“PTSD from what?” Megan asked. “Is there something you never told me in all those days at the beach and nights out on the town?”
Tess eased herself up slowly. “When I’m out for a good time, I want to laugh, not cry about the past.”
The clinic phone rang. Sean paused to make sure Tess would be okay and then walked into Megan’s tiny office cubicle to answer, obviously so Megan could continue to grill Tess.
“Have you seen a doctor about your fainting spells?” Megan asked.
“Nope. Can you take a guess about what caused Stud’s death?”
“I wish I could. There’ll have to be an autopsy. The coroner is sending a car.” Megan turned and dismissed the paramedics.
They walked out, and in the distance, Tess could hear the doors of the ambulance close in a heavy thud as the crowd dispersed. Unfortunately, many of them ambled toward Tess. Strangers, some of them, from off the street. Not homeless, just morbidly curious. Disgusting. She felt herself tense up as she glanced at the body lying on a gurney, covered by a sheet. It hurt to think of quiet, struggling Stud being cut open and displayed for examination.
“When were you going to get around to telling me about the PTSD?” Megan asked softly, waving the others away. They didn’t move far. People around here weren’t typically shy.
Tess took an irritable breath. “I apologize for not telling you.”
“Then tell me now.”
Tess glared toward the curious onlookers, who continued to gawk. “Private conversation here, folks.” Her voice was a little too confrontational, and she didn’t care. At last, the final stragglers ambled out the doorway.
Tess waited, annoyed by nosy people the way she’d never before been annoyed by them. “My fiancé was murdered in March.”
“What! I never heard that. No one told me anything.”
“We didn’t tell anyone. I didn’t want word to spread that my fiancé was Tanner Jackson.”
Megan’s full lips parted. “The country singer? That Tanner Jackson?”
“Quiet, please.” Tess glanced toward the entrance again. “He was a client of mine. We hit it off, fell in love, got engaged late last year. Tanner didn’t want to risk the ire of all his adoring female fans, so we kept it private.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Megan muttered. “You said he was murdered. I heard it was an accident. How could murder not have been blazoned all over the radio and gossip columns?”
“Good cops, good friends, tight lips. I am a publicist by profession, you know.”
Sean hung up the phone and turned back to them. “Gerard’s on his way. It’s going to be okay, Tess.”
Tess swung her legs over the side of the cot. “Not even my superhuman brother can just walk into a room and snap his fingers and make everything bad go away.”
“Dizzy?” Megan asked.
“I’m fine. How are the other patients?”
“They’re sleeping in the dorms, with folks keeping close watch on them,” Megan said. “Angel was called in a while ago, and he’s in the men’s dorm, Sandra is in the women’s dorm, praying with those who are afraid, helping the nurse and techs as they work. A couple of the ill are from their church.”
“So they aren’t all undernourished homeless.”
Megan shook her head. “And you said you ate a little of everything yesterday.”
“That’s right. I’ll go help Sandra.” Tess started to get up.
“You’ll do no such thing,” Megan said. “You will rest, as you should have been doing all along. If you don’t stop pushing yourself so hard, I’m going to call in reinforcements.”
Tess raised her eyebrows. “Yeah? Like who?”
“Mister Superhuman.”
“You think he’s going to make me behave?”
“Yep.”
Megan stepped across the clinic to close the door.
Sean stepped from Megan’s tiny office and sat down beside Tess on the cot, and she welcomed his sturdy presence. She needed his strength. She was also glad when Megan returned to them.
Dr. Megan Bradley had graduated second in her class at Kirksville Osteopathic in Missouri. She and Tess were nearly the same age, and both being professional single women, they tended to talk the same language, except for the second language Megan had learned in med school.
Since Tess had allowed Gerard to bully her into moving home with him and helping out at the mission after Tanner’s death, she and Megan had become close. She’d helped Megan in the clinic many times, and they’d spent their few off hours together shopping or looking for the best seafood restaurants in town, or, as Megan said, walking along the beach.
Megan was understandably mystified about why Tess had never told her about Tanner’s death, but Tess simply hated talking about that time in her life. She’d had too many nightmares, anyway, and she wanted those nightmares gone. Her arrival home with Gerard in March had met with no fanfare, no announcements.
Now Tess was sorry she hadn’t even given Megan at least a warning before this morning’s episode. After all, Megan had been working here when it all took place; they just hadn’t known each other well.
“The good news,” Sean said, patting Tess’s shoulder, “is that no more sick people have come in for the past…what did you say, Megan? Thirty minutes?”
“More like forty-five. Betty arrived just a few moments ago, and she’s helping Judy keep close watch over the patients in the dorms. I’ve completed all the tests and sent them to the lab.”
Tess nodded. Both Judy and Betty were two of the best RNs in the area, with much knowledge and tender hearts. This mission was blessed with a lot of knowledgeable, caring people. Tess couldn’t help silently asking herself if she belonged.
Sean leaned over and bumped shoulders with her. “I know that look.”
She glanced up at him, and her eyes grew warm with moisture.
“Stop it,” he said.
“Can’t help it. I’m sad about Stud.”
“You’re somehow blaming yourself for this, like you blame yourself for practically everything that goes wrong in the world. I think you’ve got control issues. You’re not God.”
Some of his words hit a sore spot. “When did you get the psychotherapy degree?” She knew her voice was a little sharp, but couldn’t he let up on her a little? “It could be days before we find out what really happened to Stud. I don’t feel good about not knowing.”
Megan hovered over Tess. “I called the lab for a stat on all the fluids I sent them. Even if we don’t get a quick answer from the autopsy, the lab staff is great, with good people to work with, and I’ve updated them. They know a lot of lives could be dependent on their work.”
“In other words, we could find out what happened at any time,” Sean said.
“I’m just waiting for the call.”
“People don’t often die from food poisoning,” Tess said.
“Not food poisoning alone,” Megan said. “But we know Stud had problems.”
“Alcohol,” Sean said. “Speed, too.”
“Really?” Tess asked.
Sean shrugged. “From what little I’ve deciphered from a couple of our conversations, he occasionally got so down and depressed that when he came into extra money, he would combine alcohol with meth just to escape his life for a while.”
Tess remembered the nights Gerard had been forced to ban Stud from sleeping in the dorm because of his altered level of consciousness and the danger that could cause for the other men in the dorm.
“I don’t know how Gerard does it,” Megan said softly.
Tess knew exactly what she meant. “He’s a strong man. He and Hans have always had hearts for the suffering—even those who seemed to bring it on themselves.”
“So do you, Tess,” Sean said. “And Megan.”
“And Sean.” Megan grinned up at him.
“Okay, enough mutual admiration,” Tess said dryly. “We’re all saints and angels. So why do we do what we do? I know why I’m here
. I’m hiding from life. What about you two?”
“Same here,” Sean said.
“Really?” Megan said. “Because I thought it was to be close to—uh, well—I’m here to work off my school loans. So maybe we’re not such saints, after all. What are our clients and patients doing here?”
“Who knows why Stud abused alcohol and drugs?” Sean asked. “In the eight months I’ve worked here, I’ve discovered a lot of people try to self-medicate for depression, grief, mental illness they can’t afford to have treated.”
“That’s the real reason we’re here,” Tess said. “As Gerard has so often reminded me since he and Hans established this mission, this place is the poor man’s treatment center. It’s a mission not only to help feed the hungry and try to shelter them, but to share God’s love with them in a way they may never have experienced before.”
With a soft sigh, Megan paced across the clinic. Tess watched her. Megan had long, ginger-colored hair, delicate but exotic facial features, a tiny waist. Her movements were graceful and feminine, but those features belied the inner strength Tess had seen in her on more than one occasion. Unfortunately, in the eighteen months she had been here, Gerard had not managed to convince her of the truth of God’s mercy, which they shared with those who came here for help. Though Tess had no doubt that Gerard and Megan were drawn by some kind of unseen connection, Tess was convinced Megan would fulfill her final six months of duty and move on without anything being done to encourage a deepening of the relationship.
That saddened Tess. But then, everything seemed to sadden Tess these days.
She glanced again at Stud’s sheeted form and reached for Sean’s arm. Without a word, he put it around her, and she leaned into him, soaking up his warmth and strength. Sean had been such a good friend for such a long time. He was like another brother.
Only he wasn’t. Not at all. She straightened and pulled away as Gerard entered the clinic.
There was something about Tess’s brother that drew people the moment he entered a room. There was a power about him that his attractively craggy features and his pale blond hair and blue eyes did not explain. Like Sean, he was built like a wrestling champion. There was an energy that seemed to emanate from him.
Tess got up from the cot and walked into her brother’s arms. “I’m so sorry about Stud. I know you worried a lot about him.”
Gerard squeezed her tightly and kissed her on top of the head, much like Sean had done. “You doing okay, kiddo?”
Tess nodded, still soaking up some of her brother’s strength from his closeness. “Have you told Hans?”
“I called him on my way here. Look, I just contacted the coroner, and the van is coming to get Stud. Tess, why don’t you and Sean take a drive? Sean was up extra early and could use a break, and you don’t need to be around right now. Megan and I can handle this.”
“How long before the coroner arrives?” Tess stepped from her brother’s arms at last.
“Maybe ten to twenty minutes.”
“In that case, Megan, could we talk for a few minutes privately?”
“You mean so you can finally fill me in on those holes you’ve left out of your mysterious past year?”
“Pretty much.”
“Lead on. I love mysteries.”
Sean watched Tess lead Megan up the stairs to Admin and then turned back to Gerard, who stood over Stud, head bowed. At last, in the silence, Sean had a chance to grieve. Gerard wasn’t the only one who’d spent quite a bit of time with the older man. When Stud was sober, he could entertain the children, charm the ladies and have all the men laughing over dinner. He wasn’t a mean drunk, just sad. He’d cried a lot.
A hand fell on Sean’s shoulder, and he looked up to find Gerard watching him. “I never promised this job would be easy.”
Sean shook his head. “The worthwhile ones seldom are.”
“There are good days. We help a lot of people here, Sean, and you’re a big part of that.”
“So is Tess, but I’m afraid it’s taking its toll on her. She fainted when Megan called us about Stud.”
Gerard closed his eyes. “I’m sure she asked you not to tell me that.”
“I respect her wishes, but she didn’t get a chance to ask this time.”
“So, when are you going to convince her that Tanner was never meant to be the love of her life?” Gerard asked.
“You mean you haven’t already told her that a dozen times?”
“I didn’t say you should tell her. I said you should convince her. Big difference. Besides, she never listens to me. You know our Tess.”
“Oh, that’s right. You’re the grouchy bear.”
“That’s Hans. I’m just too bossy.”
Sean chuckled. “How you three headstrong siblings managed to reach adulthood without mangling each other is still a mystery to me.”
“Let me guess. She fainted because she’s still afraid Tanner’s killer is going to resurface. Death does that to her. Every time she hears about a death, she’s suspicious it’s another covered-up murder that didn’t reach the ears of the media.”
Sean didn’t reply. He didn’t have to. Tess had no idea how well her brother understood her. Instead of saying a word, Sean reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. He held it out for Gerard.
“What’s this?”
“Changed the locks to Admin. Again.”
“Why?”
“Someone got in, tracked some stuff into the hallway. It was too late to call you. Whoever it was tried to force Tess’s office door open. Why she would think anyone would know that was her office…” Sean shrugged.
Gerard glanced again at Stud’s shrouded figure. “She thinks there’s a connection.”
“But food poisoning?”
“What do you think?”
“As I pointed out to her, the M.O. isn’t the same, but as she pointed out to me, a killer might not always use the same M.O.”
“This isn’t like Tess, you know. The paranoia, the fear, the guilt. I’m her brother. I know her. At heart, she’s a warrior.”
“Yeah, I know. That’s what bothers me.”
“Megan hasn’t heard back from the lab yet, right?” Gerard asked.
“She gave them a lot of work.”
Gerard picked up the phone and pressed a speed-dial number while Sean tidied the clinic and changed paper on some of the cots.
“Tess, put Megan on the phone for a minute, would you… Yeah, Megan, you haven’t received any results from the lab about our fatality?” Gerard asked. “Would you call them while I hold on this line?”
Sean stepped to the wall of windows and stared out at the street. He remembered Megan talking about patients who would walk over and close the shades, not knowing that the windows were mirrored glass—no one could see in.
But he could see out fine, and as he and Gerard waited for any kind of report on Stud—or any other patients, for that matter—he watched the front entrance to the mission store. He recognized a blonde woman with a ponytail and glasses. She was part of the crowd in the clinic when Stud died, and she was noticeable because she carried a large leather carrier slung diagonally over her shoulder and she dressed a little more elegantly than most people who entered the doors of the secondhand store.
What was someone like her doing at the mission? Obviously, she hadn’t come as a volunteer. Sean knew her from somewhere. But where?
“Nothing?”
Gerard’s voice distracted Sean, and when he looked toward the woman again, she was walking quickly down the street.
“Then I need you to request a toxicology panel. You’ve got them on hold? Good. Tell them how quickly we’ll need it. Yeah, yesterday would’ve been nice.” He gave further details, thanked her and hung up, then turned to Sean.
“You honestly think someone could have poisoned our people?” Sean asked.
“Tess seems to think it’s possible. I think she suspected the death two weeks ago, though she never said anything to me about it.”
“Yes, and you were just complaining about Tess’s paranoia.”
“I was also telling you that she isn’t like this. When the probable has been ruled out, it’s time to start looking for the improbable.”
FOUR
“I have something to show you.” Tess turned to Megan as soon as she finished on the phone. She sank into her chair and opened her filing drawer. She pulled out copies of the typewritten notes that had begun the reign of terror over her life and shoved them across the desk to Megan. “These started coming to me in Austin late last February.”
Megan read the first note aloud. “‘You are a life destroyer. You’re a vicious, selfish woman who deserves revenge, and I will enjoy seeing you brought down.’ Tess, what is this?”
“At first I thought it was from one of Tanner’s old girlfriends or even an obsessed fan who found out we were engaged.”
“What did the police say?”
“I didn’t say anything to them when I received this one. I figured if it wasn’t a jealous woman, it could be an ugly business practice. The entertainment business can be cutthroat, so this could have been simple intimidation—a threat to do anything from slandering my agency to slashing my tires. No death threat there.”
“If Tanner was murdered, why wasn’t he the one who received these notes?”
“Gerard and Sean thought it might have been from someone I’d crossed in the past. The only conflict that was serious enough to inspire something like this was when I discovered my second in command, Emil Mason, was embezzling money from the agency. I brought him up on charges, and he went to prison.”
“Is he still there?”
“Yes, and the police—as well as Gerard and Sean—checked out his close contacts and cleared them.”
Megan flipped the page and read the next note. “‘There is no going back for you. There are no amends to make. I will be there to watch you and your loved ones suffer when you least expect it, and I will be proud of my handiwork.’” She shook her head. “My goodness, this person is psychotic!”
“Hello? Killer? What’s not psychotic about that? That’s the one that made me decide to bring the police in. I also talked to Gerard and Sean. Tanner didn’t take it seriously.”
Season of Danger: Silent Night, Deadly NightMistletoe Mayhem Page 4
