“Amen to that. In the meantime, I’ll have an excuse to visit Ken’s office again.”
“Have you been over to Tally’s dress boutique? I imagine the staff has heard about the accident, but you could see if she’d mentioned anything to them about her husband’s business affairs.”
“I’m not free until Sunday, and we want to visit Tally then. Plus, Sunday should be family day. We need to spend some time with Brianna.”
“Is Tally’s place open on Monday? You could go then.”
Marla nodded, her mind formulating a plan. “I’ll drop Luke off at the day care center, do my errands, and then I can visit Tally’s boutique and Ken’s insurance office. I won’t let this rest until we get some answers. Dalton can use his resources, although he and Kat have another case to work on. That’s going to be occupying his time.”
“Kat knows what this means to you both. She’ll cut him some slack.”
“Let’s hope so. She hasn’t used the coupon for a complimentary cut I sent her for Christmas. That woman has a hard shell to crack.”
“Who’s taking care of Luke today? Is he doing all right?”
The front door bell chimed. Nicole hastened to plug in the implements at her station.
“Brianna offered to watch Luke. She’s happy to earn extra money by babysitting.”
“How is she doing with her driving lessons?” Nicole smiled, aware of how those went over with Dalton.
“We need to give her more practice this weekend. She’ll be taking her test in two more months. Hmm, I wonder if Dalton and I should consider merging our auto policies.”
“You might get more discounts that way.”
“I’ll give our company a call. Maybe they supply long term care policies, too. It would be helpful to get another quote for comparison. Oops, here comes my first customer. Gotta go.”
*****
By the time Marla drove home at the end of the work day, Dalton wasn’t back yet. She tried to relax and focus on Luke for the evening. A phone call to the nurses’ station at the hospital reassured her that Tally was hanging in there. It didn’t help that she felt guilty for not visiting more often.
To make up for her negligence, she played with Luke. His antics both delighted and entertained her. She could watch him for hours, especially when he gave her a rare smile or stared at her with his big blue eyes. It still astounded her how this tiny being depended totally on her for sustenance, but the responsibility didn’t faze her. Instead, she looked forward to being with him every day.
Could she do a better job of maintaining vigilance with a child this time? Remembering the tragedy in her past, Marla tightened her mouth. Tammy’s loss had been her fault. She’d been babysitting for the toddler when the phone rang. Tammy’s parents had told her to expect the call. Marla had been only moments in the kitchen, but that one instant was all it had taken for Tammy to amble outside and fall into the backyard swimming pool.
Marla’s heart thumped at the memory. She would do whatever it took to ensure Luke’s safety. Nothing would happen to this kid while under her care.
The day care center had her nervous, though. There you were dependent on strangers. And what happened when you sent your child to school on a bus? That must be even scarier.
Her mind zipped ahead. Brianna was learning to drive. An inkling filtered into her brain of the anxieties that afflicted Dalton. It never ended. As babies grew into adults, you continued to worry about their welfare. That’s what love is, she realized. It bit so deep that it hurt. Yet you couldn’t go through life fearing the possibility of loss, or you’d miss the joyous occasions. What was the quote? “It’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”
Luke’s face cracked a smile, and Marla’s innards melted a bit more. How could she deny herself the chance to have her own child? She wouldn’t be facing the perils alone. Dalton and Brianna would be there along with their mothers, like they were for Luke. And her travel plans? They could be adjusted for a family.
Her expression eased as she thought of them taking a trip together. Had Dalton ever gone anywhere significant with his daughter? She’d have to ask. But now wasn’t the proper time, with Tally’s life in the balance and Luke needing her focus.
Sometime during the night, she felt Dalton sink into the mattress. She rolled over to face him and stroked his arm.
“Hi,” she murmured, her voice tinged with sleep.
“It’s late, sweetcakes, and I’m beat. Go back to dreamland.”
“I’ll dream about you.” Her eyelids closed, and she drifted off.
Saturday morning, Marla checked her email and then got ready for work. Dalton had already left for his office to work on his case.
Brianna stumbled into the kitchen, having set her alarm so she could watch Luke after Marla left the house. The teen had fixed her hair in a ponytail and wore pajamas with happy faces. Her gaze swung to Luke sitting in the baby swing Dalton had put together.
“You’re too cheerful this morning,” she grumbled after Marla greeted her. She headed to the fridge to pour herself a glass of orange juice.
“I appreciate you getting up early to babysit. Do you want breakfast?”
“It’s too early to eat. I assume you gave Luke his bottle?”
“Yes, he’s good until his next feeding, and he has a clean diaper.” Marla finished putting together a bagged lunch and stuck it in her purse.
“Okay. We’ll be fine until Grams comes over later. Dad said if he gets home early, he’d take me driving again.”
“That’s good. You need all the practice you can get. I’m off all day tomorrow, so we can give you more hours behind the wheel. We’ll go see Tally in the afternoon.”
She scrapped those plans, however, when Dalton called her later at work.
“Ken’s body has been released. Phil set the burial for Sunday. He couldn’t get a time until the afternoon, and then he wants me to drive him to the airport.”
“When will we visit Tally?”
“My mother said she would babysit. We can go to the airport together and then swing up I-95 to the hospital. Brianna can stay home with Mom.”
“Let’s not forget to ask Phil for the house and car keys.” She couldn’t believe he hadn’t been to see his sister-in-law. The jerk. At least he was doing his duty for his brother.
*****
The graveside service went relatively quickly with no one else in attendance other than Ken’s one relative and two friends. His office staff would have come if invited, Marla ruminated, seated under the awning erected by the cemetery staff. The fresh smell of turf entered her nose along with a cool breath of January air. She’d worn a skirt out of respect and was glad for the leather jacket she’d had the foresight to wear. Dalton and Phil sat on either side of her, while a hired minister intoned the prayers. It didn’t feel right without Tally there.
She eyed the coffin in its simple maple design. Ken didn’t deserve this end, but who did? Accidents were brutal. They took loved ones without warning. You didn’t have the chance to say goodbye.
Marla sniffled, wiping her nose with a tissue, especially touched when Phil got up to share a few memories of his brother’s childhood. His voice cracked at one point, as though he wasn’t impervious to emotion after all. Perhaps he just hid his feelings well.
Dalton took her hand and squeezed it. His confident presence, tall and imposing in a black sport coat, gave her reassurance. She couldn’t imagine doing this for him one day.
In a somber mood, they drove Phil to the airport without indulging in the usual funeral feast. Before leaving, he handed over the keys he’d used during his visit.
“Thanks for your support,” he said, hefting his carry-on bag. “I never thought I’d be burying my brother this way.” His face reflected his sadness, as did his slumped posture.
Marla gave him a quick embrace. “Car accidents are horrible. One minute you’re here, and the next you’re gone. It’s worse for the survivors.”
He nodde
d his agreement. “Keep me informed about Tally’s progress, will you? I hope she’ll be okay. And I’m happy their kid is in your care. You’ll do right by him.”
After he departed, Marla and Dalton headed north on the highway toward the hospital. She felt better that Phil had wanted to hear about Tally. He might not accept any responsibility toward his remaining family, but maybe deep down he did care for them.
“Why do you suppose Mallory didn’t come to the burial?” she asked to divert her morose thoughts. “Don’t detectives usually attend a victim’s funeral to gauge the reactions of the guests?”
“This wasn’t a public event. And technically, Ken isn’t a victim.” Dalton kept his hands on the wheel and his eyes on the road.
“No? What about the witness’s claim that someone forced Ken off the road?”
Dalton’s jaw tightened. “I’d like to know if the CSI techs found traces of paint from another vehicle on Ken’s car, but Mallory isn’t sharing those details.”
“We’re best friends with Ken’s wife. He’s probably right to keep a tight lid on things when we have a personal interest in his case. You’re lucky he tells you anything.”
“I’m getting heat from Kat to focus on our investigation. It appears the robbery murder might not have been so random after all. The dead guy received threats beforehand.”
“See? You need to focus on your job. I’ll learn what I can with my methods. What about your background checks into Ken’s office workers?”
“It’s hard to tell from looking at their bank accounts. A couple of them get deposits on a regular basis, but that could be their commission from customers’ insurance premiums. I don’t have the authority to question them without stepping on Mallory’s toes.”
“Did either of you ever trace the call that Ken allegedly received that evening?”
“Mallory did share that information. The call was made to Ken’s cell from a burner phone.”
Marla had seen enough TV shows to know a burner phone was a prepaid cell phone usually disposed of after use. “So that’s a dead end. What about the office staff’s phone records? Anything suspicious there? Any criminal activity in their pasts?”
“If somebody at Ken’s place is involved, they’re covering their tracks pretty well.”
“I’ll take that answer as a negative.” She shifted in her seat, watching the passing scenery on the highway. Strip shopping centers, homogenous housing developments, and industrial centers ceded one into the other in a nonstop congested corridor. Palm trees and other tropical greenery broke the monotony.
“Things don’t add up in my estimation,” Dalton admitted, “but we need more hard facts. If only Tally would wake up, she could fill in the blanks.”
*****
Tally wasn’t in any condition to talk when they reached the hospital. She lay as still as a mannequin under the sheet covering her slender body. Marla got permission from the nurse to comb her hair. Although the hospital staff did a good job of keeping her clean and tidy, Marla felt better running the comb through her friend’s blond locks.
Tears leaked from her eyes as she sat by the bedside. Dalton had gone to consult with the doctor. Tally’s chest tube had been removed, having done its job. She was receiving antibiotics through her I.V. to prevent pneumonia and nutrients through a feeding tube. The medical staff had started weaning her off the paralytic agents that kept her calm. If she couldn’t breathe on her own, they’d gotten Marla’s agreement to do a tracheotomy.
Marla swallowed her tears and cleared her throat. “Hey, Tally. It’s Marla. I’m here with you. You’re in the hospital, but you’ll be okay. Dalton and I are watching Luke, so don’t worry on that score.”
Tally’s eyes moved under her closed lids. Was she dreaming? Her cheekbones looked prominent in her pale face, her mouth partially open. She appeared as though at any moment, she might wake up.
Marla put the comb away and perched on the edge of the bed. She grasped Tally’s free hand that wasn’t stuck into a pulse monitoring device. Sadness weighed on her and made her hollow inside. I don’t know if I have your strength, Tally. Give me some sign that you’re in there.
Nothing happened. Marla reached for a tissue from her purse and dabbed her eyes. She wouldn’t help anyone this way.
Sounds and smells filtered into her awareness. Steady beeps and hisses competed with the clank of metal carts and chatter from the nurses’ station. Cool air blew into the cubicle, keeping the atmosphere at a chilly level while an antiseptic tinge pervaded the place.
“The doctor says she’s doing better,” Dalton said upon rejoining her. “He thinks she might have a chance for a decent recovery down the road.”
Marla winced at the thought of the rehab and medical bills in Tally’s future, but those would be worth it if she’d regain full consciousness along with her memory.
“What else did he say?” she asked, rising to her feet.
“Just that she’d been lucky to be on the dry end of the vehicle when it landed half in the canal. I told him about the burial today.”
“Yeah, she’s really lucky.” Marla shook her head at the statement. Tally would be lucky to be alive, if she came out of this in one piece with her mind intact. But then she’d have the pain of grief to face. Nobody lucked out on accidents like this one.
Dalton must have sensed her need for comfort, because he drew her into his embrace for a quick hug. “The nurse gave me some interesting information,” he said, stepping away. “You’d asked about the friend who had called regarding Tally’s condition. The person’s number came from a four-zero-seven area code. That’s Orlando.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know yet. It could originate from another burner phone.”
“I assume you’ll try to trace it?”
“I will, but don’t get your hopes up. I have to be careful how much time I spend on this stuff.”
“Kat knows Ken was a close friend. She should be more lenient.”
“All the more reason why she thinks I should steer clear of this case.”
She peered at him, aware of nurses and other personnel walking past but ignoring them. “Have you learned anything more about why she’d asked for a transfer to your district?”
“The chief said Kat is here until she heals, but he won’t elaborate.”
“Do you know where she worked before? Maybe you have friends there you can ask about her.”
“Word would get around if I made inquiries behind her back. She does a damn fine job, so I’m not pushing the issue. Oh, I told the doctor that you need a note regarding Tally’s incapacity. He’ll leave one at the nurses’ station for us to pick up on our way out.”
“Thanks, I would have forgotten if you hadn’t mentioned it.” She had too much on her mind. Hopefully, tomorrow she could take care of some of these tasks. Since the salon was closed on Mondays, she had the entire day free. And with Dalton’s activities on the case being limited, she’d have to use all her skills to learn the truth.
Chapter Six
Monday dawned with a balmy breeze and warmer temperature. Marla enjoyed the weather as she took the dogs for an early morning walk. It was glorious out, with impatiens and other flowers blooming while the north shivered under an Arctic blast. She loved living in Florida, especially at times like this. And despite the tragedies that happened in the daily news, life went on. So it did here as well, she thought, strolling past their neighbor’s house.
Alan Krabber who’d lived next door was gone. The former homeowners’ association president had been murdered in his house, which subsequently had been sold by his nephew. A young couple had moved in who weren’t fazed by the place’s history. Marla walked past and waved at Susan Feinberg one house over. Susan was putting her kids in the car to take to school.
A pang of envy hit her. She and Susan were the same age, and yet the other woman already had two school-age kids.
Marla could have her own children instead of being a surr
ogate to Tally’s child. Was it too late? Had she lowered her chances for a healthy pregnancy?
She should make an appointment to talk to her gynecologist. She’d been on the pill for so long that the hormones might have adversely affected her body. It could take months for her levels to adjust if she went off the meds. Not that she was seriously considering the notion, but it wouldn’t hurt to gather information.
After Dalton left to drop Brianna off at the school bus stop on his way to work, Marla bundled Luke into the infant car seat. Today was his first time at day care. Her nerves taut, she hoped she was doing the right thing.
She needn’t have worried. Once they arrived at the day care center, the seasoned staff took over. Luke’s face puckered as Marla turned away after delivering him into their capable hands. His resultant wails trailed off by the time she reached the door. Thank goodness. Otherwise, she’d have felt guilty leaving him there.
After completing her errands, she returned home and called Ken’s insurance agency.
“Hi, Jeri,” she said into her mobile unit. “This is Marla Vail. I’d like to make an appointment with Ryan to discuss long term care policies. Tally’s condition has made us aware that we might need one someday.” Ryan was the young man who’d seemed to have something to say to her.
“Hey, Marla, it’s good to hear from you. How is Tally, the poor dear?” Jeri asked in her soft Southern drawl.
“She’s making progress, thanks. And her son is doing well. He’s so adorable.”
“Bless your heart for taking care of him. You’ll need to speak to an account executive to discuss an LTC. When do you want to come in?”
“This afternoon, if possible.”
“Shawna has an opening at one o’clock. Would that work? Ryan will be here, but he doesn’t do sales.”
“Yes, thanks, I’ll see you then.” She’d figure out some way to corner Ryan while there.
She hung up while considering how the insurance field was rife with fraud. Any number of possible scams reared their ugly heads. Each day, it seemed some new way to swindle people came to light. One of Ken’s colleagues could have been his partner-in-crime.
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