Chapter 5 #2
She nodded and felt the medication kicking in. He warned her that a little red light went off when she was being given medication, so he knew when she was getting it. She told him that she could feel it taking effect and was happy for it.
“While you’re still awake, what can I tell you?
I do have some information for you. Bastain got a court order for someone to let him into your house.
He said that everything was organized, so he had no trouble finding the key to your safety deposit box.
As you might not know, he’s very organized too.
Like everything has to be in its place.” She asked him about her plants.
“He watered them, I guess. He said that he was glad that you didn’t have any pets, or they might well have eaten him when he got there. No one thought to ask you about them.”
“I don’t have any pets. Not even a fish. I guess I could have one, but I don’t want to have to mess with it. I have enough things going on in my life as it is.” He smiled at her. “What’s been happening with my aunt?”
“She’s been sent to a larger prison so that she can be evaluated there.
They’re running all kinds of mental capacity tests on her to see if she has anything wrong with her mind.
” She thought she was crazy and said as much.
“I think anyone who has had to deal with her has figured that out. She fully admits to knocking you around for the checks. She keeps saying that since it was her sister and their mistake, she should be entitled to them. I don’t know what sort of logic that is, but that’s what she’s saying. ”
“How’s Uncle Mark taking this?” He told her that he’d taken an extended leave from his firm to get away for a while. “I would guess that he’s in their house in the Smoky Mountains. They used to invite us there when I was little. He loved it there.”
“I’ve never been to the Smokies. I would love to go someday, but I’ve been busy with working with my brother.
” She said that she understood that. “I bet you would. Oh, your boss has called one of us all week. He’s worried about you and said for you not to worry about your job. It’s there when you’re better.”
“Good to know.” She didn’t hurt as much with the pain medication kicking in, but still didn’t move all that much. She was afraid to, if she was honest with herself. “I don’t know what else to ask you about. Do you have any information that I might need to know?”
“The judge has made a ruling on the checks. You won’t be in trouble with them when they figure it out.
Your mail box is being emptied daily by another court order, so that’s good.
You haven’t had time to get another check yet, but I think they’ll be more careful about listening to people when they have the same issues.
As you can imagine, it’s been hard on them, admitting that they made a mistake about the checks. ”
She must have dozed off again because when she opened her eyes, the room was bright with light.
There wasn’t anyone sitting in the chair, and for some reason, that made her sad.
Just as she felt the tears rolling down her cheeks, she heard someone coming out of the bathroom that was across from her. It was Bastain.
~*~
Bastain didn’t expect her to be awake but was happy for it. He’d been working on her case for the last couple of days and thought that she’d be all right once it came to a court hearing. He asked her how she was feeling.
“Worse.” He told her that she looked worse than she did before, too. “Well, aren’t you just the charming man that everyone loves. You could have been nicer about it.”
“I didn’t think you’d want me to lie to you.
” She said that there was that. “I’m going to get the results of your aunt’s tests back tomorrow.
It’s supposed to be just a half-hour meeting, but who knows with the court system the way that it is.
I’ll come back here and let you know what they’re telling me. ”
“I’d like that.” Trin asked him if she was still on the medication drip. “I don’t feel as groggy right now, so I was thinking that they might have reduced it or something.”
“You still have it. I think they’re going to leave it on there until you have more tests done.
I guess it’s easier on you if you’re out.
” She said that she would imagine so. “Also, you should know that they’ve found some cuts in your head that they had to stitch up.
You’ve been beaten up so badly that they’re still finding things wrong.
Your kidneys are doing better. The swelling is down, but they still don’t want you to have to get up to go to the bathroom, so you have a catheter in. ”
“I did wonder about that.” He sat down, and she watched him. “I bet you don’t spend this much time with any of your other clients.”
“You’d be surprised. They usually come to me instead of me going to see them, but this is all right too.
I’m getting work done while here, and I don’t mind.
My brothers have been coming in too, and that’s been good.
” He said that they’ve been bringing him food.
“You can have some clear liquid in a few days. Perhaps when you can sit up on your own.”
“I don’t think that I’m hungry right now.
” Bastain said that he could understand that.
He wasn’t sure that he’d be all that hungry either, with all that was going on with her.
“I just want to feel better. Or at least well enough that I don’t have to lie here in this bed forever.
I’m guessing that as soon as I can move around, they’ll find that I’m tougher than I look. ”
“I would say that you are. You were beaten badly. I saw the video from your door camera, and I can’t believe that you’ve only got a few broken bones.
She was out to get you and didn’t care if she killed you or not.
” Trin told him she didn’t want to talk about it.
“I’m sorry. I guess you would remember it more than what I’ve seen on the video.
But the good news is that you’re mending, and she can’t hurt you right now. I think that’s a win-win for you.”
They talked about her case and what was going on with it.
He told her how much work he was doing on it and the results that he was getting.
So far, it looked as if it was going to go in her direction, but she didn’t trust very well and didn’t get her hopes up.
As she was getting tired again, he said that he had to leave for a while, but he’d be back.
“You don’t have to spend your time here. I like waking up, and I’m not alone, but I’m sure you work better at your offices.” He said that his office was in flux right now as it was being painted. “What about your house? Surely you have more room there than on the little tables here.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were trying to get rid of me.
” She laughed, then caught herself. “Be careful. But yes, I do have more room at home, but it’s being packed up.
What little there is there. Mom and I have purchased a house.
We can move in at any time, but we’re taking our time.
That way, we’re not rushed with unpacking.
I’ll take you to see it as soon as you’re able to get around. ”
“I’d like that.” He nodded, and she could tell that he was distracted. “You should get going. I don’t want to hold you up here.”
“I need to get going, yes.” Yet he still stood there. When he picked up his jacket and threw it over his arm, she wanted to ask him what he was stalling about. But it was none of her business, so she didn’t ask. “I’ll be back later. I might have some information on your trial dates.”
“Thank you.” He finally left her, and she closed her eyes.
Seeing the little red dot blinking meant that she was getting medication, and she welcomed it.
Every time she woke up, she felt as if she was finding more places to hurt.
It wasn’t until Abbott came in to sit with her that she started to feel sorry for herself.
“I believe I would be too if I were you.” She’d told him that she was sort of down today, that if he didn’t want to hang out with her, she understood. “Let’s talk about something else. I’m thinking about selling my funeral home. That’s the first time I’ve said it out loud.”
“Why? Is it not doing well?” He said that it was doing fantastic, he just wanted to date more.
“I guess it’s hard to date when you never know what your schedule is going to be like.
My great aunt worked in a funeral home when she was younger.
She’s gone now, but the stories that she had were scary.
She said that she had to quit working when she met the man that she eventually married because he couldn’t stand the fact that she would touch him after touching a body.
I wonder how they ever worked that out.”
“There are other factors that don’t work in my favor for what I do.
” He asked her if she’d date him, and she said yes.
“You’re one of the few. Most of the time, they’re like your great uncle.
Creeped out by the fact that I’m around dead bodies all the time.
I have staff that works for me, so I seldom do the real work anymore. ”
“I’m sorry.” He smiled at her. “I would imagine that it would take a special kind of person to be able to go out with a funeral director. My opinion is that it’s just a job and it pays the bills, but I guess it would take a lot more than that to date you.
Have you been dating someone special lately? ”
“No, not special. I have dates when I can get them. Usually, it’s to some function around town that I need a date for. If you ever get to the point where you can be upright for a while, I’d take you.” The two of them laughed, and it didn’t hurt her all that much. “Just kidding.”