Visions Of The Past

by Elizabeth Mahood

  She went into the cooler to roll the bodies out and stopped in her tracks. No bodies. She quickly moved back outside the cooler and pulled the chart off the wall for signing bodies in and out. Whidbey’s Funeral home had picked up the bodies at 5am. What the hell? She hadn’t released anyone yet and who the hell let them in at 5am. She left the autopsy suite and headed for the front security office where Alan the security guard sat sipping on coffee and eating a donut.

  “Morning Doc, what are you doing here so early on a Saturday?” Alan asked taking a bite of his donut.

  “I wanted to work on my two bodies that came in yesterday, but Whidbey Funeral home picked them up. Did you let them in?” Megan asked. The man nodded.

  “Yeah, they said you sent an email saying that the bodies were ready to be released.” Alan stated, looking nervous. Megan felt anger building up inside.

  “I did no such thing. I haven’t even processed them yet. I did a preliminary, took some tox screens and did x-rays for dental. I haven’t even done a full autopsy yet. Did they show you a copy of the email?” Megan asked. Alan swallowed hard and set his coffee down slowly.

  “No ma’am.” He blushed.

  “Did you get the names of the attendants who picked up the bodies?” Megan asked starting to feel herself shake. Someone purposely came into her morgue, lied to the security guard and stole two bodies that were part of a murder investigation. Someone was going to answer for that.

  “Their names are right here on the sign out sheet. I walked them down there myself, they rolled them out and loaded them into the van.” Alan stated handing her the log. She looked at the names. She knew every attendant that picked up bodies and these did not match anyone she knew.

  “Call the funeral home and ask them if anyone picked up bodies. I’m calling the police.” Megan stated turning around to leave. She heard a pop, then a sting in her back. What the hell, she felt dizzy, then numb. Realization hit her. She had been shot.

  ✽✽✽

  Cade followed Ellie into the lobby of the Shady Meadows home for the clinically insane. It was clean and bright with pastel pinks and corals as its décor. The floor was a beautiful marble with Persian rugs littering the floor under the large cushioned chairs in a lounge area. A dark cherry wood front desk sat in the center of the lobby with several workers typing on computers. One woman looked up as they approached.

  “Hello, my name is Nora Ridley. My mother, Evelyn Ridley is a patient here. I would like to see her please.” Ellie said shakily. Cade knew she was nervous. He placed a hand on her back and he could feel her relax. She did the same thing to him. There night last night and their morning had been amazing but it wasn’t just the sex. They were comfortable together and he loved seeing her in his home. He could see them living there together, raising a family and spending their golden years in rockers staring out at the snow. It made him smile, but he also knew she had a life in Seattle. Would he be willing to move out there just to be with her? He would have said no just a week ago but now, he thought maybe he would do just about anything to make her happy. He had never thought about getting a second opinion about his condition but it made sense. He had trusted that the VA knew what they were talking about but what if there was another alternative? He watched the woman behind the desk type on her computer.

  “Yes, she is here but she has a restriction for visitors. No one except Pastor Ridley is allowed to visit.” The woman stated looking up sharply. Cade pulled out his badge.

  “Well this is for an official investigation into a murder case. We believe that Pastor Ridley might be involved and we need to ask her a few questions.” Cade stated. It wasn’t exactly the truth but she might have something to offer them that could shed some light on the pastor. As much as he hated what he had done to Ellie, he didn’t want Ellie to have to deal with the fact that her father might be a murderer. No matter what, he was still her father. The woman looked at both of them as Ellie pulled out her FBI credentials. Finally, she nodded and picked up the phone.

  “Yes, The FBI and a Sheriff from Badger Falls are here to see Mrs. Ridley. Yes sir.” She said and hung up. “You can head down that hallway there. She is in the day room.” The woman stated. “Please sign in the guest book and take a badge.” She said, pointing at the log book and box full of guest badges. They did as they were told and headed down the hallway.

  “Be prepared Ellie. You haven’t seen your mom since you were 16.” Cade warned. She nodded and he took her hand. He felt her relax as he guided her towards the day room. When they got closer, they could hear music playing on the piano and Cade smelled cookies, or was it brownies? Either way, it smelled delicious. A woman pushing a med cart came out from the double doors and Cade held if for her to pass through.

  “Thank you. Can I help you with something?” She asked cautiously. Ellie smiled.

  “Yes, I was wondering which one was Evelyn Ridley?” Ellie asked. The nurse smiled and pointed to the woman playing the piano.

  “That’s her right there. She entertains us daily with her music. It’s lovely. She has a wonderful voice too when she is in the mood to sing.” The nurse said smiling. She nodded and headed down the hallway with her cart. Ellie looked at Cade.

  “I never heard my mom play. My father said it wasn’t proper for her and it was a waste of time.” Ellie said with wetness in her eyes. Cade leaned forward and kissed her lips. Suddenly the music stopped and when they looked towards the piano, Evelyn Ridley was staring directly at them.

  “Elinora.” Her mother said on a whisper. Ellie moved forward.

  “Mom.” She said as she reached the woman. Mrs. Ridley stood and wrapped her arms around Ellie and Cade could hear her sobbing. Ellie finally pulled back and Mrs. Ridley placed her hands on her daughter’s face.

  “I knew you were coming here today. I saw it.” Evelyn stated. Cade watched Ellie’s face change.

  “What do you mean?” Ellie asked. Evelyn looked to Cade.

  “Cade Masterson. I would know your face anywhere.” She smiled and pulled him into a hug. She looked between the two of them and then smiled even bigger. “I knew you two were meant for each other. It was destined. Your grandmother predicted it.” She as she pulled Ellie’s hand towards a set of chairs.

  “Mom, what is going on? Why are you here?” Ellie asked. Cade felt the stress in Ellie and he was amazed at how much he could sense from her now. They were most definitely connected. Her mom looked to both of them.

  “No, first I want to know what’s been going on with you. I was getting letters from Greta but after…well I have been out of the loop.” She stated with a small laugh. Her mom’s eyes danced and he wondered if she was on some kind of medication. Cade pulled Ellie next to him and her mother took a seat in the arm chair next to them.

  “I am a doctor now; I go by Nora. Dr. Nora Ridley. I came home to work on Grandmother’s cabin. Cade is helping me. He’s the sheriff now.” Ellie stated looking up at him proudly and taking his hand. He felt warmth flow through him. Cade looked back to her mother who was smiling fondly.

  “Ellie works for the FBI profiling. She’s amazing at it.” Cade stated. Her mother looked towards Ellie.

  “Do you use your visions to help them?” Her mother asked with no malice. Ellie nodded.

  “Sometimes, but usually I profile the suspect and that is what the courts look at. I’m just glad I can use them for good.” Ellie stated. Her mother watched her.

  “I…I’m sorry Elinora…I mean Nora.” Her mother stated correcting herself.

  “For what mom?” Ellie asked.

  “I should have protected you; I should have protected all of you but I was weak, I couldn’t defend myself against your father.” Evelyn said with a sob. Ellie reached for her hand.

  “Mom, do you have visions? I don’t understand. Father has visions too, doesn’t he?” Ellie asked. Her mother nodded.

  “Yes, but not like you and me or your grandmother. He…” She started to say something else but stopped herself. An od
d look crossed her face and then she looked up. “Elinora?” She said as if they hadn’t just been having a conversation.

  “Yes, mother. We were just having a conversation.” Ellie said trying to make eye contact with her mother who suddenly started to fidget and look around.

  “I need lunch, it’s lunch time. Nothing more to say or do here. I have to eat on time or I will be punished, no good wife sits around all day. If the house isn’t clean, there is a punishment, if the kids don’t behave, there is a punishment. Got to keep the visions away, it hurts too much to let them out. He knows how to control them and keep them away.” Her mother said rambling and rocking back and forth.

  “Mother, what’s wrong?” Ellie stated jumping up and trying to comfort her mother who was crying.

  “NO.” She stated pushing her away. “You can’t be here. You have to stay away, it’s not safe. Go home, please. Don’t come back it’s not safe.” Her mother stated backing away. An orderly rushed in and handed her a cup of water and a pill which her mother quickly took. Ellie moved towards her mother but the orderly held up a hand.

  “When she is this upset, only her medication and sleep will help.” He stated guiding her towards the double doors.

  “Mom!!” Ellie cried. Her mother turned around.

  “Go home Elinora. It’s not safe, he is not safe. Don’t trust anyone except your instincts and that one right there. Stay close to each other and follow your heart.” She said looking between the two of them. She left with the orderly helping her along and Cade put an arm around Ellie and pulled her to him. She was shaking and looking bereft.

  “What just happened?” She asked. He wasn’t sure. He led her out of the dayroom and down the hall towards the lobby. Ellie pulled away to talk to the woman at the desk.

  “Who is her doctor? I want to know what her condition is and what meds she is on.” Ellie stated with authority. The woman narrowed her eyes at her.

  “I’m sorry ma’am that is privileged information. I can’t just give that out.” She stated snidely. Ellie got right up in the woman’s face.

  “I am the FBI and he is law enforcement. I don’t want to have to get a warrant for my own mother’s medical records but If I have to I will.” She stated in her best authoritative voice. The woman looked from Cade to Ellie. Finally, she stepped back and typed on the computer. She hit a button and the printer came to life. Ellie continued to glare at the woman until she handed her the print out.

  “Thank you, that wasn’t hard was it?” She asked the woman and then turned her back on her. They walked away and Cade waited until they were outside.

  “You know that was illegal. She technically can’t give you patient information.” He said smiling at her. “I will remember not to piss you off.” He said watching her face turn to anger at the paper in her hand. “What does it say?” He asked, trying to look over her shoulder. She looked up at him.

  “Apparently she was diagnosed with schizophrenia. She is on so much medication, I can’t believe she was even standing. You saw her Cade; she was playing the piano and she knew who we were. She was about to tell us something and it’s like she just switched off. As soon as I mentioned visions and my father she changed. Is that schizophrenia or fear? And how is it that my mother also has visions. Ugh what is going on?” She yelled and put her head in her hands. Cade rubbed her back.

  “I don’t know but it feels like we are getting closer and closer to having a break through.” Cade stated as his phone started ringing. “Now what?” He stated as he answered.

  “This is the sheriff.” Cade answered.

  “Sheriff, this is Doctor Shefler at the Badger Falls Memorial hospital. We have the medical examiner here. She’s been shot.” He stated as Cade’s heart dropped out of his chest.

  “What? When?” He asked. The doctor told him he couldn’t go over the details over the phone but that Megan wouldn’t talk to anyone but the Sheriff and then she had been taken into surgery. He thanked the doctor and hung up.

  “We have to get back home. Megan was shot.” Cade stated taking Ellie’s hand and leading them to his car.

  Chapter 20

  Ellie watched Cade pace the waiting room at Badger Falls Memorial. It was making her nervous and she couldn’t help but wonder if Cade didn’t feel a little something for the good doctor. She tried to keep her jealousy at bay and truth be told, she had liked her as well. She was funny, sweet and kind and she could see her making some man very happy, just not Cade. The double doors opened and a doctor walked through in surgical scrubs.

  “Sheriff Masterson?” The doctor asked. Cade nodded.

  “Yes, how is Megan?” Cade asked. The doctor grimaced.

  “Well it was scary for a little bit. The bullet came very close to her spine and we were worried it was going to be hard to get without hitting her spinal cord but we recovered it and besides some good recovery time, she will be fine. She has feeling in her feet and legs so that is a good sign. She is in recovery and still trying to wake up but once they get her settled into a room, you can go see her for a few minutes.” The doctor started to walk away but Cade stopped him with his hand.

  “What did you do with the bullet?” Cade stated. The doctor reached into his pocket and handed him a plastic evidence bag with a bullet inside. He handed it to Cade, nodded, then walked away. Cade held up the bag and Ellie stepped closer.

  “9mm? Aren’t those pretty standard?” She asked. Cade nodded and then stuffed the bullet in his pocket.

  “They are but we can match the gun to the striations on the bullet. I can’t do that until I know what gun it came from. We are pretty much at a stand-still until I talk with Megan.” Cade stated, sighing and taking a seat. Ellie sat next to him, looked at her hands and then up at Cade.

  “Cade I…” She stopped herself. He looked down at her with a look of worry. “I’m sorry about Megan.” She said softly. He took her hand.

  “I like her Ellie, a lot. She’s a nice girl and I don’t like seeing my friends get hurt. Someone shot her to silence her.” Cade stated with a look of anger on his face. All of Ellie’s jealousy faded because honestly, Cade was just a nice guy. He cared about people and she trusted him. He had told her nothing was going on and he had more than shown her he cared about her.

  “How do you know and what information does she have that someone would kill over?” Ellie asked. Cade lifted her hand to his lips and kissed them tenderly.

  “I’m not sure but I need to put a patrol outside her door 24/7. Whoever did this is not going to be happy that she survived.” Cade stated. The door opened once again and a blonde nurse with dark blue scrubs summoned them.

  “She’s barely awake but she asked for you and Dr. Ridely. She said you would be together.” The kind nurse stated. Ellie smiled and Cade squeeze her hand as they moved down the hallway. The nurse led them to a small room and as they entered Ellie felt a small bit of panic. She didn’t like hospitals and the last time she had spent time in one, had been at the hands of Terrance Jones. She took a breath and followed Cade inside.

  Megan lay in a bed, slightly elevated with tubes and lines running from her arms and chest. A slow beeping sound kept pace with her heart and an IV bag dripped from a pole next to her bed. Another nurse was checking a monitor and writing in a chart as Megan turned her head towards them. A small smile moved across her face.

  “Today, was not a good day to die.” She stated. Cade chuckled and moved forward letting go of Ellie’s hand to take Megan’s.

  “How are you doing? I know you aren’t feeling well but can you tell me what happened?” Cade asked with concern. Ellie moved up beside him and watched as Megan’s eyes danced from the anesthesia. They didn’t have much time before Megan would be unconscious again.

  “I…I went in because I had a feeling about victims. I wanted to check something and the bodies, they were missing.” Megan said, in almost a whisper. Her eyes shut and Ellie could see that Megan was straining to keep them open.

  “It’s ok M
egan. Take your time.” Cade said sweetly. Megan focused on them again.

  “The funeral home, the guys who came to get the bodies and signed them out weren’t the same ones who usually pick up bodies, when I turned around to call the police…I can’t believe someone shot me.” Megan stated with a small frown on her face. “At least they didn’t hit my spine. I’ll be on my feet in no time. This reminds me of when Worf from Star Trek Next Generation got crushed by boxes in the cargo bay. He wanted to give up and die but he didn’t.” Megan said, barely audible. Her eyes closed and Ellie wondered if that had been a dream or if she really was comparing her attempted murder to a Star Trek episode. Cade pulled on her hand.

  “Megan, I’m putting a patrol outside your door. This guy is still out there and I am not taking any chances. What did you find out?” Cade asked. Ellie touched his hand.

  “Cade, she’s exhausted. We can come back tomorrow.” Ellie said trying to pull him away. Megan’s eyes shot open.

  “No, please one of the bodies was a match for blood on your wall Nora and it’s a DNA match for an old case that popped up, a sexual assault case in 1996. I didn’t have a name, only a face and I wanted to run it through facial recognition. The files are at my house on a thumb drive and the thumb drive is in my Star Trek Voyager Collectors box season 2. It looks like a box but it’s a Borg box. It’s in my study.” She stated, wincing at pain and closing her eyes again. Ellie and Cade looked at each other.