Chapter 34
It seemed to take forever for the doctors to sew up my bullet wounds and check for anything else that might be wrong. By the time they left me in peace to answer all the police officers’ questions, I had been given almost a pint of blood and a full bag of the clear stuff. At least they gave me some good pain medication, I thought as I looked into Detective Tingey’s grim face.
The detective asked, “Feeling better?”
“I’m pretty sure I’m not going to pass out or puke on you,” I answered. I thought those were relevant issues.
He seemed to agree as he took the rolling chair next to me. “What happened?”
I gave him a brief summary from the time I’d spoken to him earlier that afternoon. “There are videos. My surveillance system’s on. She tried to kill me, to make it look like an accident. To shut me up.”
He scribbled notes. “Why would she do that?”
I gave him the short version, not sure if my words made sense.
“Where’s the security system set up?” Detective Tingey asked.
I told him and he made another scribble in his notebook. “I’ll have Officer Lambert retrieve the videos as evidence. Someone phoned Honey and she said she’d lock up for you. I’m sure she’ll be here soon.”
“Good. Are you going to let Millie go now?”
“Yes, as soon as I talk to the judge. She may be out of jail tonight. Of course, there will still be charges for theft, but they’ll be minor in comparison.”
I decided now was a good time to ask the question that had been nagging me for the past half hour. “How did you know I needed help? Why did the police show up?”
“A woman stopped by to talk cakes with you—said you were expecting her. She heard the gunshot, so she called for help.” He gave me a hard look. “Apparently she’s smarter than some people I could mention.”
I felt my face heat with a blush, but didn’t respond.
He studied me for a long moment. “Looks like it’s a good thing you still have insurance with your old job,” he said.
“Two trips to the ER and an ambulance ride in less than a week. It makes me think this small town might be more exciting than I remembered.” And I’d thought things were supposed to be slow-paced in Silver Springs.
He shook his head like he couldn’t believe my comments. “It’s only exciting when you’re around. Do I take it you’re going to stay?”
I smiled weakly and nodded. “Yeah. Looks like it. I have to head back to the city to settle things there, but I’ll be open for business by Easter.”
“I’ll stock up on Tums.”
I laughed at that, which meant the drugs were probably doing a great job.
He handed me a couple of papers. “Now, I know you told me what happened, but can you write me a full report from the moment you pulled up at Lidia’s? Do you feel up to it?”
“I’m a little fuzzy right now. Do you mind if I take care of it later?”
“That’s fine. I’ll come by for it tomorrow. I may have some more questions for you by then.” He stood and took one more look at me. “Try to stay out of trouble, will you?”
I grinned. “I’ll do my best.”
He disappeared through the curtain.
Honey arrived a few minutes later and fussed over me. “I can’t believe you went out there alone,” she said. “I should’ve gone with you.”
“And she would have tried to kill us both.” I wasn’t about to put her life in danger. She had a husband and children. Besides, it was only supposed to be reconnaissance, not a confrontation. Apparently I needed to work on my sneakiness in the future.
“No way—she would have been stealthier and tried to take us out individually,” Honey protested. “You wouldn’t be here at all if we’d used the buddy system.”
“She’s probably right,” Jack said as he entered the screened room where I lay. His eyes studied mine. “You look better. More color. Has the doctor said you’ll live?”
“Yeah. I’m harder to kill than Lidia thought. How is she?”
“She’ll survive to face the courts, despite her concussion. Remind me never to get in a fight with you.” His mouth quirked up on the right. “You know, when I first met you, I thought you were one of those city women who were focused on their careers to the exclusion of everything else. You proved differently. I’m sorry if I was a little cold.”
His words somehow made the pain a little less acute. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
He stepped back, as if needing to put space between us. “So when are you going to open your shop?”
“Before Easter.” I plucked at the blanket covering my legs. I wondered if I could really get everything together that fast, then made up my mind to be sure I did.
“Good. Count on me to stop by for some treats.”
“See you then.”
With a wave, he disappeared down the hall.
Maybe he wasn’t as bad as I’d originally thought. Perhaps, if I could go more than two days without him coming to check my wounds and poke holes in my veins, we could even become friends.
Nah.
Honey turned a wide grin on me. “Now what do you think of him?” She wriggled her eyebrows.
“You can’t be serious.” I gave her my best scowl. “He stuck me with a needle. No way am I going to go out with a guy who stuck me with a needle.”
“Lamest excuse of the century.” She straightened the blanket on my legs. “What? Is he not good enough for you?”
I shook my head. “He seems nice, but guys are totally off the menu for me right now.” I looked at the IV bag and noticed it was almost empty. “Can you go find someone to disconnect this thing?”
“I’ll let you change the subject—this time.” She disappeared out the door and left me smiling.
Now if I could get through a week without a major catastrophe, life would be good.