The Killing Room

by Gerri Hill

  “You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”

  “Computer geeks. They can find out so much shit, Lieutenant.” Jake flicked her glance to Nicole. “Matthew knows all about that.”

  “Shut up! You didn’t tell Zeller anything!”

  Jake smiled. “Backup’s on the way. You’re done.”

  “The hell I am,” he hissed. He grabbed Nicole and jerked her to her feet. Matthew tried to stop him, tugging at Nicole’s arm. Gregory turned the gun on his son and pulled the trigger. Matthew clutched his chest, blood seeping through his fingers as he sunk to his knees. Nicole screamed, reaching for Matthew as he slipped away. She instinctively used her elbow to pound into Gregory’s midsection as she fell to the ground.

  Jake dove for her gun, picking it up the instant Gregory fired. She felt the pain shoot through her and she squeezed her eyes shut for a second, trying desperately to hold on to consciousness. She saw Nicole fall away and she fired, sending Gregory backward. But it wasn’t a clean shot. He sat up, taking aim again. Jake tried to shoot but her right hand gave way and the gun fell harmlessly to the floor. She watched, helpless, as he pointed his weapon at her.

  When she heard the shot, she braced herself, but she felt nothing. Instead, she watched as Lieutenant Gregory sunk lifelessly to the ground. Behind him, a wild-eyed Steven stood, hands shaking so badly, the gun fell from his hands.

  Jake’s eyes slid closed as the world faded away.

  Nicole ran to Jake, falling to her knees beside her. “Steven! Help me,” she yelled. There was so much blood, she didn’t know where to start. She pushed open Jake’s coat, finding her shirt nearly spotless. Oh God, her leg again. She saw the dark spot on her jeans as blood seeped through at an alarming rate. She lifted Jake’s shirt. She wore no belt.

  “Give me your belt,” she said to Steven. He quickly took it off and Nicole snatched it from him, tying it tightly above the wound, trying to stop the blood loss. “Ambulance?”

  “Yes. I called for backup. They should be here by now.”

  Nicole motioned to the woman still tied and gagged. “Check on her. Her name is Joni.”

  When Steven moved away, Nicole bent close to Jake, whisper-ing in her ear. “Please don’t leave me, Jake. Please don’t go.”

  She listened for a moment to her shallow breathing, praying the ambulance would hurry. She heard moaning behind her and looked up, seeing Matthew’s hand twitching. She kissed Jake softly, then moved to Matthew, surprised that he was still alive. She took his hand and felt his gentle squeeze.

  “Hang on, Matthew. It’s all over now.” His eyes fluttered open, and Nicole couldn’t stop the tears that escaped. She squeezed his hand harder. “It’s going to be okay.”

  “I don’t… think so.” He tried to swallow, but blood came out his mouth. Nicole smoothed the hair on his handsome face, trying to comfort him. “Remember me once in awhile,” he whispered.

  “I’ll never forget.”

  His last breath came quickly, and Nicole wiped away her tears with blood-stained hands. She moved back to Jake, gently cradling her head in her lap, brushing her hand through Jake’s hair over and over again. Joni was huddled in one corner, in shock, no doubt. Steven was on the phone, asking where the goddamn ambulance was. Nicole felt a brief smile touch her face. Steven had been hanging around Jake too long.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

  Nicole knocked gently on the door, then walked in. Rick slowly moved his head, his eyes lighting up when he saw her.

  “Damn. You’re okay?”

  She nodded and managed a smile.

  “I’m sorry, Nicole. He got me from behind.”

  “It’s okay. I’m fine.”

  He looked behind her. “Where’s Jake?”

  Nicole moved closer, finally taking his hand, needing some physical contact. “She is… she’s here, actually.”

  “Here? Admitted?”

  “Yes, here.”

  Nicole closed her weary eyes for a second. She and Steven had taken Cheyenne to Jake’s duplex, and she’d showered and changed, but she still felt totally exhausted.

  “Is she… okay?”

  “She’s in surgery. She was shot… oh, damn Ricky, in her leg again.”

  “Oh no. Same leg?”

  “Yes. Almost the same spot, about an inch higher. She lost a lot of blood.” Nicole raised her hand to her right shoulder. “She also got hit here, but they said it was clean, no bone damage.”

  “Did she get the bastard?”

  Nicole nodded. “She and Steven, yeah, they got your lieutenant.”

  “Steven? The lieutenant?” He squeezed her hand. “What about the son?”

  Nicole shook her head. “He wasn’t the killer. He was… a victim. But he’s dead, too. His father shot him in the chest,” she said matter-of-factly, somewhat pleased that she was able to keep her emotions in check. She’d broken down earlier in front of Steven, and he’d wrapped his long arms around her without hesitation.

  “Jesus Christ, Nicole.”

  Nicole nodded. “So how are you feeling?” she asked, changing the subject.

  “They tell me I have a super-duper concussion. If I keep still, I can’t feel my brain moving from side to side.”

  She smiled. “I can’t believe you let them buzz your head.”

  “They shaved around the wound first. I looked ridiculous.”

  Nicole touched the fine hair on Rick’s head. “I’m glad you’re okay. I was really worried.”

  “Yeah. I’m going to be fine. Say, where’s Cheyenne?”

  “She’s at home. I think Steven is going to get her tonight. He lives in an apartment though, so we’ll need to make some arrangements.”

  “No, it’s okay. I’m getting out tomorrow. I’ll take care of her.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah. I’ll just bunk at Jake’s place.” He shifted on the bed. “How long before we can see her?”

  “They’re going to keep her sedated. If this surgery goes well, they’re going to do her shoulder tomorrow. I’m guessing Tuesday before she’s awake enough for us to see her.”

  “Damn. Being laid up the first time just about killed her.”

  “At least she won’t have the haunting image of a little boy this time,” Nicole said quietly.

  “She told you about that?”

  “Yes.” Nicole finally let go of his hand and moved away. “There’s a patient of mine in here that I want to go visit. Do you mind?”

  “No, of course not. Is it someone—”

  “Yes. She was involved.” Nicole swallowed. “She was to be the next victim,” she whispered. “I just want to check on her.”

  ———

  Nicole knocked lightly on the door then pushed it opened. Joni lay curled on her bed, covers pulled to her chin. Her eyes blinked several times as Nicole walked into the light.

  “Joni? Feel like talking?”

  Joni sat up and nodded, but still, pulled the covers up with her. “Dr. Westbrook, are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, Joni. But I was worried about you.”

  She shrugged. “A few bruises. Nothing I ain’t used to.” She pointed to Nicole’s face. “Your cheek is swollen.”

  Nicole raised a hand to her face, lightly touching her bruised cheek. “Yes. It’s nothing compared to what others suffered.”

  “That policewoman, did she live?”

  Nicole closed her eyes for a moment and nodded. “Yes, she did. She’s in surgery.”

  “I felt like I was on a movie set.”

  Nicole smiled. “But a lot scarier.”

  “Yes. I was scared. I knew for sure he was going to kill me. He told me so. But when I saw you, I felt… hope.”

  Nicole took her hand, feeling the need to explain. “Joni, the man who did this, he had killed others. Other patients of mine.”

  “Why?”

  “He was trying to kill his wife. He was trying to kill her again and again.”

  “I don’t unde
rstand.”

  “He murdered his wife years ago. She was a patient of mine before that.” Nicole shrugged. “I’m not sure of his reasoning. I don’t know what triggered him to start again.” She released Joni’s hand. “But I want you to know, if you’d like a referral to another doctor, I wouldn’t blame you. It’s your choice.”

  “Leave the group session?”

  “Yes.”

  “No, Dr. Westbrook. I like the group. I feel good when we meet. I don’t want to stop.”

  “Okay. I just wanted to give you the option.”

  “This guy is dead right? He won’t hurt us anymore?”

  Nicole nodded. “Yes, he’s dead.”

  “Then I want to stay with you.”

  CHAPTER SIXTY

  Wednesday morning, Nicole opened Jake’s door, not surprised to find Rick sitting beside her bed. Jake was much as she’d left her the night before—pale and unconscious.

  “Hey, Rick.”

  “Hey. I didn’t expect you back already. The nurse said you’d been here most of the night.”

  “Yes. I didn’t want to leave her.” Nicole moved closer to the bed. “Shouldn’t she be awake by now?” she whispered. “It’s going on three days.”

  “Soon, they say.”

  “That’s what they said last night.”

  “They said all her vitals are good.”

  Nicole picked up Jake’s limp hand, wrapping her fingers around it. “She’s so pale. She looks so fragile.”

  “Yeah, I know. She didn’t look like this the first time. She came to right away, and she was cranky as hell.”

  “She lost a lot of blood. I hope—”

  “No. They said she was fine. They told me earlier that it’d probably be another couple of hours before she woke.”

  Nicole touched Jake’s face once, then bent quickly and placed a light kiss on her dry lips. “I should probably get going then. Get some work out of the way while she’s out.”

  “Yeah, I see you’re back to the suits,” Rick said, pointing to her outfit.

  Nicole smoothed her hands over her gray skirt. “Catherine didn’t waste any time in getting my appointments scheduled. I’ll come back this afternoon to see her. If she wakes, please tell her I was here.”

  Rick nodded. “Of course. I’m just going to hang out for awhile. I don’t want her to come to and there not be anyone here, you know.”

  Nicole felt a blanket of guilt cover her. She should be here when Jake woke. She owed Jake her life. Part of her wanted to say the hell with her practice. The appointments would just have to wait. But then she heard Dorothy’s voice, her words from last night echoing in her brain.

  “It’s time to put this in the past, Nicole, and get on with your life. You’ve got to get your appointments scheduled again. When the full story hits the paper, God knows what will happen. You could lose half your patients.”

  So, Nicole had called Catherine at home last night, told her to be at the office. A handful of appointments today. The group session tomorrow. Despite everything that had happened, nothing had really changed.

  “By the way, how was Cheyenne last night?”

  “Restless. She’s one smart dog. I swear, I’m talking to her like she’s human, telling her Jake was in the hospital. She looked right into my eyes. I do believe she understood every word.”

  “You may be right.” She squeezed Rick’s shoulder as she turned away. “I’ll be back this afternoon, as soon as I’ve got the office squared away.”

  Rick just nodded, his eyes still focused on Jake.

  Nicole rounded the corner on her way out and bumped into Steven, literally. He grabbed her arm to steady her, then laughed.

  “High heels will get you every time.”

  “Hi, Steven. Yes, a week out of them. I am a little wobbly.” She bent to sniff the flowers he held. “Beautiful.”

  “Is she awake yet?”

  “No. Rick’s there. He said a few more hours.”

  “Oh. Well, I’m still on forced vacation, so I thought I’d come and sit with her.”

  Nicole affectionately squeezed his hand. “Are you okay about… everything? I know you met with the police psychologist yesterday.”

  “Yes. And I’ve got to meet with him again this afternoon.”

  “And?”

  He looked away. “It’s still hard for me to come to terms with what I did.” His voice lowered. “Nicole, I took a man’s life.”

  “Steven, listen to me. You did not take that man’s life. His life was over, one way or the other. What you did was save three people’s lives.” She felt tears gather in her eyes and watched as Steven’s misted over as well. “We wouldn’t be here today visiting Jake, we’d be at a cemetery burying her, Steven, if you hadn’t been there.” She squeezed his hand again. “Don’t forget that.”

  “I shot him in the back.”

  “You did what you had to do. I would have done the same thing, Steven. He was about to kill Jake,” she whispered. “If you hadn’t been there, I would have been next, then Joni.” She bent closer and kissed him lightly on the lips. “So I thank you with all my heart for being there.” She pulled away from him, gently wiping at a tear that escaped his eye. “You’re a good guy, Stevie. Your wife is very lucky.”

  He stepped back and cleared his throat, but the blush on his face was still bright. “Thank you. I just might be able to live with this now.”

  ———

  Rick looked up when the door opened, smiling slightly when Steven stuck his head inside.

  “Hey, man.”

  “Rick.”

  “She’s still out.”

  “Yeah, I talked to Nicole.” He pulled the other chair from against the wall and sat down, sliding his roses onto a table. “They won’t let me go back to work yet so I thought I’d hang out here.”

  “Internal Affairs?”

  Steven nodded. “I’ve got to meet with the shrink again this afternoon.”

  “I’ve never had to do that. Jake says it’s a bitch.”

  “I’d much rather talk to someone like Nicole, you know. She has this compassion about her. Dr. Rinehart is just so… clinical.”

  “Nicole was back in her power suit today.”

  “Yes. She looked nice.”

  “That’s Jake’s gauge.”

  “What?”

  “The bigger the power suit, the less Jake fits in her life.”

  “What do you mean? I thought they were a couple,” Steven said.

  Rick shook his head. “No, not really. This case kinda threw them together.”

  “But that night, Jake told me she loved Nicole, that’s why she went in without backup.”

  “Damn stubborn woman,” Rick murmured. “But yeah, Jake’s got it bad for her. I don’t think Nicole feels the same.”

  “That’s too bad. Jake, she’s… she’s something special.”

  Rick nodded. “Yeah, she is.”

  Steven cleared his throat. “I think they’re really cute together, though.”

  Rick laughed. “Jesus, we’re sitting here discussing two lesbians. How pathetic is that?”

  But Steven didn’t answer. He was staring at Jake. “She moved her hand, Rick.”

  Rick watched Jake and sure enough, the fingers on her left hand moved against the white sheet of her hospital bed. Rick stood quickly, taking those fingers in his hand.

  “Jake? You back with us?” He touched her cheek, urging her to wake. “Come on, Jake. Talk to me. Wake up.” He saw her eyelids flutter, but not open. Finally, a low moan and a squeeze of her fingers.

  “Thirsty,” she breathed.

  “Oh, thank God.” Rick reached for the water that the nurse had placed beside the bed. “Tiny sip, Jake,” he said, placing the straw against her dry lips. She managed one sip before turning her head away.

  “Ricky?”

  “I’m here.”

  “Nicole? Okay?”

  “Yes, she’s fine. She was here earlier. She had appointments today.” R
ick watched as Jake’s eyes tried to open, but failed.

  “Steven okay?” she murmured.

  Steven stood and walked to the bed, squeezing Jake’s good shoulder. “I’m here, Jake,” he said.

  “My own James Bond. Thank you,” she whispered, before drifting back into unconsciousness.

  Steven turned away, trying to hide his tears from Rick. He wiped them away quickly.

  “You okay, man?”

  “Yes.”

  Rick grabbed his arm and turned him around, shocked by the tears in his eyes. “Steven?”

  “It’s nothing.”

  “James Bond?”

  Steven managed a smile. “Private joke.”

  CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE

  “Two have opted to stay with Dr. Andrews,” Catherine said, as she went over her notes.

  Nicole nodded. “That’s fine.” She twirled her pen absently between her fingers, wondering what she was doing here. Wondering why she wasn’t at the hospital, sitting with Jake. Wondering why she was listening to Dorothy yet again.

  “I’ve pretty much booked you up for the next two days. The group session will be tomorrow. Everyone is anxious to get back at it.”

  “I can’t believe, after what was in the paper this morning, that they’re still willing to see me.”

  Catherine shrugged. “Well, he’s dead.”

  “Yeah. And I should have taken a week or two off,” Nicole murmured.

  “Do you want to?”

  Nicole sighed. “Dorothy says I’ve taken enough time off the past few weeks.”

  “Well, she knows best, of course,” Catherine said a little sarcastically.

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “Nothing.” Catherine flipped a page on her notebook. “You’ve got a dinner scheduled Saturday night with Dr. Henson’s group. It’s been set for months, but I can try and change it if you’d like,” Catherine offered.