“No. I’ll do that now.” Max pulled out his cell and punched in Nick’s private number. After two rings, he picked up the call.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m at a hospital near the South Carolina border. I believe Helen brought Kevin here. The real problem is my son was really sick, and the doctor wanted him admitted, but that bitch refused. Then the doctor called security and Social Services, but she left with him before anyone could stop her.”
“Whoa, that’s bullshit. Have you talked to the doctor, or the hospital administrators? There should be security cams you can view and get a positive ID. How was she able to take him for services without being his parent?”
“Good question, I don’t know how that happened, and we’re waiting for the doctor now.”
“You and Tamara?”
“No. Brock’s here, we just left the morgue. A call came in, young kid, they wanted me to… look at him.”
“Holy shit. Are you okay?” The concern in Nick’s voice touched Max to the point he closed his eyes for a second to pull it together.
“I’m better now, it was kinda touch and go for a minute. The morgue attendant is the one who told us about the hospital situation. Legally, what will I need to get information?”
“Well, you have his birth certificate, and a picture of him. That should be enough to get you started, if more is necessary, I’ll get it. She’s in violation of a warrant for questioning, so that will help.”
Nick’s reassurances eased his mind. The last thing he wanted today was bureaucratic bullshit preventing him from getting information. “Okay, looks like the doctor is headed this way, I’ll let you know what’s going on.” Max disconnected, and then turned to meet the young man headed his way.
“I’m Dr. Mason, can I help you?” The younger man’s brow furrowed as he stared at Max in that you-look-kinda-familiar way.
“Yes. I’m Max Delgado, this is Brock Sterling. Earlier this week you wanted to admit this young man.” Max gave him a picture of Kevin.
Mason’s frown became more pronounced as he stared at the photo. “Yes, I examined him. But I cannot discuss his case with you.” The doctor returned the photo, it was obvious in the way his jaw clenched and he stiffened, seeing Kevin bothered him.
“I’m his father. Contact the hospital administrator. My son was stolen from me nine months ago by this woman.” Max pulled Helen’s picture from his folder and gave it to the man. After the briefest glance, the doctor strode to the information desk and spoke to the woman, who looked at them and then made a call.
The doctor remained at the desk until a woman walking at a fast clip joined him at the desk. The two stepped aside, bent their heads close, and talked for a few moments. Max glanced at Brock, who leaned against a wall behind him with his arms across his chest.
“Mr. Delgado,” the woman said, walking toward him with her hand extended. Max took it and gave one obligatory shake before releasing. “I’m Donna Wills, assistant to Mr. Harper, the hospital administrator. He’s not here right now, can I help you?” She handed him her business card.
Max glanced at the doctor, who stood next to the short woman, and released a sigh. They had to be difficult about this. He repeated what he told the doctor, and then asked to see Kevin’s records.
“We don’t have any records other than the emergency room chart,” Ms. Wills said hesitantly.
“What? Kevin was here, you worked on him,” Max stated in a firm tone.
“Yes, but as an emergency case. Because of his age and high temperature, the doctors went to work on him right away.”
Max looked at the doctor who had said nothing. “Thank you.”
The doctor brusquely replied, “You’re welcome.”
“What happened? What was wrong with him?” Max asked.
Ms. Wills stepped forward. “Before we get into all of that, let’s go somewhere where we can talk. There are papers to be filled out and we need verification you are the parent. You understand?” She looked at him with a weak smile as if saying it wasn’t her rule, but they still needed to follow them.
“Sure, which way?” Max would’ve been surprised if she had told him anything without verifying his information.
She pointed and walked off with the doctor. Now and then, Mason would lean down and say something to Ms. Wills. When they reached the bank of elevators, Max recalled what Nick said about positive identification.
“After you’re satisfied with my paperwork, we’d like to see the security footage from that day for a positive visual check.” Max hadn’t seen Helen up-close in nine months, it wouldn’t hurt to have a recent picture of the woman.
“Yes, that’s not a problem,” Wills said as the elevator opened. They got off the elevator, then turned left and walked through another set of doors. She stopped in front of a door marked Administration and ushered them inside. The large suite of offices surprised Max as he and Brock settled into comfortable chairs in the conference room.
“Can I get you something to drink?” she asked.
“Water will be fine,” Max said.
Brock waved his hand, but remained silent.
“One moment, I’ll get that for you. I put a call into Mr. Harper and he’s on his way. I also contacted our head of security, he would be the one to get the footage for you. If you’ll pull your identification together, I’ll make copies so we’ll have all of that ready.”
Max nodded while opening his bag. “Okay.”
Smiling, she left the room. Dr. Mason remained in the outer office for a few moments and then left. Max glanced at the card and then at Brock. “Thoughts?”
Brock moved around in his chair a bit, and pulled out a small scanning device that looked like a flip phone. He tapped a few keys, waited, and then closed it.
“They look scared. Something happened, something that’ll cause them problems. I don’t know if it’s Helen and whoever’s helping her, or if they didn't follow protocol. I’d have Nick come now rather than later, he’ll see through the bullshit that’s headed this way.”
Max thought about the way Dr. Mason and Wills acted, they had seemed apprehensive. “Do you think the administrator’s bringing in legal as well?”
“I’d be surprised if they didn’t, I smelled a ton of fear.”
Glad for Brock’s observation, Max called Nick and updated him. When he hung up, he looked at Brock. “Nick can’t make it tonight, and he has meetings in the morning. The soonest he can come is tomorrow evening. He suggests I present the paperwork, get a copy of any files and the footage. If they refuse to work with me, then he’ll bring the guns and force their hand.”
“Makes sense. This is a small county, might not be bad once they hear everything you been through, they should be willing to help.”
Max hoped Nick and Brock was right. Kevin was sick somewhere and needed help. Max didn’t want to spend a lot of time cutting through red tape to get information that’d help find Kevin.
Ms. Wills returned with a bottle of cold water and placed it on the desk in front of Max. “There you are, Sir. I can make those copies now. Mr. Harper is a few minutes away and so is Chester, our security chief.”
Max handed her a stack of papers. Her eyes widened as she accepted them. “You are prepared.”
“My son’s been missing for nine months. Every day, my team and I are out searching for him. So yeah, I’m always prepared.”
Her face reddened, and she took a step back. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to make light of your situation. It’s… I’ll make copies and be right back.” She fled the room.
Chapter Three
Tamara hung up the phone with Max wondering if they’d moved too fast with the relationship thing. He shut her out of so many areas of his life while she wanted him in every part of hers. She constantly changed her schedule to accommodate him and then things fell apart.
Tonight was the fifth time he'd canceled their date because he had something else to do. Frustrated, she exhaled. Until he found
his son, she wouldn’t make any more date plans because this wasn’t working for her.
“That was Max?” Gayle asked, sitting across from her at the table.
“Yeah. He’s going to some hospital to check something and will be by later.” She tried to keep disappointment from her voice, but the look on Gayle’s face said she failed.
“Tamara… why don’t you talk to him? Tell him how you feel?”
“No. He doesn’t need me whining and complaining that I hardly see him except late at night. It’s not like he’s hanging with the boys, he’s looking for Kevin. If that was my son, I’d want him to spend his time doing what he’s doing. So… no, I’m not going to complain.”
“But you’re not happy, this isn’t working for you. Maybe the timing was wrong for you guys to start a relationship. What if you took a break…?”
Tamara met Gayle’s gaze and shook her head. “And do what? Date another guy? There’s no one else. Hang around the house moping? Alone? What good would taking a break do? I’m really into this guy, probably more than he’s into me.” She paused as her unspoken thoughts broke free. “That’s the part that irks me. I swore after Eugene and I divorced, after he took everything from me and I had to start from fucking scratch… I swore I’d never care more for someone than they cared for me.”
“And then you met Max.”
Tamara chuckled at Gayle’s dry tone. “Yeah… I met Max Delgado and fell hard and fast.”
Neither spoke. Gayle took a sip of her Margarita, while Tamara stirred her rum and coke. They’d been at Reclamation for forty minutes. Charlene, the head cook, had come out to say hi and tell them what she’d be fixing for them to eat. First she’d sent an appetizer platter filled with wings, skins, spring rolls, and veggies. They’d munched and finished those before Max called. Crystal, the bartender and assistant manager, had taken their drink orders and kept them coming.
There were few leftovers on the plate of baked salmon with cream sauce, wild rice, veggies, and small loaves of baked bread. Tamara was stuffed.
“You love him.”
Tamara eyed Gayle and snorted. “I don’t. We haven’t been together long enough for a declaration of love, but I do love what he does to my body.”
“Stop right there, that’s too much information. Plus, my old man’s outta town and I don’t need to hear what you been doing with your stud.”
Tamara laughed. “He is a stud. Damn good stud. Why do you think I can’t just walk away? I’ve never had it this good.”
Gayle smiled and leaned forward. “Really?”
Tamara looked over Gayle’s shoulder at the two women heading toward her. One was tall, slender, and looked familiar. The other was shorter, older, but it was obvious they were related. They stopped at the table and offered a smile.
“Hello, I’m Terri Willis, and this is my mom, Beth Jacobs. Crystal said you’re Tamara Gibbs, the owner of Good Places?”
Tamara nodded and then extended her hand. “Yes, it’s nice to meet you. This is,” she gestured across the table, “my assistant, Gayle.”
Terri nodded to Gayle and then turned to Tamara. “Can we speak to you for a moment?”
Tipsy, Tamara didn’t want to walk anywhere, she’d had too much to drink. Looking around, she pointed at the next table. “Sure, pull up a chair.”After they were all seated, Terri glanced at Gayle, and then refocused on Tamara. “My sister Carin worked for you. We’re here to close out her estate, ship her boxes, and deal with her house.”
Tamara tensed at the mention of Carin’s name, and rightfully so. Because of Carin’s deceit, Tamara had been arrested for the woman’s murder, and then kidnapped. Max and Eugene, her ex-husband, had saved her from a crazy woman Carin had double-crossed.
“Why are you talking to me?” Tamara refused to act as if she and Carin had parted on good terms, she’d almost lost her business because of that bitch.
Terri’s eyes narrowed. “Do you owe her any money?”
Gayle choked on her drink, causing both women to look at her.
“What?” Tamara asked, certain she hadn’t heard correctly.
Terri looked uncertain and wet her lips.
“She asked if you owed Carin any money,” Beth blurted out. “But I doubt it, not after what she put you through. Sorry 'bout that, by the way. The girl always was a selfish bitch, thinking only of herself. No doubt she thought she could lie and cheat her way through life.”
“Mom!” Terri said through clenched teeth. “Enough, we agreed no negative talking.”
“I’m just pointing out the truth. They know it’s true, just look at them,” Beth said, looking at Gayle, whose expression clearly agreed with the woman.
“No. I don’t owe her anything. In fact, she owes me. Are you handling her debts as well?”
Terri’s face reddened.
Beth grinned at her daughter as she leaned back. “I told you to leave things alone. You don’t listen, never did. Now you gotta pay more bills for her.”
Terri glared at her mom before turning toward Tamara. “My sister owed you? For what?”
“She cashed a ten thousand dollar earnest check that I had to replace.” Taking out that loan to close the deal still irked Tamara. It didn’t matter that the commission had repaid the loan and gave her a smaller profit margin; she should never have been in that position in the first place.
Beth’s face fell. “I knew she did crooked stuff, but that’s a lot of money. I don’t know how to repay that without selling her house. Maybe you need to rethink moving up here, Terri.”
Terri met Tamara’s gaze. “If you’ll give me copies of your claim, I’ll add the debt to her estate.”
“You’ll talk to Max about it, you mean,” her mom said.
“Max? Why do you need to talk to him about this?” Gayle said, asking before Tamara could.
“He’s been handling everything, took care of the funeral, packing Carin’s house, sending us tickets to come up, and probably will pay for her to move into that house if she wants. He’s been a good friend,” Beth said with an indulgent smile.
Gayle looked at Tamara with a did-you-know-about-that-shit look in her eyes.
Tamara hadn’t known these women existed, let alone that Max had been their private banker for a while.
Terri preened. “I’ll talk to him about moving into Carin’s house, it’s paid for and I can find a job here. There’s six months left on the lease on Carin’s car, so that would help until I get on my feet. When Kevin comes home, he can play with his cousin Mickey.” She looked at Gayle. “My daughter, she’s six. Having family around will be good for him.”
Tamara hated the jealousy that rose fast and hot at Terri’s remarks. Terri wanted Carin’s life without the drama. Tamara wondered if she wanted Carin’s ex, as well.
“Tamara, when he calls, you can let him know Terri wants to talk to him,” Gayle said. Tamara recognized the heated gleam in her assistant’s eyes, it was the same one she used whenever Eugene had popped into her office. Gayle was pissed.
“Why would Max call you? Is he buying another house?” Terri asked, sounding confused.
“How was dinner?” Charlene asked, walking to the table and reaching between Terri and Beth to pick up the plates.
“It was great, you outdid yourself,” Tamara said, smiling at the cross-dresser. Tonight, Charlie who preferred Charlene, wore an auburn wig and green tinted contacts, reminding her of Flo from Alice, an old sitcom.
“Nothing but the best for the boss’s lady and her friend. You need anything else to drink or dessert?” Charlene said with a cheeky grin. Tamara knew the remarks were deliberate and for the benefit of Carin’s kin.
“No, we’re good.”
“If you want dessert, I’ve got peach cobbler and ice cream. I set a bowl aside for Max along with his dinner plate in a to-go box for you. Stop by before you leave and pick it up, okay?” Charlene winked and left the table.
Gayle sipped her drink with a sly smile.
Tamar
a picked up her glass, it was empty and set it back on the table.
“You’re… you and Max are what?” Terri asked, frowning. Even Beth looked at Tamara with a narrowed gaze.
“Excuse me?” Gayle said. “Why’d you ask her that question like that?”
Tamara glanced at Gayle and motioned for her to take the hostility down a notch.
“I’m just… surprised. He never said, never mentioned, he was seeing anyone. I assumed…” Terri looked puzzled, as if the pieces weren’t fitting something in her mind.
“How long you and Max been a couple?” Beth asked, all laughter gone.
“Ask Max,” Tamara said, peeved he hadn’t told them anything about them. He hadn’t mentioned them to her either. Which was becoming a new theme song in their relationship, and she didn’t care for the lyrics.
Beth looked surprised and then smiled. “So it’s a new thing, I just wondered when he’d have time for a woman with all the searching he’s doing for my grandson.”
Tamara heard the smug undertone and the reminder of a family connection. Things between her and Max hadn’t been all that great lately, and meeting these two didn’t help. “Finding Kevin is his main priority as it should be. I hope he finds him before next month.”
Beth frowned.
Terri looked at her as if she were some exotic species. “Why next month?”
This time Tamara and Gayle frowned. “Kevin’s birthday.”
The expressions on Beth and Terri’s faces cleared. Terri’s cheeks pinked. “That’s right, what day is it?”
“Ask Max,” Gayle said before Tamara could answer. She looked at Gayle and smiled.
“Is it serious between you and Max?” Beth asked, and then held up her hand when Gayle opened her mouth. “I’m asking because Max helps us financially from time to time. He doesn’t owe us anything, we know that. Carin was… well, she wasn’t a nice person and treated him like shit.”
“Mom!”
“Hush, it’s true and you know it. But he’s always been nice to us.” She pointed to Terri and then back at herself. “He didn’t tell you about that, so I told you. Max is a good guy who deserves to be happy. His childhood was hard, his mom died while he was deployed, his brother died in prison, and he doesn’t have a lot of family. I kind of adopted him the first time Carin brought him home. As good as he’s been to me; I feel I have to ask if you’re serious about him.”
Lies in the Morgue Page 2
