3

 

Sloan entered through the sliding glass doors only to be assaulted by the smell of antiseptic. Monitors beeped and the murmur from the nurses’ station of the Intensive Care Unit slammed the memories into him.

He’d just turned fifteen and stolen his father’s car. He was showing off with his best friend Bruce. Sloan cringed at the memory of when he ran into the telephone pole. Bruce flew through the windshield and died on the hood. Sloan wound up in the hospital.

He’d spent four weeks with his leg raised above his heart, a pin holding his knee together and his ribs so sore he couldn’t move. The medical bills and pending lawsuit from his friend’s family put his dad into bankruptcy and ruined any dreams of giving his son a college education. Sloan worked two jobs to pay for school himself.

“What’s wrong with your leg?” Raven said. “You’re limping.”

“Am I?” It only occurred when he entered a hospital. It was nothing he wanted to share with a partner who read every psych book she could get her hands on. She’d have a field day with it.

Raven folded her jacket away from her badge and they proceeded to the room where they were holding Jack Sprague. The administrator called and said he was ready for transport. He only had a broken nose so there was no reason for him to stay at Shands. Sloan figured the hospital hoped once Sprague left, it would get rid of the group of reporters milling about outside as well.

A long night loomed ahead with Sprague heading to booking then a holding cell. In the morning, he’d go before the judge on five counts of murder and numerous counts of attempted along with various other crimes. Between the paperwork and waiting for others to finish what they needed to do, Sloan’s shift would end in overtime.

They rounded the corner and Sloan’s breath caught in this throat. Teddy was talking to Wes Connolly, the Marine who knocked Sprague out. Jealousy reigned upon seeing the striking couple.

“Why don’t you see if the redhead has any more information since I spoke to her at the scene?” Raven suggested.

“Why me?” Sloan forced his attention away from Teddy.

“Because you seem enamored with her.”

“She’s involved with the guy she’s talking to. Besides we’ve got us a killer to see about.”

“I believe psychologists might call that sour grapes.” Raven let out a laugh.

Sloan took another look at Teddy then turned into Room 117.

Jack Sprague reclined on the gurney. A doctor leaned over and removed the gauze strips from Sprague’s nose. His jaw had swelled and his eyes were slightly blackened from the blow at the bar. Handcuffs attached both hands to the railing of the bed. Sprague’s boy-next-door good looks mixed with light brown hair feathered on one side probably garnered quite a bit of attention from the ladies. An armband tattoo of barbed wire surrounded his right upper bicep and two teardrops were painted below his right eye.

Once the doctor finished, Sloan took a step forward. “Is he ready to go?”

“He’s ready.” The physician all but ran out.

“Let’s get you up and out of here. You got some friends waiting for you downtown.” Sloan took a step back to allow an officer access to the cuffs holding Sprague in place.

Sprague raised himself into a seated position, swinging his legs over the side of the gurney. The officer shifted to move Sprague’s arms behind him but he jerked to the right surprising the guard. Sprague jumped down and knocked Raven into the wall. His blue hospital gown opened, revealing bright red boxers. Sloan dove after him but missed. Once in the hallway, Sprague turned toward Teddy and the Marine. He advanced in their direction.

“You little …” Sprague spewed venom. “You’ll never live to testify against me. None of you will.”

The Marine turned and gave Sprague a blow to the gut then a jab to the back of the neck, sending him to the ground. An officer forced Sprague’s wrists into handcuffs. Wes continued his stance, feet spread and fists up, protecting Teddy. Jealousy once again rose in Sloan.

“You’ll all pay for this,” Sprague sputtered while they dragged him away.

“Are you all right?” Sloan tried not to be obvious when he directed the question to Teddy.

“I’m fine.” She stuck out her jaw and pushed her shoulders back.

Sloan nodded before he left. He often dreamt of what would happen when he ran into her again. Had she missed him? The curtness of her tone gave him the answer. He longed to be with her more than anyone else in this world. However, her icy stare warned him to not come near.

 

****

 

Teddy’s insides shook, not certain if it came from the man who just threatened their lives or the concerned look on Sloan’s face. He didn’t have a right to care. He’d lost the privilege of being worried about her years ago. She sucked in a deep breath and returned to Linda who held a vigil at her husband’s hospital bed.

A shiver ran down Teddy’s back. She hated hospitals. They reminded her of when her parents died in that awful car accident. Claustrophobia set in again. She had never been afraid of tight places until she was wedged in the car, listening to gurgling sounds from her mother. It felt like hours before they got her out and into an ambulance, only to be strapped down to the gurney. Three days later, she was released in time to attend her parents’ funeral.

“Are you all right?” Linda touched Teddy’s bare arm.

“I’m fine.” She forced a smile.

“You don’t have to stay. You must be tired and should probably get home to rest.”

“I’m not leaving until he’s out of danger.” Teddy patted Linda’s hand.

The multi-function monitor attached to Randy read his blood pressure, respiration, and temperature. His right arm was connected to tubes; one a saline solution and the other blood. The breathing of the respirator reminded Teddy of Darth Vader. “Anything new?” She sat in a chair beside Linda.

“No. He just lays there. No movement. Nothing. I wonder if it’s really him breathing or the machine.”

Teddy chose not to tell her about the threat in the hallway. Linda was going through enough without knowing the person who’d put her husband here had moments before been outside her door.

“I’ve made a decision,” Linda said.

“What’s that?”

“If he makes it, I’ll never again complain about him leaving wet towels on the bathroom floor.” Linda laughed. “At least not for a while.”

Teddy smiled.

“What will I do if he doesn’t make it?” A sob escaped from Linda.

“We won’t consider that now.” Teddy put her hand on her friend’s arm. “We’ll take it one day at a time. One moment at a time.”

Linda smiled. “That’s what I said to you when we found out about the cancer. It’s a lot easier said than done, isn’t it?”

“But I made it, and so will you, no matter what.”

The door swung open. Teddy’s shoulders rose to attention, the image of Sprague in the hallway close at hand.

“I figured we could all use something to drink.” Claire held three Styrofoam cups in a cardboard holder.

The coffee’s rich aroma and smooth flavor surprised Teddy considering it came from the hospital cafeteria. It was silent in the room except for Randy’s deep inhalations and the blip from the monitor. Teddy’s eyes drifted shut.

A buzzer startled her awake. Linda jumped up and pressed the red button. Nurses rushed in, shooing the women to the outer corridor. Teddy and Claire each clasped one of Linda’s hands, wrapping a spare arm behind her back. Time seemed to stand still before Dr. Miller came out, his mouth in a frown.

“I’m sorry. We weren’t able to revive him.” He lowered his head and walked off.

 

****

 

Sloan stared through the two-way mirror and watched Jack Sprague suck on his thumbnail. Every once in a while he’d wave to the mirror the best he could with his hands handcuffed to the chain around his waist leading to his ankles. A phone call moments earlier let them know Randy Gardner passed away. That made six victims.

“Ready partner?” Raven said, standing next to Sloan.

“Yeah. Let’s see whose fault these murders were. After all, I’m certain Sprague is like all the others and had a real good reason for doing them.” He followed Raven into the room.

“I’m Detective Raven Templeton and this is my partner, Detective Sloan Michaels. And you, Mr. Sprague, have been a bad boy.” She stared down at him.

Sprague grinned. “I can be real naughty with you, if you want.”

“Unfortunately, you won’t get the chance. Getting the needle in your arm will see to that,” Raven said.

“I’m not in prison yet. Besides, I’m innocent.”

Sloan leaned against the wall. “We have at least a dozen witnesses who’ll testify you were the one who pulled the trigger. You’ll be lucky if they don’t drag you out of here without a trial and hang you from a tree.”

“Like I said, I didn’t do it. It’s a case of mistaken identity.”

“We have your prints on the gun.” Raven flipped through a file while she spoke.

Sprague’s eyes shone with dark emotion. “I was trying to catch the real killer.” His voice lowered, making him almost inaudible. “I just happened to come across his gun.”

Raven bent down on the table and put her hand to her ear. “Speak up. I can’t hear you.”

Sprague caught her off guard. He threw himself onto her. Even with the chains, he moved fast. Fear rushed over Raven’s face. Sloan pushed a buzzer on the wall by the door to alert others that an officer was in need of assistance.

“You smell real good.” Sprague pressed against her.

Raven shoved at him with her knees while Sloan tried to pull him off by the chain. “How about when this is done you and me get together? I bet you taste as good as you smell.”

Sprague ran his tongue down Raven’s cheek.

Sloan’s temper flared. Police brutality or not he slammed his foot into Sprague’s ribs. The man rolled off Raven onto his back, laughing. Two officers arrived and spun Sprague onto his stomach, their knees in his back.

“I want to see my lawyer. Now!” Sprague yelled.

Sloan helped Raven up and into the hallway. “Are you all right?” He took Raven by the elbow. Her body trembled.

“Yeah. I should have known better than to get too close.” She ran her sleeve over her cheek. “If nothing else, we’ve got him for assaulting a police officer.”

“You go home until tomorrow. I’ll take care of the paperwork.” Sloan guided her to her desk.

“Home? If you tell me to go, I’ll go to my friend’s.” She gave a weak smile.

“Go. Get out of here for a while.” Sloan tugged her arm. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“I’m positive, partner. Now quit worrying.” Raven pulled on a pair of black heels she kept in the drawer and glided out the door.

Sloan raised his feet onto the desk and sipped cold, stale coffee he’d poured earlier. Something was off about the random scenario at the club and Jack Sprague. He’d been patient, watching and waiting for the right opportunity to pounce on Raven. At the club, he’d taken his time choosing his victims before shooting them.

“I heard what happened to Raven. Is she all right?” Sergeant Daniels stood behind Sloan.

The sergeant emitted a persona of toughness and intimidation. Yet, when he was with his grandchildren, he laughed and cuddled them like a giant teddy bear.

Sloan lowered his feet to the floor. “She’s a bit shook up, but fine.”

“You look like you’ve got something on your mind.” Daniels crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t like it with this case. Everyone says Sprague did the shootings. Pretty cut and dry.”

“Oh, he did it. But my gut tells me he had an agenda. He doesn’t strike me as the type to do anything aimlessly.”

“Then I suggest you find out if there’s more. If someone put this piece of trash up to killing any of those people, I want him in a jail cell next to his buddy Sprague.”

 

****

 

Emotionally exhausted, Teddy sat in the silence of her condominium. She was too tired to sleep yet too tired to move. Normally she would watch the morning news, but today it would be all about the shootings.

It took another hour at the hospital to fill out paperwork and convince Linda to allow Teddy to bring her to the condo. Linda slept in the bedroom upstairs, sobs of hiccups coming sporadically. How could anybody kill without any care for the ones left behind?

Teddy blew on the coffee then raised it to her lips. Its deep hazelnut flavor did nothing to sooth her nerves. She fought her emotions. The mug shook in her trembling hands. The more she tried to convince herself she was fine, the less she believed it. Finally, tears rolled down. She clutched the cross around her neck. God was in control that much she knew. But what sense can you make out of six people dying? She opened her Bible to look for answers.

The ringing telephone startled her. The caller I.D. said Federline, R. Tempted not to answer; she knew her brother would eventually hunt her down. He’d be upset she hadn’t called them earlier.

Teddy inhaled. “Hello.”

“Teddy, this is Ryan.” His tone serious, no softness on the other end. She couldn’t recall it sounding any other way. “We heard about your involvement in those murders at that club last night. I’m calling to check on you.”

“Linda’s husband died early this morning,” she said. “Otherwise, I’m all right.”

“I knew moving to that city would be a bad idea. You should have stayed here where we could look out for you.”

“It’s not like some psycho couldn’t have picked a restaurant in Perkins, Florida.” She shook her head and rolled her eyes.

“But at least we’d know you were all right.”

His voice carried a hint of concern, making guilt rise in her for not wanting to speak with him moments ago.

“I’m sorry. I should’ve called.”

“We’re driving over. This isn’t something you should go through on your own.”

“I’m not alone, and I’m fine. They’ve got the guy in jail. There’s no reason for you to make the trip.”

“Both Jason and I are worried about you. Jason’s been pacing since the news came in. He’ll come anyway, and he’s in no condition to drive.” There was a brief silence. “We have a few things to take care of, but should be there in about five hours.”

Ryan would do whatever he wanted no matter how anyone else felt about it.

Teddy sighed. “I’ll be at the police station then. Linda has to give them her statement. You can use the spare key and make yourselves comfortable.”

After she hung up, Teddy walked to the sliding glass door. Her balcony overlooked the man-made lake in the back of the complex. She opened the door and allowed the cold air to smack her awake. The sun rose in the clear blue sky. There were no clouds, unless you counted the gray one hanging over her head. A couple of playful squirrels scurried from one branch of a tree to another. Geese squawked while they gathered for their morning ritual. It did little to bring her the peace it usually did.

She couldn’t tell which put her more on edge, her brothers coming to town or the fact they might run into Sloan Michaels.