met Joel when he had come in as a patient, a heart patient who had come in for an evaluation from a heart attack scare. She hadn’t looked back. Joel, a sixty-two-year-old investment banker, had Meghan move in with him early on, but only recently they had tied the knot. Meghan had become the third Mrs. Warren. This trip was a delayed honeymoon, a month-long trip in the Caribbean, a month in the sun and sand far away from the cold and snow.

  Now Meghan lived in this spacious mansion on Commonwealth Avenue off Hereford Street. Five floors of living space, with the lower level being access to a private two-car garage and three outdoor parking spaces on the street level. A magnificent carved wooden staircase connected all the floors, or one could use the elevator if they wanted. A beautiful music room, a handsome library and three private roof decks, a sweeping living room which opened up with twelve-foot high ceilings and an ornately carved fireplace. Slate and marble graced the house throughout…simply gorgeous.

  Cameron sipped her Starbucks while she waited. The housekeeper, Mila, had let her in. Mila, an elderly woman who had emigrated from Russia more than thirty years before, had worked for the Warren family since before she married Ian, who now wo
rked as a handyman and chauffeur for Mr. Warren.

  “Don’t know when Mrs. Warren will be down, Miss Quinn,” Mila said, wiping down the countertop. She shook her head, making little effort to conceal her dislike of the new Mrs. Warren.

  “I’m fine, Mila. I’m sure she’ll be down soon. They are due to be leaving later this morning. Just wanted to give her a little something before she leaves. I hope they get off before the snow comes in.”

  Her phone vibrated in her coat pocket. She looked down. Greg again. She grimaced. Her brother, Zach, had slept over. He didn’t do it often. A student at Eastern University, Zach came by when he needed money or his laundry done. Besides her father, he was the only family she had. She sighed. Greg wouldn’t stop until he reached her. She turned her phone off. She didn’t feel like dealing with him.

  “Who’s bothering you now?” a groggy voice asked.

  Cameron looked up to see Meghan, standing in a flowing pale blue nightgown with a wisp of a robe thrown about her. Her thick blonde hair was upswept with a clip, leaving several tresses falling about her face; her blue eyes were bloodshot, but lit up when she caught sight of the cup in Cameron’s hand. “I hope you brought me some of that.”

  “Wouldn’t have shown up otherwise. You look like shit, Meg.”

  “Don’t start with me. I’m the one who’s upset with you,” Meghan said while she accepted the coffee. “Where did you go, Cameron? Here I was, nice enough to set you up with Joel’s friend. You know you have a problem? Beats all I’ve ever seen.” Her hands went to her forehead. “Oh, my head. Mila, can you get me something for the pounding?”

  Meghan nodded toward Cameron to follow her into the breakfast room. She sat down and winced. A moment later, she popped a couple of pills in her mouth and swallowed them with her coffee.

  Rubbing her forehead, Meghan asked, “What time is it? I haven’t packed a thing.”

  Cameron pulled out her present from the bag she had brought in with her. “This might help a tad.”

  “Let me guess. It wouldn’t happen to be that little red bikini I told you Joel wanted me to buy?”

  “Enjoy it.” Cameron smirked. “It’s your honeymoon. Let Joel think you tried to please him. Besides, why worry about packing? Just bring your bags empty. I’m sure you could buy whatever you need at the resort.”

  Meghan pushed her hair back. “Should have known you would be looking after me. You always do. You’re probably right.” She leaned over and kissed Cameron’s cheek. “But don’t think it gets you out of last night. You left me in such a lurch. I don’t know why I even try to fix you up anymore. Ducking out on Nathan like you did. He really liked you. Do you have any idea who he is?”

  “To be honest with you, Meghan, I think I met someone interesting last night.”

  Meghan waved her hand at her friend as she sipped her coffee. “Uh-oh, Cam, I hope you’re not talking about that man who works in the district attorney’s office. Joel thought he saw you with him when we were leaving.”

  Cameron’s face dropped. “Why? Is something wrong with Darren Kennedy?”

  “Cam, girl, he works in the district attorney’s office. They make nothing. Granted, he’s good-looking, but I hear he’s pining away for his wife.”

  “Wife?”

  “Yeah, if I have my story right, which I usually do when it comes to men, he’s the one who lost his wife to cancer years back. Heard he’s hard as nails. Definitely not my type and you know most men are. But then again, he might be perfect for you. Another needy project.”

  Cameron fell silent, staring out the window. She paused before she looked back at her friend. “Matthew ran me down this morning. He felt the urge to make things right after three years. Said it wasn’t his fault. He had the weirdest excuse for all the pain he caused me. Said he received pictures of me in an orgy or something. Says he wants me to forgive him, take him back...”

  Cameron didn’t have a chance to finish. Meghan choked on her coffee, spewing it out over the table, Cameron, and everything in her path. She couldn’t control her laughter as she regained her composure. Taking a napkin, she wiped down the table. She handed one to Cameron.

  “You’re not serious, are you?”

  “That’s what he said. Now he wants me back, says he’ll leave his wife. Some unknown pictures that unwittingly forced him to break up with me turned out to be fake.”

  “You’re not buying it. Cam, he wants what he can’t have. Who the hell would believe a story like that? He’s such a mommy’s boy.”

  “Of course, I don’t believe a word he said.” Cameron shrugged. “Not after all he put me through. He even had the nerve to have Nevy spy on me.”

  “Who’s Nevy?”

  “A security guard at the hospital. Said he saw Darren drop me off this morning.”

  A wide, knowing grin formed on her friend’s face. “Oh, my God! You didn’t, did you? You did! Good for you. About time you had some fun, Cameron. You had me nervous for a moment. About time you moved past Matthew. You know that…that Matthew is bad news for you, girl.”

  “You never liked him because he didn’t like you.”

  “And who was right? I was. He’s a bastard who’ll just break your heart again and you don’t want to be a homewrecker.”

  Cameron restrained herself from retorting. It never occurred to Meghan that she had broken up a marriage. Meghan wouldn’t stop when she wanted something, but Meghan was right. Matthew had done too much damage to be repaired.

  “Remember every bad thing he did, Cam,” Meghan went on. “There is no excuse. Picking out an apartment and leaving you with the lease. For God’s sake, he moved out in the middle of the night. Remember you coming back in after your shift to an empty apartment with no explanation, nothing? If Karl and Greg hadn’t come into the picture, you would have been in a mess with that expensive lease.”

  Cameron nodded. “I haven’t forgotten. I couldn’t.”

  “You’re finally getting your life back in order. About to buy that gorgeous condo on Beacon Street. Starting anew. Look forward. Your life has turned the corner. Everything looks bright. Don’t add a roadblock.”

  Cameron gave Meghan a smile. Meghan was right. She did feel she had jumped a huge hurdle. Meghan stretched her stiff neck and looked over her shoulder as the grandfather clock began tolling nine o’clock in the foyer.

  “Joel will be home in a minute. He had some work to clear up before we leave. I asked you to come over this morning for more than just to see you before I left. I need a favor.”

  “A favor? Oh, Meg, what did you do?”

  “I just need you to pick up my car while I’m gone. You know I was in that accident,” Meghan said and pulled keys out of her robe’s pocket. “I’ve got my extra set of keys here. You know I wouldn’t trust anyone but you. The car should be ready within the week, two at the most. I told them you would pick it up. Gave them your number.”

  Cameron sighed. She liked Meghan’s husband. Totally infatuated with Meghan, he gave Meghan anything she wanted, even this belated honeymoon to the Caribbean.

  “You still haven’t told Joel? Why not? He loves you. To him, you can do no wrong.”

  “Oh, no, I can’t tell him,” Meghan cried. A look of sheer terror swept over her face. “He can’t know I smashed up the Porsche he gave me less than a week after he gave it to me. First, I would have to explain why I didn’t tell him. Then there’s Luke sitting in the wings, waiting to pounce.”

  “Okay, okay,” Cameron reassured her friend. She eyed her friend carefully. So Meghan thought Luke, Joel’s oldest son from his first marriage, could get involved with her latest misadventure. There was more to this story. Cameron probably didn’t want to know. It didn’t matter. As Meghan was well aware, Cameron would help. “Don’t worry. I’ll handle it. I won’t have any trouble returning it to your garage?”

  “No, no, I’ve told Ian you have full access. I told Joel that I’ve asked you to check in on things while we’re gone. I have everything covere
d.”

  “I hope so. Make sure you give me the numbers I need for the Porsche auto body place. What about paying?”

  “I have that covered so Joel won’t get suspicious. I told him that you needed help with a down payment of the condo you’re looking at. He gave me the money. I’ll transfer it over to you when I get the final bill.”

  “You told him what!?” Cameron exclaimed. Her eyes widened. She shook her head in disbelief. “Oh, come on, Meghan. This is getting a bit much.”

  “Please, please, Cameron. He can’t find out. You don’t know,” Meghan pleaded in almost a whisper. Water welled up in her eyes.

  Cameron stared at her friend. She didn’t know what happened, but she could guess. Meghan didn’t have to tell her that she had snuck out to a party, probably had someone else in the car when she hit the railing on the overpass. She did know what kind of shape Meghan was in when she showed up at her apartment that night.

  “It’s going to catch up with you, Meg. Be careful.”

  “Yes, yes, yes. I know. Thank you. Thank you. I’ve learned my lesson. Never again.” Meghan leaped out of her seat and hugged her friend tightly. “Everything is going to work out great. I have everything covered.”

  Cameron wished she was as certain.

  Chapter Four

  Brophy waited, a difficult task because he wasn’t a patient person. The call came...finally. He had a name.

  After interviewing Rey Caputo’s mother and family members, Brophy had returned to headquarters at One Schroeder Plaza. The Boston Police Department was divided into districts, but the homicide division was under one roof for the whole city.

  During the last few years, the homicide division had been under fire for their perceived low clearance rate. A game of tug-of-war had ensued between the district attorney’s office and the police department.

  In defense of his department, Brophy felt being overworked and understaffed had led to their clearance rating. It wasn’t until the staff increased by twenty-five percent that their rating climbed…the staff increase, and working with an aggressive district attorney’s office, which included the bulldog ADA Darren Kennedy.