Afraid in the Dark (Stalker Series Book One)

by Rita Hestand

  "Who's going to poison her?"

  "A nurse." Then he hung up.

  Saving Melanie made him feel much better about his life now. He'd realized quickly that he wasn't the criminal type. He didn't want to spend his life in jail. And, he didn't want any more to do with a woman who could kill so easily. Julia was the perfect woman, in most ways. He knew that. But she wasn't the perfect person.

  Even he didn't want to be involved with a killer. They'd look for him, but they wouldn't find him. He had a plan.

  But honestly, he hadn't killed anyone. He's made Melanie very sick, and he wasn't proud of it, but he didn't kill her. He hadn't even compromised her. He had a plan in his mind. Every time the police thought they would catch him, he'd move to a new location.

  It was perfect.

  ***

  Late that evening, the young nurse ran into Melanie's room and went directly to the IV. She checked it. She squeezed it and realized a small amount of liquid was on the floor.

  "Oh, dear God, someone has been in here."

  She took the connection off and removed the bag, then she laid it on a portable table and went to get a new bag. She had no idea if the man that called knew what he was talking about, but a new bag wouldn't do any harm as long as she pulled the right bag. She worked meticulously, then checked all her vitals and recorded them.

  Once she had the new bag on, she went to the desk to call the doctor and the police. She was a wreck, afraid for the patient and for her job. As she dialed the number her fingers shook. This was just too much responsibility.

  The police showed up first. "What's going on here?" The Sarge asked, trying to wake up, he'd been home asleep when they called him in.

  The little nurse looked up at him, and in a voice that croaked a bit answered. "Someone called me about eleven this evening and told me that a nurse was going to poison Melanie George through her IV tonight. So, I went and took it down and here it is for you to check out. It scared me since we found that dead officer in the bathroom this morning. I put a new IV in and called the doctor and you." The Nurse replied still shaken from the incident.

  "Who called this in to you?" The Sarge scrunched up his face with disbelief that anyone would warn them.

  "He just said he was a friend."

  The Sarge looked at Phil, "Dexter Cooper. I'd bet my life on it."

  "He said a nurse in uniform, did it?"

  "That's what he said."

  The Sarge went into Melanie's room and looked around. He saw Jesse had left his jacket on the chair. Obviously, he'd stepped out for some coffee or something. He checked to see if Melanie was still breathing, she was. She was in a coma now, but they had hopes of trying to bring her around in a couple of days. Still, this could complicate things again. The girl didn't seem to get a break.

  He pondered if Dexter Cooper had been the one to call? And why?

  He looked about the room, there was nothing. He went into the bathroom and discovered a nurse's uniform in the trash and an empty syringe. He called it into the station. He called for an investigative team.

  He took out some gloves in his pocket that he kept for this sort of thing and picked the clothes out of the trash and a syringe fell out of his hand, he carried them to the front desk. "If you think of anything else you can tell us, here's my card." He handed it to the little nurse. "She must have changed into street clothes when she got ready to leave. Maybe she came in with others during visiting hours and stayed until later to do it." The Sarge explained to the little nurse.

  "Yes sir. Was it poison?" She asked.

  "We won't know until we check it out. I'll call to let you all know once we do." He told her.

  "Thank you."

  The police left.

  The doctor showed up minutes later after the police left. The young nurse related the story to him and he went to check on Melanie's vitals and the new bag the nurse had installed. Melanie was still alive and only time would tell if she'd make it out of this. But he figured her chances went down now.

  He ordered some stronger drugs to be put in the IV and told them to call him if there were any changes in her condition.

  The little nurse looked at the doctor, "Is she going to make it?"

  "I don't know. Depends on the poison and how much was given and if the cleansing will help. I'd say at this point we should pray. But I'm glad you changed the IV, and I'm glad whoever it was that called in to tell us too."

  "He didn't leave his name, just said he was a friend. The poor little thing."

  The doctor smiled, "The two of you saved her life tonight, maybe."

  The doctor was called before dawn with the report on the poison and he could administer more dialysis for her and more gut cleaning. It meant keeping her in a coma longer, but in the long run it would be better as this would wear on her body and her ability to cope.

  ***

  Jesse showed up that morning bright and early, he'd taken care of a few more things and the nurse filled him in on the worst news.

  He rushed to Melanie's side, taking her hand in his he kissed it. "I know you've been through a lot. I'm so sorry, wish I'd have been here for you. But you've just got to make it."

  He wondered if she could hear him. He prayed she could. "I love you Melanie, I always have."

  He sat there for hours, talking to her, kissing her and trying to help her have the strength to fight this.

  The Sarge called him.

  "How is she?" He asked.

  "She still breathing." Jesse answered.

  "Good, she must be quite the fighter." The Sarge told him.

  "What happened, do you know?"

  "A man called the desk last night and informed the little nurse that she'd been poisoned through her IV again. That if they wanted to save her they'd change the IV. So, the nurse did, and called the doctor."

  "Who called in?"

  "We suspect it was Dex Cooper."

  "Why would he?" Jesse sounded confused at that news.

  The Sarge was silent a moment. "I'm not sure. But I think he finally figured out, he's not a killer, and whoever the other party is, is."

  "Do you know who it was?"

  "Not for sure, no, but we've got some suspects. We'll know in a few days now."

  "Can you prove it?"

  "Not yet."

  "Is it a man or woman?"

  "It's a woman."

  "Is there anything I can do to help you?"

  "No, but I'm gonna call the desk and ask them if you can spend the night with her until she gets out. I think you are what she needs, and I think you'll do as well as any officer I might put on the duty." He chuckled. "If anything will save her, it's love."

  "Thanks for the confidence," Jesse smiled sadly.

  "She might be back, if she finds out about it didn't work." The Sarge told him. "So, you be careful, hear?"

  "I hope she is. Because I intend to protect Melanie no matter what." Jesse told him.

  "I knew you would. Stay cool. Talk to you later."

  Jesse nodded, and grabbed Melanie's hand.

  The doctor came in several times, to check her medicine and see if the pumps were working, then Jesse asked him point blank. "Is she going to make it?"

  "Can't say. The dose of poison was big enough to end her life. But she didn't get all of it. So, I think she's got a fighting chance of making it. It's rather odd that someone thought enough of her to call and warn us."

  "Yeah, that's kind of strange, isn't it?"

  "Very much so."

  "Thanks doc."

  The doc nodded and went on his other rounds.

  Chapter Thirty

  "Okay," the Sarge looked at his crew. "I want you to get DNA's of all the employees in Pediatrics at Mercy General.

  "Okay Sarge, will do." Phil told him.

  The Sarge smiled. "Also run a test on Mrs. James, and her secretary, Mrs. Myers and her secretary."

  "Got it." Phil told him.

  "We should get the DNA back from the lab sometime this w
eek, and I want to make sure I have a match." The Sarge told him.

  "You still think it's Julia Myers?" Phil asked.

  "I do."

  "If we get it and it's positive, we'll be arresting her for attempted murder?"

  "No, we'll arrest her for the murder of Officer Bell. I don't want to take the chance of her getting off for that. Killing a police officer should do the trick nicely."

  "Yes sir," Phil said sadly. "What about the others involved?"

  "Check and see if you can get a line on Dex Cooper. If not don't worry about it."

  "How about Norma Wells?"

  "We can't even prove she was here. With stolen identity, we'd have to have a lot of evidence to even bring her in. We must focus on Myers now. She's who we really want."

  "I guess you are right. But why would a woman that successful do something like this, Sarge."

  "Greed, the rush of doing it. Something evil inside."

  ***

  Two days later, Melanie woke up from the coma. She didn't say anything at first, but she looked at a sleeping Jesse and smiled.

  His shirt was crumpled, his hair was messed, he looked bone tired. But the love he'd shared with her this week in the hospital told her he was the right man for her. She swelled with a new-found love, knowing this time she'd found the right man, and real love. No man would love her like Jesse would. And her heart swelled with the knowledge.

  The doctors came in, checked her over all the while Jesse slept in the chair.

  "He's been out of it a while."

  One of the nurses turned around and looked at Melanie, "He hasn't missed a day here since you came in."

  "I know," Melanie said softly.

  When everyone left, she reached over and took his hand.

  His eyes opened and he saw her, smiling at him.

  "Thank God, you are alright." He smiled trying to wake up.

  "You look awfully good to me Jesse." She said softly.

  "Yeah, crinkled shirt and all, huh?" He smiled at her and squeezed her hand. "God, I'm glad you are awake, how do you feel."

  She smiled such a sweet smile, "Like getting married."

  He stared long and hard at her. "You don't have to now. It's almost over now."

  "It doesn't matter. I still want to." She said.

  He stood up, looking at her smiling face. "I don't understand?"

  "Do you still love me?" She asked still holding his hand.

  "With all my heart." He answered hoarsely.

  "You've been here every night, haven't you?" She asked.

  "Yeah," He sighed heavily.

  "Your worn out, aren't you?"

  "A little. Not I'll bet as much as you?"

  She took his hand, linked her fingers with his and pulled him down to her. "I want to marry you Jesse, and…. I want to go home."

  "Are you serious?" He asked still staring into her face.

  "I found out something Jesse." She told him her face lighting up.

  "What?"

  "Love transcends everything. I heard your prayers for me, I heard your declarations of love and devotion. How could I not love you back?" She cried. "I've always loved and trusted you Jesse, I just didn't know it. I thought when you didn't come after me when I left for college, that you didn't care about me anymore. I was wrong. You've always cared. I'm picking the right man this time. I love you too! I heard your beautiful words, and my heart cried out for you. I was afraid I wouldn't wake up enough to tell you!"

  He bent and kissed her lips softly. She swooned, dizzy with the pleasure.

  "You want to wait until you get out of the hospital first?" He asked with a grin.

  "If they hurry…" She laughed.

  "Want to go home and have the wedding there?"

  "I'd like that."

  "What about your job?"

  "I can get a job at home at the hospital there. I'm sure of it." She told him.

  "You mean it?"

  "If you'll still have me."

  He sat by her bed, touching her cheek with the back of his hand, she kissed his hand.

  He threw his hat in the air and smiled at her. She laughed.

  Later, the Sarge came in to see her.

  "Hello sweet lady," He smiled down at her.

  "Sarge, nice to see you again."

  "Nice to see you!" The Sarge looked at them both.

  "I've got some things to talk to you two about. We are almost positive that Dexter Cooper, Norma Wells and Julia Myers are the ones that stalked and tried to kill you and steal your money."

  Melanie's mouth hung open. "Wow, all of them?"

  "Yes, but the only one we think we'll prove guilty is Julia Myers. What do you think of that?" The Sarge asked staring down at her.

  "She was the instigator of it all?" Melanie asked.

  "Yes. We'll get the DNA back soon and can prove that much."

  "What about Dex and Norma?" Melanie asked.

  "Melanie, a man called up here several nights ago, and told us that Julia, he didn't name her, but he said a nurse was going to poison you. Because he called, the nurse acted right away and pulled the IV that held the poison, we've already got the proof in the IV. So in essence he saved your life." The Sarge said, sitting beside her on the bed now.

  "Dex did that?" She asked.

  "We think so. The night watchmen told us that Dexter Cooper had been slipping into her office late at least once a week. So we know they were seeing each other, and maybe plotting."

  "Why did he call in and save me?" She cried out.

  "Because technically, he's not a killer. That's all we've come up with. Some people can talk about it, even go to the length of planning it, but going through with it, takes a real criminal. Julia devised the whole thing. She found you but she had no idea what she had found until she investigated further. So, she hired you so that she could devise this elaborate plan to steal your identity and money. Norma simply wanted a baby. By checking into this, we found out that she probably got a baby without stealing her. A certain young woman gave birth to a beautiful 6 pound 3-ounce baby girl one night At Mercy General, and that same baby and mother went missing that the next night. We think Julia arranged for Norma to get the baby from the sixteen-year-old mother because she couldn't support it."

  "Norma finally got a baby." Melanie smiled as though it made her somehow happy.

  "Yes, we think so."

  "And Dex?"

  "We don't know where he went. But he's the only male figure that could have known Julia's plan, except for a certain doctor we're investigating too. He's married but we think Julia was playing both Dex and this doctor."

  "I don't understand." Melanie frowned.

  "Dexter was having an affair with Julia."

  "Then why did he turn her in?"

  "I can only imagine one reason. He's not a killer!"

  Melanie cried for a minute. "My God, if only they had known."

  "What's that?"

  "I'd have almost given them the money to keep them from scaring me to death." Melanie cried.

  "Well, nine thousand dollars is missing from your account, but we put a hold on both your accounts until you get out of here and can handle it yourself." The Sarge explained. "All that's missing is the nine thousand, and if you want us to go after Norma Wells and Dexter Cooper we will pursue them until they are caught. It is your money and up to you. However, I will tell you that it was Dexter Cooper who poisoned you to begin with, but he never gave you enough to kill you. He knew that too."

  Melanie nodded, then looked at Jesse. "Don't pursue them. I wish them both well. But Julia, I thought her better than that."

  "She was playing Dexter Cooper. She had a doctor on the sidelines whom she was planning on running away with when she got all the money. The thing is, she planned it, but she did very little, except hire you in the whole mess. She might have gotten away with it all, if Dex hadn't turned her in."

  Melanie shook her head. "I feel sorry for her."

  "There's something else you do
n't know, couldn't know. A policeman that I sent to guard you, was killed here in the hospital by poison too. She killed him. The syringe was in the trash."

  "My God!" Melanie cried. "I'm so sorry."

  "Did he have family?" Melanie asked.

  "Yes, three little children and a wife of fifteen years."

  "Sargent, if I make out a check, will you see that his family is rewarded for his valor? I'd say half a million dollars should help her bring up those children."

  The Sargent choked up, "That would be a magnificent gesture…."

  Melanie smiled, "Jesse and I have decided we're going to give that money to deserving charities. I don't want any part of it now."

  "Can't say as I blame you."

  "Good. Now, I've got some news…." Melanie reached for Jesse's hand. "We're getting married and your invited to the wedding."

  The Sarge smiled, and nearly wept he was so happy.

  "I can hardly wait for the invitation." He finally shook hands with Jesse and leaned to kiss Melanie on the cheek.

  "He's a good man," The Sarge winked at her.

  "I know…." She cried. "I'm happy for the baby that got a good mother. Norma might have been the one scaring me all along, but in her heart, she simply wanted a baby. Julia must have blackmailed her for that. Dex must have been in love with Julia. I often suspected it. Julia though, astonishes me with her selfishness." She glanced from the Sarge to Jesse who was smiling. "Anyway, we're going back to Lone Oak to live. I'll get a job at the local hospital. I think it's time for me to go home. But I gotta admit, I'll miss you Sarge."

  "I'll miss the two of you." He chuckled. "Well, your generous not to hold a grudge against Dex and Norma. We could pursue them but it would be a lot of leg work and not worth much of the effort."

  "Maybe they'll find some happiness. I hope they do. And I'll admit, I’m glad Dex wasn't a killer, in more ways than one."

  The Sarge nodded.

  Later that same day Neely and Heather came to see her and it was a happy reunion, but they were both sad to hear that she was going home.

  "We will miss you so much," Neely smiled.