The Missing Piece

by Sala, Sharon

  When the chopper went into landing mode, Carter looked away from the window. Watching the ground come up to meet him that fast was unnerving, but down they went. The skids touched lightly as they settled.

  “We’re going straight to St. Joseph’s, right?” Carter asked.

  “Yes. We have a car rented,” Wyrick said. “We’ll be there soon. I just need to get the Ranger in a hangar before we leave.”

  The rental car was waiting for them in the parking lot, and as soon as Charlie and Carter were out, they carried their luggage past the fenced-in area, found the man waiting with the car Wyrick had rented, and loaded their gear.

  Charlie looked back once to check on Wyrick’s progress and saw her overseeing the Ranger being pulled into a hangar. She followed it in, and a couple of minutes later, came out carrying her bags.

  Charlie went to meet her at the gate, eyeing her long stride in the neon-green tennis shoes, her straight-legged blue jeans and brown bomber jacket. She still had that unconscious swagger, and when she walked through the exit, he reached for her bags.

  “I can carry them,” she insisted.

  “I know you can,” Charlie said. “But I haven’t gotten past watching you hit Doolin in the back with a flying tackle. You should be sore all over after what you’ve gone through, so I’m carrying your damn bags to the car, and I’m driving us to the hospital.”

  Wyrick gave up without an argument. She was sore, and knew she would get worse before she got better. She climbed into the passenger side of the car, fastened her seat belt, then sank back against the cool leather and turned the air vent toward her face.

  Carter touched her shoulder, then handed her a bottle of cold water.

  “They were in the car. Nice touch.”

  Wyrick took a long, satisfying drink, then set it in one of the cup holders in the console.

  Charlie got into the car, scooted the seat back as far as it would go and buckled himself in.

  “I Googled the address of the hospital. It’s in the GPS on my phone.”

  “I can drive if you want,” Carter said. “I know the way.”

  “You just stay where you are, and if you see me take the wrong direction, speak up. Even though the windows are tinted, the less you call attention to yourself, the better.”

  “Okay, yes, you’re right,” Carter said. Charlie put the car in gear and drove out of the parking lot, following the GPS directions to St. Joseph’s.

  Not one to sit idly by, Wyrick was on her phone, calling the hospital to find out the number of Jason Dunleavy’s room.

  As soon as Charlie had parked, they got out. They’d been sitting so long it felt good to stand up and stretch. Then Charlie dug his Texas Ranger ball cap out of an outer pocket in his duffel bag and handed it to Carter.

  “Put this on and don’t look at anyone,” he said.

  Carter’s expression was grim as he settled it on his head and pulled down the brim. He knew he was on home territory again, but just now, it wasn’t safe territory.

  “Walk between us,” Charlie added. “My partner and I know how to look mean.”

  Wyrick was taken aback by being referred to as his partner. She was fine with assistant, but partner seemed personal, and she didn’t do personal with anyone. Still, she’d promised not to argue with him here, so she made no comment.

  Fifteen

  The lobby was full of people coming and going as the trio entered the building. Carter led the way to the elevators, and then they waited. Once the first car to reach the lobby had emptied, Wyrick walked in first. Carter followed, and Charlie brought up the rear.

  “What floor?” he asked.

  “Fourth floor,” Wyrick said. “Room 424.”

  Carter leaned against the back of the elevator as it began to rise, eyeing Charlie’s assistant with unmistakable envy.

  “Wyrick, you are a true marvel of organization. What I wouldn’t give to have someone like you on my team.”

  “Except she’s on mine,” Charlie said. “So no poaching.”

  Wyrick stood between them, listening to their banter and hoping the lighthearted moment would hold true after they learned Jason’s condition. Then the doors opened and there was no longer any need for supposition. They were about to find out.

  They went down the hall and paused at the door of Room 424.

  “You ready to do this?” Charlie asked, and when Carter nodded, Charlie knocked once, then opened the door.

  * * *

  Dina was on her feet and leaning over Jason’s bed, smoothing the wisps of red hair away from his forehead.

  Kenneth was sitting beside Edward and was the first to look up and smile when he saw who walked in.

  Dina heard footsteps and turned to look, too. She saw Charlie Dodge first, but when the man behind him suddenly took off his cap, she gasped.

  “Carter! Thank God!” She burst into tears and walked into his open arms.

  Kenneth patted Edward’s arm. “Charlie Dodge is here, Edward. He brought Carter home!”

  The relief on Edward’s face said it all.

  Jason wasn’t conscious, but Carter went straight to his bedside.

  “How’s he doing?” he asked.

  “The doctor said he should make a full recovery. The bullet broke his collarbone and lodged near the rotator cuff. They had to remove quite a bit of bone fragment, too,” Dina said.

  Carter smiled. “This news is wonderful. Kenneth, it’s good to see you,” he said, then went straight to Edward, sat down beside him. “Hey, Eddie, how’s it going, buddy?”

  Edward grinned. Carter was the only person in the family who still called him by his childhood name, Eddie, and he loved it.

  “I’m glad you’re home,” he said.

  “Me, too,” Carter told him. “And I’m not running again. Mr. Dodge and his assistant are both staying here with me until this mess is over. Between them and my security team, I’ll be fine.”

  The mention of an assistant shifted Dina’s focus. It was then that she saw another person leaning against the wall near the door.

  Charlie had been waiting for it, and when Dina’s eyes widened and her mouth opened, he spoke before she could utter a word.

  “Everyone, this is Wyrick. She’s my assistant as well as the pilot who flew us here. You have her to thank that we arrived as soon as we did.”

  Kenneth was stunned when Charlie said “she.” He’d seen the person who’d walked in behind Charlie, certain it was a man, especially with all the bruises on his face and head.

  Wyrick said nothing. She’d already taken the woman’s measure and knew she was going to disapprove, but Wyrick didn’t give a damn.

  Then they heard a moan. Jason was waking up.

  Carter hurried to Jason’s bedside. “Hey, Jason. Hey, buddy.”

  Jason moaned again, but now his eyelids were fluttering.

  “Uncle...?”

  Carter smiled. “Yes, it’s me. I’m here.”

  Jason opened his eyes and reached for Carter’s hand. “You came home.”

  Carter nodded. “Yes, to stay. Don’t worry about a thing. Just rest and heal.”

  Jason managed a half smile, then was out again.

  Charlie tapped Carter on the shoulder. “Are you planning to stay at the hospital?”

  Carter shook his head. “Until I make an official announcement that I’m back, my presence here would only cause chaos. Especially if the media finds out I’m back, and Jason doesn’t need that. However, I am concerned that there’s no security here. Someone just tried to kill him, and at this moment, anyone could walk in and finish the job.”

  Dina moaned, “I didn’t think of that!”

  “I’ll get some people from our security division. They’ll be here 24/7 until Jason is released.”

  Dina hugged him again. “Thank you, and
thank God you’re home.”

  “Charlie, since I’m no longer going to be secluded, it’s okay to use my own phone, right?” Carter asked.

  Charlie nodded.

  Carter moved toward the window to make the call. Within minutes, he had security notified, and men on the way.

  “They’ll be here shortly,” Carter said. “I’ll wait until they arrive, and then I think we should leave.”

  “Okay,” Charlie agreed, but he was watching Wyrick. Not only had she made her way to where Edward was sitting, but he’d watched her introducing herself, and now they were talking. From the expression on Edward’s face, she was charming him. Charlie wondered where the hell all that personality came from, and then it hit him. She was free to be herself with Edward because he couldn’t see her to judge.

  Ten minutes later, two men from Carter’s security team were knocking at the door. Carter stepped out into the hall to speak with them, and Charlie went with him.

  “Good to see you, sir,” the men were saying.

  “It’s good to be home, too,” Carter said. “You do understand the seriousness of this?”

  They both nodded. “Of course. We’re here for the first shift. The shifts will change every eight hours, through a twenty-four-hour day, as you requested.”

  “Yes, perfect,” Carter said. “And you know if any incident occurs, however small, you’re to notify the Denver PD.”

  “Yes, sir. We were given all the particulars. We won’t let you down.”

  Carter shook each man’s hand, and then went back inside.

  “Dina, we’re going to leave now. If you want an around-the-clock nurse on the job, all you have to do is notify the doctor and request it.”

  “Thank you,” Dina said. “I’ll see you at dinner this evening.”

  Carter glanced at Edward. “Eddie, if you’re tired, you can ride home with us.”

  Dina looked relieved. “Yes, Edward, do that. Now that you know Jason is recovering, you should go.”

  “I would like to go home now,” he said.

  Wyrick touched his hand. “Take my arm, sir, if you’d like.”

  Charlie handed his baseball cap back to Carter as they left. They exited the hospital without incident, and when they reached the car, Carter and Edward got in the back together. Charlie slid into the driver’s seat, while Wyrick buckled up on the passenger side.

  “Do you know where you’re going?” Wyrick asked.

  “I’ve been there before. Do you know where we’re going?” he asked.

  “Of course I do. The directions are on my phone. You may proceed,” Wyrick said.

  Charlie drove out of the parking lot, once again on his way to Greenwood Village.

  Carter had one ear on Edward’s conversation, but he was also watching the byplay between the pair in the front seat. The energy between them was so strong it was almost visible, and he could also tell that Wyrick knew it, and Charlie didn’t.

  * * *

  It was 6:15 p.m. when Detective Bruner stopped by the hospital, hoping Jason Dunleavy was cognizant enough to talk about the shooting. But when he got to Jason’s room, there were two men standing guard outside the door. Before he could enter, they stopped him.

  “We need to see some ID.”

  Bruner flashed his badge. “Detective Bruner. Denver PD. I’m investigating the shooting and I’d like to speak with him.”

  “Oh, sorry, Detective. Some of his family just left. Maybe he’s still awake.”

  “I won’t be long,” Bruner said and went in.

  The head of Jason’s bed was raised a little. His eyes were closed, but he opened them when Bruner approached.

  Bruner immediately displayed his badge.

  “Good evening, Jason. I’m Detective Bruner. Finally we meet, but I’m sorry it’s this way. As you know, I caught the Wilma Short case, which is connected to your family. And when someone tried to kill you today, we’re thinking it might be connected. Are you up to answering a few questions?”

  “I’m still a little groggy from pain meds, so I don’t know how much help I’ll be,” Jason said.

  “First question—did you see who shot you?” Bruner asked.

  “No. All I know is when the light turned green, I started to cross the intersection. I saw movement from the corner of my eye and the flash of a car running a red light. I slammed on my brakes, and as I did, my briefcase, which was in the passenger seat, began sliding to the floor. I reached across the console to grab it, and the next thing I know, I’m covered in glass. I had no idea what the hell had happened until a woman was at my window asking if I was okay. She said she was a nurse. I still didn’t know I’d been shot.”

  “So she saw the shooter?” Bruner asked.

  “I guess she saw something,” Jason said. “She said a man took two shots at me. She reached for my shoulder. I remember intense pain, and her saying, ‘You’ve been shot.’ I think the last thing I said was to tell the police to call Charlie Dodge, that the number was in my phone. Then I passed out.”

  “Did the woman tell you her name?” Bruner asked.

  “No, only that she was a nurse. But she must have passed on the message to someone, because Charlie Dodge showed up here today, just after I came out of surgery.”

  “I won’t bother you further, Jason. Get some rest.”

  Bruner left the hospital no closer to an answer than before he arrived, but as soon as he got back to the office, he checked the incident report for the woman’s name and testimony—and noticed another interesting thing or two about the shooter. His left arm was out the window as he was shooting, so he was left-handed. And that the arm had a complete sleeve of tattoos.

  * * *

  Rey Garza took country roads to get to Cherry Creek Reservoir, which had added to his driving time. Once he reached the meeting place to collect his money, no one was there. He reminded himself it wasn’t like this customer could stiff him, so he settled in to wait. But for Rey, patience was hard to come by, and after two cars had driven past without stopping, he was getting antsy.

  Finally, he saw another car approaching, and this one slowed and then pulled up right beside him. When the driver rolled down the window, he breathed a sigh of relief and lowered his window, as well.

  “Hey!” he said, then leaned across his console and smiled. “Just toss it in.”

  “You missed,” the driver said and shot Rey between the eyes. Blood spattered the driver’s-side window, along with brain matter.

  The shot, muffled by a silencer, was hardly more than a pop, and then the driver was gone.

  A couple hiking the area a few hours later found the body and called the police.

  * * *

  As Charlie drove through the gates toward the residence, Carter directed him to follow a bricked road that went behind the house.

  “Just park in any of the empty spaces,” he said, pointing to a long multicar garage.

  Charlie did, and as soon as he stopped, they got out to unload the luggage. Edward stumbled. Wyrick caught him, but Charlie could tell he was exhausted.

  “Carter, you go ahead and take Edward inside. I’ll bring your bags. After someone tried to pick off your nephew this morning, I’d just as soon you were inside, too,” Charlie said.

  “Yes, all right,” Carter said and pointed toward the mansion. “We go in through the kitchen.”

  “We’ll be right behind you,” Charlie said.

  Carter slipped his hand beneath Edward’s elbow. “We’re on the brick pavers, Eddie, and walking straight into the kitchen.”

  “Okay, Carter, thank you. It sure is good to have you home.”

  “It’s good to be home,” he said, not for the first time, as they started for the residence, with Charlie and Wyrick a few steps behind them.

  Wyrick was not fond of meeting new people, and the closer they
got to the entrance, the tenser she became. Strangers always made her feel less than she was, and the looks on their faces were either shock or confusion. Like they’d just walked into a freak show and saw the bearded lady—for free.

  And now, as if she wasn’t noticeable enough, she had new scrapes and bruises to add to it.

  * * *

  Ruth was in the kitchen shelling peas for dinner. She glanced up as the door opened, then a look of delight spread across her face. She dropped the peas back in the bowl and stood up, wiping her hands on her apron.

  “Mr. Carter! How wonderful to have you back home!”

  “Thank you, Ruth. I feel the same way, although Wilma’s absence is noticed and regretted.”

  “Yes, sir,” Ruth said.

  “Now I’m going to see Eddie to his room. He’s had quite a day,” Carter said.

  “I can do that,” Ruth offered.

  Before Carter could answer, the door opened again, and Charlie and Wyrick walked in.

  “Thank you, Ruth, but I need you to show Charlie and his assistant, Miss Wyrick, to our guest rooms. I think the green suites, please,” Carter said.

  Ruth smiled. “Yes, sir, and, Mr. Dodge, it’s a pleasure to see you again.” Then she saw Wyrick behind him and smiled. “Welcome to Dunleavy Castle, ma’am.”

  “Thank you,” Wyrick said.

  “If you two will follow me...”

  Charlie set down the bags he was carrying. “These aren’t mine, they’re Carter’s.”

  “Where are yours?” Ruth asked.

  “They’re still in the car. I’ll go back and get them later.”

  “No, we’ll wait for you. Staff can take Mr. Carter’s bags to his room. Just set them over there.”

  “If you’re sure,” Charlie said.

  Ruth grinned. “I’m sure. Making people’s lives easier is part of what we do here.”

  “I won’t be long,” Charlie said and ran back to the garage, leaving Wyrick alone with the housekeeper.