My new chapter of Shadows of the Past. Today I’ll be working on a cover for the my book. Hopefully, I can feature it in my next posting.

 Chapter 12

Cole paced the emergency waiting room. What was taking so long? Nearly an hour earlier, he’d placed Tori, still unconscious, on a gurney. Then, clasping her hand, he’d gone with the nurse and orderly who wheeled her to an examination room. He didn’t relinquish his hold on her until the doctor arrived a few minutes later.

As soon as he was out of the room, Cole almost panicked. There was no telling how long she’d been unconscious, but it had to have been quite a while, because she was burnt to a crisp.

He wandered around the waiting room, wiping away a tear that slid down his cheek. He felt as though was losing Tori, and there was nothing he could do to stop her from leaving.

Richard raced into the waiting room, speaking to his son frantically. “Coleman. I got her as soon as I could. What’s wrong?” Cole turned toward his father. Good, Richard’s face proved that he was filled with concern. He deserved to be worried. Cole wiped more tears from his cheeks as he gazed at his father. Richard stared up at him. “My God, son! You’re crying. You haven’t done that since I showed you the letter from your mother. This must be serious.”

Unable to contain his anger, Cole exclaimed, “It is serious! I’m losing someone very close to me.”

Richard sighed and his face took on an appearance of relief. “So this is about Jack. I’m sorry, son. I know he was a good friend.”

“No, Dad, this isn’t about Jack. It’s about Tori. She’s probably been unconscious for hours. It was almost one-thirty by the time I got home, and I found her in the gardens—sunning, of all things. She’s so burnt that she has blisters. I tried to wake her up, Dad. I even turned a cold shower on her for about ten minutes.”

“Which was probably the best thing you could have done,” a woman announced from behind him.

Spinning toward the voice, Cole saw the female doctor who had introduced herself when she’d come to check on Tori. “Dr. Moore! How’s Tori? Is she going to be all right? She won’t die, will she?”

The small, slender doctor smiled. “She’s going to be fine, Mr. Marshall, just a little sore for a few days because of the second degree burns.”

Relief overwhelmed him. But that knowledge didn’t allay his anxiety. Something had to be wrong if she hadn’t awakened when he’d tried at the mansion. “What happened? Why couldn’t I wake her up?”

“We took some blood tests and found an overabundance of fiorinal with codeine in her system. We were getting ready to pump her stomach when she started to come around.”

Relief gushed through him, and he questioned the doctor excitedly. “She’s awake?”

“Yes, but she’s very groggy.”

“How much did she take?” Richard asked.

Dr. Moore glanced at him then returned her gaze to Cole. “She had about three times the normal amount advised for prescriptions.”

“That’s impossible, Dr. Moore,” Cole said, shaking his head. “She would never overdose. She’s not that kind of person.”

“Maybe she didn’t realize she was doing it. She wasn’t very coherent when she woke up, but she said she took some to see if it would help her sprained ankle. We x-rayed that, by the way. It should be okay in a few days, too.”

“Did she say how many she took?” Cole asked.

“She didn’t say much of anything, although, she did ask to see you. She said something about it being important that she talk to you.”

“Was this before or after you talked to her about the fiorinal?”

“After.”

Concern flooded through him. His emotions were out of control. But what could he do? He had no idea what Tori might tell him. He didn’t know what she would say, but he knew it had to be something he didn’t want to hear, because of all the other strange things happening recently. That could also explain his tears. He’d been through an awful lot in the past few days. The stress was probably getting to him, so Tori’s overdose brought on the tears he’d held in for Jack’s demise. “May I go see her?”

“In a few minutes. I’d like to admit her to be on the safe side, but she’s doesn’t want it. She promised that you’d be with her all night tonight. Will you?”

Hoping to lighten his mood before joining Tori, Cole forced a cheerful tone into his voice. “If that’s what it will take for her to leave.”

“You must bring her back immediately if there are complications.”

“Of course. Do you have any instructions for me—like what to do to alleviate some of the pain from the sunburn?”

“A cool bath should help. I’ve given her some antiseptic spray, because she’s not going to want to touch that sunburn for a few days. And I gave her a prescription for some lotion to relieve the itching that’s bound to follow.”

“What about her sprained ankle?” Cole asked in concern. “Shouldn’t she have some medication to relieve the pain?”

“I don’t want to do that because of the overdose. Besides, Ms. Young just laughed and said that she can’t feel anything over the pain of the sunburn, anyway. She seems like a very nice lady.”

“Oh, she’s that alright.”

“She’s in agony because of the burn, Mr. Marshall. She can hardly stay awake because of the residual effects of the fiorinal, but she was still joking with us in her room. If nothing else, her sense of humor will get her through her ordeal.”

Cole smiled. He’d said something very similar the previous night. “That doesn’t surprise me. Her sense of humor even through adversity is one of the things that attracts me to her. Can I go see her now?”

“Sure.”

Dr. Moore smiled after him then turned to Richard when Cole disappeared down the hallway. “Do you know Mr. Marshall?”

“He’s my son,” Richard replied.

“He seems like a nice man, and he’s got a good woman in there. I can tell by the way she was acting. She didn’t particularly like having to depend on him, but it was the only way I would let her go home. I’m not sure about her, because she’s hard to read, but your son’s definitely in love. That’s blatantly obvious by his expression and his determination to help her. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have another patient waiting.”

While Richard watched in silent disbelief, Dr. Moore left the waiting room. Cole was in love? Was that why he’d been crying? What a ridiculous question! Of course, it was. Now what was he going to do?

 ***

        “Hello there, Red,” Cole greeted cheerfully as he entered the examination room. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired,” she replied with a weak half-smile.

Cole grasped her hand, careful not to touch the sunburned back with more than a very light pressure. “I’m not surprised. You’re only supposed to take one of those migraine pills, remember?”

Her smile disappeared instantly, replacing by a scowl that wiped the grin from Cole’s lips. When she replied, her voice demonstrated only a hint of firmness. “And that’s all I took, Cole—just one. I don’t care what the doctor says. I didn’t forget that I’d taken earlier dosages. Somebody must have gotten into the house while I was changing and put more in my lemonade.”

Cole didn’t like the sound of that, and he certainly didn’t like the next thought that came to his mind. “You mean somebody tried to kill you?”

“That’s my guess. This whole thing has gone further than we’re capable of handling, Cole. It’s time to go to the cops. We have to tell them about Carl’s remains. First it was him; then it was Jack. Now it’s me. I won’t let you be the next one. I won’t let you die like Carl and Jack.”

“That reminds me, Tori,” he said. “The cops want to talk to you. I don’t know if you were listening to my show today, but …”

“As a matter of fact, I was. Why was it a tape?”

“Some detective named Irving pulled me off the job. I can’t tell you any details because I promised I wouldn’t, but I didn’t tell him about Carl. I don’t want you to say anything, either. I’m the one who insisted on keeping it quiet, so I’m the one who has to take the brunt of Irving’s anger.”

“Okay.”

“You agree?” he asked with a boyish grin. “Just like that?”

“I don’t have enough energy to argue,” she replied with a smile. “I’ve only got enough energy to get out of here. Could we go home now? I’ve already signed my release papers.”

“You bet. And I already called Irving to make another appointment for you. Somebody slept through the first one I made.”

“When do I talk to him?”

“About six tonight.” He cringed at what he had to admit next. “At my beach house.”

“Why, Cole Marshall,” she asked with a half-smile, “did you spike my lemonade to get me there?”

“If it would have been that easy,” he retaliated as he unbuttoned his shirt and took it off, “I would have done it the first night we met.” He held his shirt toward her. “Here. Put this on. I won’t have my woman traipsing through hospital corridors in an ugly hospital gown.”

After taking off the gown, Tori carefully slipped his shirt on and buttoned the middle three buttons. Then she gazed up at him with a shy smile. Finally, she hopped off the table and sat down in the wheelchair beside it. “They told me that this thing is regulation. I can’t leave the hospital without it. Why don’t you play chauffeur?”

“My pleasure,” he replied as he stepped behind the chair.

As they passed through the waiting room, Cole glanced around. Where was Richard? He hadn’t said anything about leaving, but he obviously had. Why?

Unable to understand, Cole drove Tori to his beach house in complete silence. She seemed to want the quiet as much as he did, so he didn’t bother to try to explain why he didn’t want to talk.

 ***

        When they arrived, Cole escorted her into the house then asked her dress size so he could buy her something loose to wear. Grateful for his thoughtfulness, she kissed him lightly then watched silently as he left to run his errands.

Tori took a brief tour of his two-bedroom, gray house that was built on stilts, before she went onto the shady, covered deck. Taking off Cole’s shirt, she gingerly lay back on a padded lounge chair. Soon the cool, salty ocean breeze, the sound of the waves lapping gently at the shore, and the residual medicine in her system lulled her to sleep.

Cole almost panicked when he saw Tori sleeping in the chair. A horrifying flash of memory from his desperate attempts to wake her that afternoon assailed him. Then he remembered that the doctor had predicted Tori would probably sleep a lot for a while.

Gazing down at her longingly, he noticed that her lips were still a natural pink. Apparently, she’d had enough sense to use a sunscreen lip balm on them. That meant they wouldn’t hurt. Cole knelt beside the chair and braced his hand on the opposite side of her body. Bending over her, he kissed her lips tenderly.

Tori moaned into his mouth as she threw her arms around his neck. She parted her lips slightly and taunted his with her tongue. He opened them just enough for her to slip her tongue into his mouth.

A moment later, he pulled back and gazed down at her sadly while she gifted him with her half-smile. This time it happened. It melted his heart, just as he’d expected it would someday. And he sighed as he twisted a lock of her hair.

“I wish this hadn’t happened, Tori,” he said.

“You don’t like kissing me?” she asked.

“Are you kidding? I love it! I was talking about your sunburn. I wish you’d just gotten a tan. I wish you hadn’t laid out today. And I sure as hell wish you hadn’t been drugged.” Without taking his gaze from her body, he rose to stand over her. “Are you hungry?”

“A little,” she admitted as she sat up.

“Good, because I picked up a pizza on the way home.”

“What time is it, anyway?” she asked, accepting his offered arm for support.

“Five. Det. Irving will be here at six, so we’d better eat now.”

 ***

        While Cole waited on the beach, Tori spoke with Det. Irving. But she didn’t have anything important to offer until he asked her an unanticipated question.

“You certainly can’t give me any constructive answers, can you.” Det. Irving spoke it as a statement, not a question.

“No, sir,” she replied. “And I’m sorry because I’d really like to help.”

“Maybe I haven’t asked you the right questions. Maybe this one will be the answer that helps. Do you know anything about Mr. Marshall’s whereabouts last night?”

Tori inhaled sharply. Did Det. Irving suspect Cole of killing Jack? If so, he was wrong. She didn’t know a lot about Cole, but she had no doubt that he would never hurt anybody—much less his best friend.

“We were together part of the night,” she said, “starting about eight. Before that, though, I can’t tell you where he was.” When a suspicious expression crossed his face, she added, “But Cole would never hurt his friend, much less kill the man. He wouldn’t even have a motive.”

“I didn’t say that Mr. Marshall killed Dr. Ramos.”

“You certainly insinuated it. Cole would never do such a thing.” She hesitated a moment then asked, “Can you think of any other questions I might be able to answer for you?”

“Not at the moment. You can call Mr. Marshall back in.”

Tori went to the deck and called to Cole. She watched with a frown as he jogged to the steps then climbed them two at a time.

“Done already?” he asked when he reached her.

“I couldn’t tell him much. Are you going to tell him about Carl now?”

“Yep.”

Cole laced his fingers with Tori’s and escorted her back into the house. She really didn’t want to be there for this, but she sensed Cole wanted her support. Going to the dinette table where the detective had questioned them, Cole held the chair Tori had previously occupied while she sat down. She watched him anxiously as he pulled out the chair beside hers and sank onto it. When he glanced at her, she offered him a reassuring smile and grasped his hand. Then she turned her gaze to Det. Irving and noticed him watching them suspiciously.

“Why do I have a feeling something’s going on here?” Det. Irving asked.

“Jack was doing some private work for me,” Cole admitted hesitantly. “I told you that Tori’s restoring my mansion, but I didn’t mention that she found a skeleton in an old alcove.”

“Damn it, Marshall!” Det. Irving exclaimed. “Why didn’t you tell me about this earlier?”

Cole explained everything that had happened. Tori listened while Det. Irving lectured them on not reporting it.

When the policeman was finished, Cole said, “Don’t blame Tori for this, Irving. She’s not at fault—and neither was Jack. They were only humoring me for a while because I wanted to see if my suspicions were right. The body’s been there for the twenty-one years. I didn’t think a couple more days was going to make any difference. But I was wrong. Jack was killed last night, and Tori was drugged this afternoon. Everything’s gotten way out of my ability to handle it. It’s time you guys took over.”

“It was time the second you discovered the skeleton,” Det. Irving insisted irritably.

“He knows that, sir,” Tori said, “and so do I. But we’ve told you everything now.”

“Everything except where those damned dental records are.”

“You mean you don’t have them?” Cole asked in amazement.

“No. Where are they?”

“I don’t know. Jack took them with him. As far as I know, they’re either at his office or his house.”

“We’ve gone over both places with a fine-toothed comb. There were no dental records. Do you know of anywhere else they might be?”

“Sorry,” Cole said with a shrug.

“Well, I guess we’ll have to look again.” While Tori watched from the table, Det. Irving rose and started for the door with Cole following him.

“Will somebody be at your mansion first thing tomorrow morning to let the coroner and a couple of my men in?” Det. Irving asked.

“I have to work,” Cole said, “but I’ll make sure Tori’s there by eight. How’s that?”

“Fine. Just give me the address. Our Garmin will get us there.”

As soon as the policeman pulled out of the driveway, Cole closed the front door and returned to Tori. Sinking onto the chair beside hers, he groaned. “Oh, God, Tori. Now what am I going to do?”

“About what?” she asked.

“Dad. Don’t you see? All of this is boiling down to one answer. He killed Carl.”

“How can you be so sure?” she asked.

“Think about it. When I called to tell him about my inheritance, he suggested that I think about what to do for a year—and that was after I’d said I wanted to give the plantation a go. When I called to tell him that I’d decided to have the mansion restored, he didn’t want me to. He didn’t come right out and say so, but I could tell by his voice that he didn’t like the idea. And he didn’t even balk when I called to have him come here. I hung up on him, but he could have called back to complain. There wasn’t a single message from him or anybody else on my voice mail. Instead, he called late to let me know that he had the first flight out of Boise in the morning. I’m sure he would have been here even sooner if he hadn’t had such long layovers in Chicago and Memphis.”

“So what does all this prove?”

“Let me finish,” Cole insisted. “Other than Jack, he was the only person besides us who knew about the skeleton. He even came to the hospital this afternoon after I called him, but he disappeared before you came out. What does that tell you?”

“That he couldn’t face me?”

“Exactly. He must have killed Jack, and he must have tried to kill you. He might even have keys to the mansion. I never bothered to ask.”

“Do you really think he would hurt me? Doesn’t he know what it would do to you?”

“I’m sure he knows now. But I honestly don’t think he did before this afternoon. That’s why I’m not going to take off work tomorrow. I’m that sure you’ll be safe alone at the mansion.”

“Okay. Do you know what I’m going to do? I’m going to put on my bikini and go out to the beach. I was wading in the water earlier, and it felt pretty good on my feet. I’m going to lie in it for a while.”

“Sounds like a good idea, probably as good as the cool bath that Dr. Moore suggested.” He glanced at the large stack of dishes on the counter and grimaced. “I’ll clean up around here. I’m going to have Dad come over about nine and get the truth out of him once and for all.”