Chapter 9
Two days later, Jeff Marshall was thrilled he had some more news.
The members of Harmony Healing were getting impatient, and he didn’t blame them.
He wasn’t going to call them together though, which was why he arrived at Finn McKenna’s house at four.
Finn answered the door smiling. “Hi, Captain.” He glanced back into the house.
“Let’s talk around back. My wife’s sleeping. ”
As they made their way to the deck, he asked, “How is she?”
“Fantastic. We both are. Do you have any kids?”
“No. I’m divorced, so we were glad we never got to that step.” At least, she was.
“Hmm.”
They sat at a round table with an umbrella which shielded them from the still hot August sun. “What’s going on?” Finn asked.
“We found the person who stole your car. And beat you up.”
“Seriously. How’d you find him? I was assuming that case had gone cold once you found the car.”
“No, it was still active. Which was why when another carjacking came in, the gang investigators went on alert about yours. This time they caught the guy.”
“Who is he?”
“His name is Tommy Ludwig. Apparently, the first time, with you, he was initiating into a gang. The second time, I guess, was for fun.”
“Did he beat the person up?”
“Yep. But she’s safe now and is healing.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
“You’re entitled to restitution, but as I said, this was somebody low level in a gang.”
“How do you sue a gang anyway?”
“No one does. Fear of recrimination from the rest of them. This particular gang is known for its violence.”
“I can attest to that.”
Just then, the sliding door opened and out walked Elise Preston, the movie star. Jeff couldn’t get used to seeing her in real life. “Oh, hi, Captain Marshall.”
“Ms. Preston. Nice to see you again.”
“Thanks. What’s going on?”
Jeff reiterated what he’d told Finn.
“That bastard.”
“Lots of people think so.” He nodded to Finn. “I’ll be going. If you have any questions about this, call me.”
“Still nothing on the Collective incidents?”
“Nothing more than what I updated you the last time.”
Finn shook his hand then Elise held out hers.
Damned, if Jeff didn’t get a kick out that!
* * *
Scarlet hummed as she set the table for dinner. She admired the festive green and gold color scheme. The doorbell rang, interrupting her rumination.
She crossed from the big dining room to the main area, into the foyer and opened the door. “Hey, hi Jules.”
“Hi, Scarlet. I came early to see if I could help.” She held up a basket. “The dessert needs refrigeration.”
“Come on in.” Juliet wore a green sundress and strappy golden sandals. “Hey, you match the table setting.”
They both laughed. Juliet always looked like a fragile princess with her blond hair pulled off her face, her pale skin and her long lean body.
“Let’s go into the kitchen to see what’s going on.”
They walked through other rooms to the large farmhouse sized kitchen. After stowing the dessert in the fridge, Juliet walked over to a wall which housed a fireplace. “This kitchen is beautiful. I love this brick.”
“Me, too.”
“As a matter of fact,” Scarlet said, “this is the best room in the house.”
“I don’t know. The great room is gorgeous, too.”
Her housekeeper came into the room. Scarlet introduced Mary Miller to her.
The doorbell rang again. “Would you get those glasses, Juliet while I answer the door?”
“Of course.”
Scarlet found Anabelle and Oliver on the big winding front porch. “Hey, you two. Welcome.”
They stepped inside and Anabelle handed her a big gold box. “I made you all different kinds of fudge.”
When she took it, Oliver leaned over and kissed Scarlet’s cheek. God that man always smelled like heaven.
Scarlet said, “Thanks Anabelle. I love sweets. And you look terrific in that peach sundress.”
“I think so, too.” Oliver again.
“Come sit in the great room.”
They greeted Juliet and took seats. “I have liquor and lots of wine.”
Juliet and Anabelle chose wine. Oliver asked for a scotch.
Scarlet served drinks then excused herself to check on the dinner again. “Did it come yet?” she asked Mary.
“Not for another half hour. Now I got this. Go have fun.”
While she’d been gone, Heath and Daisy arrived. “You two drive out here together?”
“Yeah. Heath offered to pick me up.” Daisy had left her hair down and the wavy locks reached her waist. That and her skinny pants and long tunic made Daisy look young, though she was eight years older than Scarlet.
Heath smiled. He wore his obviously expensive white gauzy shirt rolled up at the sleeves and finely tailored summer white pants. “That’s me, Mr. Nice Guy.”
Low rumbles from the group.
Heath handed her a bottle of champagne.
“Wow, thanks Heath.”
Daisy presented her with a second dessert.
The last of the members of Harmony came a few minutes later. Finn and his wife, Elise Preston. Finn was dressed up in a navy sports jacket with a taupe silk T-shirt beneath. Elise, a few months along in her pregnancy, still fit into black jeans and sparkling beaded top.
They enjoyed drinks and talked about anything other than the collective. They’d agreed to that when Scarlet invited them to dinner.
Soon, it was time to eat so they transferred to the dining room. Mary brought out the Dinosaur Barbecue ribs and set them at each end of the table. Scarlet put two big bowls of potato salad also at each end and Mary came back with plates of corn and corn beard.
They’d just dug in when the doorbell rang again. Mary went to answer it. Soon, she returned with a little boy—Seth from next door. “Oh, sorry. Dad told me not come over at night but it’s still light out.”
Scarlet rose. “That’s okay. Let me get you the key.”
When she returned and gave the boy a key, Heath said, “A little young for you, Scarlet.”
“He lives at the next farm. His mom abandoned him and his father last year. He said petting Stanley makes him feel better.” She shrugged.
They continued to eat.
Scarlet heard the front door open and then Joe Larson rushed into the dining room. “Sorry to interrupt. But Scarlet, it’s Stanley.” She bolted up and hurried out behind Joe. He turned, grabbed her hand as they rushed to the barn.
When they went inside, they found Stanley on the ground. “No, no.” She knelt down. “Hey baby, what wrong?” She heard a gasp behind her.
The members of the collective had come out behind them.
Joe dropped to the ground next to her. “I’ve had animal medicine training.” He checked Stanley’s eyes.
Heath came in later than the others and handed him a medical bag. “I thought you could use this so I grabbed it on the way in.”
“I can.” Joe took out the human stethoscope and listened to the horse’s chest. “His heartbeat is slow. From his eyes, it seems like—” Joe cut himself off.
“It seems like what?” Scarlet asked, her voice shaky.
He looked over at her. “I’m sorry, Scarlet. He’ll be fine but he’s been Tranqed.”
“Tranqed?”
“There’s a drug Xylazine, otherwise known as Tranq, which was originally developed as a veterinary sedative. It was used previously as an innocuous horse tranquilizer but has emerged as a dangerous substance—and one that’s increasingly available on the streets.”
Seth whimpered. “Daddy, what does all that mean?”
“Someone tried to hurt Stanley.” Joe squeezed the boy’s hand.
“But he’s going to be okay, Right?”
Joe held his gaze. “Yes. He will be.”
Tears formed in Scarlet’s eyes and fell down her cheeks. No one at the collective had ever seen her cry.
Joe’s voice was calm and steady. “Scarlet, you told us the other day that Stanley had minor surgery a few weeks ago and had to be sedated. Do you have any of the antidote left over?”
“I think I do.” She rushed out and came back with a small vial. “I put it in the mini fridge out here.”
“Heath, get the syringe out and fill it with—”
“I’m already on it, Joe.” Soon, he handed him the syringe.
Joe said, “This will bring him around, Scarlet. Seth.”
Oliver moved behind Scarlet and put his hand on her shoulder. “Thank God Seth wanted to see Stanley tonight.”
“Yep,” Heath added, “You’re a hero, kid.”
“I just want him to be all right.” The boy’s voice was filled with tears.
“He will be.” Joe squeezed his son’s hand. “I promise.”
* * *
Two days later, Will Kirkland stood before the group.
Daisy appreciated what he was trying to do, but she was scared to death that the collective might close.
And these constant meetings with Will or the police were getting on her nerves.
“I’m sure you’re all frustrated. First I want to know how the horse is, Scarlet. ”
“He’s doing very well. He was a little dopey for a few hours but he’s running around now in the paddock. I haven’t ridden him yet, though.”
“Let’s recap what we’re dealing with,” Oliver said. “Finn’s beating was a gang related issue. The death of the guard was solved by homicide. The explosion in the common area has been explained. Oliver’s mother’s fall and now Scarlet’s horse are yet unsolved.”
“I’m sorry Will,” Heath said. “But not only are some of these unsolved, but there’s no connection among all of them. And any fool on the street would tell you that something has to connect them.”
“You’re right, Heath. We’ve found no links among them. My recommendation is to call in the FBI again.”
Finn frowned. “They told Captain Marshall this isn’t the kind of thing they jump in for. I doubt he’ll do it again.”
“I know. But—”
Heath raised his hand. “I have an idea. One of my college frat brothers is in the House of Representatives. Maybe he can get the FBI on board.”
“You were in a fraternity?” Scarlet blurted out. “You’re so…stuffy. It’s hard to believe.”
“Stuffy? Good Lord.”
“Where did you go to college?”
“Harvard. Then Johns Hopkins med school and cardiac fellowship.”
“I don’t care where you went to school,” Will said. “We need help with tying these things together. I’m all for Heath making some calls.”
When Will left, Heath turned to Scarlet. “Just because you flaunt your rebellious nature, you shouldn’t be pigeon-holing those of us who don’t.”
Scarlet’s face turned bright red and she clapped her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry, Heath.”
His eyes narrowed on her. Finally, he said, “Apology accepted. You’re probably still off your game because of Stanley.”
“Who you helped. Which is more reason to have curbed my tongue.”
“Someday, Scarlet, we’ll go for a drink and I’ll tell you about my past. You’ll be surprised.”
“I’d like that. Again, I’m sorry.”
“Let’s drop it now. I’m going back to my office to call my contact.”
The group broke up then but Daisy’s fear and frustration was long-lasting.
* * *
“I do.”
“I do”
“I now pronounce you married.”
Oliver looked over at Anabelle. She was radiant in a mid-calf taupe dress. He couldn’t believe this was happening.
Someone was speaking to him. Was it his iPod? He opened his eyes. Shit. He was in bed and dreaming. Disappointed, Oliver stared at the ceiling. He thought he and Anabelle were married.
Finally, he dragged himself out of bed. Turned up the music and went to his bathroom. As he brushed his teeth, he thought about the dream. He’d been so happy. He washed his face, stared at himself in the mirror. And suddenly he knew.
He made it through the day but as each hour passed, he got more and more excited.
His last appointment was at 3 so at 4:30, he headed out in his car.
He drove directly to Lanyard Gems, the place Finn had gotten Elise’s ring and Oliver had gone along with his buddy.
He walked inside. The place was deserted, so it didn’t take long to find the ring cases.
When the clerk came over, he asked, “Do you have anything a bit more unusual?”
The woman led him to the other side of the counter, unlocked another case and set a tray in front of him.
He saw it right away and asked her to take it out.
“The main diamond is two carats.”
Little diamonds encrusted the big one. Then medium sized sapphires entwined on the band, then little diamonds went halfway around the platinum.
“That’s it,” he said joyfully. “That’s perfect for her.”
He got home, showered and dressed in his favorite taupe suit then headed out whistling. He was meeting Anabelle at The Lakeside Grill. He wouldn’t do anything hokey for her tonight, though. No ring at the bottom of a champagne glass or buried in custard.
“Hi,” he said, kissing her cheek when he arrived. The atmosphere was hushed and the lights dim. Still he could see how beautiful she was in an off-white dress with one shoulder bare. Her hair was up in some kind of knot with tendrils escaping to her cheeks.
“You look breath-taking.”
“Hi, to you, too.” He sat across from her. “And you look…more than happy. Excited.”
“I am.”
“Did you have a break in the case?”
“No.” He signaled the waiter. “Bring us some Kendal Jackson Chardonnay.” She didn’t like champagne.
“How was your day?” he asked to pass the time until they could toast.
“Very busy. I did two surgeries.”
“Planned?”
“Yes.”
“Did they pick a head of cardio yet?”
“Uh-huh. The guy I recommended when I turned it down.”
The wine finally arrived. After the waiter poured, Oliver lifted his glass. “A toast to us.”
“To us.”
She set hers down. “Now tell me what’s got you so exhilarated.”
He drew the box out of his pocket, opened it and set it in front of her. He said simply, “Be my wife, Anabelle. I love you so much.”
She didn’t cry. Instead, her eyes lit and she gave him her answer in a big, beautiful smile. Then confirmed it with, “I love you. I’ll marry you any time, any place.”
Oliver’s eyes moistened. He swallowed hard. “Soon, love. Soon.”