Vile (8 page)

Dr. Fortune smiled. “You’ve been reviewing the pamphlets.”

Jess frowned. She’d already stuffed them all back into her bag. “How did you know?”

“The look of panic on your face is one I’ve seen many times.” The doctor settled on the stool next to the small wall mounted desk and considered the tablet she carried. She tapped a few keys. “It’ll be a few days before all your labs are back. I’m not so concerned about the Wilson’s disease since you don’t have any symptoms. We’ll know soon enough if there’s anything to worry about there.” She typed a note into Jess’s record.

Her sister had recently been diagnosed with Wilson’s disease after some scary symptoms. Thank goodness, they caught it in time to reverse the damage and get her on the right track. The disease had caused her body to not properly metabolize copper. The subsequent build up wreaked havoc on her organs.

“Is there a due date I should put on my calendar?” Jess ventured, her pulse fluttering like hummingbird wings.

The doctor laughed. “There are a lot of dates you should put on your calendar, but based on your last menstrual cycle, we’ve calculated your due date as April twentieth. A little later we’ll do an ultrasound that’ll confirm that date one way or the other.”

April twentieth
. Jess had about seven months and three weeks to get prepared for motherhood. Goose bumps tumbled over her skin.
Not nearly long enough!

“You may continue to have the same bouts of the nausea you’ve been experiencing for a few more weeks. Generally, when you reach the second trimester that subsides.”

Second trimester. Okay. “Is there anything I should be concerned about moving forward?”

Dr. Fortune closed the record. “We’ll put you on the routine pregnancy schedule and I’ll see you again next month. Take your vitamins, keep a healthy diet, and get plenty of rest. Your body is working extra hard right now, it needs sufficient down time. There are a few more tests we’ll want to do a little later related to your age, otherwise, that’s it.”

Her age. She was old. Jess wilted a little bit more. “Thank you, Doctor.”

Fortune paused at the door. “I meant to ask, is the handsome gentleman outside the father? He could’ve come in with you, you know.”

Jess didn’t need a mirror to know that red had rushed up her cheeks and all the way to the roots of her hair. “No. No. He’s a detective on my team.” No need to go into all her other troubles with her obstetrician. “My… the father couldn’t get away from work.” She chewed her lip. That excuse made Dan sound as if he didn’t care so she quickly added, “He’ll be here next time.”

The doctor gave a nod. “See you in a month.”

Jess didn’t move for a minute after the doctor had gone. When she’d awoke this morning, she wondered whether this baby would be a boy or a girl and if he or she would have blond hair and brown eyes like the little girl left on the street yesterday.

Maybe she would drop by and check on the child. Make sure she was okay. It would give her something to do besides going back to the office before meeting Lil for lunch. Jess stood, smoothed her skirt, and walked to the door. She hesitated, her hand on the lever. In her entire adult life, this was the first time she’d ever wanted to do anything else more than she wanted to go to work.

Not a good sign.

Redmont Road, 11:20 a.m.

The home was a nice one in a very good neighborhood. The lieutenant followed Jess up the sidewalk. Mrs. Wettermark had called ahead and informed the family that Jess would be stopping by to see the little girl. Wettermark had insisted the child was fine, but Jess would feel more comfortable when she saw for herself. It was foolish really. If the case investigator said she was fine, then Jess should accept her word. Somehow, she couldn’t.

She pressed the doorbell, listened for the chime, and then waited. Inside a dog barked. Judging by the deep boom it was a larger one. She supposed it was nice for kids to be around pets.

Was that something else she would need to pencil into her life?

Sheesh. To be so small, kids came with seemingly endless requirements.

She glanced back to the street and noted the BPD cruiser waiting patiently for her next move.

“You were on the news again this morning.”

Jess glanced at the detective standing next to her. “I’m thrilled.”

Hayes chuckled. “According to the reporter, the station’s getting tons of mail in support of you. They’re calling you a city treasure.”

A laugh burst from her lips. “If that’s the case, I am woefully under paid.”

He grinned. “You aren’t the only one. The whole team should be getting hazard pay for protecting a city treasure.”

“Need I remind you that this treasure is perfectly capable of—?”

“Taking care of herself,” he finished for her.

“Don’t you forget it either, Lieutenant.” Jess held her head high and her shoulders back. Being pregnant didn’t mean she wasn’t capable of doing exactly what she’d always done—for now anyway.

The door opened and a woman with one kid on her hip and two more clinging to her legs filled the space. Growling, a big black Lab poked his head between her and the door.

“Quiet, Samson!” the woman ordered. The big Lab dropped his head and backed away. The woman looked from Jess to Hayes and back, then smiled as if she were the happiest woman on earth.

Jess couldn’t see how that was possible by any stretch of the imagination. She flashed her badge. “I’m Deputy Chief Harris.”

“Karen Graham.” She backed up to open the door wider, the children and the dog moved in time with her as if the steps were a carefully choreographed routine. “We’ve been expecting you. Mrs. Wettermark sent me your photo.”

Jess appreciated Wettermark’s quick work. She’d expected to have to wait outside until Mrs. Graham confirmed Jess was who she said she was.

“Thank you.” Jess followed her inside. Hayes closed the door and caught up. The interior of the house was just as nice as the exterior. “You have a lovely home.”

“Thank you. We bought the house for the kids.”

Jess hoped she had erased the frown that had formed on her forehead before the woman noticed. “How many children do you have?”

“Since we couldn’t have any of our own,” Karen smiled at the toddler in her arms, “we decided to buy a house big enough for all the ones who needed a family and didn’t have one.” She turned that smile toward Jess. “We take care of the children until a permanent home is found or they’re returned to their parents, so there’s always lots of coming and going around here.”

“That’s an enormous sacrifice.” Jess glanced into the family room to her right where three more children played.

“It is,” Karen agreed, “but we love it. Would you like to see her now?”

Jess nodded. “I would.”

Karen ushered the children tagging along with her into the family room with the others. Then she led the way to the dining room. “She doesn’t feel comfortable with the other children yet so I’m letting her draw at the table.”

“Why don’t you wait here, Lieutenant?” No need to overwhelm the child with another stranger.

“I’ll check in with Detective Wells. Give her our location.”

Jess left him to it and followed Karen into the dining room. The enormous table seated twelve. Jess was fairly certain she’d never seen a table this large in anyone’s home. The Grahams had gone all out.

The little girl sat in one of the big oak chairs, her attention on a length of drawing paper draped over the end of the table. A pile of crayons next to her, she continued to draw without even glancing up.

Jess walked over to the table. When the little girl still didn’t look up, she said, “Remember me?”

The little girl looked up then and, incredibly, she smiled. It wasn’t much of one but a smile nonetheless. Jess pulled up a chair next to her. “That’s a very pretty picture. Is that you?” She pointed to the smaller of the two stick figures.

The little girl nodded.

Jess indicated the larger figure. “Is that your mommy?”

The child shook her head and then she pointed to Jess.

Surprised, Jess gestured to the figure again. “That’s me?”

The little girl nodded.

“You see this big thing.” Jess set her black bag on the floor. “I take it everywhere.” She pointed to the drawing. “If that’s me, I need my bag.”

The little girl picked up a black crayon and drew a square, that wasn’t exactly square, next to the larger stick figure. She looked up at Jess for approval.

Jess took the crayon from her soft little fingers and drew a strap on the box. “There.” She placed the crayon back in the pile. “That’s perfect.”

The little girl scooted off her seat and hugged Jess. Jess wasn’t sure what to say or do but her heart did a little dancing around. When the girl held on tight, Jess hugged her back. Tears welled up in her eyes. She’d certainly been hugged by children before. Her sister’s kids and… well, she couldn’t think of any others at the moment, but she was certain there were more. Her emotional reaction was silly. It took a moment but Jess pulled herself together.

“You know something?” When the little girl looked up at her, Jess smoothed her long blond hair back from her face. “I sure wish I knew your name.”

The child curled her finger for Jess to lean closer. Jess lowered her head until her ear was close to the little girl’s face. She whispered so softly, Jess barely heard her. She straightened and thrust out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Maddie.”

Maddie shook her hand.

“My name is Jess Harris. Do you have another name?”

The little girl shrugged and climbed back onto her chair. She picked up a yellow color and drew a big, round ball above the stick figures. Jess watched her for a few more minutes as she colored the ball yellow. She was going to be late for her lunch with Lil. Feeling a little torn, she said her goodbyes and made her way back into the entry hall where Hayes waited.

At the door, Karen said, “That’s the first word she’s spoken. At least now we have a name for her.”

“I’ll let Mrs. Wettermark know,” Jess assured her.

As she and Hayes climbed into his car, Jess wondered why Maddie would include Jess in her drawing. The sudden attachment to an adult she’d never met before was odd to say the least… unless she’d been tutored.

What was Spears up to?

With monumental effort, she set those concerns aside. A few minutes of mental preparation were in order. She was about to give her sister some startling news. Calm and collected was essential.

Lakefront Trail, Bessemer, 1:25 p.m.

Lil passed Jess a cup of coffee. “I’m glad you enjoyed the lasagna. It was my first time making it with vegetables instead of meat.” She frowned. “Blake’s cholesterol is running a little high. We’re getting to that age, you know. Where everything starts to fall apart.”

Jess sipped her coffee. “Mmm-hmm.” Her sister was not making this easy. They’d made it through lunch. Lil had insisted Hayes join them, which was only right, but it didn’t help with setting the stage for Jess to deliver her big news. To his credit, after declining coffee, Hayes had moved into the living room to check in with the office. The day was more than half over and Jess was seriously behind.

She needed to get the news out and be done with it.

Jess set her cup aside. Her hand shook
. Steady, girl
.

“I know what you’re going to say,” Lil said before Jess could get the words out.

Jess blinked.
How could she possibly know?

“Yes,” Lil declared. “I am cooperating fully with my surveillance detail. I make sure he’s out there before I go to bed at night and I look for him first thing in the morning. I don’t go anywhere without making sure he’s right behind me. I make lemonade, sandwiches, and coffee for him every day. So there, you proud of me?”

The blood pulsing at her temples had Jess half expecting her head to explode with the mounting tension. “Very proud. I want you safe, Lil. I need you.” Jess’s voice quavered on the last. She cleared her throat. “Anyway, I have some health news too.”

“Did you have the test for Wilson’s disease? Was it negative? Are you okay?” Lil put her coffee aside and grabbed Jess’s hands. “Please tell me you’re okay.”

“I took the test,” Jess assured her. “I’ll know in a few days but the doctor was optimistic. I don’t have any symptoms of the disease.”

Lil blew out a big breath and clasped her cheeks with both hands. “Thank God. You had me worried there for a minute.”

Just tell her
. Jess took a breath. God, oh God. This was going to forever change every single thing. Once the words were out of her mouth, there would be no taking them back. Last week, as crazy as the news had made her, it had been so much easier because no one except Hayes had known—at least not until she told Dan. Once everyone knew, they would all look at her differently. She didn’t want to be treated as if she were made of glass.

“You said you had news,” Lil prompted. “What news?”

“Well,” Jess began. Her foot started to tap against the shiny hardwood of her sister’s dining room floor. Jess crossed her legs to stop it. “I… I’m pregnant.”

Lil stared at her for a full five seconds, then she burst into laughter. “Good grief, Jess,” she said between gasps for air. “I thought you were going to tell me you had cancer or something.” She slapped Jess on the shoulder. “It’s not April first so stop fooling around.”

Lil either didn’t believe Jess or she was in shock. “As it turns out, April is when the baby’s due.”
April Fool
.

Lil stared at her again. She blinked, once, twice. “You’re telling me that you’re
pregnant
?”

“Yes.” Jess nodded just in case the word wasn’t penetrating the shock her sister was apparently experiencing. “I went to the doctor this morning for confirmation. I have the prenatal vitamins and the morning sickness. The whole kit and caboodle.”

Lil shook her head. “Really, I… don’t know what to say.” She stood abruptly, grabbed their coffee cups, and headed for the kitchen.

What in the world? Jess followed her sister. This was not at all the reaction she’d expected. Where were the hugs and shouts for joy? The congratulations? “You could say something, Lil.”