Chapter Twenty-four
Tess moved from the building out toward the asphalt and noticed that the parking lot appeared mostly empty.
The lights emitted halos of amber that illuminated the lot well enough for her to make out two other cars besides her own.
Tess recognized one as Marnie’s, and she was fairly sure the other belonged to Mel, the other custodian.
She paused and listened for anything unusual before she initiated a cautious hike across the stretch to her car.
Since her shooting, she’d rarely ventured out here alone when she stayed late and the courthouse had emptied.
But it was Friday night, an added incentive for most courthouse employees to be gone.
She could clearly hear the hum of tires as cars navigated the street adjacent to the courthouse, and the distant sound of pedestrian laughter floated across the lot.
It wasn’t until Tess was approaching her car that she heard rapid footsteps. She had her key fob in her hand and pushed the unlock button as she approached her driver’s side door.
She’d just placed her hand on the handle when she was grabbed from behind.
She tried to jerk free and twist at the same time as she made a grab for her assailant.
Her forward fall to the pavement was so jarring that she initially didn’t register that her hand felt like it was on fire, or that she held a ski mask in that hand.
She expelled a groan as the air left her lungs with a whoosh, and she stared at the pavement.
Tess tried to stand, but her attacker attempted to kick her in the ribs. He stumbled and his connection mostly missed. She grabbed backward and caught a pants leg. Tess clutched the hem and held on as adrenaline fueled her fear. She was terrified that she’d lose her grip, and then she did.
Her attacker let out a low growl before he said, “You couldn’t leave well enough alone, could you?”
His voice struck a memory. Bree had told her the man who had offered her the bag in the Maria’s Café parking lot had a deep, raspy voice with a Southern accent. That’s how she’d describe this voice.
Suddenly, the one thought that consumed her was Bree.
The profound regret that she’d let Bree go.
That she’d sent her away without facing how she really felt about Bree.
Without finding out how Bree felt about her.
Without discussing if there was some way they could try to figure out if they stood a chance.
She tried not to focus on those things as she fought for what might even be her life.
Someone had shot her a little over a year ago in this same parking lot.
She tried to swing her arms and kick her legs as she attempted to recover enough breath to shout.
Suddenly, Tess heard the approaching sound of running feet, and then her assailant was pulled away from her and thrown on the ground too. She lay on her back and drew deep gasps of air into her lungs. As the man who’d saved her rushed over to her, the person who’d attacked her took off.
“It’s okay. He’s gone. I won’t let him come back.”
Tess met the man’s eyes. She realized he recognized her, just as she recognized him.
“We met at the grocery store—the roast beef sandwich,” he said.
Tess nodded her agreement.
“I’m Eddie Patoone. Are you hurt?”
She was very shaken up, but she managed to say, “I’m Tess Fairchild. A judge here. My hand hurts.”
“Where’s your phone? Sorry, but I don’t have one on me. We need to call 9-1-1.”
Tess crawled to her purse and pulled hers out. She dialed the number and managed to identify herself and tell the dispatcher what had happened. She was assured the police would arrive shortly, and she passed that information on to Eddie.
“Glad I was walking past. I just started a job at Harley’s Hardware. I was on my way home to my room at my buddy’s place. It looked like that guy got you pretty good. Can you let me see your hand?”
She held out the hand that was stinging. She realized it was dripping blood. She wasn’t sure how she’d cut it. Eddie pulled off his sweatshirt and wrapped it around the wound. He used the sleeves to tie it tightly.
“That oughta help until you can get stitches. I’m also an EMT…or used to be, back when I was a firefighter.”
A police car with lights flashing and siren sounding swung into the parking lot.
The siren gave a final whoop as the vehicle stopped.
Two officers jumped out and approached with their guns drawn.
The older officer took charge, and Tess recognized him from his testimony in some court cases.
Once they’d surveyed the situation, the two cops holstered their weapons.
“You’re Officer Rob Garcia. I’m Theresa Fairchild. We’ve met in my courtroom.”
“Yeah, I know who you are, Judge. Are you okay?”
“I will be. I was attacked as I was approaching my car. This is Eddie Patoone. He saved me.”
Officer Garcia turned to Eddie and smiled.
“Hey. Good job, Eddie.” His radio sounded and he listened for a moment, then turned to look down at Tess.
“The other unit in the area got a guy running from the scene, blood on his clothes, mask and knife in his pockets, and they’ve taken him to the precinct for questioning.
I know Eddie. We worked a few arson scenes together some years back and shared a few beers. You’re lucky he was nearby.”
Tess coughed as she attempted a snort. “Not feeling exactly lucky right now, but you’re right. Eddie saved me.”
The younger officer knelt down next to Tess. “Hi, I’m Officer Lindsay Feltman. Are you okay with the wrap you’ve got until you get to a medical facility?”
“Yes. I’ll go there as soon as we’re done here,” Tess answered.
“Do you want help standing up, or do you prefer to remain where you are?”
“I’d like to stand,” Tess replied.
Officer Feltman helped her up, and Officer Garcia asked, “Judge Fairchild, do you feel up to answering some questions right now? Just some basics—the rest can wait until you get that hand taken care of.”
Tess agreed.
When the officers finished interviewing Tess and Eddie, they left, having been assured by Tess that she would make her way to the ER.
Eddie was still there and studying Tess. “That guy had a knife. This could have been much worse than a cut hand.”
God, what had been the guy’s plan? Tess shoved that question aside for the moment because she didn’t want to consider it right now. She looked at Eddie. “I dropped my keys when he shoved me. Do you see them?”
They both scanned the area around their feet and didn’t locate them, but then Eddie looked under the car and pulled out the key fob attached to a ring with a few additional keys. “Here it is. But I don’t think you should drive until you’ve seen a doctor.”
Tess didn’t take the keys from him. “Do you have a driver’s license?”
He nodded at her. “Yeah, it’s still good.”
She nodded at the driver’s door. “Are you up to taking me to the ER for stitches and a quick checkup?”
“My pleasure.”
“And after I’m good to go, I want to stop and get us both a coffee and something to eat, if you’re game.” Tess knew she owed him so much more, but that was all she could manage tonight.
“You’ve got it, Judge.”
The Delicious Dozen was Corazon Cove’s twenty-four-hour doughnut shop and Eddie’s choice for a quick coffee and snack. Tess’s injuries had checked out as contusions and a palm laceration that required a dozen stitches, a sterile bandage, and antibiotics, but after that she’d been cleared to leave.
Eddie was now at the doughnut shop counter waiting to collect their order. Tess had missed dinner, but she wasn’t up for a full meal, so this was perfect.
As she waited for Eddie, her phone rang—the police chief. “Hi, Chief Myers. I was going to try to catch up with you tomorrow.”
“It’s time you call me Stella. We’ve had enough back and forth now for just first names.
You sure know had to liven up a Friday night in this town.
The guy the patrol cops picked up is the guy who attacked you in the parking lot.
With a knife involved, he knows he’s in deep trouble.
He waived his right to an attorney and is spilling his guts to my officers right now in the interrogation room.
I think that he thinks things might go lighter for him if he cooperates—but probably not if he lands in your courtroom. ”
“That might qualify as a conflict of interest,” Tess dryly noted.
“Oh, darn.” Stella stretched out the words and chuckled.
“I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.
You’ve had a terrible night, and I don’t want to keep you, but I’ll try to catch up with you this weekend to update you.
You should finally be safe after we round up his accomplices and eliminate the threat. ”
“Thanks, Stella. I just checked out okay at the ER, a dozen palm stitches, some antibiotics, and I was cut loose. I’m now at the doughnut shop waiting for my rescuer, Eddie Patoone, to collect us some snacks for dinner.”
“I know Eddie. Tell him hi. And now I’m upset that I’m not there—doughnuts are a cop’s staple.”
“I haven’t had a doughnut in…decades,” Tess replied. “They’d negate all that mileage on the treadmill. But Eddie likes this place, and who am I to turn down the guy who saved me?”
“You take it easy, Tess, and we’ll talk this weekend.” Stella ended the call, and Tess reflected on her words. They’d round up her attacker’s accomplices and eliminate the threat.