02 Outwitted

by Beth Solheim

"The sheriff's right," Sadie shouted above their questions. "Let's go back to bed. We might have good news for you in the morning."

  Another wave of theories floated among the guests as they dispersed in all directions.

  Turning toward her cabin, Sadie noticed Jane walking toward her. Silhouetted against the half-moon, Jane's robed figure appeared as an apparition floating along the pathway. Sadie gasped. She reached out for her sister.

  "What's wrong," Jane said. "Did something happen to the baby?"

  "No. The baby's fine. It's just when you walked toward me, you looked like one of the crossers crossing over to the other side. It scared me. I thought maybe you had collapsed under the excitement." Sadie threw her arms around her sister. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you. Promise me you'll never leave."

  Jane squeezed back before setting Sadie at arm's length. "I'm not going anywhere."

  Sadie squeezed her eyes shut and tilted her head upward. "I'm overwhelmed with all that happened, but there's something I need to tell you. It's going to shock you."

  "After what happened here tonight, nothing can shock me. Can it wait till morning? You helped save a child's life. That's enough for one night." Jane took Sadie's hand and led her toward the cabin. "You'll feel better in the morning. All we need is a good night's sleep. Then you can tell me all about it."

  36

  The rumble from the hospital garage door opener reverberated off the concrete block walls as the emergency bay door glided along the iron tracks. An orderly watched the outside security monitor. He had taken position to wait for the squad car three minutes after the dispatcher's call had come in.

  Dr. Nordin had just finished admitting his sixteenth patient when the charge emergency nurse pulled him aside. "You're not going to believe this. The sheriff's dispatcher just called. One of the deputies is on his way in with the abducted baby."

  Staring in disbelief, Dr. Nordin said, "Do we know the infant's condition?"

  "I asked the same question," the nurse responded. "The dispatcher didn't know. All the deputy told her was to notify the hospital to be ready to take care of the baby. She said she heard a lot of crying in the background. She also said the dispatcher requested additional back up to escort the rescue car into town because she wasn't sure of the situation."

  Barking orders, Dr. Nordin listed items he anticipated would be needed as his staff scrambled in various directions. "I want you to notify security to go into full alert for a possible lock-down. We don't know how the baby was found so we need to take precautions. There could be retaliation. For all I know there might be injured coming in after the baby arrives."

  The charge nurse drew a privacy curtain open in one of the treatment bays and placed the appropriate equipment on a cart to prepare for the infant's arrival. She joined the orderly and matched him stride for stride as they paced and kept an eye on the receiving bay monitor screen.

  After receiving a call from the charge nurse, the house supervisor notified security before placing the appropriate phone call to the hospital's CEO.

  Awakened from a sound sleep, the CEO hesitated, trying to comprehend what he heard. "Is the infant all right? Do they know for sure it's the abducted baby?" Listening to the answers, he said, "Make sure you set up a media center. If this actually is the abducted infant, we're going to be bombarded with press from all over the state. Hell, from all over the country."

  The CEO reached for his trousers. "I want security to control access in and out of the facility. I don't want mass chaos. Don't notify the parents until we know the condition of the infant. We can't get their hopes up if it's not their child."

  He grabbed his billfold and keys off the bedroom bureau. "Who's the ER doc in charge tonight?" He waited while the charge nurse responded. "That's good. If anybody can handle it, he can."

  The orderly spotted flashing red lights approach the driveway access and hit the door to the garage bay with his shoulder as he burst through the opening. He broke into a run. Two squad cars raced toward the emergency entrance as the orderly guided the rolling gurney across the paved apron. He bent his head to peer into the window of the first squad car as the sirens grew silent. A deputy jumped out of the first car and pointed to the second car.

  Deputy Wayne pulled to a stop and pointed to the passenger side. He flung open the door and shouted to the orderly, "He's in the box." He quickly skirted the front of the car.

  A third patrol car entered the hospital property and parked across the driveway approach to block access.

  The deputy who had met Deputy's Wayne's car at the edge of town and escorted him in pressed the button on her shoulder speaker and radioed the dispatcher. "We've arrived at our destination."

  Dr. Nordin and the charge nurse joined the men at the car door as the orderly lifted the box from the front seat and placed it on the gurney. The nurse placed a warmed blanket over the infant. The trio pushed the gurney back into the emergency bay followed by Deputy Wayne and Nan who scurried to keep pace.

  Dr. Nordin lifted the child from the box, shouting questions at Deputy Wayne. "Was the baby in distress? Was he exposed to the elements? Where did you find him?" Listening to the deputy's reply as he waited for the nurse to remove the clothing, the doctor placed his hands on the baby and began his examination. "Was he harmed during recovery?"

  Turning the infant to examine his body, Dr. Nordin said, "Check the abducted baby's chart to see if this mark was indicated at birth. I need to know if it's a bruise or a birthmark." The doctor ran his hand over the mark on the baby's hip. "It will identify him if this is our abducted baby."

  Repositioning the child, he placed the blanket over the screaming infant. "Find out who assisted in OB the night he was born. See if we can get a visual ID before the footprint results come back. Have the lab type the cord section we took when so we can compare it."

  Deputy Wayne and Nan stood behind the door and watched through the glass window. The deputy placed his hand on Nan's shoulder. "He'll be okay. Lon did everything right and the baby wasn't harmed."

  "I know." Nan hugged her arms into her chest. "If something would have happened, he'd never forgive himself."

  "Nothing happened. We caught them and they'll pay for this for the rest of their lives."

  "Good healthy lungs," one of the nurses commented, attempting to soothe the baby with repeated thumb strokes over his tiny head. She inserted a rectal thermometer which added to the infant's protest. The doctor placed a hand-warmed stethoscope on the baby's chest. A nurse pressed an ink pad against his foot and imprinted the footprint onto a piece of paper.

  Dr. Nordin completed the visual exam before instructing the nurse to diaper and wrap him in another warmed blanket. A second orderly wheeled a portable incubator into the exam area and readied it to accept the child if the doctor ordered it.

  Nan looked up at Deputy Wayne. "He's a good man."

  "The Doc?"

  Nan glanced sideways, giving the deputy an impatient huff. "You know who I mean."

  "I know who you mean, but I wanted to make sure you know. Lon's a good man and it's about time you realized it." Deputy Wayne's voice dripped with an intended challenge.

  "I've always known it," Nan said. She ran a finger under her eyelid to wipe away a tear.

  "I think we can resume normal crib procedures," Dr. Nordin advised. "His vitals appear normal. Let's admit him to the pediatric ward and monitor him throughout the night. You can notify his pediatrician and see if there's anything else he wants done."

  A nurse from the OB wing delivered a warmed bottle of formula and waited until the doctor nodded in her direction. Dabbing the nipple against the baby's lips, a drop of warmth trickled from the opening. The infant's sobs lessened as he drew firmly on the nipple.

  Commotion from the lobby filtered into the emergency room while the ER staff finalized documentation of the baby's examination. The CEO slipped through the badge-accessed doors. He headed toward Dr. Nordin. "Good Lord. The parking lot is filled with cars al
ready. It appears everyone in the county had their scanners on. It's the middle of the night. What's wrong with those people?" He looked down at the infant. "How is he? Is he our abducted baby?"

  "We just sent the footprints to the lab for processing," the charge nurse said. "They'll notify us as soon as the results are back. The OB nurse on duty the day of the abduction gave us a visual ID on the birthmark."

  The CEO joined Nan and Deputy Wayne. "Good to see you again, Deputy. I'm glad it's under happier circumstances. As soon as we get a positive ID, you can contact the family." Shaking his head in sympathy, he added, "I'd bet dollars to doughnuts one of our nosy community members already notified the parents. I wish they'd ban those scanners."

  "From what Deputy Wayne told us, they caught the people who did this." Dr. Nordin removed his Latex gloves and tossed them into a waste container. He pulled a fresh pair from a box hanging on the wall and tugged the first glove over his hand. "Do you think this abduction is connected to the one last summer?"

  "We're not sure, yet," Deputy Wayne said. "We hope it is. That will put a lot of minds to rest."

  "Now if only you can figure out who killed Celeste Perry." Dr. Nordin slid the privacy curtain along the track and stepped up to his next patient.

  "I think we're almost there," Deputy Wayne murmured. He placed his hand behind Nan's back and ushered her toward the patrol car.

  37

  "Can you believe it?" Sadie placed the phone back in the base. "The hospital CEO wants me to stop by for an interview. Apparently he's setting up a press conference."

  "I'm proud of you," Jane gushed. "You helped recover the baby. So did Bernie. What a wonderful ending to what could have been a tragedy. Just think of the publicity this will bring to the resort." Leaning down to scratch Belly's ear as he joined them, Jane cooed, "My little lamb. You didn't seem impressed with all the commotion last night. You just sat on the path and watched the whole thing, didn't you?"

  Grunting as he plopped down between the sisters, Belly snorted his lack of interest into his zebra sequined neckerchief.

  "By the way, Jane, quit leaving your scissors lying around. When Belly dozed on the rug yesterday, Sally became fascinated with his testicle."

  "Is that what she wanted scissors for? Oh, dear," Jane said. "Aanders told me she wanted to cut something out. I thought he meant out of one of your fashion magazines."

  "I don't think that's what she had in mind. It looked like she intended to play doctor lady." Sadie ran her hand down her hip. "Do you think I should wear this for the interview?"

  "Why do you even ask? You're going to wear what you want anyway." Jane studied the chair under the clock. "Is Jed with us now?"

  "Jed and Sally are both here. Jed's going with me to the hospital when I meet with the CEO."

  "Why? The CEO can't see him."

  Sadie took a deep breath. "Your brain would make a good doorstop."

  "That's not nice. Especially after I complimented the pants off you?" Jane withdrew into a pout.

  "I'm sorry. I appreciate you. Really I do. Jed's going to the hospital with me because there's a woman in critical condition in the ICU. Nan told me about her. They transferred her from the Emergency Room to Intensive Care when Nan and Deputy Wayne were at the hospital with the baby. They don't expect the woman to survive."

  Jane looked toward the chair under the clock and then back at Sadie. "I'm glad Jed found out what happened to Celeste. I know how much he loved her."

  "Tell her I'm glad, too," Jed said. "Tell Jane I'm going to miss her cooking."

  A corner of Sadie's lip twitched. "Jed's glad, too." She jerked as a bare foot tapped her leg. Sadie glared at Jed before adding, "Jed said he's going to miss your cooking."

  "Isn't that nice." Jane bowed her head coyly. "He was one of my favorite customers when I used to cook at the lodge."

  "To think that's not what killed him."

  "Killed who?" Bernie peered through the screen door. "Got any extra coffee?"

  Sadie stiffened. "I thought you said you were heading back to Minneapolis this morning."

  "I am, but first I need to talk to Jane."

  Sadie's stomach flipped a sour summersault erasing the joy she had experienced over the infant's rescue. How dare Bernie ruin her moment. Jane would throw a conniption and give her the silent treatment for a week when she found out about Bernie.

  Bernie pushed past her. "I need to talk to Jane."

  "About what?"

  As Bernie pulled out a chair and sat at the table, footsteps clopped across the porch floor.

  "Sadie? Are you in there?"

  Jane held the door open for the resort manager. "Can you help out at the registration desk? One of the girls got sick and had to go home. I'm swamped. I have to replace an O-ring in one of the cabin's faucets. I've got another receptionist coming to help at the desk, but she won't be here for an hour."

  "I'll do it," Jane said. "Sadie's got a meeting at the hospital. She's going to do a press conference."

  The resort manager looked at Sadie. "You're not going to wear that, are you?"

  "What's wrong with this?" Sadie ran her hands over her silver and black zebra sequined top. "I paid good money for this."

  The manager squinted. "You can't go on TV wearing that."

  "Yes I can. It makes a statement."

  "You want to make a decent statement, don't you? I mean about the resort. If they see you in zebra and sequins, they'll think we're a no-tell motel." The manager tapped his finger tips together in front of his chest. "Think about who'll be there. They're professionals. Think about how many will see you on television."

  "I know. I watch TV. The sexy guy on the Today Show is going to ask me questions."

  Bernie crossed the room and stood next to the manager. "It's important you make a good impression, Sadie. Your marketing image can make or break the resort's future. You want people to feel they can trust you."

  "Oh really," Sadie droned. "Coming from you I feel so much better."

  "Sadie's not going to listen. You're wasting your words." Jane hung her apron on the oven door. "I'd better hurry over to the lodge. I just saw another television crew pull up."

  "That's the third one this morning. They want to see where they rescued the baby. They can't get close because it's still a crime scene," the manager said, "but those sneaky devils won't give up. I did what Sadie suggested and hired an off-duty deputy to keep them away."

  Bernie watched Jane follow the manager down the path toward the lodge. "I'm going to tell her, Sadie. She needs to know."

  "Know what?" Jed lifted Sally onto his lap.

  Sally leaned back against Jed's chest and cradled the still unopened box with the surprise.

  The cabin door slammed, bouncing twice against the frame as Aanders rushed through the door. "Did you see the big TV truck? There's a television reporter here and the deputy is hollering at her. So is Jane. She's giving orders like she's the president."

  "She'll be fine. It gives her a reason to feel important. It keeps her out of my hair."

  Bernie sat at the table.

  Sadie drew in a deep breath and held it. "Bernie lied to me."

  Bernie looked around the room. "Who's here besides Aanders?"

  "Jed and Sally."

  "I didn't lie. I just withheld the truth."

  "About what?" Aanders plopped into Jane's recliner.

  "I'm a priest."

  "What?" Jed rotated his gaze toward Bernie. "A priest?"

  Aanders frowned. "You mean like a God type guy?"

  "What other kind is there?" Bernie looked at the chair under the clock and then back at Aanders. "Sadie's blowing this out of proportion. I can explain."

  "Wait a minute," Jed said. "That's what Sally meant when she told us Bernie had kids. They called Bernie by his title, Father Johnson, but Sally confused the word dad with father." Jed stared at Bernie. His mouth hung open. "Do you mean to tell me Jed's a priest and he's pursuing Jane?"

  Aanders looked at
Sadie. "I thought priests couldn't think about women. I thought they had to sign a paper saying they wouldn't think about you-know-what when they joined up." Aanders thought a bit before adding, "Aren't you worried about going to hell?"

  "Ask Bernie if he's been thinking about you-know-what since he's been visiting Jane. I can't think of any other reason a priest would join a dating site, can you?"

  "Bernie's got a lot more explaining to do than that," Sadie said. "He duped both of us and I want to know how he could do something so despicable to Jane. This will devastate her."

  "You mean she doesn't know yet?" Aanders lips contorted into a scowl. "Oh, oh. She's going to have one of her hissy fits, again. Boy, is she going to be mad at you."

  "It's me she should be angry at. I'm the one who didn't divulge the truth."

  "I wondered why Bernie used the term 'blessed' so often." Jed rested his chin on Sally's head. "If I'd have been thinking, I'd have caught on."

  "I knew it," Sally said. "Cuz he prayed on his knees and sang pretty songs to Jesus. He asked Jesus to help him do the right thing. I thought he meant about the big fish. You know the one you told him to release because it was too big. He kept it."

  "Sally just told me you kept a walleye over the allowed limit. That's against the law. You're going to get us in trouble. If you're caught keeping illegal fish in our bay, you'll have game wardens swarming all over the place. It'll drive our customers away."

  Jed ran his hand through Sally's hair. "Lots of people pray on their knees. That doesn't mean they're priests."

  "I know. My dad prayed on his knees when we said our prayers and he wasn't a priest. I wish he'd hurry up and come back. I sure miss him."

  Jed brushed his lips against Sally's hair.

  Sally jumped off Jed's lap and ran into the inner room with the box clutched in the crook of her elbow. Belly's nails clacked across the floor as he waddled after her.

  Jed's frustration with his inability to connect Sally with her father tugged at Sadie's heart. Sally would never reconnect with her father. She was deceased. He wasn't. Even though Sadie didn't own a death coach manual, one thing she knew from experience was to remain emotionally detached from her crossers. Usually it wasn't a problem. She rarely knew the crossers who landed on her porch. This time she not only knew both of them, she knew their histories and their families. Maintaining arm's length became impossible.