Death Changes Everything (6 page)

6

Emma loved every season, each as different from the others as it was possible for weather to be. Growing up in southern California, she’d been accustomed to having just two seasons, wet and dry. In Wyoming, all four seasons chased each other around the calendar. Before Emma had time to grow tired with one, the next was pushing its way forward. Spring was her favorite time of year, but fall was a close second.

The change in air pressure that accompanied the movement from summer to fall was draining for Grace. Though she had said nothing to Emma, she hadn’t been able to hide the dark circles that appeared beneath her eyes. Over breakfast, Emma had suggested they skip the drive up Casper Mountain they’d been planning. “There’s a storm blowing down from Canada. Weather report calls for three feet of snow by tonight. I never quite believe the weatherman, but it’s still probably better if we wait.”

Grace had accepted Emma’s weather excuse despite the bright sun that was streaming in at every window and had readily agreed to another quite day at home. She’d fallen asleep on her easy chair, Peachy curled in her lap and Sparky on the back of her chair, snuggled against Grace’s shoulder. Emma had spent the past few hours lost in thought. Grace had told her that all of her family was gone. Jake, too, had lost his parents and had no siblings. He had cousins down south, where his mother was from, but they’d never been more than Christmas card family to him.

Her own family was big and boisterous, with several generations that gathered for holidays and special occasions. She and Jake had stayed home from the family Christmas celebration last year and they hadn’t been planning to go to Florida this year because of Grace. She decided to call her sister to see if she could fit one more person around her table. It might do Grace good to immerse herself in family, and everyone was family at her sister’s house.

Grace slept the morning away, while Emma took advantage of the quiet to read a book. A gust of wind slammed into the southwestern corner of the house with such force it startled both Grace and the cats. “Is it snowing?”

“Just wind. Clouds are blowing in. Weatherman might be right after all.”

“I hope so.” Grace hadn’t seen much snow, spending most of her time living in California or traveling the globe, going from airport to hotel to conference center to airport again. She was looking forward to what she’d told Emma would be her first white Christmas.

The two women were sitting down to a late lunch of tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches when they heard Jake’s truck in the drive. Emma ran out to greet him, throwing her arms around him as if they’d been apart for weeks instead of just two days.

“I should go away more often if that’s how you greet me when I come home.”

“I just missed you. Catch any fish? Did you get your elk?”

“Nah, but Jeb and I are going back tomorrow night. We’ll get in a couple more days before I have to give up and just go after deer. I missed you.” Emma walked in with Jake and made him a grilled cheese sandwich. She ladled soup into a mug for him and popped her own lunch into the microwave to reheat.

“So, what did you decide about running for County Attorney, Jacob?”

“Ninety percent.”

“What’s stopping you?”

“There’s a few people I want to talk to first.”

“Lining up your support in advance?” asked Emma. “Smart idea.”

“How was your weekend?”

“Quiet. Peaceful.”

There was a knock at the door and Jake went to open it. “Matt? Since when did you start knocking?”

Matt stood awkwardly in the entry. “Afraid this isn’t a social call.”

“Is it about the break-in? I got a voicemail from Steven Hill right before you called me. I don’t know how I can help you, but if I can, I’m glad to.”

“Why don’t we talk outside?”

Jake grabbed his jacket from a hook by the door. “Heading out to check on the barn,” he told Emma.

He slipped his arms into his jacket as they walked. “So what don’t you want Emma to hear? There’s not much I can tell you that Steven couldn’t.”

“Steven Hill’s not saying anything anymore.”

“Why not? Did Roger ask him not to cooperate?”

“Not that I know of. We’re trying to reach the Hills, but it’s crazy. How do you go anywhere in the world these days without somebody being able to reach you?”

Jake unlatched the barn door and both men were grateful for the shelter from the wind. Jake turned on the light and opened the bin where dry cat food was stored. As soon as scoop hit food, barn cats began to materialize. Cats fed, he leaned against his workbench. “Out with it. What do you need?”

“When did you hear from Steven Hill?”

“Got the message about two hours ago, when Jeb and I got into cell range but the message was dated on Friday. He said his parents’ home had been broken into and you might be calling me. Told me he was trying to reach his dad.”

“That’s it? Nothing after that?”

“Just messages from you. Again, I don’t know how I can help. Steven said something about the safe being broken into, but the insurance company would be more help to you there. I’m sure Roger had a complete inventory on file with them.”

“You still work for Roger Hill?”

“You know I can’t tell you that.”

“Steven Hill told me. I didn’t know you took anything but juvenile cases now.”

“Mostly. When I made the change, I didn’t take on new clients but I kept any of the old that wanted to stay with me. I’m down to a handful now.”

“Is Steven Hill one of them?”

“You’ll have to ask him.”

“Tough to do. He’s dead.”

“What? Holy cow, Matt, lead with that kind of news next time!”

“Welcome to the wonderful world of interrogation.”

“Since when did you ever need to interrogate me? Surely, you don’t consider me a suspect. You know I’ve been at the cabin all weekend with Jeb.”

“I don’t consider you a suspect.”

“Look, let’s not play cat and mouse. What do you need to know?”

“What can you tell me about Steven Hill?”

“Nothing you probably couldn’t read in the paper.”

“Was he a client of yours?”

“Asked and answered.”

“Turning lawyer on me?”

“You know I can’t ethically share my client list with you. Ask Maddie.”

“She’s hysterical. Doctor had her sedated when I stopped by this morning. Hill told me you are his father’s attorney.”

“I will grudgingly confirm that, considering the circumstances.”

“Got any idea what they might have kept in the safe besides jewelry? Never mind, I know, you can’t tell me.”

“I’d only be guessing anyway.”

“Somebody broke into the Hill house and took a shopping list of small items. The next day, Steven Hill is murdered. I’m not a big believer in coincidence. Assuming the two events are connected, do you have any idea what the killer may have been looking for?”

“You’re thinking they didn’t find it at Roger’s and broke into Steven’s? Did it look like he interrupted a burglary?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

Jake grinned. “My own words thrown in my face. Fine. I can’t imagine what the connection would be.”

“Something to do with Hill Energy?”

“As good a guess as any, but you know Roger retired a couple of years ago. I don’t know what he’d have that would interest someone enough to break into his home. There’ve been a lot of layoffs in oil and gas. Maybe one of the employees they’ve let go targeted the Hills out of spite.”

“That’s not a half-bad guess, counselor. I’ll check it out.” Matt’s phone chirped and he read the text. “They’ve reached the Hills on that cruise, docked in Hong Kong. They’re flying back immediately.”

“Roger ought to be able to give you whatever information you need then.”

Emma was standing in the doorway, watching Jake walk back from the barn. “Is Matt leaving? Why didn’t he come into the house? I didn’t see Kristy and when I called her, she didn’t know he was coming out.”

“He was here on a case. Steven Hill was murdered yesterday. His dad’s house had been burglarized the day before.”

“Oh, Jake. Maddie must be beside herself.”

“You know her?”

“Steven was in my Rotary. I won’t speak ill of the dead, but I like Maddie. She supports all our charity events and always gives a donation, even when Steven puts us off. I should call her.”

“Matt says she’s sedated.”

“That’s sad. Is she at home, did he say? I could stop by tomorrow.”

“I didn’t ask.”

“So what did Matt need to see you about?”

“If Matt asked you whether someone was a client of yours, could you tell him?”

“No, not without…oh, I see. Steven was a client of yours.”

Jake put his arm around her and walked into the living room. “I don’t think it’s gonna snow. It’s cold enough but there isn’t any moisture in the air.”

Emma let it drop. Grace had gone to her room to take a nap so they kept their voices low. “I’m worried about Grace. She’s been tired and achy all weekend.”

“Maybe she’s coming down with something. Not everything has to be because of the cancer.”

“I suppose. I wonder how long it will take for her immune system to recover from the round of chemo she had before she came out here.”

“That’s a good question. I have no idea.”

“So, who is it that you still need to talk to before you decide whether to run? Oh no, don’t tell me. Clint Taylor?”

“I don’t like the guy, but I have to work with him. Don’t you think it would be better coming from me than if he hears it from someone else?” Jake left it there and Emma dropped the subject.

***

“Why didn’t you tell me you were heading out to Jake and Emma’s?” asked Kristy, when Matt called her from his car. “I would have ridden along with you.”

“Sorry. Didn’t Emma tell you? It wasn’t a social call.”

“She didn’t know. She saw the two of you head to the barn and called me to see if I knew what was up.”

“All I can tell you is, I can’t tell you anything. That ought to tell you everything.”

Kristy laughed. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it. Hey, does the murder investigation trump swing shift?”

“Sure does. I’m on my way home now.”

“Do you want to come over for a while?”

“That’s a silly question. Want me to pick up Chinese food?”

“That would be great.”

“I’m on my way.” Matt hung up the phone and tucked it into his shirt pocket. He was no teenager, but Kristy made him feel like one. He swung his car around and headed downtown. He wondered what Kristy had wanted to speak with him about when he’d been called out to Steven Hill’s house. At first, he’d been afraid she might be breaking up with him. Remembering the tone of her voice on the phone just now, he thought it might be something much more pleasant.

The light ahead of him turned red and Matt slowed to a stop. He listened idly to the calls going out over the radio while he waited for the light to turn. It was pretty quiet but it was early and it was a Sunday. He jerked his head up suddenly, realizing he’d almost fallen asleep. Good thing he didn’t have to work swing tonight.

The light turned green and he pulled into the intersection. Movement on his right side caught his attention. He turned his head to see a sedan bearing down on him. He punched his accelerator, but the sedan barreled into his passenger side rear door. Matt heard the brakes squeal and felt the car move sideways with the impact, the right side airbag deploying. As if in slow motion, his car flipped over. Matt felt an intense flash of pain, then there was nothing but darkness.

7

The call went out for an ambulance, as onlookers stopped to help or rubberneck, in not quite equal numbers. The first officer on the scene recognized Matt’s car, though as he later told his wife, he wasn’t sure he would have known him otherwise.

Matt’s car was resting on the driver’s side, wheels still spinning when the first bystander rushed up to look through the busted window shield in order to check on the driver. Matt was lying with his head against the driver’s side airbag, still strapped into his seatbelt. He was moaning in pain, which the bystander took as a good sign.

“Hang in there, buddy. Help’s on the way.” Sirens converged on the location as police, fire, and ambulance crews responded. The bystander gave way to paramedics and faded into the crowd.

Grim faces on the rescue squad soured Captain Danning’s expression as he climbed out of his car and joined the officers watching the team work on Matt. He put a hand on the backs of two of the men and spoke quietly to them. “Let’s get statements from the witnesses and send the citizens on their way.”

The officers moved away and started interviewing the crowd. Making notes, taking down names, they worked methodically to clear the scene. Bystanders reluctantly pulled themselves away from the grizzly scene and went back to their waiting vehicles.

Firefighters managed to extract Matt from the car and the ambulance crew got him onto a gurney and was soon away, lights on and siren blaring. Danning looked at the lead paramedic, who shrugged his shoulders and turned away to gather his gear.

The driver of the car, with two DUI convictions on his record, swore that Matt had pulled into the intersection against the light but dozens of witnesses contradicted him. The driver refused a roadside sobriety test and was taken into custody, one of the patrol cars pulling away to transport him to county jail.

Disgusted with the drunk driver, Danning went to find Luis Altrez. As senior field officer, Altrez should have been managing the scene, but he was leaning against his squad car, staring blankly at Matt’s car. Danning joined him, the two men watching the tow-truck operator work to clear the wreckage.

“Will he make it?” asked Altrez after a long silence.

“Can’t say.”

Altrez suddenly pulled himself away from the cruiser. Turning, he slammed his hands on the trunk and kicked hard at the tire. “Damn it!”

He stood staring down at his car, then straightened. “I should tell his girlfriend.”

Denning laid a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll take care of it. You go home.”

Altrez opened his mouth as if to argue, then closed it. Nodding sharply, he walked around to the driver’s door and got in. Denning stood up and took a few steps from the cruiser, giving him room to pull out. He dug his cell phone out of his pocket and called the ER to check on Matt.

“He’s alive,” was all the nurse would tell him. He disconnected the call and placed another one, this time to Jake Rand.

***

“Oh dear God.” Jake dropped his cell phone on the floor.

Emma, who had been in the kitchen checking her pot roast when Jake’s phone rang, dropped the lid to her favorite Dutch oven. Rinsing it off, she covered the pan and slid it back into the oven. “What is it?”

Jake was sitting on the sofa with his back to her, his head in his hands. When he didn’t answer, she went into the living room. Picking up his cell phone, she put it on the coffee table and sat down beside him. “Jake, what’s wrong?”

He looked up at her, his face ashen. Steady as a rock through every crisis, Jake couldn’t find the breath to speak. Emma was suddenly frightened.

“It’s Matt.”

“Is he hurt?”

“He was in an accident. It’s bad, Em.”

“Does Kristy know? Was that her?” Emma jumped up from the sofa, feeling the need to move.

“Captain Danning. He thought it would be better if Kristy heard it from us.”

“Then let’s go! Oh God, Jake, what if he…?”

Jake’s mind snapped back from the initial shock and he stood up. Catching Emma’s flying hands, he held them tightly and looked into her eyes. “You need to be calm. You need to be strong for Kristy. Go tell Grace where we’re going. I’ll call the hospital from the truck and see how he’s doing.”

His words had the desired effect and Emma went down the hall to where Grace was stirring after her nap. She offered to come with them, but Emma could still see dark circles beneath her eyes, so she urged her to stay home and rest. She let her know about the roast in the oven and Grace promised to keep an eye on it.

Emma climbed into Jake’s truck and covered the ten miles into town as quickly as the law would allow. An agonizing twenty minutes later, he pulled into the loading zone in front of Kristy’s apartment. “You go get her, I’ll call the hospital.”

Emma left Jake in the truck with the motor running and ran into the lobby. She punched the buzzer and waited anxiously for Kristy to answer. “Get your coat on and grab your purse!” she shouted into the speaker. “I’ll explain when I get up there.”

The door popped open and Emma rushed to the elevator. “Oh come on!” She shifted her weight from one foot to the other and leaned again on the brightly lit elevator button. When the door finally slid open, Kristy was inside, a frightened expression on her face.

“What is it?” she asked, her voice shaking.

Emma took her friend’s hand and pulled her from the elevator. “Kristy, honey. Matt’s been in an accident.”

“Is he all right?”

“Jake’s talking to the hospital now.”

The two women rushed across the lobby and out the doors to the waiting truck. Emma climbed into the back with Kristy, holding tightly to her hand as Jake pulled away from the curb. Jake talked as he drove. “He’s got some broken bones and he’ll need surgery for internal bleeding. Too soon to say more.”

Kristy, who’d been unconsciously holding her breath since Emma told her Matt had been hurt, let out a slow, ragged breath and started to shake. Emma squeezed her hands and Kristy gave her a weak smile. “Go in. I’ll park the truck and come find you.” Jake stopped long enough for the women to jump out, then sped off toward the parking garage.

Emma and Kristy stumbled up to the reception desk in the Emergency Room waiting area. “Can I help you?” asked a young woman.

“I’m Kristy Castle. My boyfriend, Matt Joyner, is here.”

“Are you family?” Seeing the stricken look on Kristy’s face, her voice softened. “Engaged, did you say? That sounds like family to me. Have a seat and let me tell them you’re here.”

Not two minutes later, a nurse came out and motioned them to follow her. “How is he?” asked Kristy as they fell in behind the nurse.

“I’m not gonna lie to you. It’s not good. His face is cut up pretty bad so he looks rough. Doctor’s still determining the full extent of his injuries. We’re just waiting for an OR to open up.”

She said all this at a breathless pace that brought them to a room just off the nursing station. “You can sit with him. The doctor will be by to speak to you soon.”

Kristy stared at the curtain inside the room that hung between them and the bed, providing the patient privacy in the busy ER. She reached out to pull the curtain aside, but her arm was shaking too badly. Emma stepped forward and gently pulled back the curtain.

Matt lay on the bed, his eyes closed, his face bloodied. His chest was bare, with more bandages covering his left shoulder. Tubes and wires seemed to be everywhere but at least he was breathing on his own. That seemed like a good sign to Emma.

She stepped back and Kristy went to stand by the head of the bed. She watched as her friend spoke softly to Matt, then bent over him and kissed his face. She took his hand and held it against her face. Through her tears she gently covered his hand in kisses.

A man dressed in green scrubs came into the room and stood next to Emma, watching Kristy. When she looked up, he moved to the opposite side of the bed and introduced himself as Dr. McNutt. He briefed them on Matt’s condition.

“We need to take him up to surgery now.”

“Will he be all right?” asked Kristy, her voice so quiet Emma had to strain to hear.

“We won’t know for certain until he wakes up. We did a CT scan and there’s no swelling, but you just don’t know with head injuries until the patient regains consciousness. His injuries are serious, but not life threatening. He’ll be mighty sore and the plastic surgeon will need to fix some of those gashes. Matt’s a tough bird.”

Kristy smiled, though the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “You know him?”

“I know most of our policemen, considering how often they’re in and out of here. Matt was just here this morning, looking in on someone.” Dr. McNutt looked down at Matt and a look of sadness passed over his face. Just as quickly, the professional mask returned.

“What happens now?” she asked.

“We’ll take him up to the ICU when he gets out of surgery and keep a close watch on him. I wish I could give you more reassurance, but we’ll just have to wait and see.”

The transport team was at the door then, and they stood back while they unhooked the wires and wheeled Matt out of the room. She and Kristy trailed after them. Jake, who’d been standing outside the room, joined them. They rode up to the surgical floor with Matt, then watched as the team wheeled him through the doors leading back to the operating rooms.

When they could no longer see Matt, Emma took Kristy’s arm and led her to the family waiting room. They sat silently, Emma not wanting to bother Kristy with idle conversation. Captain Danning came into the room and said a few words to Kristy before going to stand with Jake. Gradually, the waiting room filled with off-duty officers. The hospital chaplain stopped by and prayed with Kristy, then circulated, offering words of comfort and encouragement.

A nurse, dressed in scrubs, appeared in the doorway, silencing the murmured conversations. Kristy stood up, flanked by Emma and the chaplain. “The doctor will be out to speak with you in a minute,” she told Kristy. “The plastic surgeon is just finishing up.”

Kristy opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out. Emma squeezed her hand and asked if Matt was all right.

“He came through the surgery just fine. He’ll be in recovery for a while. Someone will come and get you when he’s ready to go to the ICU.”

Kristy slumped against Emma and there was a buzz of excited voices around them. Captain Danning stepped forward and addressed the officers. “Okay, men. Let’s clear out and give the family some space.” Officers began moving out of the room, stopping to speak to Kristy on their way out. Danning himself stayed until the surgeon came out to confirm that the surgery had gone well and Matt would be moved as soon as he came out of the recovery room.

“You call me if you need anything,” Danning told Kristy before he left. “We cops stick together in times like this.”

An orderly came to escort them from the surgical floor down to the ICU. Standing at the foot of the bed, Emma suddenly felt helpless. Kristy sat in the chair next to the Matt’s bed, never letting go of his hand. Tears streamed freely down her cheeks as she whispered encouragement to him. When his fingers closed around hers, she put her head on his arm and sobbed in relief.

Emma gave Jake a gentle push and followed him out of the room. She let the nurse know they would be in the waiting area in case Kristy needed them. Using the phone in the waiting area, Emma called Grace.

“Oh thank the good Lord,” she exclaimed, when Emma told her Matt seemed to be doing well. “Give Matthew my love when he wakes.”

“I will. How are you feeling?”

“Tired, but my headache is gone. I’ll keep dinner warm for you.”

Hanging up, Emma sat in one of the room’s sterile institutional chairs and watched Jake pace. The clock ticked away eighty-seven minutes before Kristy emerged from the ICU. Emma jumped up when she saw her and Jake put down his cell phone, where he’d been playing solitaire to pass the time.

“He’s awake!” Kristy announced, her face radiant. “The doctor says there doesn’t appear to be any brain damage.”

Emma threw her arms around her friend and they laughed and cried together. “They’re going to watch him overnight,” explained Kristy, “but if he’s still doing well in the morning, they’ll move him into a regular room. He might even be able to go home by Wednesday or Thursday.”

“Oh, Kristy, that’s amazing. It’s the best news I’ve ever heard.”

“Can we see him?” asked Jake, standing a foot or so behind Emma, not wanting to intrude.

“He’s asking for you, Jake. Soon as I told him you two were out here, he wanted to see you. You go on in. I want to talk to Emma.”

Emma pulled Kristy onto the waiting room’s vinyl-covered sofa. “Is he all right, really?”

“He will be. The plastic surgeon says Matt will have some scars but they’ll just give his face character.”

“Thank God. When Jake got the call, I thought he was going to pass out.”

“Seriously? Jake always seems so calm.”

“He was scared to death, let me tell you. Me, too.”