55

Emily wanted to go straight to the city jail to Nick, but Paul’s text changed her course.

Tiffani arrested. James recovered. At hospital.

Emily zipped down the country roads into Freeport, arriving at the hospital morgue first so she could confirm James’s body and start the death certificate paperwork. Of course, an autopsy would be mandatory.

But when she got to the morgue, his body wasn’t there.

Perhaps his body was still in the emergency room. They probably hadn’t transferred it downstairs yet. She took the elevator from the basement level to the first floor and hurried toward the ER. A handful of cops meandered near the entrance, watchful and wary. They stopped her when she tried to enter.

“Excuse me, miss. You’re not allowed in there at present,” said one with gray sideburns and a paunch.

“I’m Dr. Emily Hartford, Freeport County coroner. I’m here to transfer the body of James VanDerMuellen to the morgue.”

“Body?”

“Em! Em!” Jo’s voice cut through the crowd, as did her slender figure, now dressed in her scrubs. “He’s not dead! Come with me.” Jo took Emily by the arm and pulled her into the ER.

“He’s not?”

“He’s barely not dead.” Jo pointed to a curtained area, where two cops stood guard outside.

Emily broke from Jo’s light grasp and marched over to the curtain.

Jo swept up next to her. “One peek.” She turned to the cops. “Officers, this is Dr. Emily Hart—”

“We know who she is,” said one Emily recognized from the jail.

“Yeah, she’s Nick’s gal.”

“What? No. I’m not Nick’s … anything …” She said with junior high impertinence.

Jo pulled the curtain back a few inches. The cops stepped aside, and Emily took a look. An emaciated figure covered in bruises and gashes lay on the hospital bed. His hair was covered in dried blood, and he was hooked up to more tubes and monitors than Frankenstein’s monster.

“Oh my god. What did that woman do to him?” said Emily, closing the curtain.

Jo spoke in hushed excitement as she drew Emily to the nurses’ station. “When Paul got to the boat launch down by the river, Tiffani was already there. He saw her dump his body into the river! He dove right into that freezing river to pull James out. It wasn’t until the ambulance came that the paramedics discovered he was actually not dead.”

“Will he make it?” asked Emily in a hushed tone.

“He will. But there’s a lot of damage to his brain.”

“How are you doing?” Emily said, knowing the ethical corner Jo was backed into in having to care for a killer.

“You have no idea how much I’m struggling with this one.”

Emily hugged her best friend. “You’re amazing. Thank you for trusting me.”

“I’m just glad we can all put this behind us and start to heal.”

Emily nodded. “Where’s Tiffani?”

“Jail. She tried to bolt after she dumped the body, but Paul had already alerted the state police, and they chased her down.”

“Wow. I’m just … so grateful.” Jo hugged Emily again. Satisfaction stirred in Emily. James, Hendrick, and Tiffani were going to be able to stand trial in the future.

“Emily Hartford!” boomed a large male voice from behind her. “What have I said about letting the cops do their job?” She whipped around. Nick!

He was charging into the ER with Paul at his side, carrying a tray of to-go coffees and a bakery bag from Brown’s. When their eyes met, Nick broke into a relieved smile.

It was so good to see him out from behind bars!

She skipped a few steps toward him, and they met in an embrace.

“See, I told you. Nick’s gal,” she heard the cop say behind them.

“Did you lose weight in the slammer? You look a little gaunt,” she said, giving him a once-over.

“Prison food. Goes right through you.” He pulled her close. “I don’t know if I should be grateful or hateful that you are so incredibly stubborn and strong-willed.”

“I tend to bring out a lot of mixed emotions.” She grinned. “How’d you get out so fast?”

“Due process works a little faster when you’re the sheriff.”

“We are a pretty great team when we’re not quarreling,” said Emily.

“Team Doctor Death and …”

“Good St. Nick!” She shook her head. “I’m retiring that nasty old nickname.”

“Ho, ho, holy smokes, I’m so glad you saved me, Emily Hartford,” Nick said with a cheesy belly laugh as he slipped her hand into his.

“Now we’re even,” she said, squeezing his hand.