Killing Weeds

by Joyce

The sheriff finally ended his report on a grim note. “I’m afraid we doubt that Mr. Ollson is alive this morning due to the extent of his injuries. But let’s bring him home for his family. Be sure to check every inch as carefully as possible.”

  A few members of the local press had joined them. “What about Mr. Ollson’s killer?” A short, thin woman with a large microphone pushed forward to reach the sheriff. “Have you located her?”

  The sheriff grimaced. “We have no comment on that right now. We’ll keep everyone informed as word comes in.”

  Steve’s phone rang. Peggy saw him step out of the group that was conferring with the sheriff’s department. He had an odd look on his face. She was already moving toward him, around the crowd packed into the restaurant. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest.

  Steve beckoned to her across the room. Was it finally good news?

  She reached him. “What is it? Is it something about Sam?”

  Her words had been louder than she’d anticipated. Everyone stopped talking and stared in their direction.

  “It’s Selena,” Steve told Peggy, his brown eyes riveted on her face. “You should talk to her.”

  Peggy started to ask why she hadn’t called her cell phone and then realized it was because her cell phone was dead. Her hands shook as she took the phone from Steve, wondering why he’d interrupt the meeting for a phone call. It had to be important.

  “What’s wrong, Selena?” All eyes were on her now.

  “I’m at the shop. You know how you said I should check on the alarm system this morning.”

  Peggy had completely forgotten with everything else that had happened. “Is it working?”

  “Yes. I almost couldn’t shut it off.”

  “But I guess you did,” Peggy said. “Thank for going in.”

  “I got this weird message on my laptop. It actually came from the phone in The Potting Shed.”

  “Selena, I’m sorry. I guess no one told you about Sam.”

  “Sam? Was he in an accident? Is that why the wrecker service is calling about the truck? What happened, Peggy? Why am I always the last to know everything?”

  Gingko

  Ginkgo comes from the Japanese word ginkyo, which means "silver apricot," a reference to the fruit, frequently eaten in Japan. This beautiful, hardy tree with its attractive, fan-shaped yellow leaves, was once thought to be extinct but was rediscovered in China during the mid-1700s. It is now planted as an ornamental tree around the world, with no danger of extinction.

  Chapter Thirty-two

  “Wrecker service?” Peggy grabbed Steve’s hand. “Where is it? What did they say?”

  “I’ll text you the number. Why aren’t you answering your phone?”

  “Text it to Steve. I’ll fill you in, I promise.” Peggy handed the phone back to Steve.

  “Would you care to share with the group, Dr. Lee?” the sheriff asked.

  “A wrecker service has my truck—the one that was missing from the scene at Lake Tillery. It’s possible they know something about Sam and Diane.”

  Everyone started toward the door at once.

  “Hold on now. Let’s give the wrecker service a call before we all run out there,” the sheriff suggested. “Agent Newsome? Could you relay that information?”

  “Gladly.” Steve pushed the phone number that Selena had just texted him. He put the phone on speaker, and the room became deadly quiet.

  “A and R Wrecker Service,” a man’s voice said. “This is Arnie.”

  “This is Agent Steve Newsome with the FBI. I’m looking for information about a green Ford pickup you picked up. It has the words ‘Potting Shed’ on the side.”

  “Oh yeah. It’s a mess. Took a header into a tree. Was it involved in a drug deal or something? Because I haven’t done anything to it except go through the information in the glove box to find someone to call about it.”

  “What about the driver?” Steve asked.

  “The driver was in pretty rough condition, according to the highway patrol. They’d already taken him and his passenger to the hospital by the time I got there. I don’t know anything about that. Sorry.”

  “Where are you located?” Steve asked.

  “I’m in Norwood, right downtown, if you want to get the truck. I’ll be here all day.”

  “Thanks, Arnie.”

  A cheer went up from the searchers. Sam’s parents broke down in tears.

  But Peggy knew it wasn’t over yet. Were they sure it was Sam? How could he have been driving in the condition he was in? What if it wasn’t Sam and they took the valuable time away from the search?

  The sheriff was already on the phone with the highway patrol.

  “Didn’t anyone check with the hospitals around here?” Al asked.

  “That was one of the first things they did,” Steve said. “We checked too. It has to be that the highway patrol found the truck later.”

  The sheriff held up his hand for quiet.

  “I’ve been in contact with the highway patrol. They did find the wrecked vehicle off in the woods late yesterday. A man and woman were taken, alive, to the hospital in Albemarle. We’re getting an update on their status now.”

  One of the sheriff’s deputies shook his head, his cell phone to his ear. “They have three accident victims from yesterday with no ID. Not sure if they’re who we’re looking for or not. Someone is gonna have to go down there.”

  The sheriff dismissed all the search groups from the county since none of them knew Sam. He thanked them for their time and effort.

  It was happening so fast—Peggy was terrified and wanted to call them all back.

  What if it isn’t Sam?

  Al and Paul with the officers from CMPD were still there with the FBI agents and about a dozen sheriff’s deputies.

  “Agent Newsome, maybe you can come with us. One of the relatives can ride along with us since you can make a positive ID,” the sheriff said. “Which one of you wants to go?”

  “Dr. Lee is really the best one to go since she can also ID the woman who attacked her and shot Sam Ollson,” Al said. “I’ll take my people back to Charlotte and save the city some money.”

  Paul wasn’t happy with that plan. He didn’t want to leave Peggy until it was over.

  Steve traded spots with Paul in the back of the sheriff’s car. “I’ll take my people back to Charlotte too and come back for my wife.”

  Peggy was good with that plan and ready to go. Sam’s parents and Hunter had already left for the hospital.

  All the sheriff’s deputies left the motel. The sheriff waited for Peggy and Paul.

  Steve kissed Peggy and made her promise to call as soon as she could.

  She hugged him. “Thanks for letting Paul go.”

  “He needs to be there to see the end of this.” He squeezed her hand. “Be careful.”

  She hopped into the back of the sheriff’s car with her son. “As soon as I know something, I’ll call.”

  One advantage to riding with the sheriff was that he put on his lights and siren and traveled down the highway toward the hospital at eighty miles an hour. They passed Sam’s parents in only a few minutes—even with Hunter driving.

  “Don’t be disappointed if this doesn’t work out the way you hope,” Paul whispered. “I don’t know what we’ll find when we get there.”

  “It has to be Sam. No one mentioned anyone being dead from the wreck,” she said. “I have high hopes that I refuse to let go of for now.”

  He smiled. “Me too.”

  They were at the hospital in downtown Albemarle about twenty minutes later. Gingko trees, bright with yellow leaves, lined the sidewalk and the front of the building.

  Several of the deputies who’d been at the motel had come to join them.

  Peggy was surprised to see them until Paul reminded her that this would be a big collar for the local sheriff’s department.

  “I’m sure they’re excited to be here.”

  “But what about Nita Honohan’s death?
She was in Mecklenburg County with William Joseph.”

  He shrugged. “I’m sure they’ll work it out so the credit is spread around—if Ruth’s daughter is still alive.”

  The sheriff hurried into the hospital with Peggy and Paul beside him. Four deputies followed them. At the patient services desk, the sheriff paved the way for them to visit each of the patients without ID who’d been brought in during the last twenty-four hours.

  Peggy was so nervous. She almost forgot how sore she was. Her legs protested as she stood waiting for the hospital administrator to come down and okay their request.

  Paul held her hand, but his face was grim, no doubt thinking of facing the woman who’d tried to ruin his life and wondering what kind of condition Sam was in.

  The hospital administrator shook hands all around and instructed his staff to give them the access they needed. A nurse picked up four charts and escorted them to the first room.

  There seemed to be many empty rooms in the small town hospital. They passed several of them before they came to the first occupied space.

  Hunter and her parents had arrived during that time and were arguing loudly with the hospital staff about being allowed to see Sam. Since there was no one with his name on the patient list, the nurses were asking them to leave.

  The patient in the first room was an elderly man who’d been injured in a crash. They all backed out of his room, trying not to disturb him.

  Peggy took pity on Sam’s family and went back to the nurse’s station to get them.

  “They’re with us,” she told them.

  “We are not with you,” Sam’s mother disagreed.

  The nurse at the computer arched her brow. “If you aren’t with the sheriff’s group, I can’t let you go looking through the all the rooms for your son. I’m sorry.”

  Sam’s father, taller than Sam and Hunter, but without their muscular build, appealed to his wife. “If we want to see our son, we’d best go with Peggy.”

  Mrs. Ollson ground her teeth in frustration but finally admitted that they were all together. “But as soon as we find Sam,” she assured Peggy, “we’re getting him out of here and away from you.”

  Peggy didn’t comment on her remark. Hunter whispered a thank you as the four of them joined the sheriff and Paul waiting for them to go to the next room.

  The nurse led the way again, consulting her patient chart, and stopped in the next room up. “This is our Jane Doe who was injured in the accident yesterday.”

  She pushed open the door and Peggy stepped back, her hand at her throat.

  “That’s her. That’s Diane Sargent. She’s the woman who tried to kill me and shot Sam.”

  Diane was unconscious, with severe bruising to her face. Her nose was swollen, possibly broken. Peggy wondered if the airbag had done that damage. But she was also glad that Diane wasn’t awake. She wasn’t sure if she could face her yet.

  The sheriff instructed two of his deputies to stay with Diane.

  “Does that mean Sam is actually here somewhere?” his mother demanded. “What kind of hospital is this anyway? How can you not know who your patients are?”

  The young nurse’s jaw tightened, but she didn’t argue. She continued down the long hall to the next room.

  Paul had stayed behind at Diane’s room for an extra moment, staring at her. He re-joined them with a shake of his head as Peggy silently queried him with a lift of her cinnamon-colored brow. “I just wanted a good look at her.”

  Peggy nodded, understanding, as the nurse opened the next occupied room.

  “John Doe,” she said. “Also the victim of an accident yesterday.”

  None of them needed the overhead light switched on to recognize Sam’s tousled blond head resting against the white pillow.

  “Oh my God!” His mother screamed and ran to his side.

  Everyone surged into the room, the deputies taking out cell phones and notebooks to question him.

  “You’ll have to wait until you have approval to talk to him, unless you’re family,” the nurse said.

  “We’re the only family he has here,” his mother said disdainfully.

  All the fuss awakened Sam. He blinked sleepily at the people in his room. His blue eyes landed on Peggy’s bruised face, and he called her name. “You’re alive.”

  Peggy ignored his mother and went around her to talk to Sam. “So are you. How are you? What happened? How did you end up in the truck with Diane?”

  He reached out and pulled her close. “I’m okay. A little banged up, like you. I was so worried about you. When Diane came back up the hill without you, I managed to knock her down and take the gun. The only thing I could think of was to get the police since we had no cell phones. She wouldn’t tell me where you were.”

  “Save your strength,” Sam’s mother advised. “You’ve been through a lot.”

  She glared at Peggy.

  “She tied me up and put me in a sinking boat.” Peggy ignored his mother as she wiped tears from her eyes. “A fisherman rescued me. I came back for you, but you were gone.”

  “I made her get in the truck, and we started toward Norwood. I don’t know what happened after that.” Sam shook his head. “I guess I blacked out. Since I was driving, the truck went into a tree. Did Diane get away?”

  “No. She’s in another room.” Peggy kissed the side of his face. “I’m so glad you’re all right. I have to call everyone to let them know. I think your mother needs your attention now anyway. I’ll be back.”

  “I’ll be here.”

  Peggy started to go but turned again. “I love you, Sam. I haven’t said it before. But it’s true. You’re like a son to me.”

  He grinned. “Of course I am. I love you too, Peggy.”

  Red Spruce

  The red spruce was logged almost to the point of extinction during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Red spruce once dominated the highest elevations of West Virginia, covering more than 500,000 acres. Now only about 30,000 acres of high elevation red spruce remain. Efforts are underway to re-populate the red spruce in West Virginia and other places.

  Epilogue

  Ten days later, Peggy was at The Potting Shed with Selena putting in new supplies. Emil and Sofia were helping, when they weren’t busy at The Kozy Kettle.

  The shop was beginning to look like its old self again. Everything was so new and fresh. The little lizard watched from the pond lip as they moved boxes and crates of supplies around the shop and emptied them.

  “When’s the grand reopening day?” Selena asked for the tenth time.

  “Thursday,” Peggy said. “I hope you don’t have any tests that day.”

  “Even if I did, I’d tell them I was sick and retake it. Without Sam here, we need all the help we can get. He’s annoying, but I miss those broad shoulders and strong arms.”

  “Is that even possible?” Sam’s voice filtered from the back of the shop as he came in with Tucker. “Is Selena actually admitting that she can’t handle it without me?”

  Selena dropped the box she was holding—thankfully it was only filled with birdseed for the new feeders. “Look! It’s him. He’s back.”

  She ran to jump on him, but Tucker held her back. “Maybe not full body contact ready as yet.”

  Selena stopped and stared at Sam. “You look good, Viking. Can I at least get a small hug?”

  Sam put his arm around her. “Just no punches to the chest yet. I’m still healing.”

  The four of them walked around the shop, remarking on all the new supplies that had been put in place.

  “I’m going to be kind of useless for a couple of weeks,” Sam said. “But Tucker is going to fill in for me, if that’s okay?”

  Peggy smiled. “That’s wonderful. Thank you, Tucker.”

  The smaller man with the long, brown hair was still a little uneasy with Sam’s effusive friends. “I’ll be glad to do whatever I can.”

  She hugged him, which gave Selena a reason to do the same. Tucker’s face was red by the time t
hey’d both released him.

  “Come over for dinner tonight, both of you,” Peggy said. “My dad is cooking, so the food will be good. We’re celebrating everyone being alive and back to normal.”

  “Does that mean someone else died, and you’re working at the morgue again?” Sam asked.

  “No. Not yet anyway.” She laughed. “But I’m cleared to work again. Mai is already back at work, and so is Paul. Good news all around.”

  “What about the woman who did this?” Tucker asked. “What’s going to happen to her?”

  “She’s coming here to face charges in this county, and then she’ll be sent to a state facility until her trial in Montgomery County,” Peggy said. “She’s got enough counts against her that she’ll never be out of prison.”

  “Yeah,” Selena said. “But can we stop her from having a fan club like her mother did? Otherwise we might have to go through all this again in ten or twenty years.”

  Sofia and Emil came in to help again for a while. Sofia made sure everyone knew about how accurate her prophecy had been for Peggy and Sam. Thrilled with her success, which had been documented on local TV news, Emil was talking about creating a private corner in the shop for his wife to read tea leaves for their customers.

  Sam sat in Peggy’s new rocking chair by the pond for the remainder of the day. The rest of the group got most of the supplies put away and then headed to Peggy’s house for dinner.

  It was a loud and hungry crowd by the time Peggy got back from the shop. Walter was there, helping her father cook. Her mother was drinking wine at the kitchen table with Millie and Hunter.

  Sam’s parents had gone back to their home in King’s Mountain just outside Charlotte once their son was on his feet again. Peggy didn’t feel bad about it. They wouldn’t have come to the celebration anyway.

  Paul and Mai got there a few minutes after Peggy with Al and Mary coming in right on their heels.

  Shakespeare barked at everyone in a friendly way, excited by the crowd. Peggy walked through the dining room but couldn’t find Steve. She went out into the main hall and found him beside a large, black tarp protruding from the spot her blue spruce had once occupied.