Tales of Chills and Thrills: The Mystery Thriller Horror Box Set (7 Mystery Thriller Horror Novels) (88 page)

Cooper set the hook. “I didn’t think you were a babysitter.”

“Screw you!” The deputy spun away as Bowden was lifted into the
back of the medic unit.

Cooper spoke to the other deputy. “Be sure to get prints off the
Civic.”

“I still got the girl in the back of my car. You’ll have to get
someone else to do it.”

Cooper swore under his breath, and walked to the deputy’s car.
He opened the door and let Tara out. Her clothes were torn where she had hit
the pavement.

Cooper led her to the medic unit and helped her climb in, then
turned to the deputy who had just offered the excuse. “Now you can lift the
prints.”

The deputy cursed him, but opened the trunk of his car and took
out a print kit.

“Do you want a tech to do that?” Bowden asked.

“Shut up!” Cooper shot back. “It’s rush hour. I want to get the
car out of here.” He climbed into the back of the medic unit and wedged himself
into a corner.

“Are you riding in with us?” a medic asked him.

“Yeah.”

“You’ll need to buckle up.”

“There aren’t any more seats.”

“There’s one in the cab.”

“How am I going to ask questions if I’m in the cab?”

The medic shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know, but we’re not
moving until you’re buckled in.”

Bowden tried to lift his head off the stretcher, but found that
it was taped down and grunted as his head snapped back. “You could follow us.”

Cooper jumped out of the back and slammed the door.

Bowden grinned and looked over at Tara. “How you doing?”

“Fine. Thanks for coming after me.”

He tried to nod but wasn’t successful. He felt the truck roll
forward and the driver chirped the siren to merge with traffic.

He asked his next question. “Do you know who that was?”

“The guy that grabbed me?”

“Yeah.”

“He looked familiar, like I’d seen him somewhere before. But I
can’t remember.”

“Did he say anything to you, while you were in the car, that
might have, um, keyed you to his plans?”

“He said something like, ‘Maybe you’ll talk,’ as if someone else
hadn’t.”

Bowden sucked in some air as a medic stuck him with a needle. He
wondered if that someone else could be Michelle. He rolled his eyes towards
Tara and wondered if she even knew that Michelle was missing.

He felt lightheaded and the roof of the truck split in two, each
piece going in a different direction but never separating.

The medic spoke, and it sounded as though he were a mile away.
“I gave you a pain killer and a relaxant. You should start to feel it soon.”

“I already do,” Bowden blurted back, his tongue as thick as a
ham.

He fought to maintain his line of thinking but couldn’t string
any thoughts together. He only caught snapshots: a man running, a ghost, a
gunshot, an edge of a painting, a knife, the corner of a map, a number, and a
girl.

He realized he was being pulled out of the back of the truck and
then taken into a building with many voices and bright lights and people
running around. He thought he saw Cooper. He thought he saw Tara and then
someone put a mask over his face and suddenly he was in another room. An IV
hung beside him as he squinted against the lights. He tried to raise his hand
and it came up off the bed, about an inch, before falling.

He tried to look around. People dressed in white hurried past
him. There was another bed across the hall and someone was holding the person’s
hands and saying, “You’re in the recovery room. The surgery went great. You’ll
be waking up soon.”

Bowden shook his head. He was having a hard time waking up. He felt
himself drift off again, and woke up feeling nauseous. He tried to take a deep
breath, but his chest muscles hardly responded. He tried it again and managed
to suck in a little more air. It was hard work, but it made the nausea fade.

“We got the bullet out.”

Bowden rolled his eyes. Someone was standing next to him.

“The surgery went fine. As soon as a room opens up, we’ll take
you up there. It should be thirty minutes.”

He said, “Okay,” then wondered if he had really said it. The
voice was muffled and came from far away.

He blinked and found himself being wheeled down a hallway. The
lights overhead hurt his eyes and he closed them.

“Your daughter is waiting in your room, along with a police
Lieutenant.”

“My daughter?”

“She rode in with you; in the medic unit.”

“Tara?” Bowden nodded to himself. She was almost young enough to
be his daughter but he knew that wasn’t the problem. He looked older than he
was. That’s what threw them off.

A door opened and he was wheeled into his room. Tara sat there
and he nodded at her. The Lieutenant wore his Class “A’s” and loomed over the
side of his bed.

13

The Lieutenant held up a piece of paper and the orderly pushed
him out of the way.

“Not now, sir. We’ve got to get him onto the bed first.”

Three people slid their hands under Bowden’s back and he was
pushed and rolled until he lay on the bed. He realized that he was in a
hospital gown and hoped Tara hadn’t seen what all had been uncovered. Someone
pulled a sheet and blanket over him and shoved a table close to his side.

“There’s water on the table. Drink as much as you can.” A
plastic bottle was held in front of his face. “Use this when you have to pee.
The IV has antibiotics in it.”

The hospital orderlies left, and as soon as they shut the door,
the Lieutenant pounced. “I can cut you a check right here, right now, for fifteen
thousand dollars. All you need to do is accept our apology and sign for the
money.”

Bowden looked back and saw the Lieutenant open up a checkbook.
He held a pen in the other hand and it hovered over the check.

The sight made him laugh and it hurt his raw throat, which made
him start coughing, so he picked up the cup of water and sipped some through
the straw. He knew the Lieutenant wanted him to sign away his right to sue, so
he took the time to think. “Twenty-five thousand and I won’t even tell the press.”

The Lieutenant stared down at him. “I only have the authority to
write out a check for fifteen thousand.”

“Then call the Chief or Sheriff. Tell him how much money and bad
publicity you’ll save. Tell him the deal is clinched with twenty-five… nothing
less.”

Tara interrupted the conversation. “Don’t do it Chase. You could
sue them for two or three million. Wait until the drugs wear off, and you can
think more clearly.”

“Where’s the phone?” the Lieutenant asked as he picked it up.
“Twenty-five thousand,” he said as he dialed. He glanced over at Tara and
furrowed his brows.

Tara looked at Bowden and shook her head. “Wait till tomorrow.”

“It’s okay. This way the lawyers don’t get anything.”

The Lieutenant heard him and nodded vigorously, then said into
the phone, “Lt. Mason… Twenty-five thousand and not a word to the press.”

Mason hung up the phone and hand-wrote the conditions on a piece
of paper that already had a bunch of legalese printed on it. He then handed the
pen and paper to Bowden.

“Don’t do it, Chase,” advised Tara.

He scanned the page then laid the paper on his stomach and
signed it. Mason opened the checkbook, wrote out a check and held it out for
him. He took it from the Lieutenant’s fingers and dropped it on the desk beside
the bed.

Mason took the signed paper and slid it into a file. “It’s never
that easy,” he said.

“Not too many of us left who understand what goes on out there.”

Mason nodded. “Thanks. Get well soon.” He headed for the door.

“Be safe,” Bowden replied.

Mason stopped and looked back at Bowden. “You’ve worked the
streets before?”

“A long time ago.”

Mason nodded and stepped through the door.

Tara rose from the chair and walked over to the bed. “Why did
you do that?”

“I still believe that cops are inherently good.”

“Meaning?”

“I think the guy made an honest mistake. You can’t crush him for
that. If you do, other cops will hold back, and sooner or later one of them
gets killed.”

Tara sat on the edge of the bed without saying anything. She
played with a string that hung from the edge of the bed. “That detective talked
to me while you were in surgery.”

Bowden nodded and wondered what she’d told him about her
father’s death. He knew that she could present the story in a way that would
implicate him. His brain was still fuzzy, but it finally dawned on him that he
wouldn’t have been offered a settlement if Tara’s story didn’t exonerate him.

He reached over and took her hand. It was small, soft and cold.
He smiled when she looked at him, and then he squeezed her hand and let it go.

“Why did you come after me?” she asked.

“Training and instincts.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, everyone has instincts to survive. When they’re faced
with a deadly situation they will do one of two things. They will run or they
will fight. Training instructors call it ‘fight or flight.’ Cops are trained to
fight, not run away… and not to let someone go.”

“So you came after me because of your instincts?”

“And training.”

“That’s not very heroic.”

He laughed and it felt good. It had been too long since he had
laughed. With the narcotics in him he relaxed and let it flow. He dabbed at his
eyes with the back of his hands and took in a deep breath as he finally brought
it under control.

“Ohhhh,” he sighed. “No one does anything heroic just to be
heroic. If they do then they’re fools.”

Tara stared at the wall and he closed his eyes.

“Do you want me to turn the light off?” she asked.

“Please,” he replied.

Tara reached over him to get the switch for the light that was
mounted above the head of his bed. The light went off darkening the room except
for a small glow from the lights on some of the equipment.

Tara leaned over and put her head on his chest. Her hair hung in
his face and he brushed it away with his hand, tucking it behind her ear. He
rested his hand on her back and felt it shake. That was when he knew she was
crying. He held her for several seconds, wondering what he should say.

He never came up with anything, until Tara sniffed and said,
“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

She stood up and looked down at him. “What’s happening to my
family?”

He didn’t want to answer the question. He waited several seconds
but Tara didn’t pick up the conversation so he said, “Some of them have gotten
greedy.”

“Do you think that my… that what Barry said was true? That he
wasn’t my dad?”

“I don’t know. Riley might.”

“Did you know he was my best friend when I was growing up?”

“Your dad?”

“No. Sam. The ghost.”

“Did you know he was a ghost?”

“Yes. That’s why he could only come at night. He would always
come to my room and check under the bed and in the closets for monsters, and he
would watch over me while I slept. I always felt safe when he was there. When I
got older, he stopped coming around. I never felt that safe or secure again.”

“He’s back now.”

“Yes. And my life is falling apart around me. I wish he could do
more, but I am being selfish.”

Bowden’s heart was pounding and bleeding with pity. He squeezed
Tara’s hand and smiled. “I’ll help you through this.”

She nodded. “Riley needs your help too.”

Bowden’s eyes opened in surprise.

“He’s lonely. He… I think he loves me. He wants to touch me so
bad that I can see it in his eyes. But he can’t. He will never be free. He
knows it too… unless he finds his killer.”

“That was seventy years ago.”

“I know. But seeing him with you…well, he’s different. He seems
to have hope. I want you to help him if you can.”

“If I can. I think our cases might be tied together through your
great-grandfather.”

“Thank you. Just try. That’s all I ask.”

He looked into Tara’s brown eyes and suddenly realized that she
loved Sam Riley. He laid his head back on the pillow and tried to comprehend
that. Being in love and having never touched the other person? That was a life
of hell. He couldn’t understand it. Then the phone rang and interrupted his
thoughts.

He found the receiver and picked it up on the third ring.
“Hello?”

“Chase?”

He recognized Cooper’s voice and that Cooper was very excited.
“Yeah, Cooper. What have you got?”

“Prints, Chase. Prints and a hit. A positive ID on Kent Fonck!”

“From where?”

“The Honda you were chasing. The prints were all over the thing.
We got an NCIC hit out of Pennsylvania and it gave a New York address. He has a
license out of New York but it’s suspended. I’m putting out a BOLO for him
now.”

“What was the felony for?”

“Um…”

He knew that officers weren’t supposed to give out criminal
records. “Come on, cut the crap.”

“Burglary, first.”

Bowden nodded to himself. “That fits,” he said into the phone.
First degree meant that Kent was armed with a dangerous weapon or had seriously
injured someone during the commission of the burglary.

Cooper continued. “We lifted several other prints from the car
but didn’t get any hits off it.”

“William Fonck.”

“What?”

“Bill. Kent. That’s the first name of the two brothers. They
just put them together when they rented the car. You got prints on Kent Fonck.
His brother’s name is William, or Bill. His license is also out of New York.
Bill Kent.”

“I’ll run it. Thanks. Is…um…is Tara still there?”

“Yes.” He could tell that something was wrong.

“Tell her that Kay, um, her mom, slit her wrists. She’s in
serious condition and was airlifted to Harborview. When we got here, to the
house, she was unconscious and slumped over Barry’s body.”

Chase looked over at Tara.

“Bowden, you still there?” Cooper asked.

“I’m not one of your boys, Cooper.”

“I know. Look, at least you know her. One of ‘my boys’ might not
be as sympathetic.”

“All right.”

“Thanks Chase.”

He hung up the phone and looked at Tara.

“What?” she asked, when she saw his eyes.

“Where are my clothes?”

“What is it?” Tara stood up and backed away from the bed.

He took the IV out of his arm, and slapped a Band-Aid over the
little hole.

“Let me get dressed. We need to keep pushing this case forward.”

He swung his legs out of the bed and remembered that he wasn’t
modest. Tara’s cheeks turned bright red and she turned her back.

“Sorry,” he said as he stood up and walked over to the small
closet. He found a white bag inside and sorted through it. He couldn’t find his
underwear so he pulled on his pants. The right pants leg had been cut all the
way up from the cuff. He used his belt to hold the top together then slipped
into his shirt and pulled on his socks. “Okay.”

Tara turned around and looked at him as he tied his boots. She
laughed when she saw his pant leg.

“I think I’ve got something in my purse.” She dug through it and
found two safety pins. “Hold still a second.” She fastened the safety pins
between Bowden’s waist and knee, holding the pants closed in that area.

The pant leg flapped open above the knee when he tried to walk.
“I wish you had one or two more.”

“Hold on a second.” Tara snooped through some of the drawers in
the room and found an elastic wrap.

She bound it above his knee with the safety pin and stretched it
out as she wrapped it around his leg. She tied it off near his ankle and
successfully kept his pant leg from flapping open.

“That’s going to be the next hottest style,” he said, trying to
lighten things up a little before giving her the bad news.

Tara smiled and stood up. She held his coat while he slipped his
arms into it.

“How’s the leg feel.”

“Fine. Actually, I can’t feel it at all. Walking on it is kind
of tricky.”

“I’ll hold your arm.”

They walked out of the room, and he looked around. “What
hospital are we in?”

“Harborview. Cooper said it was the best one around for handling
gunshots and traumas.”

“That’s convenient.”

“What?”

He silently cursed Cooper. “There’s someone here we have to
see.”

He found an elevator and went down a floor. He didn’t want to
ask at the desk on his floor in case someone recognized him and tried to force
him back into bed.

They walked up to the counter and he spoke softly to Tara.
“Cooper told me your mother was here.”

“To see you?”

“No, Tara. She’s here as a patient.”

He felt the grip on his arm tighten.

“I’m sorry. She tried to kill herself.”

“How bad is she?”

“I don’t know.” He stepped up to the counter. “I’m looking for
Kay Miller’s room.”

“Family?”

Tara answered. “I’m her daughter.

The man at the counter pulled out a keyboard and started typing.
He looked at the screen for a second and scrolled down. “Is Kay her full name?”

“Yes,” Tara replied.