She pointed the gun at the both of them, her face grim.
“Mary,” I cried. “Don’t shoot Jeremy!”
She either didn’t hear me or was ignoring me. I tried to grab her leg – to gain her attention – but I was too weak to move.
I held my breath. Who was she going to shoot?
She held the gun in one hand, steadying it with the other. From my position on the floor, I couldn’t tell who she was pointing it at.
CRACK!
The sound echoed across the room and hurt my ears.
Involuntarily, I screamed.
Fearing the worst, I tried to see who, if anyone, she had shot.
Jeremy was now kneeling over Vlad using his necktie to secure the Russian’s hands behind his back. Neither of the two men appeared to have been injured by the gun blast.
But who had Mary shot? Or had she simply missed her target?
I turned my gaze toward her, puzzled.
She was standing now by her husband’s side, the gun she’d fired moments before lying on the ground, its muzzle still smoking.
Mary and Terrance whispered together for a moment, then Terrance strode past me toward the wing chair that Jeremy had been sitting in. I followed his movement with my eyes.
Next to that chair sat the old man, the front of his head blown off by a single bullet.
Shocked, I watched as Terrance placed his hand on the old man’s neck, apparently feeling for a pulse. He then turned and nodded to Mary.
I was puzzled by this exchange, but I couldn’t concentrate on it. Everything was becoming hazy and I knew I was about to black out. I felt someone take my hand.
“I’m calling nine-one-one, Kate,” Jeremy said. “Hang on.”
I nodded slightly, about to give in to a smoldering sense of fatigue, when I heard the sound of feet pounding on the hardwood floor.
“FBI! DON’T ANYONE MOVE!”
I tried to open my eyes to see what was going on, but it was too much and I was too weak. With one final glance at Jeremy, I passed out.
67
Kate
The Hospital
I WOKE UP in a hospital bed.
“Where am I?” I moaned.
Steve, who was sitting at my bedside, got up and leaned over.
“Well, look who’s returned from the dead. Kate, it’s good to have you back.”
I turned my head toward him and tried to smile, but the pain in my shoulder was too great.
“You’ve been in surgery,” Steve explained. “They removed the bullet and repaired the damage to bone and muscle. It’s going to take a while – a good dose of physical therapy – but you’ll be okay. The surgeon said he believes you’ll regain full use of your arm.”
I nodded. “Can you help me sit up?”
“Sure,” replied Steve.
He adjusted the bed so that I was in a sitting position, then offered me some water.
“Thanks,” I said, taking a healthy sip from the straw. “Where’s Jeremy? Is he okay?”
“Yeah,” said Steve. “He’s been here all night. He just went to get coffee. He should be back soon.”
Again, I nodded. “But is he okay? Was he hurt?”
Steve smiled. “Oh, he’s got some bruises, but he’ll heal.”
“Last thing I remember is the FBI arriving. How did they know what was going on?”
Steve sat back down. “That was your attorney, Matt. He had a conversation with you earlier in the evening and didn’t like the way it ended. He called Agent Watson and spoke with her about it. His concern, coupled with the fact that they found Vlad’s boat, brought the cavalry to Storm. I only wish they’d gotten here sooner.”
I knew he was referring to my injury and I smiled and patted his hand. “So, do I.”
We made small talk, discussing the clinic.
“With your permission, I’m going to compose an ad for a front desk person. I’ll put it up at the community center and in the local paper on the mainland.”
“You go ahead. Nadia – I mean Svetlana – will be hard to replace. Despite her criminal intent, she was a damned good worker.”
Steve grinned. “Yeah. I should have been more vigilant, I guess. I should have caught on to her. If I had, all this wouldn’t have happened.”
“Don’t beat yourself up,” I responded. “She was a pro. If we were in Hollywood, she would’ve won an Oscar.”
Steve nodded, then turned his head as the door opened.
Jeremy strode in carrying a Styrofoam cup in his hand.
“Kate.” He grinned. “You’re awake. How are you feeling?”
He put the cup down and leaned over and kissed me.
“I’m going to get going, Kate,” Steve said, offering his chair to Jeremy. “I’ll try to get back tonight. I leave you in good hands.”
“Thanks, Steve,” I replied.
I turned my attention back to Jeremy, who was now sitting in the chair Steve had just vacated.
“How are you?” I asked, still worried about what that old man had done to him.
“I’m good. A little sore, but good. That Vlad’s a rough customer.”
“What happened to him? Is he here at the hospital?”
There was an edge of fear in my voice and Jeremy reached over and took my hand.
“No, he’s not here. They patched him up in the E.R. then transported him back to prison. He’s in the hospital there.”
“Good. I’ve had enough of him for a lifetime. Did he lose the sight in that eye?”
Jeremy chuckled. “You did a number on him. I’ll never look at a pair of those high heels in the same way again. And, yes, he’s blind in that eye.”
“What about Nadia, I mean, Svetlana?”
“They caught her on the boat. She told them you were in the tunnels. She’ll be going to prison, too.”
I nodded. “The old man – Terrance’s grandfather – I take it he’s dead.”
“Yup. Mary blew his head nearly clear off.”
“What’s happened to her?”
“She’s in police custody, but she might get off lightly. She was drinking heavily that night and said she tried to shoot Vlad, but missed and hit the old guy. Terry will back up her story.”
For a moment, I felt uneasy as my mind recalled that strange exchange between Mary and Terrance after she had shot the old man. It was almost as if they’d planned it. But that made no sense at all.
“Kate, are you okay?”
“Sorry,” I replied. “Just woolgathering. Well, I hope Mary gets a break. Terrance, on the other hand, I don’t know.”
Jeremy looked puzzled. “Why? What’s wrong with Terry?”
I sighed, remembering how out of it Jeremy was when Terrance accosted me. If I mentioned it now, he wouldn’t have the slightest idea what I was talking about.
“Oh, nothing” I finally said. “I just don’t like the way he treats his wife.”
Jeremy nodded, picked up his coffee, and took a sip.
“Say, can I have a taste of that?” I asked. “I think I’m going through caffeine withdrawal.”
Jeremy laughed. “Sure, here.”
He handed me the cup and I took a healthy swallow.
“Ick!” I exclaimed, handing it back to him. “Black coffee? Since when do you forgo your daily dose of pure cane sugar?”
Jeremy looked down at the cup, then up at me, smiling. “Oh, just trying to be a bit healthier. No more processed sugar for me. I’d thought you’d be happy about it.”
I stared at him, curious. “And, when did you make this momentous decision?”
He shrugged. “Today. I’m sorry if it doesn’t please you.”
I grinned. “No, it does please me. But it’s a surprise.”
“Since when don’t you enjoy surprises?”
Jeremy stayed until the nurse came in and gave me some pain meds. The doctor followed shortly after and went over everything they’d had to do to repair my shoulder.
“Your assailant used jacketed ho
llow-points, which expand on contact and do much more damage than a regular bullet. The projectile nicked the sub-clavian artery and you sustained significant blood loss. You were lucky the paramedics got to you in time.”
I nodded. “What about my shoulder?”
“The bullet veered off and hit the joint between the humeral head and the glenoid fossa, severely damaging the joint. We considered replacement, but were able to repair it instead. You’re going to need extensive physical therapy over the next few months, but I predict you’ll regain full use of your arm.”
Again, I nodded. I was lucky to be alive. “Thank you, Doctor.”
“No problem. I should be the one thanking you. You’re doing good work up there on the island. We’re going to try to get you back to doing it as soon as possible.”
I smiled, then yawned. The pain meds were kicking in.
“Get some sleep,” the surgeon said. “I’ll be back to see you on evening rounds.”
“Thanks, Doc,” I replied, then closed my eyes.
I stayed in the hospital a few more days, then was discharged home. Steve placed his ad for a front desk person and had plenty of applicants. We settled on a local girl who appeared to be bright and ambitious.
Steve handled the clinic while I recuperated and went to physical therapy. I often stopped by to see what was going on, but I tired easily and didn’t stay long. We kept in touch daily by phone or text. Anything complicated was sent to the mainland. I hoped that, by spring, I would be back at work, if only part-time.
Jeremy came by to see me every day, usually bringing flowers or some sort of silly gift. We talked about our future and the wedding, which was set for June 1st. We rarely spoke about what had happened that night at the Morrison mansion.
“What’s happening with Mary Morrison?” I asked him one evening in early January.
“Oh, you haven’t heard? I thought Steve would have passed on the gossip.”
I frowned. What did he mean by that?
“No, he didn’t,” I replied. “He’s not the gossipy sort.”
Jeremy chuckled. “Oh, sorry, I just thought with him being gay and all.”
I stared at him. It wasn’t like him to make fun of someone’s LGBTQ status.
“Being gay has nothing to do with it,” I replied a bit testily. “Steve’s a great guy and my friend, period. I don’t like you stereotyping him that way.”
Jeremy frowned, then smiled. “Okay, okay, simmer down. Like I said, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“Well, see that it doesn’t happen again. Now, what about Mary? Has she been sentenced?”
“Yeah, she went before the judge a couple of days ago. He gave her probation and community service. She was also instructed that she had to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.”
I smiled. “That seems about right. Can she leave the state?”
“Yeah, but only to their home in Florida. I think she and Terry are planning on getting out of here as soon as they can.”
“And what’s happening with Vlad and Nadia? I mean, Svetlana.”
Jeremy frowned at the mention of the Russian’s name. “Sokolov is back in prison awaiting trial on charges of kidnapping, extortion, and attempted murder. Svetlana is in jail locally. They’re holding her on kidnapping charges.”
I nodded. “Good.”
“However,” Jeremy continued. “You might not like this. I’ve heard through the grapevine that Vlad is trying to cut a deal.”
“A deal? What do you mean?”
“Well, apparently, he’s got connections with the Russian mafia and he’s trying to exchange information for a lighter sentence or possibly just expulsion from the country. You know, being sent back to Russia as punishment.”
“You gotta be kidding me! They’d let him off that easy?”
“I don’t know. It doesn’t seem likely. However, I guess it all depends on what kind of intel he’s willing to pass on.”
I made a face, disgusted.
“And, Svetlana,” I asked. “Is she trying to cut a deal, too?”
Jeremy sighed. “You got it. She knows a hell of a lot about the Russian mob’s bookkeeping stuff. I heard she’s trying to trade her info for probation.”
“Probation! After what she did to me?”
“Yup, but I don’t think it’s going to get that far. Are you still willing to testify – I mean give a victim’s statement?”
“You bet I am. I want to see both of them put away for life or, at the least, a good long time.”
68
Kate
A Surprising Turn of Events
WEEKS PASSED AND everything seemed like it was returning to normal. Unfortunately, that didn’t last.
It was early February. I’d been on the mainland for my bi-weekly physical therapy appointment. Things were going well and I was beginning to feel optimistic about my recovery. I’d just gotten home when Jeremy burst in the door.
“Guess what, Kate!” he exclaimed.
He was grinning broadly and there was a distinct twinkle in his eyes.
“Okay,” I said. “I’ll bite. What?”
“You won’t believe this. That old codger – you know, Terry’s grandfather – the one Mary shot, well, I heard from his lawyer today. Kate, he’s left me everything! His entire estate!”
My mouth fell open. I couldn’t believe what he was saying. Finally, I found my voice.
“That doesn’t make sense. Why would he leave his estate to you? You barely knew him.”
Jeremy laughed. “I know. It’s crazy. But he did. And, I talked to Terry. He doesn’t seem to mind a bit.”
I frowned when he mentioned Terrance Morrison’s name. After the shooting incident, Jeremy and Terrance appeared to have developed a newfound friendship. It seemed to blossom right after I was shot. They talked on the phone frequently and made plans for the upcoming summer. Of course, Jeremy wasn’t aware of how Terrance had tried to keep me from interfering with his grandfather’s plans and I couldn’t tell him. It was just too unbelievable. So, instead, I grudgingly accepted their friendship, but this inheritance – well, that was too much.
“But it doesn’t seem right,” I countered. “That estate, whatever it’s worth, should go to Mary and Terrance. We don’t need the money.”
Now it was Jeremy’s turn to frown. “No,” he said carefully. “YOU don’t need the money. You have plenty. But I don’t. This is a windfall for me – a chance to get out from under. And, no, I’m not going to refuse it. Is this all about your feelings about that old guy? And, about Terry?”
I looked at him, surprised.
He laughed. “Yes, I know you didn’t like old man Morrison while he was alive and you don’t like Terry much either. Every time I mention him, your face pinches up like an old prune and you look like you’re going to lose your lunch. But I like him and I’m going to take his grandfather’s money whether you want me to or not.”
I was startled by his reaction. It wasn’t like him at all. I took a deep breath.
“Okay,” I finally said. “Congratulations.”
He stared at me for a moment, then smiled. “I don’t want to fight, Katherine. But I thought you’d be happy for me. I guess I was wrong. In any case, it shouldn’t affect our lives much. I’ll have more free time – be able to travel a bit. But mostly, things will remain the same.”
I nodded, but inside I was scared. That old man’s money was tainted and what it would do to Jeremy and me, I didn’t know.
Jeremy poured himself a glass of wine.
“That’s settled,” he said flatly. “Now, tell me all about your physical therapy session.”
We didn’t speak about his inheritance again until a day in mid-February when we were housebound because of a snowstorm.
“It’s crazy out there,” I said, looking out the window. “I bet we get a foot.”
Jeremy laughed. “More likely five inches. But it will feel like a foot when I start shoveling.”
I grinne
d. “Come on. Dinner’s ready.”
We sat down at the table and began to eat. Jeremy poured us both a glass of wine.
“You know,” he said, taking a sip. “I’ve been rethinking our honeymoon plans.”
“What do you mean?” I asked. “I thought we’d decided on renting a sailboat and cruising down the coast to the islands?”
“Well, we can still hit Bermuda, if you’d like. But I’ve got that big, old house now on one of the barrier islands. I can’t think of a better place to kick back and relax. What do you think?”
I put my fork down. He was referring to the old man’s house and there was no way I was going to set foot in it.
“I don’t know,” I finally said. “I had my heart set on that cruise. Just you and me under the stars, surrounded by the sea. I don’t think you can get much more romantic than that. Why do you want to go to that old man’s house anyway? Remember how badly he smelled? I bet his place stinks to high heavens.”
Jeremy very deliberately set his wine glass down. “Why are you always disrespecting the old gent? He was a senior. Old people sometimes smell bad. We open a few windows, douse the house with some perfumed spray, and, in no time, it will smell just fine. And, anyway, it’s my house now and I’d like to see it.”
“Well, I don’t wish to. If you want to check it out so badly, go by yourself.”
I was angry now. All I wanted was to get our relationship back to where it had been before that old man arrived on the scene.
I got up from the table and walked to the kitchen, grabbed the wine bottle, and brought it back. I refilled my glass, then turned to Jeremy.
“You want some more?”
He nodded and I topped his off, then I sat back down. I was too mad to look him in the eye.
He reached over and took my hand. “Listen, Kate. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up. We’ll stick with our original plan. Whatever you want. I’ve just been on edge lately. Forgive me?”
The Tao of the Viper: A Kate Pomeroy Mystery (The Kate Pomeroy Gothic Mystery Series Book 2) Page 26
