Hounds of the Basket Stitch

by Anne Canadeo

  “I know, Rose. I feel very sad, too. Heartbroken.” Dana hugged Rose again and stroked her hair. She glanced over Rose’s shoulder at Dr. Riley.

  His complexion was ashen, and deep shadows beneath his eyes added years to his looks.

  “Dana . . . I’m glad you’re here.”

  “How are you holding up, Tim?” she replied.

  “As well as I can. Which is not too well at all. I keep thinking Emily would be so much better at reassuring everyone right now.” He drew in a sharp breath, his eyes growing glossy as he struggled to hold back tears. “I can’t understand how this happened. Why didn’t I see some sign? Of all people, I should have been able to help her . . .” His words trailed off, and he covered his eyes with his hand.

  Maggie wasn’t sure what to say, as his grief was so raw. He seemed to blame himself for Emily Curtis’s death, even though the question of suicide or accidental overdose had not yet been established.

  But perhaps a psychologist would reason there was no such thing as an accident? Especially in a case such as this.

  “It’s okay, Dr. Tim. You can cry if you need to. We’re all very sad now.” Rose reached out and patted his shoulder.

  “Thank you, Rose. I’ve spoken only briefly to her family. I don’t know if they’ve made any arrangements yet for a funeral, but I think everyone here, the staff and patients who knew her, should get together next week to honor her memory. Once we’ve all had time for this dreadful news to sink in.” He paused and took a deep breath. “In the meantime, the center will remained closed. There is no replacing her, and no chance of filling the gap she’s left in our organization. And in our hearts. I need to figure out how to keep things going without her. She would have wanted her work to continue. I’m sure of that.”

  His sorrowful words touched Maggie’s heart. It was so hard to see anyone struggle as they tried to come to grips with such a loss.

  “Give yourself time. It’s so much to take in,” Dana said. She glanced at Rose. “We’ll talk more about this later, Rose. I think we should head home now.” She turned to Tim Riley.“ Unless you need me here a little longer?” Dana asked.

  “I’ll be fine. But before you go, can we speak a moment, privately?”

  “Of course,” Dana said. “Let’s go in my office.”

  Dr. Riley glanced at Beth. “Could you wait here for me a minute, Beth? I’d like to go over Emily’s contact list. I’m still not sure I’ve reached everyone who needs to know.”

  Beth nodded. “Of course.”

  Dana and Dr. Riley walked toward Dana’s office, and Rose turned to Maggie. “Oreo needs some air. We’ll wait in front of the building.”

  Maggie wondered if she should follow Rose or wait for Dana.

  But she had a feeling that like her dog, Rose needed some air, and some time alone to sort out her feelings. It was hard to be Rose, Maggie thought, with everyone watching your every reaction and mood, especially when a challenging situation like this arose. Maggie thought the young woman deserved a respectful distance to deal with this loss on her own terms.

  Left alone with Beth, Maggie wasn’t sure what to say. “I’m very sorry about Dr. Curtis. I met her only once, but she was a very impressive woman. You must have known her very well.”

  Beth nodded, and her chin trembled. “Emily was amazing. She had a tough side, but she needed to be that way at times to keep this place in order. When she treated a patient, she was the kindest, gentlest, most understanding person you could ever imagine. And brilliant at her work.”

  “That’s what Dana told me. She said that Dr. Curtis was an outstanding therapist and researcher.”

  “I’m sure. But did she add that Emily let him take all the credit?” Beth was clearly angry on her idol’s behalf.

  “Dr. Riley, you mean?” Maggie asked quietly.

  “That’s right. Our resident genius, Timothy Riley. If she did kill herself, it’s all his fault.” She sounded angry, which Maggie knew was a common reaction to such dreadful news. “I don’t mean he actually did it with his own bare hands,” she added quickly. “But he may as well have, the way he treated her. He drove her to it. She deserved so much better. I don’t know why she couldn’t see it.”

  Maggie wasn’t sure what to say. Had Emily Curtis’s despair over Tim Riley’s wandering eye driven her to end her life? In the glimpse she’d had of the couple, Maggie had sensed simmering anger, but not desperation.

  Dr. Curtis had also seemed to hold important cards that gave her control of their emotional game. He had certainly rushed to appease her, Maggie recalled.

  Then again, they now knew Tim Riley had visited the Pipers several times last weekend, while Dr. Curtis had been away, and had probably tried to romance Holly.

  Beth had adored her mentor and was still reeling from the blow. People said a lot of things in that state that they realized later were emotional exaggerations or were simply not true. Maggie reminded herself of that fact. But Beth’s accusations were spoken with such conviction that her words were convincing. And troublesome.

  Dana and Dr. Riley came out of her office. She met Maggie’s glance. “Where’s Rose?”

  “Oreo needed to go outside. I think she wanted a breath of air, too. She’s waiting near the parking lot for us.”

  Dana nodded. She seemed distracted. She turned and said good-bye to Dr. Riley and Beth, who then headed in the opposite direction. Maggie walked with her to the staircase. She sensed Dana had something to say but didn’t want to run the risk of anyone overhearing.

  They got to the bottom of the staircase. The entrance area, with its many seats and the front desk, was still silent and empty.

  Eerily so, Maggie thought.

  Dana turned to her. Her expression revealed that she was excited but at the same time anxious. “I have some news. Rose is starting to remember what happened Tuesday night.”

  Chapter 10

  Maggie stopped in her tracks. She saw Rose through the glass, waiting by the Subaru. “Dr. Riley just told you that? What did he say?”

  “Nothing definitive. He was holding a session with Rose and a few other patients this morning. He was sitting in for Dr. Curtis, with Beth’s help. At that point, everyone thought that Dr. Curtis was just running late. Rose related a bad dream she had last night,” Dana continued. “As she described it, she realized that it wasn’t a dream. She was remembering what happened the night of the fire.”

  Maggie’s head spun with questions. “Any significant details?”

  “Dr. Riley said it was very vague. But he does feel it’s a positive sign. He wants to move slowly so she’s not overwhelmed and he doesn’t shut down the process. He says her memory is working hard to put the pieces together. But pinning her down right now, pressing her with a lot of questions, might shut the door again.”

  “As you know, I’m not a doctor. But that explanation make sense to me. Does Dr. Riley plan to tell Detective Reyes that Rose’s memory is coming back? Maybe he expects you to tell her?”

  “I asked about that. He said I can tell Reyes if I like, but he doesn’t think it’s a good time to bring the police in. He said it will help Detective Reyes more if we wait a few days and see if the memories become any clearer.” Dana glanced at her. “He said there was a drug he could administer that would speed up the process. But I’m wary of that approach. These are strong medications, and they might interfere with her stability. She’s worked so hard to get to this point. And I don’t think it’s right for me to authorize that step. That’s something Holly would need to decide.”

  Maggie sensed that Dana was troubled. This was another piece of potentially important information for Detective Reyes, but there were complications and consequences in sharing it.

  “I see his point,” Dana continued. “But I think Detective Reyes should be told what’s going on. She’s smart enough to understand the consequences of pushing Rose too hard too soon. I think she’d make the right decision.”

  Maggie thought that was true.
“Have you heard any word from Helen Forbes about Rose’s interview at the police station?”

  “Helen is dragging things out,” Dana said. “But I’m sure Detective Reyes will put her foot down soon.”

  “Especially if she hears there’s a chance Rose might remember something.”

  “There’s another wrinkle I’m concerned about.” Dana pushed open the glass door and waved to Rose, who was still standing next to Maggie’s Subaru with Oreo. “Dr. Riley wasn’t sure how the shock of Dr. Curtis’s death would affect Rose’s memory. He said it could go either way. It might submerge recollections about Tuesday night or help bring them forward.”

  Maggie found that point very interesting. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

  As they walked to the car, Maggie gazed up at the sky. The sun was high, and she felt its warmth on her skin. Birds swooped between the branches, and a light breeze ruffled her hair.

  It didn’t seem right that Emily Curtis had died this morning, on such a perfect spring day. It didn’t seem right at all.

  Once they were in the car and on their way, Dana said, “I guess we need to head back to town and pick up my car.” She turned to Rose. “Do you still want to visit Holly? It’s all right if you don’t feel up to it, Rose.”

  “I still want to see her. Now more than ever.” Losing Emily had frightened Rose, Maggie realized. She must have been wondering if she would lose Holly, too. “I wish Holly could talk to us,” she added quietly. “Do you think it will be much longer before she can breathe without the machine and can see that we’re there?”

  “I don’t know, Rose,” Dana said honestly. “I haven’t spoken to her doctor yet today. There might be some progress.”

  Maggie sensed Dana’s frustration with Holly’s condition, too, and saw how she struggled to keep a calm front for Rose’s sake.

  They drove along in silence for a while. Maggie didn’t know what to say. The concerns of the day seemed far too serious to make idle conversation.

  They were passing the turnoff for the nursery when Maggie spotted the convenience store and gas station at the crossroads. “The needle is almost on E. I’d better stop, or we won’t make it to the village,” she told the others.

  As she pulled over and turned into the station, Dana nudged Maggie with her elbow. “Look, it’s Toby.”

  Maggie followed Dana’s gaze and recognized Toby, standing at a set of pumps just ahead She stopped the car and got out to pump the gas. Dana stayed seated but slid down the window when Toby walked over.

  “Headed back to the house?” he asked.

  “We’re on our way to the hospital to see Holly,” Dana said.

  “Oh, so you heard the news? I wasn’t sure if they called you.”

  “What news?” Dana’s tone was sharp. Maggie looked up, careful not to spray gas all over her shoes.

  “Her doctor is taking the oxygen tube out today. She’s coming off the sedation. They’re going to see if she can breathe on her own.”

  “That’s wonderful.” Dana sounded both relieved and overjoyed. “I don’t understand. Why didn’t Dr. Gupta call me?”

  Toby shrugged. “I don’t know, Aunt Dana. I did stop in to see her the other day and listed myself as the first contact. Being her brother, I am the only real family relation. Maybe that’s what happened.”

  Dana didn’t reply.

  The tank was only half full, but Maggie was sure that Dana would want to make a beeline to Harbor Hospital. Without sparing Toby a glance, she jammed the fuel nozzle back in place, closed the tank, and jumped behind the steering wheel.

  Rose was so excited at the news, she was practically bouncing up and down in the backseat, next to her dog. “I just made a wish that would happen. Isn’t that amazing? It really came true.”

  “So it did,” Maggie agreed, sharing her euphoria. “What a coincidence.”

  “It’s not a coincidence, Maggie. It’s a real wish,” Rose insisted.

  Maggie felt duly chastised. “Yes, I think so. I definitely see the difference, too.”

  Dana turned and cast a loving smile in Rose’s direction. “That was a powerful wish, Rose. You love Holly so much. That must be why it came true.” She glanced at Maggie. “I’m going to call Holly’s doctor, but let’s get over there before Toby, if at all possible.”

  “I know a back route. We’ll arrive in no time. Hopefully, he’ll sit in traffic on the highway.”

  Maggie pressed her foot to the gas as hard as she dared, and focused on the road signs. There were a few tricky turns along this back route, and she needed to watch carefully so she wouldn’t miss them. She smiled to herself, feeling like the getaway driver in a movie about bank robbers. Though it wasn’t really getaway driving . . . more of a getto situation. Either way, she was determined to beat Toby to Holly’s bedside. They needed to be there to rally around her, to give her love and encouragement. Who knew what Toby Nash’s intentions were?

  A short time later, they exited the hospital elevator on Holly’s floor and headed to her room. Holly’s doctor was just leaving and met them outside the doorway.

  “How is she doing?” Dana asked. “Did you take the breathing tube out yet?”

  “We just completed the procedure. She is able to breathe on her own and is mostly awake and aware. It will take time for the sedation to wear off completely. We need to watch her closely, to make sure her respiration remains stable.” He offered a small smile. “But you can visit for a little while. Just don’t let her talk too much. Her throat is still very irritated. She really needs to rest.”

  “Thank you, Doctor. We won’t overdo it.” Dana paused before entering the room. “Did you tell her what happened to her, Doctor? About the assault and the fire?”

  Dr. Gupta shook his head. “Very little. Only that she had been injured and was being treated for smoke inhalation. I thought it would be best to let a family member tell her the details. Once she’s alert enough to understand.”

  Dana nodded and let Rose lead the way into Holly’s room. Sunlight filtered through half-drawn shades. Holly, free of the heavy plastic mask that had covered her face, was raised up in the bed. She lifted one hand and offered them a smile.

  There were still tubes and wires trailing from her body in all directions, and machines around her beeping and buzzing. Rose ran to her bedside, then leaned over and did her best to gently hug her older sister.

  Rose was crying. But happy tears, Maggie thought. She felt a little misty herself, watching their reunion.

  “Holly . . . you woke up. We were waiting and waiting. We came every day to see you. I love you so much. I kept wishing and even said some of the prayers Dad taught us.”

  “Rose . . . sweetheart . . . don’t cry.” With her free hand, Holly managed to pat Rose’s back. Her words were thick and slow. “It’s all right now. Please don’t worry.”

  Dana walked to the other side of the bed. She also looked tearful and took Holly’s other hand. “It’s so good to see you awake, honey. I can’t tell you.”

  “The doctor said I was in a fire, but I wasn’t burned.”

  Dana shook her head. “No, thank heaven. You got out in time, somehow. You were unconscious when the firemen found you. Someone knocked you out and set the greenhouse on fire. It appears your assailant also drugged you, so you wouldn’t wake up.”

  Before Holly could answer, Rose called out from the other side of the bed, “They think I hurt you, Holly. They think I set the fire. You know it wasn’t me, right? I could never do that. You know that . . . I’d hurt myself first instead. . .”

  Rose’s distress was building. She sat down on the chair next to Holly’s bed, put her head down and hid her face with her hands. Her body started to tremble. Maggie felt concerned, and she could see that Dana was, too.

  But Holly’s touch and her calm, though choked words quickly soothed her younger sister. “Of course you didn’t, Rose. I know it wasn’t you.” Reaching as far as she could, Holly touched Rose’s long hair and cheek.

/>   “Do you know who did it?” Dana asked quietly.

  Holly didn’t answer. Maggie wondered if she had heard Dana’s question or perhaps was having trouble speaking.

  The other night, they had more or less determined that Holly was being pressed for money by someone who knew her secret and that the blackmailer had attacked her. Was she about to give up that person’s identity?

  “It was very dark. Someone came up behind me,” she replied in a halting, raspy tone.

  So, she didn’t actually see her attacker. Maggie’s heart fell. That statement wouldn’t rule out Rose for the police.

  “Why did you go out to the greenhouse at that hour? Did you see the fire starting?” Dana asked.

  Once again, there was a long silent pause before Holly answered. She took a ragged, wheezing breath.

  “Maybe we should get a pad and pencil,” Maggie suggested, concerned that Holly was getting tired and was even feeling some discomfort.

  Holly raised her hand and seemed to gather her strength. “I had to check the thermostat. For the new plants. Was a cold night,” she managed to say.

  It had been chilly Tuesday night. The temperature had dropped considerably compared to the day, Maggie recalled. Still, she wondered if Holly had really gone out to meet her blackmailer, as they had theorized, and was reluctant to admit that, even to Dana.

  “You’re still groggy. The doctor said you shouldn’t talk too much,” Dana sounded concerned.

  Holly nodded. She glanced at Rose, who had sat up and wiped her eyes. Holly softly smiled and touched Rose’s hand again; the contact seemed a great comfort for both of them. “Rose . . . are you all right?”

  “I’m fine. Aunt Dana and Uncle Jack are staying with me. But Toby came back. He’s coming here to see you.”

  “Toby? What’s he doing around here?” Holly struggled to sit up higher, and Dana softly touched her shoulder.

  “Don’t fret, sweetheart. It’s fine. Please . . .”

  It was too late. Holly began to gasp and pressed her hand to her chest. Her eyes were wide with alarm; she couldn’t speak and seemed to be choking. The lines on the screens around her bed shot up and down in urgent zigzags, and low but insistent bells sounded.