It took Tom longer to post bail for him than it should have because it was Saturday; but between Tom’s efforts and his father’s pull, Dave walked out of the holding cell late in the afternoon. The whole day shot! At least Tom wasn’t trying to make idle conversation as they headed back to his father’s house. As bad as this day had been, it was about to get worse.
Tom pulled into the driveway, said goodbye and told Dave he would be in touch next week. As Tom backed out onto the street, Dave turned and headed to the side door. He hoped his mother was not at home because he didn’t want to face her until he had a shower and washed off the smell of his cell mates. He entered the house and quietly closed the door behind him. As he passed the kitchen his mother turned and smiled at him and she said, “Hello, Dave. It’s good to see you.”
The greeting told Dave his father had not told his mother what happened between him and Sandy or where he’d spent the day. Typical of his father. It was part of his punishment to make Dave tell his mother what an idiot he had been.
He walked into the kitchen, gave his mother a hug and kiss and sat down at the counter. She was baking chocolate chip cookies, so she obviously knew he had spent the night. They were his favorite and she always knew when he needed a fresh-baked cookie to cheer him up. She got a plate and glass from the cupboard, placed several cookies on the plate and filled the glass with milk. In a tone he was so familiar with she asked “Do you want to talk about it?”
“How much do you know, Mom?”
“I know you came here last night to talk to your father and then spent the night - without Sandy. When Tom came at nine this morning, I knew there was a major problem. Who were those two men who came later?”
“They were police detectives.”
“And they were here to see you?”
“Yes. This is more than a two cookie story, Mom.”
“I’ve got plenty. Take your time and tell me what happened.”
Dave drained half the milk from his glass. He was having a tough time looking at his mother. He realized the irony of the situation. He needed scotch to talk to his father last night and today he was about to break his mother’s heart over a glass of milk and chocolate chip cookies.
When he told his father about the attack last night, he placed emphasis on Sandy being the instigator of the fight. His father massaged the information and created the self-defense story he told to the police. This would be the first time he would tell someone what really happened last night.
“Last night Sandy and I had a fight. I hit her a couple of times during the argument. She looked at me, told me she wanted a divorce. I was enraged. I looked at the counter and saw the knife. I grabbed it. Before I got control I had stabbed her.”
His mother drew in a sharp breath and reached across the counter and grabbed his hand. “Oh, Dave. How is she?”
“The EMTs took her to the hospital and she had surgery last night. She’s in intensive care right now. The doctor said the next 24 to 48 hours are critical.”
“Why aren’t you at the hospital with her?”
“Her parents were there. Although they don’t know for sure I’m the one who caused her injuries, I’m not a very popular person with them right now. They suspect I did it. Her father threatened me last night. I thought it would be best to stay away. Besides, I had to face the cops today. I told them it was self-defense because Sandy threatened me with the knife.”
“Was it your father’s idea?”
Dave hung his head and nodded. “He thought it would be the best way to handle it. I’m facing assault with a deadly weapon and attempted murder charges. I could go to jail for years.” Dave said the last with a tinge of hysteria in his voice. The enormity of his situation was finally starting to become a reality.
“I know you and Sandy haven’t been happy for a while, but I had no idea it had gotten so bad.”
“Mom, nothing has been going right for the last couple of years. Sandy wanted to start a family but I don’t want children. My company has been losing contracts due to the economy. I’m not proud of it, but I started drinking at night. Sandy would get on my case and I would lose my temper. Most times I just yelled, but several times I actually hit her. Last year I punched her really hard in the stomach and she had to go to the hospital.”
“Was it the time she said she had fallen against the table?”
“Yeah. I realized I had gone too far and begged her to stay when she threatened to leave. I stopped drinking and we worked at rebuilding our relationship.
“A couple of months ago, my company announced there were going to be layoffs if business didn’t improve. Sandy was worried the new school budget would have more cuts and she might be laid off. I started to backslide and stopped every night for a couple of drinks before I got home. Sandy didn’t like it and we started arguing again.
“Yesterday the hammer fell. I got laid off. When I left the office I stopped at a bar and started drinking around 1:30. When I got home around five, Sandy was making dinner. When she looked at me she knew I had been drinking and she blew. She told me she wanted a divorce. I lost it and hit her in the face, not once, but twice. She told me she wasn’t going to put up with being hit anymore and started to leave the kitchen. I grabbed her arm and spun her around. My other hand had been resting on the counter next to the knife. I grabbed it and slashed at her several times. She backed up against the counter. I forgot I had the knife in my hand and tried to punch her. The knife went into her side so easily I didn’t realize what I had done until I felt something hot and wet on my hand. I let go of the knife and Sandy grabbed for a chair but fell to the floor.
“I looked at her bleeding and panicked. I pulled the knife out and left the house.”
“Why didn’t you call 911 and get an ambulance?”
“I don’t know. I was so scared all I could think of was getting out of there. By the time I got back, the cops were already there and Sandy had been taken to the hospital.”
“Have you at least called the hospital to find out her condition?”
“I haven’t had time. I just got back from being booked.”
“Call the hospital right now” his mother said, handing him the phone.
Several minutes later he hung up and looked relieved. “She has regained consciousness. Her parents and the cops are there now.”
“I think you should go see her, Dave.”
“I’m supposed to stay away from her, Mom. It’s one of the conditions of my bail.”
“You know I love Sandy as if she were my own flesh and blood daughter. You need to talk to her. Maybe she’ll agree not to press charges if you promise to seek help for your drinking.”
“It’s not just that, Mom. I don’t have a job. I’m going to have to start working for Dad.”
“He’s wanted you to get into his business for a long time.”
“And Sandy hasn’t. She feels Dad has too much control over my life and it would only get worse if I work for him.”
“I don’t need to tell you how disappointed and upset I am by this, but your father’s way of handling this is not right. You have to take responsibility for this. You need to talk to Sandy and see how she’s recovering. You two were always able to talk to each other. So go talk to her. See if there’s a chance she can move past what you did to her. You have to make things right with her before you can move forward.
“Why don’t you take a shower and I’ll finish making dinner. Your father has an event to attend, so it will be just the two of us. We’ll talk more then.”
Dave got up and put his dishes in the dishwasher, kissed his mother and headed upstairs. She would help him find a way to stay out of jail. He would talk to Sandy and promise her whatever she wanted to drop the charges. Once that was done, he would work on getting her back.
CHAPTER 10
Four days earlier…
Mike’s internal alarm went off at 6:30 a.m. even though it was Sunday. Not for the first time, he wished he was able to turn it off on th
e weekend. When he woke up today though, he didn’t have the usual feeling of wanting to roll over and try to get back to sleep for another fifteen minutes. As he came into full wakefulness, he realized why he was happy: he was having dinner at his parents’ house, Max was coming with him, and his first major case as a detective had been solved with an arrest made within the first 24 hours. It doesn’t get any better than that.
He got up and started the coffee, retrieved the paper from the driveway, and refilled Lucy’s food and water bowls. He cooked himself a couple of eggs and toast and skimmed the paper. In the local section he saw an article about the attack on Sandy. He decided if he got his project done early enough he would make a short detour to the hospital before picking up Max.
Mike looked over at the paint cans sitting on the floor in the eating area. Today was the day he would finally paint the room. He had put it on hold while he studied for the detective’s exam, but told himself he would do it when he became a detective. Unless the phone rang with another police call, he would have a new room by noon. He docked his iPod. He chose his work playlist. He loved all kinds of music from sixties to present day, classical to jazz. His playlist consisted of all his favorites from these different genres. He turned up the volume, got all the painting supplies from the garage and popped the lid on the first can.
Four hours later, Mike had completed the room and stepped back to enjoy his efforts. When his sister Susan came to clean on Tuesday he was sure word would get back to his Mom the paint cans were finally gone. He checked the clock and saw he had plenty of time to get a shower and stop by the hospital to visit Sandy. He cleaned up the room and then went to clean up himself.
Half an hour later, Mike was backing his Mustang out of the driveway. He checked out the front lawn. He hoped the weather would cooperate so he would have until next weekend to take care of the lawn and bushes.
*****
When Mike got to Sandy’s room in the SICU he was startled to see they were cleaning the room to make it ready for another patient. When he found the nurse she told him Sandy had been transferred out of SICU earlier. She gave him Sandy’s new room number.
He peeked through the door of her room and saw Sandy sitting up in bed watching TV. “Well, it looks like you’re taking up space a sick person could use”, he teased as he came into the room.
Sandy smiled as she recognized him. “I feel great getting out of SICU. All that equipment in there was beginning to make me think I was really hurt.”
Mike leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. Taken by surprise, Sandy asked “Do all citizens of Lancaster get this pampered treatment from their police department?”
“Only those who went to school with me and turned me down for a date.” Mike was happy Sandy was in a teasing mood because he wanted to keep this visit friendly, not professional.
“You’re looking a lot better than you did yesterday. What’s your secret?”
“Don’t tell anybody, but I think it’s the blood I’ve been getting. I’ve found myself wanting to pump some iron while cooking an omelet. Crazy, huh?”
“Give me a minute. The mental image you’re creating is pretty amazing” Mike said as he pulled up a chair next to her bed. “What’s the doctor’s prognosis?”
“When he kicked me out of the SICU this morning he said if I continue to improve and my numbers look good, I might be able to go home on Tuesday.”
“That’s great” Mike said. “Where are you going to go when you leave here?”
“Well, I can’t go back to First Street because Dave is there. Mom and Dad told me they want me to recuperate at their house, at least until the end of the school year.”
“When are you planning on going back to work?”
“I should be able to return to the classroom in a couple of weeks.”
“C’mon Sandy, isn’t returning so soon pushing things a little?”
“Mike, let me tell you something. Between the doctor and my parents, I’m going to have to fight to get back to work anytime this school year.”
“Maybe you should listen to them and take care of yourself so you can give it your all next school year.”
Sandy didn’t want to be rude to Mike so she said, “I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. Where’s your partner? Shouldn’t he be here if you’re going to question me?”
Mike smiled, wiggled his eyebrows and pretended he had a cigar a la Groucho Marx as he said “This is strictly social and has nothing to do with the investigation. Max and I will probably be back tomorrow to finish taking your statement. Meantime, I’d like to get reacquainted with you. So, what grade do you teach?”
Sandy was enjoying Mike’s silliness and was giggling as she said “First grade. I just love that age. They are all so cute. They are open to learning and have no problem saying what they think. I tried fourth grade when I started teaching, but after two years I realized I wanted to work with the younger ones. I have not regretted the decision. So how long have you been a cop?”
“Since my college graduation, about 8 years ago. It’s all I ever wanted to do. After seven years on patrol, I decided it was time for me to take the detective’s exam. I studied hard, and passed with flying colors. An opening occurred shortly after and here I am. Your case was the first one assigned to me.”
As they looked at each other, Mike felt himself wanting to get to know more about Sandy. A superficial conversation about their jobs only piqued his curiosity. He checked his watch and realized he needed to leave for Max’s apartment or he would be late.
“I have to get going Sandy, but I’ll be back tomorrow with Max. After we get this mess cleaned up, I’d like to see you again.”
“I’d like that Mike. Just promise you won’t nag me about going back to work too soon.”
“If that’s a condition, have no fear. I promise not to bring it up. See you tomorrow.”
As he strolled down the hallway, Mike’s thoughts were: this day just kept getting better and better.
CHAPTER 11
Max watched as Mike drove his red Mustang into the complex parking lot. He had debated all morning whether or not to call Mike to claim something came up and he couldn’t make the dinner. It was too late now. By procrastinating he had ultimately made the decision to go. Max picked up his jacket and left his townhouse. He was locking the door as Mike pulled up.
As he crawled into the car, Max greeted Mike then asked, “Listen Mike, with all the fun we’ve been having this weekend, I didn’t have a chance to get to the State Store to get some wine for your parents. Can we detour past one?”
“Sure, no problem. I need to stop for beer too. One of the few State Stores in the area open on Sunday is near a beer distributor.”
“What kind of wine do your parents like?”
“They are red wine types. Merlot or cabernet would be a hit and goes well with the dinner menu.”
After taking care of their purchases, Mike headed toward his parents’ house. Max was still not sure he should be socializing with his partner’s family and must have seemed ill-at-ease because Mike started to do what Mike did best - talk.
“Okay Max. I’m going to give you a quick rundown on the Campbell family. Of course there will be a pop quiz at the end.”
Max rolled his eyes and waited for Mike to continue.
“My father’s name is Ben. He’s a 9th and 10th grade math teacher at Penn Manor High School. He’s been at it for over 35 years and still enjoys it. When I was in high school we had an agreement I would not be in any of his classes. We both had our reasons.
“Mom’s name is Camille. She’s an occupational therapist currently working at the new rehab center at the Health Campus. She and Dad met on a blind date and the rest is history.
“Their first progeny was my sister Carol. She’s 35, married and has two boys. William is 8 and Joe is 6 – both smart and precocious. Carol works for F&M’s Center for Politics and Public Affairs and we should not talk about politics around her.
“Her husband is Chris. He met Carol in college and they were an instant couple. They married a year after they graduated. Chris is a network manager for a large manufacturing firm. Dad likes to pick Chris’s brain when it comes to maintaining his home network.
“Susan is the middle child. Surprisingly, she has none of the hang ups that plague middle siblings. She and Harry have been married for about 8 years. They decided to wait to have kids until they bought their house, so Sheila is only 3 and Tracy is 1. They are both little angels and already know how to get their way with any of the adults in their lives. Susan has a small home cleaning business and is working on building a web development business. She graduated with a computer science degree from Millersville.
“The final actor in this play is Harry, Susan’s husband. He’s an accountant. He adores the three women in his life. He tries to pretend he likes baseball when he’s around Dad. Mom celebrates the end of tax season by throwing a family dinner when Harry comes up for air after April 15th.
“Any questions?”
“No, I think I’ve got it. Mother, Father, two sisters, two brothers-in-law, two nieces and two nephews”, Max deadpanned.
“And I thought you weren’t paying attention” Mike quipped.
Max was still a little edgy about the day when Mike pulled in front of his parent’s house and said, “Looks like Carol and her clan are already here. Let’s go greet the group.”
Ben was heading toward the back of the house when he.saw them coming up the walk. He opened the door before they knocked. Mike took care of the introductions and they were ushered into the den where Max met Camille, Carol and Chris. He was told Will and Joe were in the basement rec room playing one of the Xbox games they were so wild about. In short order he had a beer in hand and a seat in front of the TV.
Splintered (Mike Campbell Series Book 1) Page 5
