What You Wish For

by Fern Michaels

  “We have lots of aspirin. No, I didn’t hear anything yet. I expect we’ll hear soon. Did you get over your fright of those two attorneys? I’m not going to pretend I don’t know what’s going on. I heard about your good fortune on the news. Congratulations!”

  “That depends on your point of view. I told them I didn’t want it. All I want is to get out of here and get my life back. I know I must sound like a broken record to you, but that inheritance means nothing to me. I don’t think they can make me take it.”

  “Mercy. I would certainly know what to do with something like that. Think of all the good you could do with that kind of money. You could feed all the homeless people, take care of all the wounded and sick animals no one wants, you could set up scholarships so young people can go to college. You could help more battered women. The list of good things you could do is endless. You don’t have to keep the money for yourself if you don’t want it. Think of all the children you could help. There are so many babies and children who need surgeries and are denied them for lack of funds. As I said, the list of things is endless. I’ll get your aspirin.”

  Helen sighed. The woman was right. Now she had something else to think about.

  Julia returned with the three aspirin in a paper cup. Helen swallowed all three of them in one gulp. “Earlier, you called me Helen. Why?”

  Julia smiled, her plump cheeks creating deep dimples. “You said it was your name. I think you’ve gone past what we can do for you. I understand where you’re coming from. I really do. In a way, I envy you your courage and your guts. Sometimes I forget what my real name is. There are times when I want to go home so bad I cry. The feeling passes.” Her voice dropped to a careful whisper. “I think it’s appalling they had you declared dead. It’s so . . . so extreme. I’m not sure I could handle that either. It poses another question to me. The person . . . your husband . . . will he . . . ?”

  “I know what you’re trying to say and the answer is, I don’t know. I’m not divorced. I’m dead. But I’m still married to him. My head feels so fuzzy I can’t think.” “I can let you use my car, Helen, if they won’t give you one. I think that’s unlikely now that you are the heir to all of this. Don’t those pumpkin pies smell wonderful?”

  Helen sniffed. “I can’t smell anything. Would you really give me your car?”

  “Of course. I live here. I can use the van if I need it.”

  “I have a Ford Explorer sitting in the garage at home. If you can think of a way to get it without being seen, it’s yours. We can trade.”

  “Helen, the best thing you can do is go to California. You’ll be safe there. Wealth has its privileges. If you want to get your life back, then you need to go back to the beginning. Think about what we talked about and all the good you can do. This has been a terrible shock for you but I believe you can handle it. I think I see in you what Boots saw in you. Her motto hangs in the foyer. Persevere and you will prevail.”

  Helen smiled. “It doesn’t matter where you’ve been. What matters is where you’re going and how you get there.”

  Julia clapped her hands. “You got it. I’m going to bring you some fresh tea and I’m going to lace it with cognac. If you’re coming down with something, you need to sweat it out.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Curl up and watch television. They’re showing a rerun of Dirty Dancing. Everyone seems to like that movie. Don’t think about anything until tomorrow. Wake up and start fresh is my motto. You rest and I’ll get you some fresh tea.”

  Where are you, Sam? What are you doing now? Do you miss us?

  Totally unaware of the frenzied activity going on in her behalf, Helen snuggled with the dogs, chills racking her body as she dozed.

  “I warned her, Artie. You heard me. You warned her, too, but she didn’t listen. I knew it was all going to backfire. What should we do? We can’t let the young woman swing in the wind because of Izzie’s shortsightedness,” Gerry Davis said crossly.

  “I say we call the airlines and bring her here. Or, I can send the company jet to pick her up. Tyger Toys has a jet, too. The way I see it, it’s an either-or situation.”

  “Artie, I don’t think the young lady wants to return to California. When Julia called, she said all she wants is a vehicle. I knew this was going to happen. I told Izzie it was going to happen. The worst part is Helen doesn’t want any part of the inheritance. Why didn’t Izzie take that possibility into consideration? Tell me what we’re going to do about that.”

  “If Daniel Ward is in New Jersey, it can only mean he was successful in tracking Julia’s e-mail from the shelter to Izzie and now he knows where it is. He probably knows where the other three shelters are, too. I curse the day you ever hired that lovesick nurse to take care of Izzie. What she did was unconscionable.”

  “You don’t have to rub it in, Artie. Izzie was not entirely blameless. She insisted Mona bring her all the e-mail while she was in the hospital: I don’t think it would have occurred to Izzie that the nurse would betray her. The nurse’s credentials were perfect. The nurses’ registry is very reputable. Her résumé didn’t say anything about not being able to fall in love. She was in love with that bastard or she never would have spied on Izzie the way she did.”

  “We can’t unring the bell,” Artie fumed. He continued to seethe as he exploded at Gerry. “Do you have any idea how many people’s asses are going to go in a sling over this crap? You can’t just go around declaring people dead. Doctors, regardless of what Izzie paid them, never should have signed a death certificate. We, Gerry, as in you and I, went along with this. We even helped Izzie make up phony letterheads with a bogus insurance agency so the mother could be paid off. I have nightmares about all of this, Gerry. We could end up in jail! Neither one of us would do well in prison garb.”

  The old vet’s voice turned quarrelsome. “Maybe we should go on a long, extended trip. Helen Ward is not going to want to return to California. She’s in love, and the man she loves is where she is. We need to remember she isn’t that battered, frightened woman she was when she first came to me. Right now I suspect she’s one angry woman who thinks she can take on Daniel Ward and win. Hell, maybe she can. Izzie said she was mentally healthy and sound. I think that more than anything is what bothered Izzie. She wasn’t expecting Helen to make such rapid progress. You remember Izzie and how she wasn’t happy unless someone needed her. I say we okay the car and let the chips fall where they may. If she needs us, we’re here. Don’t even think about either one of us going to New Jersey. Another thing, Artie, both of us need to get off the sauce. Alcohol isn’t our answer.”

  “What about the mother?” Artie said, ignoring Gerry’s statement and pouring two fingers of Scotch into one of Isabel’s favorite cut-glass tumblers.

  “What about her?” Gerry said sourly.

  “Shouldn’t someone tell her Helen isn’t dead?”

  “She didn’t seem very interested when we told her she was dead. All she cared about was the insurance money. She didn’t even bother to make a pretense of crying. She was a heartless, uncaring woman. Now you know why I prefer animals to people.”

  “We’re just going to sit here and do nothing!” Artie said, his voice full of outrage.

  “What do you want to do, Arthur?”

  “Well, Gerald, I think we should at least warn Helen that her husband knows the location of the shelter and if she’s leaving she had best have a plan. I know Daniel Ward. He knows Helen is due to inherit Izz’s estate. He’s still her husband. He’s entitled to half. The whole pie if something happens to Helen. I think Helen already figured that out and that’s why she doesn’t want the inheritance. If you’d get your snoot out of that bottle, you’d realize we need to do something.”

  “We are doing something. We’re talking about it.”

  “We don’t have a plan, Gerry. We need our own plan. We’re reasonably intelligent men. We both went to college. I run a major corporation and you’re the best damn vet in the state of California. Surel
y we can come up with something. Ideally, the best-case scenario would be to get Helen here. I say we call her and hear what she has to say. She might have a plan of her own. You know something else, we need to stop hanging out here at Isabel’s house. We don’t live here. We don’t even belong here. Technically, we are breaking and entering. Helen Ward owns this house now. Okay, I’m going to call,” Artie said.

  “Then stop talking about it and just do it,” Gerry said.

  Five minutes later, Julia’s sleepy voice could be heard on Isabel’s speaker phone.

  “This is Arthur King, Julia. I need to speak to Helen Ward. I know it’s late, but this is important. We’ve given the okay for a vehicle for Helen if she still wants it after this conversation. I’ll give you the details once I speak to Helen. I’ll hold on, Julia.”

  To Gerry he said, “She’s going to wake Helen. Do you want to talk to her, or shall I do the talking? You probably know her better than I do. She rarely attended ComStar’s functions. You helped her dog, so she’ll probably be more receptive to you.”

  Gerry blinked at the raspy-sounding voice. He mouthed the words, she sounds sick. “Helen, this is Gerry Davis. I’m sorry for waking you but Arthur King and I need to talk to you. We think your husband knows the location of the shelter. You’re safe as long as you stay inside. If you leave, he’s going to follow you. We would like you to come back here to California. Ideally, that would be the best situation. You are more than welcome to bring your young man with you. We understand you already have his dog. We can’t force you to do anything you don’t want to do. We did authorize a vehicle for you if you still want it.”

  “Can you undo that death certificate, Dr. Davis?”

  “In time. Not right away.”

  “My mother thinks I’m dead. How could you people do that to me and to her?”

  Gerry took a deep breath. “It wasn’t an easy choice, Helen. Isabel thought it was the only way to keep you safe. She cared deeply about you. The truth is, she was obsessed with your safety. We agreed to go along with it. It will take time, but we can make it right for you. For now, your biggest worry is your husband.”

  “You think he wants to kill me so he can get his hands on the money Miss Tyger willed me. I don’t want it. I told those two lawyers I don’t want it. I refuse to accept it. Besides, how can a dead woman inherit an estate? The money is secondary with Daniel. He wants to get even with me. The only thing that will satisfy him now would be to kill me. I’m not stupid, Dr. Davis.”

  “I never thought you were. What are you going to do, Helen?”

  “I don’t know. You had no right to play with my life like this. It was all for nothing. Daniel found me. He’s stalking me. There’s no reason for me to believe you can keep me safe. I’m better off on my own.”

  Artie leaned across the table. “Helen, this is Arthur King. Please listen to us. We only want to help. I can have our corporate jet at Newark Airport in five hours. You can be on your way here an hour later. Give us another chance to help you. There are so many things you don’t know, things you need to understand. Please.”

  “Which one of you is going to tell my mother I’m alive?” Helen asked hoarsely.

  “Both of us can tell her. If that’s what you want.”

  “It’s what I want. I know she won’t care, but I want her told. Just out of curiosity, how much insurance did I have?”

  Gerry winced. “Twenty-five thousand dollars.”

  “That must have made my mother very happy.”

  “It did,” Gerry said. “Will you come here?”

  “No. I have a life and a business. I had a man who loved me as much as I loved him. I did have a life, a business, and a man who loved me. I intend to get that life back. On my own with no more help from any of you. All I want from you is to get the paperwork started to get me back my identity. If you can’t do that, tell me so right now.”

  “We’ll start on it in the morning,” Artie said, his voice resigned.

  “Good. Now this is what I want. Are you listening, gentlemen?”

  “We’re listening, Helen.”

  19

  She was almost certain it was a dream because in real life she would never, ever, have anything to do with Daniel. She wouldn’t give him the time of day if he was in a dark room. She wouldn’t look at him or answer a question unless he was somehow able to use physical force to make her respond. No questions. Not a single one . . .

  “So, Helen, what are we going to do with all that money? A trip around the world would be nice. On the other hand we could try out that yacht you inherited. Ah, I can see it now, both of us standing on the deck, the sea breeze whipping all about us as we drink champagne in crystal glasses toasting our new rich life.”

  “Will that be before or after you beat me within an inch of my life? I hate you, Daniel. We aren’t going to be doing anything together. You need to get that out of your head right now. I am not going anywhere with you. Not now. Not ever. If you don’t leave, I’ll call the police.”

  She’d watched him approach, and for some strange reason she wasn’t afraid. She eyed the noticeable limp with pride. She’d done that, but she’d had a weapon at the time. Now all she had were two bare hands and her feet.

  The moment Daniel lunged, Helen brought up her knees and then kicked out with both her feet. A second later she was on the floor, the two dogs licking at her cheeks. “It’s okay, it’s okay. It was just one of my Daniel dreams. I haven’t had one of those in a while. Everything’s okay. Ohhh, it’s cold. Let’s get back into bed.”

  Under the down comforter that did nothing to warm her, Helen realized she had a fever and chills at the same time. I can’t get sick now. I have to get out of here. I have to make sure Sam stays safe. She tried to think back to the last time she’d had a good winter cold. Three years ago. She’d been run-down and listless, and the cold had lingered and lingered for weeks. It had taken her forever to bounce back because Daniel showed her no mercy. Just this past spring she’d had a cold, but it had only lasted a few days because Sam had babied her with hot toddies and chicken soup. He’d even taken a day off to make sure she took her aspirin and drank gallons of fluids. Sam cared about her. Sam loved her.

  “Helen, are you all right? I heard a noise in here,” Julia said from the doorway.

  Teeth chattering, Helen tried to explain. “I had this horrible nightmare that Daniel was here in the room. I was fighting with him and fell out of bed. I think I’m sick, Julia. I can’t get warm.”

  Julia switched on the night light and then put her hand on Helen’s forehead. “You’re burning up. I’ll make you some hot buttered rum and get the aspirin. Would you like an electric blanket? I know we have one somewhere. I just have to find it. I’ll turn up the heat, too. Stay under the covers and I’ll be right back.”

  Julia was back within minutes. She tossed off the down comforter and plugged in the electric blanket. “I’m putting it on high for now. Once it warms up, we’ll turn it down. For some reason these things make me nervous. I’ll make the toddy and get the aspirin. By the way, who won the fight?”

  “I don’t know because I fell out of bed. I think I had the edge, though. The strange thing about the dream or nightmare was I wasn’t afraid.”

  “Good for you. I’ll be right back. You’ll be warm in no time.”

  Twenty minutes later, Julia heaved a heavy sigh. “The rum will make you sleep, and you’re probably going to sweat. I’ll sit here a while. We can talk if you like.”

  Helen didn’t think she would ever sleep again. “You talk, Julia. I’ll listen. Tell me what it’s like to be in charge of a shelter like this.”

  “It has its good days and its bad days. I do my best not to get involved with the women who come through here. It doesn’t work. For instance, it bothers me, Helen, that you are so down on Miss Tyger and her legacy. All she wanted to do was protect you the only way she knew how. Yes, it was extreme. I have to believe extreme measures were called for where you were
concerned. I met her once, you know.”

  “You did! Did she come here?”

  “No, I went to California. She wanted all four managers to meet each other. We stayed at her ranch. She was warm and gracious, and she treated us like queens. I can’t prove this, but I think she had an unhappy life. Some kind of tragedy went on at some point. I think she is . . . was the most compassionate woman I’ve ever met. We even met the other two board members: Arthur King and Gerald Davis. Mr. King owns some big computer company, and Dr. Davis is a veterinarian. Dr. Davis called Miss Tyger Izzie and Mr. King called her Izz. They were such good, close friends. You could see they loved each other. I even think Dr. Davis was in love with her. He obviously didn’t care if she was short and fat and had a gimpy leg.”

  Helen struggled to sit upright. “Did she have warm eyes? Lots of curls? Never said five words if two would do?”

  “Yes, that sounds like a good description of her. Here, I have a picture of the three of them. I thought you said you never met her.”

  “That’s her! I didn’t know I had. The night I was taken to Dr. Davis’s clinic, he called a woman who came over to help. Billie. I guess they decided not to give me any way to know who she really was. She was really nice to me. And, she loved my dog. I thought she was a volunteer. The only time I saw her again was when she took me to the shelter. I know now that she was my on-line counselor, but I didn’t know it when we were on-line each night. She knew how to cut right to the chase. We never wasted time. Boots was the closest I ever came to having a friend. It still doesn’t explain why she chose me over all the women who came through these shelters.”

  “Maybe Dr. Davis or Mr. King can tell you. Do you know yet what you’re going to do?”

  “For starters, I’m leaving. I don’t want Daniel to go after Sam. He knows I left, and he probably knows about this house and that I’m in it. He thinks I’ll go on the run and try to lose him. I have to figure out a way to outsmart him. Don’t even think about the police. He hasn’t done anything except spook me. I can’t prove he beat me. I know he’s covered all his tracks. I keep telling everyone he was and is a computer wizard and that he would find me. I don’t know how he did it, but he did. He’s here. I saw him with my own eyes. So, you see, those extreme measures didn’t work. He waded right through them. In my dream he told me he erased all the medical records of my visits to emergency rooms and to the different doctors. He could do that, Julia. I have no doubt in my mind at all that he really did do that.”