“They might accept his money for the cause, but it doesn’t mean they would vote for him as mayor. You’ve been a popular mayor, Dad. Good things have happened in Colorado Springs. Everyone knows that.”
“It’s not the point, Jake.”
A hush fell over them.
“What do you mean?” Jake asked.
“I’d decided not to run next term.”
Liza let out a gasp. “Not run? But why?”
“I’m tired, Liza.” His voice had softened and stress weighted his tone. “I’ve done what I can for the city. I’d like to see some new blood. New ideas.”
“But what would you do, Dad?” Jake’s back had stiffened like a flagpole.
“Something worthy. I was asked to run for president of the congregation at Good Shepherd…and I’ve thought about some charities I’d like to support.”
Disappointment sounded in his voice, and Kate wondered if she should quietly leave the family discussion, but she felt trapped.
“You can’t give up now,” Jake said. “Who else could beat the guy but you?”
Frank shrugged. “Someone…I hope.” He rubbed his face with the palms of his hands and stared into space. “This needs thought and prayers.”
“You’ve got mine,” Jake said.
Liza nodded, and Kate murmured her support.
Prayer. The good Lord must feel barraged by all His children’s needs. Lately, Kate had sent up many for herself.
He stared out the window, his fingers twitching thinking of his newest plan. Montgomery was looking healthier and soon his memory could return and then…
He had to do something and fast. He couldn’t use the same technique he used last time. They were on to him now. If the sweet Nurse Darling hadn’t rescued Montgomery, the torment would be over. The man would be dead, and he’d be free, but Montgomery lived and now he had to devise another method of removing the esteemed doctor from his life.
This time he’d thought it through more carefully. Why ask someone else to do the job when he could easily do it himself? One powerful injection of procainamide hydrochloride, and death would come immediately. Cardiac arrest, they would diagnose. Poor Montgomery had been under stress. His heart just wasn’t strong enough to handle all the setbacks. Too bad the fine surgeon had to die.
He muffled his laughter. All he had to do was distract the officer outside Montgomery’s door, and it would be over. One injection, and he’d be free.
And Montgomery would be dead.
Adam stood beside his bed and slipped one arm into the robe Kate had just brought from home. The sense of well-being engulfed him. Kate and his own clothing. It all felt so good. “Thanks for bringing my things, Kate.” He tied the belt while one arm remained out of the sleeve. “I hope this IV comes out today. That will be a gift.”
She stood at the foot of his bed, watching him, and his heart skipped seeing her sweet smile. “Dad said he’d come to see me today, so I’m sure I’ll hear the Barclay story again.” He could picture his father’s frustration. Barclay had become a Montgomery enemy in the past couple years. “I’ll have to remind Dad he’s in a hospital so he’ll keep the volume down.”
“I think the neighbors heard him today even with the houses acres apart.”
When she stepped nearer, Adam pointed to the privacy curtain. “Would you slide that closed for a minute?”
A scowl settled on her face. “Sure. Want me to leave?”
“Leave?”
“I thought you were going to put on your sweatpants or something.”
“No.”
A puzzled look replaced her scowl, and she turned and closed the curtain. Adam moved one step toward her but found himself restricted by his IV tubing. When she looked back, he beckoned to her. “Come here.”
She tilted her head and stepped nearer.
He reached for her with his free arm and drew her closer. For the first time, he felt her body fully next to his. “We’ve never stood together like this.”
Her eyes searched his. “No. You’ve been sick.”
“But not anymore,” he said.
Adam slid his arm around her back and pressed her to him. He could feel her chest moving against his, her breathing ragged, her breath whispering against his neck.
He tilted her chin upward, her mouth so close, and the fragrance of oranges and sweetness filled the air. He reveled in her smile, her well-shaped mouth and white even teeth that made his heart ache with longing. She gazed at him now, her rosy lips parted in question.
His longing grew, and he lowered his mouth to hers, drinking in the warmth. Standing beside her, he controlled his yearning to explore her soft form. He knew what God expected, but he’d waited so long to feel the sensations that moved through him. He’d waited forever to find someone like Kate.
Her body trembled beneath his grasp, and his own knees weakened until he eased back and caught his breath. “You’re wonderful. I can’t believe I let so much time pass before I realized how special you are.”
“I’m not special. I’m very ordinary,” she said, stepping away. “Don’t make me something I’m not.”
Her comment set him back, and he searched her face to understand. “If you’d look at yourself through my eyes, you’d know how really unique you are.”
She touched his cheek, and for a moment, he feared she would cry. Tears pooled on her lashes, and the look depressed him. He drew her closer, wanting to wash away her fears and understand what made her so afraid.
“Anybody home?”
Adam pulled back as the curtain rustled open and Sam stepped through. “Sorry. Did I interrupt?”
His smug look made Adam smile. “Nothing that can’t be repeated later.”
Kate’s cheeks glowed as she slipped her bag over her shoulder. “I need to get moving. I have to stuff envelopes at the women’s shelter.”
“Stuff envelopes?” Adam said.
“For the fund-raiser. Your mom will be there.” She turned to Sam. “You didn’t get roped into this thing, did you?”
Sam hesitated, a curious look on his face. “What thing?”
“The silent auction.”
“Me? A silent auction?” He gave her an over-my-dead-body look. “You’ve got to be kidding. Auctions aren’t my kind of thing.”
“Just checking,” she said, sending him an amused look. She turned to Adam. “See you later.”
He captured her hand and kissed her fingers. “I won’t be happy until you do.”
Her surprised gaze shot from Adam to Sam and back before she slipped through the curtain and left.
“I’ve been trying to figure you two out.” Sam hit the side of his head with his palm. “You are smitten,” Sam said, sinking into the chair.
“I am.” No argument. No denying it. “How’s life?”
Sam shrugged. “Heavy-duty right now.”
“This case?” Adam’s pulse skipped at the look on Sam’s face.
“Right. We’re very concerned for your safety.”
“Mine?” Sam’s face didn’t shift. No smile. Nothing but sheer concern. “You’re not kidding.”
“I’m not. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the overdose.”
“What do you mean?”
Sam shrugged. “Don’t worry about it.”
“It was an error…wasn’t it?”
Sam didn’t respond.
“What do you think…?” Adam’s stomach knotted. “You’re sure this wasn’t a medical error?”
“Sorry, friend. We’re still keeping a guard outside your room, but one of these days you’ll be released and we’re going to have a difficult time keeping an eye on you…unless we put the pieces together before that. I’ve called my brother Travis, and we’re going to meet. I think I need a private investigator’s take on what I’ve found…just to be sure I haven’t missed something.”
“It’s that bad?”
Sam gave him a single nod. “Tell me. Do you have any enemies here? Anyone you can
think of?”
Adam shook his head. He wasn’t everyone’s best friend, but he’d never known any obvious animosity. Then Eckerd came to mind. “Just before the incident at the clinic I had a strange altercation with Dan Eckerd. He’s a pediatrician. I’ve never seen him behave like that before.” Though Adam told Sam about the incident, he was dead sure Eckerd wouldn’t harm a fly…not even a jejen.
Sam pulled out his notebook and wrote down the name. “I’ll see what I can find out about him. You never know.”
When the curtain slid back, Adam’s father strode into the room. He looked tired and stressed. Sam rose and offered him the chair, but he declined and sat on the edge of Adam’s bed.
“Bad day, Dad?”
Sam settled back in his chair.
Frank nodded, and as Adam suspected, he retold the story Adam had already heard from Kate.
“I didn’t know you’d decided not to run for mayor,” Adam said, surprised to hear that. Kate hadn’t mentioned it. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. You’re a great mayor.”
“You sound like Jake.” He gave Adam’s arm a pat. “That’s where my thoughts were, but I may have to reconsider. I’ll see how things go.”
He looked toward Sam. “How are you these days?”
Sam shrugged. “Sounds like you have your hands full enough for both of us.”
Adam appreciated Sam not going into his suspicions with his father. No sense in making him worry, too.
“I learned something about Barclay a couple days ago,” Sam said. “He’s connected somehow with a construction company called El Rey. Travis ran across that piece of information. That’s the group that’s been putting up his hotels.”
“El Rey,” Frank said, surprise showing on his face. “I thought it was Elroy. No wonder I’d never heard of the company…and you mean to tell me Barclay has his fingers in that pie, too?”
“Seems so.”
Adam watched the two men pause in silence, their brows furrowed. “What’s that mean?”
“Doesn’t make sense,” Frank said.
Sam shrugged. “I just thought you’d like to know.”
Frank gave him a wide-eyed look while Adam still felt in the dark.
“Why take bids if you own the company and know you’ll give the bid to yourself?” Frank muttered.
The question traveled through Adam’s mind. He was sure Sam knew more than he was saying. “Maybe he doesn’t own the company. He could be on the board of directors or it could be owned by a conglomerate.”
Frank shook his head. “Nothing makes sense to me.”
Adam eyed Sam, who stayed noncommittal. “I’m guessing Barclay didn’t want anyone to connect him to El Rey…so he put the jobs up for bid. That’s the only thing that made sense to me.”
His father only wagged his head and looked disheartened.
Adam’s mind kicked out a thought. “Do you know what El Rey means?”
The two men shook their heads.
“The King,” Adam said, using a little of the Spanish he knew. “Maybe Barclay thinks he’s the king of construction.”
Frank uncoiled his arms and rose. “I’m too frustrated to laugh.” He stepped toward the doorway. “I have a meeting this afternoon so I need to get going. Good to see you looking so well, son.” He shook Adam’s hand, then Sam’s.
“Thanks, Dad,” Adam said, rising as his father stepped toward the curtain.
Sam rose, too, and moved toward the doorway. “I have work to do, too. I might as well walk out with your dad.”
“Sure,” Adam said, surprised at his quick departure.
“I’m praying we get something solid soon,” Sam said, vanishing through the doorway.
In the empty room, Adam felt more alone than he’d ever felt in his life. Did he have any enemies? He’d never really thought about it until now.
Chapter Fifteen
“You’re looking good, Adam,” Gordon Reese said. “Your incision is nearly healed, and I see you’re off the IV.”
“Finally,” Adam said.
“Fletcher says your getting stronger,” Reese continued. “As far as I’m concerned, you can be released whenever he thinks you’re ready.”
“Released.” Adam put his hands behind his head and stretched his neck forward. “That sounds good, Doc. I’m ready.”
“Don’t jump the gun. Fletcher’s the last one you have to convince you’re ready to head home.”
Adam lowered his hands and rolled over on his side. “I appreciate all you’ve done, Gordon. You’ve been with me through this whole thing.”
The surgeon grinned. “I sure have. How’s the memory? Any flashes of remembrance?”
An eternal question. It grated on Adam’s nerves. “None yet. But I’m hopeful.”
“Sometimes it takes months. I’m confident it’ll all come back.”
“Glad you are.” A movement caught his eye, and Kate came through the doorway.
“Gordon,” she said, stepping beside him. “Isn’t it late for you to be here?”
“Emergency surgery. I tried to find a minute earlier, but there’s been too much excitement coming back here and then slipping right back into work without a break. I finally grabbed a moment and snuck up to see Adam.” He patted Kate’s shoulder. “He’s looking good and should be out of here soon.”
Kate’s smile brightened Adam’s mood. She’d acted so natural the past few days, and it had increased his hopes for a relationship once he was released.
Reese stepped toward the door. “I’ll let you rest. Glad you’re doing so well. You’ve been through so much.” He shifted his gaze. “See you, Kate.”
She waved, and Adam watched him move into the hall while his thoughts lingered on his release and on Kate.
“I came in to turn off your light. Now that I’m back at work, I can order you around. Time for patients to sleep,” Kate said, reaching over him to push the button. He grasped her hand, and in the dark, she leaned down and brushed a kiss on his lips.
She startled herself. She’d kissed Adam Montgomery. Her pulse galloped at the realization, and she moved to step away, but Adam captured her hand again and drew her closer.
“Was I dreaming or did Nurse Darling kiss me?”
“You were dreaming,” she said, hearing her voice breathless in the hush of the room.
He chuckled and clasped her shoulder, urging her toward his mouth. His lips parted, and the second kiss was powerful, leaving her gasping.
She eased back. “There’s a police officer outside. I may have to call for help.”
“Me, too,” he said, letting her hand go. “You can’t escape me, Kate. I’ll send the posse after you…or Brendan. I think he’s on duty tonight.”
She agreed. It was Brendan. “You need your rest. Go to sleep.”
“How can I sleep after that?” he asked, rolling over on his side and happy for the first time since he’d been in the hospital, relieved that his IV had been removed. He tucked the now-untethered arm under his cheek and rejoiced with his new freedom.
He stood inside the janitor’s closet and peeked through a chink in the doorway. He’d had to wait for the quiet. Patients’ lights had ceased their flashing in the hallways, nurses’ shoes padded along the tile floor and the incessant intercom had quieted for the night.
Most patients were asleep by now. Laughter came from the nurses’ station as they eased back, letting the night settle in. He could hear their voices like a hum in the hallway. Most didn’t stir unless a patient rang the call button, but he was prepared for that.
He had the diversion ready, the syringe in his pocket. Enough cc’s to do the job. He’d thought long and hard how to distract the officer outside Montgomery’s door, and he had the perfect plan.
His pulse raced, and his heart kicked in his chest as he pulled out the lighter. One flick and the innocent fire burning in a janitor’s bucket would cause a little stir. He could slip past without notice.
He steadied himself, willing his min
d and body to work as one. He could handle danger, but he needed anonymity. He chuckled to himself. Anonymity. The reason for his brilliant scheme.
One more look. The hall was quiet. He leaned down, flicked the lighter and ignited the saturated rags. The flame licked upward.
When he slipped into the corridor and closed the door, he managed to move with a steady gate toward the officer. His fingers trembled in his pocket gripping the syringe.
The officer gave him a nod.
He smiled, then paused, turned back and sniffed the air. “I think I smell something burning.” He tilted his head down the hallway where he could detect a curl of smoke easing from under the door.
“I’m in a hurry,” he said. “Would you mind checking?”
The officer looked concerned and headed down the hallway, his head lowered and his gaze obviously intent on the smoke seeping from below the doorway.
With the officer busy, he quickly doubled back and slipped into Adam’s darkened room. His pulse thundered in his head, and his chest tightened with each breath. A few seconds and he’d slip out again, undetected.
Guardedly, he inched across the room, pausing long enough to hear Adam’s steady breathing. Excitement rippled through his limbs. Once he’d given Adam the injection, he could have his own. His own euphoria. The loving barbiturates that offered him a taste of ecstasy.
He dug into his lab coat pocket and pulled out the syringe. His salvation was here in the liquid. He moved closer to the bedside, removed the needle’s cap, placed his finger on the plunger and leaned forward.
“Oh! You scared me.”
He jerked back and dropped the syringe into his pocket. “Just checking on the patient,” he muttered, seething at the interruption. “I see he’s sleeping.”
The nurse who’d entered the room sometime after him backed away. “Yes. It’s late,” she whispered. “I didn’t know anyone was in here. We had a small fire in the janitor’s closet, and we’re checking rooms for smoke.”
Adam mumbled, then turned and lifted his head, his gaze directed at the nurse. “What’s the problem?”
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