Dare to Trust (19 page)

Michael had found Dr. Daniels in Maine. He wanted to talk to him. Michael also found Mia Hitchcock in Maine. Funny how Howard’s woman had ended up here. Funny how his revenge was falling into place with little effort. Michael knew that the most important thing to Jason Howard was Mia, whether they were presently together or not. If harm came to Mia, Michael could be assured Howard would suffer many more times over than if physical harm came to Jason himself. And Michael was betting Dr. Daniels could help with the revenge plan. From the information within the Jacobs’ case file, Michael knew Daniels had the appetite for it.

He had first driven to Maine and spoken with Daniels a week before Mia arrived into town. Intimidation was the goal. Michael caught the doctor as he got off his shift from the hospital. Tyler was walking to his car in the small hospital parking lot.

“Dr. Daniels, can I have a word with you?” Michael flashed his badge.

Tyler was briefly stunned and then his mind flashed back to Philadelphia. He had been mercilessly questioned by the Philly PD there about Mandy. They all thought he had killed her but could never prove anything.

“What can I help you with, detective?”

“I would like to speak with you about Mandy Jacobs. You had a relationship with her a few years back?”

Tyler nodded. “I haven’t seen her in years.”

“She disappeared four years ago. What can you tell me about that?”

“Well, nothing. We had broken up. I assumed she was upset about that. We worked at the same hospital. I’ve never heard from her since.”

“Is there someplace we might be able to talk?” Michael didn’t want to continue to have the conversation in the parking lot and where someone might overhear.

Tyler crossed his arms defensively across his chest. “What exactly do you want to know? I’ve told you everything I know.” He almost asked why a Boston detective was asking about a Philadelphia case but decided against it. He was uncomfortable and just wanted to jump in his car and get out of there.

“Let me buy you a cup of coffee, doctor. You’ll see.”

A block away, they sat in a diner with hot coffee in front of them on the table. “I’m going to get to the point,” Michael told Tyler. “We found Mandy’s body in a shallow grave on the outskirts of Boston. I’ve reviewed the case notes from Philly. I think we can make a case against you for murdering her.” Michael leaned back in his chair, studying Daniels and awaited a response.

It took a moment for the news to register and settle. “I find that hard to believe,” Tyler scoffed. “The cops in Philly couldn’t make a case four years ago, even though they tried like hell.” His voice held disdain. “They made my life a hell, ran me out of town.”

“Well, I have a proposition for you,” Michael started. “I am the lead on this murder investigation. I
could
be an asset to you. For a favor.”

Tyler blinked at the detective sitting across from him. A favor? Was this guy crooked? “What do you want?”

“There’s a new doctor coming to town. You’re going to be her boss.”

“Dr. Hitchcock?”

“Yes.”

Tyler realized that she was from Boston. Did she know the detective? “What about her? What do you want?” Tyler repeated his question.

“I want you to date her. Get her into bed. Fuck her.”

“Why?” This had certainly peeked Tyler’s curiosity.

Because it will kill Jason, Michael thought. And he needed to pay for the sins of his father. “Doesn’t matter. Just do as I ask. If you do, then I can guarantee your name will stay out of the investigation.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then I will personally see to it that you are the prime suspect. And everyone here in town will know. Your post-Philadelphia life will be ruined. And I will do everything to see that you go to jail.” Michael smiled at Dr. Daniels. “Your best bet is to play along with my game. You don’t want me for an enemy,” Michael promised him. “Besides, Mia Hitchcock is a very attractive woman. I am sure you will thoroughly enjoy her.” He got up from the table and threw down a few bills to cover the check. “I’ll be in touch.” He left Tyler sitting alone, trying to figure out what the hell just happened.

XII.

As the car drove down the turnpike, Jannifer Howard wondered how her life had gone so wrong. She had married a smart, aspiring lawyer who had climbed his way into a judgeship. They had been relatively happy, and Jannifer had the prestigious societal position she had always desired. Her son was a different story. Always trying to be difficult, never following the path he was supposed to take to follow in the footsteps of his successful, important ancestors. She had warned him, begged him to go to law school, not become a cop. And now he had been arrested for murder----had he really done it? Jannifer wasn’t entirely sure, as she felt she barely knew her son.

Keith Grimes had knocked on her door that morning. After seeing the news and being horrified to learn about her son’s arrest and high bail, Jannifer had called her attorney. He had made a few calls and Grimes had appeared on her doorstep.

“I understand that you are my son’s partner?” she had asked.

“Yes, ma’am. I owe Jason my life. He’s saved it more than once.”

For a moment, Jannifer wondered exactly what Jason had done. She didn’t bother to ask. “I hope this isn’t too much of an inconvenience, but I was hoping you would drive me to Maine, to bail him out and to see him.” She sighed, feeling slightly dirty that she had to verbalize the fact her son was in jail. “I assume that you would want to see him as well? You might be able to help in some way?”

And so, an hour later, they had departed from Boston and were almost to their destination. Jannifer had been sitting silently for over an hour, stewing at the situation. She took a sip of water from the bottle Grimes had handed her once she had gotten into the car. “Do you think Jason is capable of this?” she posed the question to Grimes out of the blue. “Have you ever seen such a side to him?”

Grimes shook his head. “I couldn’t imagine for a minute that he’s guilty.”

The first thing Jannifer did was bail her son out of jail. She didn’t appreciate the way he looked---tired and worn---but the hounding of the press bothered her even more. She was very concerned about the tarnishing of the Howard name and legacy. Jason had been shocked then more than a little cross that his mother had to come and get him out of jail. He never asked her for anything; he didn’t want to owe her. And now he would be deeply indebted.

Jason was silent after climbing into the back seat of Grimes’ sedan. He closed his eyes and leaned back against the head rest. He felt old, defeated and tired.

“You don’t look so good,” Grimes told him, getting a view of Jason via the rear-view mirror. Jason chose not to respond. Before driving off, Grimes handed Jason and his mother bottled water. Jason didn’t bother to open it; his mother twisted off the cap and started to sip her second bottle.

“Don’t you have anything to say?” Jannifer prodded her son. Her voice was full of irritation. He had shown no gratitude at all. Had she not just drove from Boston and paid two million dollars for his freedom?

“Thank you, mother,” Jason answered, not bothering to open his eyes. “Keith, please take me to Mia’s. Do you have her address?” His voice was full of fatigue.

              “I got it from her when I talked to her last night.” Grimes took the long route to the cottage, trying to assure that none of the reporters had noticed Jason’s departure from the jail. He didn’t want any following as they drove away.

              The car pulled into Mia’s driveway a few minutes later. She had heard the approaching vehicle and had run outside. As soon as Jason appeared from the back seat, she was in his arms. He pulled back for a moment to look at her gain assurance that she was alright. Then he kissed her. “I missed you, baby,” he whispered into her soft hair. It smelled citrusy from her shampoo, just like it always did. He loved that smell.

              Jannifer made a point with clearing her throat. Mia pulled away from Jason and acknowledged his mother. “It’s nice to see you again, Ms. Howard. Thank you for getting Jason out of…”

              “He is my son,” Jannifer commented with a cool tone. “What else was I to do?” She glanced at the small cottage, trying to decide if she found it charming or not. “Are you going to invite me inside out of the cold?”

              “Of course. It’s freezing out here.”

              Mia made tea for Jannifer. Jason had disappeared while the water was boiling. While she drank, Mia left his mother at the table to find him. Jason sat on the edge of the bed, face in his hands. Mia sat beside him and rested her hands on his wide shoulders.

              “It must have been terrible,” she commented. He looked over at her.

              “I hope to God I’ve never put away anyone who was innocent.”

              “Why don’t you take a shower?” Mia suggested. “You’ll feel so much better.”

              Jason moved closer to Mia and intertwined his fingers with hers. He kissed her gently. “I will. Just let me hold you for a minute.” He embraced her, with almost too much force. “I didn’t hurt those people,” he told her. “You know that, right?”

              “Of course I do.” Their conversation was cut short by Grimes’ yelling for help. They both jumped up off the bed and ran towards the kitchen.

              Jannifer had started to experience nausea and a slight belly ache on the way to the cottage. Once they had arrived and gone inside, the symptoms intensified. Jannifer decided a cup of tea would help. It didn’t. The tea had seemed to further upset her stomach. Unusual, Jannifer thought. Maybe the tea bags had been sitting around for a while; there had been a bitter taste to it. She rose from the chair to carry the half-empty tea cup over to the sink. When she had almost reached the counter, a sharp pain stabbed her in her gut, causing her to double over. She vomited and instantly felt weak. She was too dizzy to stay upright. She fell and hit the floor. Keith had gone out to the car to get the bags. When he re-entered the kitchen, arms full with luggage, he had found her crumpled on the tile.  As he yelled for Jason and Mia, he dialed 911.

              Mia’s first thought was a heart attack---pasty color, thready pulse, diaphoretic. “What is wrong with her?” Jason interrupted Mia’s assessment. His voice was full of panic.

              “Does she have a heart condition?” Mia asked him. Her patient was slipping quickly into unconsciousness and couldn’t answer.

              “I don’t…I don’t know.”

              It seemed forever until the ambulance arrived. The EMT’s welcomed Mia’s expertise as they recognized how ill the old woman appeared. They followed Mia’s orders; Jannifer was started on high-flow oxygen, an IV initiated, fluids hung and EKG performed. While in the ambulance, Jannifer remained unconscious but was breathing on her own.

              Once in the ER, Jannifer decompensated rapidly. Her respirations were infrequent and shallow. Once on the cardiac monitor, her heart rhythm decelerated. Dr. Daniels had received the patient and quickly attempted to respond to the worsening symptoms. Mia stood in the corner of the treatment room with Jason. As he watched his unconscious mother get intubated, several nurses surrounding her, he felt the stinging of tears in his eyes and nausea churning in his gut. Everything was spiraling out of control.

              “Epi!” Dr. Daniels commanded as Jannifer’s heart stopped. “Shock once the epinephrine’s in! Let’s go, get the drug in!” They coded Jannifer for twenty minutes. Nothing worked. Mia had been watching in disbelief. The woman had been shooting off insults and drinking tea just over an hour ago. What the hell had just happened?

“Time of death, one twenty-seven,” Dr. Daniels commented quietly as he turned and left the room. Mia was horrified with the outcome of the code and glanced at Jason, who had been quiet and unmoving during the entire event. His face held no emotion. She was thankful that Tyler had left without any comment or scene.

“Are you okay? Jason?”

For a long moment, he just stood there. Mia then saw grief wash over his face, tears start to leak from his blue eyes. His whole body tensed, as he swiftly turned towards the wall, balled up his right fist, and punched it, all of his weight behind the blow, then again. Mia inwardly cringed as she heard the bones snap. She gently grabbed his right upper arm to stop him from striking the wall a third time. “Fuck!” he hissed.

He pulled his right arm from her grasp and leaned against the wall, back to Mia, his head rested on his left forearm. His right arm hung limply at his side. His shoulders shook and Mia could tell he was crying. She had never seen Jason cry; she had no idea he had shed many tears the night she had lost their baby. “I’m sorry,” she told him as she touched his back. “I know you loved her.” He turned towards her; his eyes blurred from the tears and he let her pull him into her arms.

“She didn’t deserve this.” Jason’s voice was low, eyes closed as he rested his head on her shoulder. “We didn’t get along…but she didn’t deserve this.”

“No, she didn’t,” Mia agreed. She let him remain for a few moments before she gently reached down for his right hand. His knuckles had been split open. Blood, swelling and discoloration were already visible. “You broke your hand,” she told him as she started to lead him out of the treatment room. “Let’s get it looked at.” Jason had no idea what he was supposed to be doing right now, so he just followed her.