Heal Me

by Grady, D. R.

  Heal Me

  The Me Series

  Book 4

  D.R. Grady

  Table of Contents

  Other Works by D.R. Grady

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  About the Author

  Shadows and Spice

  Other works by D.R. Grady

  The Morrison Family Series:

  The Nerd and the Marine

  The Corpsman and the Nerd

  The Nerd and the SEAL

  The Nerd’s Pocket Pets

  Shadows and Spice

  Macy’s Parade

  Bad Nerd Rising

  The Me Series:

  Treasure Me

  Save Me

  Trust Me

  Heal Me

  Love Me

  The Abroad Series:

  Home Song

  Bearer of My Heart

  Please visit my website for updates on all three series.

  http://www.drgradybooks.com

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents are all products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Known locales are also used fictitiously.

  If you enjoy this book, please buy a copy for someone else to enjoy. Please do not download or buy this from anywhere except where the story is offered legitimately. All rights reserved - including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

  Copyright 2012 by D.R. Grady

  Smashwords Edition

  Please Note: While I had help with this story from several knowledgeable sources, there are still likely mistakes on my part. Authors also like to stretch and change things to make their story work. So this book does not necessarily reflect reality. I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.

  Dedication

  To Vicky Burkholder and Victoria Smith for the great critiques! Thanks so much.

  To all of CPRW for offering advice, and sharing their knowledge. CPRW is the best chapter ever!

  To former Chief of Police Dennis Landvater for answering all my many questions about police procedure, emergency dispatch, bad guys in general, and for the plotting advice. I really appreciate your ideas. Thank you!

  To Matt Hutchinson – thanks for helping me with the many nursing questions. I really appreciate your passing along all the knowledge I needed for this book. Thanks!

  To my hubby, Roy. You know why.

  Heal Me

  Chapter 1

  Dr. Jenna Fields opened the last letter in her stack of mail. She scanned the contents before eyes wide she reread the note more thoroughly. Fear and confusion rose in a choking hold as she frantically read the note one more time.

  Dear Dr. Fields,

  I congratulate you on your healing skills. You performed excellently in your endeavor to save my last victim. I do so admire those with a conscience. I find I need to hurt people, while you seem compelled to heal them. A grand show of team work, I say.

  I find your services are again required. I’m feeling the urge once more. I cannot seem to weary myself of the desire to hurt others. Perhaps you would find a cure for me?

  Alas, the police have dubbed me the Gentleman Caller; quaint, is it not? Because I have discovered I enjoy such wonderful publicity I no longer wish so for a remedy. Indeed, I am rather enjoying the attention. I am quite brilliant, you know, and finally the world has learned of my genius.

  An Admirer

  Jenna grasped the edge of the counter in an effort to remain on her feet. Chaos reigned in her shock-numbed brain. Why had this man contacted her? How had he known she was responsible for saving his last victim, indeed his last three victims? What did he plan because he now knew? Would he come after her, the doctor who helped those he’d chosen to hurt?

  The sickening realization that he apparently knew her home address caused her stomach to lurch. Jenna swayed and with faltering steps, groped her way to the nearest chair. She hit her hip on the table, but barely noticed the pain.

  She realized she now had a legitimate reason to contact Detective O’Maley. She dropped her suddenly aching head to her arms. While this provided a wonderful excuse for continued contact with the too sexy cop, now she’d be considered a potential victim, and she didn’t want that. Jenna needed to appear strong and capable before Owen O’Maley, not weak and fearful. Not someone in need of protection. She swallowed, but realized she held a major piece of evidence the police would definitely want to see.

  Reaching for the phone, Jenna noticed her hands were shaking. “Please don’t let my voice shake, too,” she pleaded aloud. She couldn’t appear scared before this particular cop. He might never see her in the same light again. After consulting for him and his partner on her brother’s case, she had hoped that type of arrangement would continue. Visions of her dazzling him with her intellect and logic had danced through the scenarios she spun. Now, thanks to this Gentleman Caller, she was about to be cast in the role of victim. Police officers couldn’t afford to get involved with a victim. They had to be.....cop-like. And Jenna had begun weaving very uncoplike fantasies around this particular man.

  With a sigh of regret, Jenna located Detective O’Maley’s contact info and sent the call through. Part of her hoped he wouldn’t answer, while the other part longed to hear his voice. Hearing his deep, gritty baritone would provide reassurance for the newest role she had just unexpectedly been cast into.

  The phone rang on his desk, and with an absent swipe, Owen retrieved the annoying device.

  “O’Maley,” he greeted curtly, his mind still on the file in front of him.

  “Detective O’Maley, this is Jenna Fields.” Something inside him clenched as the soft, feminine voice penetrated his thoughts. He leaned back in his chair and heard the office relic creak ominously but he ignored the warning. A picture formed in his mind to match the voice on the line. Long black hair, white skin, bright blue eyes and a tall, lean body with curves he really wanted to explore.

  “Dr. Fields, how can I help you?” he returned, hoping his voice didn’t sound too hopeful. He’d been trying for days to come up with some excuse to bring her on as a consultant again, but had met with abysmal luck.

  “I have a bit of a problem.”

  He didn’t like the note of panic in her voice and sat up abruptly. His chair squeaked in protest again.

  “Describe this problem,” he demanded, as he ejected the picture etched in his brain.

  “I got a letter in the mail today,” she said.

  He went on red alert. “And?”

  “I believe it is meant to be a...threat,” Jenna admitted, and he could hear her disquiet. Not something he associated with the Jenna Fields he sort of knew.

  “Are you at home?”

  “Yes.” He pictured her biting her lower lip.

  “Stay there. I want you to lock your doors, and sit tight until we get there, got it, Jenna?” He was so upset by how daunted she seemed by this letter he’d even used her first name instead of the more respectful Dr. Fields-Detective O’Maley they were careful to cultivate.

  “Okay,” she returned, and he wondered if he detected some relief in her voice, or whether that was just wishful thinking on his
part. He hung up the phone and located McCully, his partner, in the canteen, lasciviously eyeing a Hershey bar.

  “Where’s the fire?” she quipped, her auburn hair flaming around her face, green eyes flashing in merriment at her own joke as he hauled her from the room and down the hall. She trotted beside him, undaunted by him as usual.

  “Dr. Fields received a threatening note.”

  “What’d it say?” McCully inquired, shooting him a speculative look, her chocolate fix apparently on hold for the moment.

  Rather than telling her he didn’t know, he aimed for a less incriminating response. “That’s what we’re going to find out.”

  “You didn’t ask her,” she chortled.

  O’Maley opted for a scathing look in her direction before tugging her through the precinct door.

  “You’ve got it bad, O’Maley! I guess we’re off to the rescue.” She continued this unfortunate glee the entire way to the car.

  He figured he’d be safer to keep his mouth shut as he fired up the engine and in moments, tore out of the parking lot. McCully could sense any weakness, and she wasn’t the least bit shy about letting him know when she figured his out. Unfortunately, he had learned with her that she thought and acted very much like himself. Sometimes it was downright scary.

  But not as scary as the thought of Jenna Fields in danger. He never suspected he would see her again because of a threat. He wanted them to be on the same footing, where he detected and she consulted. Now he would have to behave as a cop. O’Maley swerved around the next corner, and frustrated with his thoughts, tried to cut them off. Yet he couldn’t quiet the niggling fear that ate at him. “What are you going to do about this attraction to Jenna Fields?” his conscience taunted him.

  The unfortunate bit was, he didn’t know. He had noticed her long ago. Had wanted and fantasized about the good doctor since she first caught his eye three or four years ago. Now she might be a victim and he couldn’t act on his attraction.

  The thought of placing her in the care of another set of cops left him cold. Not that he didn’t trust or respect the abilities of his fellow police officers. He simply didn’t trust them with Jenna Fields.

  The only cop who would protect her was Owen O’Maley. Maybe, provided she behaved, he’d let McCully in on the action too. Maybe.

  Jenna heard a car pull up in front of her house and tried to calm her suddenly racing heart. She couldn’t quell the thought that she was about to come face to face with Owen O’Maley in less than five seconds. She appreciated the opportunity but wanted to be his consultant, not his latest victim. Perhaps there wasn’t a true threat in the letter – maybe it was innocuous. Please be innocuous.

  The knock that sounded on the door was definitely the pounding of a man. “Dr. Fields, Derry Township Police,” O’Maley announced, and Jenna hurtled herself at the door.

  As soon as the barrier opened, she stared up into those pale green eyes, and wanted to throw herself into his arms, burrow into his bulk, push her fingers through his thick, not quite auburn hair. Instead, she managed a smile and stepped back to allow him entrance into her home. McCully, his petite, auburn haired partner sent her a pert smile as she followed O’Maley’s tall frame through the entrance.

  Jenna led them into the kitchen after shutting and locking the front door. Resuming her seat, she motioned to the extra chairs around the table and then shoved the letter toward O’Maley. He leaned over the page, his red brows forming a line above the masculine jut of his nose. Jenna had been charmed by the smattering of freckles scattered there when she first met him. Now she took some comfort from his solid, capable form hunched over her kitchen table.

  McCully propped an elbow on the table and leaned over him precariously enough she looked in danger of tumbling into his lap. Yet, Jenna hadn’t picked up anything between the two officers that indicated romantic interest on either of their parts. She always felt like they viewed the other as a slightly annoying sibling. They certainly bickered and teased as a brother and sister would. Yet she figured they would protect the other with their very life.

  “You still have the envelope?” O’Maley asked, looking at her. She couldn’t pick up any emotion from those beautiful green eyes.

  She nodded and with a wave of her hand indicated the counter.

  “Can you bring the envelope here?” O’Maley asked, the frown between his eyes now moving to his lips.

  Jenna stifled any fantasies she had previously formed around those lips. With difficulty. She stood and retrieved the envelope, then while she was vertical, paced to the refrigerator where she located a bottle of soda. She set it on the table and found three glasses. McCully poured and passed the glasses around. Jenna’s eyes settled on a tin of cookies she baked over the weekend and retrieved it before reseating herself.

  O’Maley perked up at the sight of the cookies but he waited until he carefully placed the note and envelope into evidence bags before selecting a treat. He nor McCully had touched either piece of mail.

  “Have you been fingerprinted?” O’Maley inquired.

  “Yes,” Jenna answered.

  He nodded before selecting a cookie. “Have you received any other types of correspondence from this man?”

  “Not that I’m aware of.”

  “What about unusual phone calls?” he persisted.

  “Our receptionists send calls through to me at the clinic. My answering machine wasn’t blinking when I came home tonight. I get very few calls here,” Jenna admitted.

  “What about a cell phone?” McCully asked around a mouthful of cookie.

  “I’d better check. I don’t normally turn it off, but sometimes I don’t hear it.”

  Jenna rose to find her purse. She opened the bag and fished around inside until she located the phone. The notification area showed she had voice mail. Biting her lip, Jenna told them.

  “Save any messages you think we might need,” O’Maley said.

  She returned to the table with a pad of paper and pen and hit the button to retrieve her messages. Three were from her answering service. She scribbled notes, aware as she did that O’Maley never took his eyes off her. Not that she minded the scrutiny, but she would have enjoyed returning the favor. He and McCully did talk amongst themselves, and Jenna was grateful for the modicum of privacy their quiet conversation provided.

  The fourth message was from her sister-in-law Emmy, and the fifth from her cousin’s wife, Annie McNeal. The sixth call was unexpected. “I did it. I got someone else, but even you, Dr. Fields, even you won’t be able to save this one. I did very well. I’m brilliant.” The message ended as abruptly as it started, yet Jenna could still hear the whispering, triumphant voice in her ear. She shuddered, but managed to save the message and hit the correct sequence of buttons to replay it before thrusting the phone toward O’Maley.

  He took the device from her, his eyes sweeping over her face in such a way Jenna figured she must have paled. She swallowed, trying to rid her mind of the whispering voice. McCully, her ear to the phone, listened with O’Maley. Jenna watched his jaw tighten, and both detectives’ eyes narrowed as they listened.

  O’Maley returned the phone. “We’d like a copy of that voice mail.”

  Jenna nodded and sent it. Panic bubbled in her stomach, causing tiny pockets of air to explode in her throat. Nausea roiled in response. She attempted to quell the sickness and her fear by swallowing.

  “Does this mean I’m in danger, too, or does it mean he’s thinking of me as a colleague? Someone he wants...accolades from?”

  “He definitely wants your approval,” O’Maley began, his brow furrowed as he gazed at her. “I think we also need to assume you’re in danger.”

  “Absolutely. What if Dr. Fields doesn’t give what he deems enough approval? He may decide to go after her,” McCully burst out, staring at her partner.

  “You think whoever this is will get disgusted with me and maybe go after me?” Numbness stole all of her chaotic emotions for a brief spell.


  “Definite possibility,” O’Maley said grimly. “We need to send patrols out looking for his next victim.”

  Jenna ran a distracted hand through her hair. “I’m on call for the emergency room tonight, so chances are good this will be a very long night.”

  “You don’t work in the ER,” McCully said as her eyebrows drew together.

  “No, but they’re short on ER doctors right now, so if the night gets busy, whoever is on call is pulled in. I’m the lucky lady tonight. It’s also a full moon,” Jenna explained in ominous tones.

  O’Maley and McCully exchanged glances. “Long night for us then,” he agreed soberly.

  McCully nodded, her eyes roving Jenna’s face.

  “You should stay with Dr. Fields tonight,” O’Maley began, but Jenna cut him off.

  “If you think I need protection, why don’t the two of you escort me to the hospital? I can sleep there just as easily as here, and I’ll be safe. I’m likely to be called in, anyway.”

  “You can sleep in a hospital?” McCully asked suspiciously.

  “Of course. Hospital stays are a bit different when you’re a doctor rather than a patient,” Jenna explained with a quick smile.

  “Nurses aren’t bothering you every hour of the night?”

  “Oh, no. They avoid us, if at all possible.” Jenna laughed. “Doctors are a mere formality. Nurses do most of the work, and catch our mistakes. They’re gems beyond price.”

  Both cops nodded, and McCully looked at her partner. “So, we’ll escort Dr. Fields to the hospital and then...”

  “Then do what we do best,” he replied shortly.

  “Right.”

  “I’ll go pack a bag,” Jenna said, her voice quiet, and turned on her heel to head for the stairs, but not before she saw O’Maley jerk his head at her and heard McCully sigh. “I’ll go with you Dr. Fields. O’Maley here will secure this floor while you pack.”