Pushing Up Bluebonnets

We started down the hall again.

'And that explains the attempt on JoLynn's life, but again, it doesn't explain why someone wanted Dugan dead. We're missing something, Abby.'

'Right,' I said. 'And maybe we missed whatever that something is during the condo search. What about the pictures of JoLynn taken at the cemetery? I don't understand why he took them, aside from him being a twisted, angry stalker.'

Cooper and I halted outside JoLynn's room and looked at each other and he whispered what I was thinking. 'Maybe Dugan didn't take those pictures.'

I would have loved to think this through more, but Cooper opened the door.

The security guard, a large black man, stood and blocked our path the minute we tried to enter.

I liked him already.

'They're okay, Henry,' we heard Richter say—only heard because we couldn't see around the mass of humanity that was Henry.

The guard stepped aside and we squeezed into a room where the bed alone would have made the room crowded. Add six people and a patient with equipment, and I was thinking we all might have to grease our hips to turn around.

Scott said, 'Henry and I will wait in the hall.'

Once they were gone, I could actually see JoLynn and my sister. Kate was on the window side of the bed, helping JoLynn drink water through a straw.

Richter stepped back into the far corner and gestured for us to come closer. 'JoLynn's doing much better today.'

Cooper went to the bedside and looked down on her. He gently said, 'Do you remember me?'

Her eyes moved in his direction and Kate carefully took the straw from between JoLynn's dry lips.

'Police?' JoLynn said.

'That's right.' Cooper glanced at me. I'd taken the

only available floor space, near the foot of the bed. 'And her?' Cooper said.

JoLynn said, 'Abby, right?' Then she glanced at Kate. 'Your sister?'

Kate smiled and nodded. 'These are the people helping you. They have questions.'

JoLynn closed her eyes. 'I remember what you said, Chief Boyd.'

'What's that?' Cooper asked.

'You said someone tampered with my car.' Then tears escaped from the corners of both eyes. 'I lied. I deserved to die.'

Richter stood taller and took a step forward, ready to jump in and rescue the girl he'd taken in as his own. But Kate set down the water glass and held up her hand to stop him. Softly she said, 'We all tell lies sometimes. Especially when we're afraid.'

When JoLynn opened her eyes, she found Richter. 'I am so sorry.'

Cooper took over this time. 'He knows, Elizabeth. We all know. And it doesn't matter.'

JoLynn was still focused on the man she'd called Grandfather. 'Elizabeth should have died.'

The small space between Kate's eyes furrowed with concern. 'But that's you. JoLynn is Elizabeth. And you don't deserve to die.'

JoLynn's glance flicked briefly toward Kate, then returned to Richter. 'Can you forgive me?'

Richter seemed all verklempt again, as he had been downstairs. I wasn't sure he could respond, but he managed to say, 'There is nothing to forgive. But please talk to Chief Boyd and Abby. They have questions. I'll leave you with them.'

Then he walked to JoLynn's side and Kate scooted her chair away so he could get close to his once and perhaps future granddaughter.

Richter bent, kissed JoLynn's forehead and said, 'I love you, Elizabeth . . . or JoLynn. Whatever name you like best. I'll be back when they're done talking to you.'

I had to lean forward so Richter could get by me, and then he was gone. Mr. Man of Stone had cracked. He needed time to repair.

'Which name do you like?' Kate asked.

'JoLynn. I've always liked JoLynn.' She repositioned her shoulders and pain brightened her eyes.

'Are you okay?' Kate said.

JoLynn nodded, lips tight.

'Before the chief and Abby talk to you, I need to ask one important question. Did you try to take your own life? Are you the one who tampered with your car?'

I could understand why Kate might have concluded this, seeing as how these last few minutes had revealed JoLynn's rather guilty conscience.

'I'm not that brave,' JoLynn said. 'I don't know who was that angry with me. Maybe one of them.'

'Them?' I said.

'The family. No one but Scott and Grandfather liked me. The family probably knew I was lying. That's why they hated me.'

'The truth is, we have credible evidence that Kent Dugan tampered with your car,' Cooper said.

Kate shot him a look—one I knew. It's the 'Why can't you be more sensitive?' look. She probably didn't think JoLynn could deal with this information on the heels of the suicide query.

Indeed, JoLynn seemed too stunned to speak, but Cooper had obviously gotten Kate's message, because he said, 'I didn't mean to upset you. But we found his fingerprints. . . . Well, we know he had his hands on your car.'

Then fear overwhelmed her shock. 'Where is he? Did you tell him I was in the hospital? Did—'

'Shhh,' Kate said, taking JoLynn's hand. 'He can't get to you. You're completely safe.'

But JoLynn's eyes were darting everywhere. 'You don't know him. He found me once and he'll find me again.'

This time Cooper's tone was gentle when he said, 'He's dead, JoLynn. He can never hurt you again. But we need your help finding out who killed him.'

'Dead?' She looked at Kate. 'Is that true?'

Kate nodded.

'We know all about his illegal business,' Cooper said. 'A man like that had to have some serious enemies. Can you give us any names?'

JoLynn lifted her free hand to her forehead, a hand still swollen and scraped raw along the pinkie side. 'Enemies? I thought I was his enemy.'

Cooper looked disappointed, but egad, the kid probably still had major brain fog after her near-death experience.

Maybe we should test her more-recent memory. I said, 'We know Kent was on the Richter property recently, since he managed to mess with your car. You never had a hint he was lurking around? No hang-up calls, no sense you were being watched or followed?'

'Hang-up calls? No . . . oh my God.' Her hand went to her lips. 'I remember now. He called me that night. That's why I left the house. That's why I was in the car. Oh my God.'

Kate squeezed her hand. 'You remember. That's good. And now you need to remember he can never do that again.'

Cooper looked down at JoLynn. 'I've already got permission from Mr. Richter to get the ranch phone records. Now that we know Dugan called you and you left in a panic, he could have called other times. Maybe he even asked for Elizabeth.'

And if so, I thought, that would bring the family into play, perhaps provide a connection between someone at the Richter ranch—someone other than JoLynn—and Kent Dugan.

Cooper was about to say something else, but Super Nurse Maxine Norman busted into the room like a rhinoceros, pulling Henry along by the hand. 'Mr. Richter told me how many people were in here. You may have his consent to torture this poor young woman with your questions, but you don't have mine. Henry, get them all out.'

Henry stood behind her and rolled his eyes.