“We’ll have to rent the movie
Candace pointed at me and smiled. “Sounds like a film I need to see.”
She hurried down the steps and was gone.
Ritaestelle and I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening indoors playing with the cats and talking. I threw together a hamburger Stroganoff that Ritaestelle thought was delicious. I wondered how many fifteen-minute meals she’d ever eaten and if she was simply being polite with her praise. After supper, while I did some hand quilting on orders that urgently needed my attention, Ritaestelle asked a million questions about my past, how I’d learned to quilt and why I’d moved to South Carolina. The conversation eventually turned to my late husband, and I was again reminded of Farley Longworth’s accusation. Still not wanting to talk about what he’d said, I instead told her about John and some of the wonderful things we’d done together.
“Mr. Stewart has a genuine affection for you. Have you had enough time to heal from your loss and return that affection?” Ritaestelle said.
“Some days yes and some days no,” I said.
“That is an honest answer. Life is indeed complicated.” She glanced at the clock on the DVR box next to the television.
“Nine o’clock,” she said. “I must say, I am extremely tired.”
“Can I help you to your room?” I asked.
“I truly am beginning to heal. The more I walk on my own, the better.” She left the living room with Isis leading the way.
I was about to get up, set the security system and curl up with a book when my phone rang. I saw Tom’s name on the caller ID and felt a tad guilty talking to him right after my conversation with Ritaestelle about John and about my hesitancy at times to allow Tom completely into my life.
I answered with a breezy, “Hey there,” hoping he wasn’t as perceptive as he usually was. I did like Tom, after all. A lot.
“It’s Candace,” Tom said hurriedly. “I’ll pick you up in ten minutes.”
“What are you talking about?” I said. But the urgency in his voice told me something was terribly wrong.
“She was hit over the head in her apartment parking lot. They’ve taken her to the county hospital.”
I could feel my heart pounding at my temples. “She’ll be okay, though?”
“I don’t know. She’s unconscious.”
Twenty-Four
As soon as I hung up with Tom, I speed-dialed Kara with a shaky hand. I couldn’t leave Ritaestelle alone, but I had to get to that hospital. I was hoping she’d come over and stay with my houseguest.
When she answered, she said, “I was just about to call you. I’m on my way to the hospital. They found Candace lying unconscious in our apartment parking lot.”
“Tom told me. Do you know how badly she’s hurt?” My mouth was so dry it was difficult to get the words out. My three friends, realizing I was upset, gathered close. Merlot sat next to me, ears pricked, Syrah was at my feet staring up at me and Chablis had jumped into my lap.
“I don’t know anything about Candace’s condition,” Kara said. “By the time I got out to the parking lot, the ambulance had already left. The deputies weren’t about to tell the newspaper snoop anything about one of their own—even when I said I was off the record and asking as a friend.”
“You didn’t hear anything that went on outside beforehand?” I said.
“I was in the shower, and when I got out, the police scanner was squawking about an ambulance needing a police escort. I got dressed, saw all the flashing lights through my window, and you know the rest.”
“Tom’s picking me up. I was hoping you could stay here with Ritaestelle, but of course Candace is your friend, too. What should I do?”
“Arm the security system and tell the woman to stay put. She
“But—”
“Do you believe Ritaestelle is next on this hit man’s list?” Kara said.
“Maybe. I’m too upset to think straight.” Syrah meowed and pawed at my knee. Tears stung my eyes, but I fought them back.
“This whole nasty business is swirling around Ritaestelle. Makes sense she might need protection after what’s just happened. But any Mercy cop who’s free will be at the hospital,” she said. “Maybe Chief Shelton can whip on over and guard your house.”
“That could take a good thirty minutes. Tom will be here any minute to pick me up, and I don’t feel right leaving her alone, but—”
“Leave,” came a voice from the foyer. Ritaestelle was standing there in her robe, Isis in her arms. “Obviously you need to be somewhere right now.”
Kara said, “I heard what she said. Listen to her. Meanwhile, I’m pulling into the hospital lot. Bye.” She disconnected.
I looked at Ritaestelle. “Candace has been attacked. Hit over the head. She’s in the hospital and—”
“You need to be at your friend’s side. I promise you I will be fine. I will not open any doors or peer out any windows if I should hear anything outside,” she said.
I hesitated, but I had to be with Candace. “Let me show you how to set the alarm. Engage it right after I leave, okay?”
“Thank you. Perhaps you could write down your cellular phone number for me?” She stroked Isis and smiled sadly. “Terrible things have happened, and I feel responsible. I should have never come here.”
“Don’t say that.” I lifted Chablis off my lap, set her on the floor and stood. “Tom and I and every person on the police force will work as hard as we can to find the truth. If you hadn’t come here, you might be dead now.”
“I might indeed. But I would gladly exchange my life for Evie’s or for your friend’s at this juncture.”
“This is
After I was sure she knew what she was doing, I told her that I would be checking my cat cameras often, so she would have another level of security.
Before I left with Tom, she said, “Please call me when you have news about Deputy Carson to share. I will be praying for her.”
When a police officer goes down, the response from the community, fellow officers, fire and rescue teams, paramedics, local politicians and of course the media is almost overwhelming. So many people were at the hospital awaiting word on Candace’s condition that all her visitors were directed to the outpatient surgery waiting room— even Nancy Shelton. Good choice for a gathering place since no one was having elective surgery this late at night.
Tom and I headed straight for Mike Baca. He was pacing behind a vinyl sofa at the far end of the room.
“Tell me she’ll be okay.” I said when we reached him.
Mike’s face was drained of color. “She’s been taken from the emergency room to ICU. There was a lot of blood and she was unconscious the entire ride in the ambulance.”
“Blow to the head, we heard,” Tom said.
“Back of the skull, so she might not have even seen her attacker.” Mike focused on the floor and shook his head. “I should have handled this case myself.”
“Don’t go blaming yourself, Chief,” came a voice behind us. It was Morris. His red-rimmed eyes betrayed how upset he was. “We’re gonna find this coward and take him down—take him down
Seeing how emotional these two strong men were brought out a part of me I usually reserved for my cats. They needed a few comforting words. “Candace is tough. She’ll be good as new. I feel it.” But I didn’t truly feel it.
