Disrobed for Death (8 page)

“I can save you some time. I know Ramona. She’s Jack Evans’s sister all right, and her other brothers are Henry and Chris.”

“I knew it. See, it has to be real. How could I have possibly dreamed those names?”

“I don’t know, especially since the brothers aren’t from here. Henry and Chris are long-time residents of Hammond. As for the divorce, I can’t imagine Ramona would discuss her brother’s business. Did your dream, or whatever it was, hint at who might be behind Jack’s murder?” Wesley scratched his head. “I can’t believe I said that. The man’s still alive.”

“At least he is for now. No, Jack had no idea who shot him. I really need for you to believe me. I wish you could have seen how his ex, Clarissa, was decked out at the funeral…uh, in my vision. She was flaunting her diamonds and designer clothes, but with Jack out of the picture, I don’t imagine she’ll be hobnobbing with the wealthy anymore. Unless—”

“Unless she would benefit from his death,” Wesley said.

“Exactly. I’m sure she walked away from the divorce with a decent settlement, but if she spends money the way I think she does, her well is going to run dry soon. I’m hoping the doctor put his affairs in order, and she’s not the beneficiary on his life insurance policy.”

“If Clarissa’s planning anything, she’ll be closed mouth about it. On the other hand, you might find you have her pegged all wrong, that she and the doc made a clean break. What then?”

“Then I’ll keep digging, but my gut tells me I’m not wrong.”

“Look, I can’t promise you anything, but I’ll ask around. Maybe the doc had a problem with someone at the hospital. I’ll check the court records for any suits filed against him. Going from civil to criminal court is not unusual.”

“I knew I could count on you.”

“On one condition—you don’t let anyone know what I’m doing. And by all means, don’t do anything foolish. You might be the fashion police, but I’m a homicide detective. Leave the investigation to me. If they cart you off to the loony bin, I don’t want to go with you.”

She laughed.

As he walked her to her car, he gave one last warning. “Be careful what you say to anyone. If you stumble across the killer, you might wind up the next victim. I’d hate for you and Doc Evans to meet again at the funeral home.”

Susan drove home from Wesley’s with her spirits lifted. Even if he didn’t believe her story, he was willing to help. For sure, she needed all the help she could get. Susan realized she was treading in dangerous and unfamiliar waters, and Wesley could provide guidance and protection, but no way could she stay out of it.

It was early afternoon when she stepped into her apartment. The presence of her mom and dad still lingered. There was the faint hint of her mother’s perfume, and the recliner where her dad had rested his head lay embossed with his impression. Fluffing the top pillow, she found herself wishing they were still there.

Her furry friend peaked around the sofa and broke her concentration. Picking up Marmalade, she stroked the cat’s head. “How’s my sweet baby?”

The animal responded with tiny, motor-boat-like purrs.

“Okay, let’s go check your bowl,” Susan said, putting the cat down. Marmalade pranced ahead, her fluffy tail straight up like a flag pole.

After seeing to the cat’s needs, Susan decided to sit for a while on her patio, something she hadn’t done since moving back home. Getting the business up and running had been a non-stop affair. She fixed a fresh cup of coffee and took a seat at the wrought iron table.

Winter in Louisiana provided days where the temperature would moderate, and the sun would tease at the possibility of an early spring. Today was such a day. The lawn, dappled with patches of clover, stretched into woods at the back of the property. Silver trunks and bare branches mingled with stately pines and a few willows, both of which painted a swath of green among the skeletal trees. A handful of birds flittered among the sparse foliage.

Such a mild day should beckon to residents, but no one wandered about the complex. If not at work, she could only assume they preferred to remain indoors. That suited her just fine. The solitude would give her time to gather her thoughts. Tomorrow was her last shot at convincing the guy who had saved her life that his was about to abruptly end, and she intended to do everything she could to prevent him from getting killed.

An hour later, she was still mulling over the possibilities when a mockingbird lit on the back of the chair across from her. It cocked its head from side-to-side then half raised its wings, again and again, a mystery common to the bird. She sat mesmerized by the fact that it didn’t seem to be afraid of her. That triggered her imagination. The setting became a Disney moment, like a scene from one of the late Mr. Disney’s animated movies. Any minute she expected to see and hear a high-pitched chorus of feathered friends descending with flowers in their beaks.

Susan bolted upright from her chair.

“I am crazy!” she said, startling the bird. As it flew away, she wondered if her weird thinking was also linked to her injury. She didn’t foresee anything this time, like she did on the highway with A. K., but she had to admit the fantasizing made her worry. What if she had not disrupted her train of thought? Would she have had another glimpse of the future? She sure hoped not.

And if her fall did result in psychic ability, would she only foresee something bad? Why not lottery numbers or football scores? That would be nice.

Nah, she couldn’t cash in on that. Cheating was not in her nature. She wondered if there was a doctor who could treat such a condition, undo what was done. While some might consider her ability a gift, she didn’t. More than anything, she wanted her normal life back.

That night, she ate leftovers, watched a movie, and tried not to dwell on what she would say to Jack tomorrow. As she used to say, she’d just wing it. At ten o’clock, she woke to find that
Avatar
had ended, and the DVD was cycling on a segment of the soundtrack. She turned off the receiver and moved from the sofa to her bed, where she had no problem getting back to sleep.

The sunrise woke Susan before the alarm clock. She climbed out of bed refreshed and ready to face the doctor. After showering, she slipped into a magenta sheath dress and put on a pair of onyx and gold earrings. Not wanting to overdress, she left the matching necklace in the jewelry box and chose a pair of plain back pumps. Since the weather decided to play like winter again, she brought along a fingertip, black coat.

Before she could get out of the apartment, A. K. called. “How are you feeling?”

“Great, ready to get this appointment behind me.”

“Don’t be too disappointed if you don’t get anywhere with him. At least you would have tried.”

“I’m leaving in a few minutes. I’ll see you as soon as I can. I’m so ready to get back into a routine. Regardless of what happens with Jack, at least Wesley’s onboard. That’s a real plus. Oh, and by the way, Edward was quite taken with you. He said he was going to stop by the boutique and see you. Did he?”

“I was surprised, but glad to see him. He’s quite a charmer.”

“Did y’all make any plans to get together?”

“You know he’s in Lafayette, but he said he’s taking some vacation time next month and asked if I’d be interested in going out with him. Don’t know if he mentioned anything to you, but I think he plans on crashing at your place.”

“That’s fine with me. Did you say you’d take him up on his offer?”

“What do you think? I’m not in the habit of turning down good looking guys.”

“Well, a month is a long ways away. Lots can happen between now and then. But keep me posted. Whatever you two do, it should be adventurous.” Susan laughed. “Phooey, I’m letting the time get away from me. I don’t want to be late. We’ll talk more when I get to the boutique.”

The drive into Hammond didn’t take long, and Jack’s office was easy to find. The red brick building with white shudders was located behind the hospital and on a street lined with doctors’ offices. Susan parked and walked past a bed of pansies on her way to the entrance. Inside, tall ceilings and lots of glass allowed the sun to brighten and warm the place. A receptionist sat behind a desk to the right. Behind her on the wall were the names of two other doctors.

“I’m Susan Griffin. I have an appointment with Doctor Evans.”

“Is this your first visit?”

Susan nodded.

“I’ll need to copy your insurance card, and you’ll have to complete this form.”

When Susan finished filling in the information, the receptionist removed the paper and handed it back, along with her insurance card. “Please give the form to the nurse when you’re called.”

There were several patients in the waiting room. One in particular caught her attention, a young man, perhaps in his late teens. He had a full head of hair, so she guessed his surgery was long behind him. Whatever his injury, it had affected the right side of his body. His arm and hand were drawn close to him. She wondered if he had suffered a stroke. When his name was called, the woman on his left helped support him. As with his arm, he lacked control over his right leg.

Susan looked down, not wanting him to catch her staring.
Too young, way too young.

She silently thanked her Maker that her fall had not resulted in such debilitation. A few minutes later, a nurse opened a door and entered the waiting room. “Ms. Griffin?”

Susan rose and handed the woman her paperwork.

“Right this way.” They walked down a hall and into an examining room. “Have a seat. The doctor will be right with you.”

I’ve heard that before
, Susan thought. She’d never had a doctor show up promptly. The wait could be anywhere from ten minutes to an hour while the patient was left to freeze in an icebox of a room. Rubbing her arms against the chill, she took note of the diplomas covering one wall. On the counter below them, a model of the brain sat on a stand. None of the objects interested Susan at this time, only what would happen between Jack and her. She decided to wait and see if he made light of her hallucinations.

Jack entered the room while reading over her chart. “I won’t need you,” he said to the nurse, who nodded and exited the room. “Leave the door open.”

Susan knew that was for his protection, so he couldn’t be accused of anything unethical. He didn’t have to worry. She had no intention of jumping his bones…only saving them.

Jack circled behind her chair. “Look down,” he said, after which he moved her hair aside and examined his handiwork. “Any seepage? Or headaches?”

“Not anymore.”

“Good. It’s healed nicely. I’m going to take out the few stitches.”

She didn’t feel a thing.

“You can wash your hair now, but don’t scrub where it was sutured. Baby it.”

He set his scissors and tweezers aside and pulled off his latex gloves.

“Anymore visions or hallucinations?” He grinned.

“So you still don’t believe me?”

“Oh, I believe you experienced something, but I also believe it was a result of your sedation. Well, have you?”

“No, but—”

“My point exactly. Given time, you’ll forget about it.”

No matter what she said, it was obvious she wasn’t going to convince him. He was a man of science, and she doubted he gave the paranormal much thought. If something couldn’t be seen, touched, or examined, he seemed to believe it couldn’t possibly be real. Well, maybe after Wesley saved his butt he’d become a believer. She wasn’t one to say, ‘I told you so,’ but in his case, she’d make an exception.

“Thank you, Doctor.”

“One more thing,” he said as she turned to go. “Your friend, the one who brought you to the hospital…”

“Anna Katherine?” Susan thought her real name was in order here.

“Does she live around the Hammond area?”

“Just outside of town on the road to Palmetto. I never give out private numbers, but if you’re interested in contacting her, you can reach her at the Bawdy Boutique. She’s my assistant manager.”

“I might just do that. Thanks.”

Susan chuckled as she climbed into the Camaro. So Jack was interested in A. K. She couldn’t wait to break the news to her friend. He’d better put on his jogging shoes if he wanted to keep up with her.

She arrived at the Bawdy Boutique, still giddy at the idea of Jack and A. K. Seeing several cars in the parking lot that ran alongside the building also boosted her spirits. Sure, she had insurance, but no policy covered everything, and her hospital and doctor’s bills were going to be exorbitant. She was counting on profits to cover her expenses. If all her hard work was going to pay off, now was the time.

With a big sigh of relief, she counted her blessings. No more chasing the catwalks, selecting what was hot and scratching orders for what was not, getting the grunge jobs of promotion and props, and playing second fiddle to those who had made a name in the fashion business. That’s what it took to learn the trade. She had sucked up her pride, took what was handed out, kept her mouth shut, and it had paid off. She had knowledge of the industry and enough savings socked away to go it alone. The fashion world was her ticket home.

She swelled with pride, looking at her classy establishment. The one-story, old Chicago brick structure had one huge display window in the front, bordered by dark green shudders. To the right, was an arched entrance that held a tiny courtyard and fountain. Gas lanterns flickered on either side of the door. The building reflected New Orleans’ architecture.

While the structure was narrow across the front, the shop itself was deep and was situated on one of two lots Susan had purchased. She had plans to expand, either with the boutique or another business. Merchandise galore greeted the customers on entry. Dressing rooms, her business office, restrooms, and additional storage areas were located in the rear of the shop. Tiled floors, interior brick walls, and fluorescent lighting made for easy maintenance.

As soon as Susan walked into the shop, her employees rushed to greet her. Debbie and Sheila bounded to her side, their long, straight black hair swinging with each step. Three years out of high school and former cheerleaders, the pair exuded an energy that Susan envied. Yuppy, preppy, came to mind.