Chapter 20 #2
Matthias stood where she’d left him and choked a laugh when he saw her. At least he didn’t give her a disapproving glare.
Fran snatched the bag from her and shoved it at him. “Hold this,” she said before grabbing Emma by the arm and dragging her toward the doors to the patient rooms. Fran gave a nod to the woman behind a desk, who pressed a button, opening the automatic doors.
The last time Emma had visited this ER was shortly after her parents’ deaths. Nell, not technically an addict yet, had drunk herself into a stupor. She’d fallen and split her scalp open, requiring stitches. The memory staggered Emma.
Fran tugged on her arm. “Come on, already. Act like you belong here, or the cop will pay attention to your badge, and we’ll both get tossed out.”
Or worse. Emma inhaled and forced her shoulders back, her chest up.
Fran released her grip. “That’s more like it. He’s down this way. Room fourteen.”
Side by side, they strode along the row of glass-fronted cubicles. Emma spotted the uniformed officer standing at one of the doors.
Fran paused at the nurses’ station and held out a hand.
A nurse passed a closed laptop to her and winked at Emma.
Fran tucked the laptop under her arm and continued down the hallway.
With a curt nod to the guard, she slid open the door and breezed inside.
Emma followed her example. As Fran had predicted, the stern-faced officer didn’t so much as glance at the ID clipped to Emma’s smock.
Fran closed the door creating a breeze that ruffled the curtain surrounding the patient. She directed Emma to the head of the bed and held the drape aside revealing a pale and scraped Eric.
“Em,” he cried as he sat up.
Fran let the curtain fall back into place and shushed him. “You aren’t allowed visitors, so keep it down.”
He looked Emma up and down. “What have you done?”
“Whatever it takes to get in here,” she said, gauging whether or not to hug him. A bandage covered his nose, both eyes were starting to blacken, and his lower lip was puffy and split.
His gaze rested on the hospital ID. “Timothy Ross? Seriously?”
“Do you want me to leave?”
His eyes met hers. “No. God, no,” he said with a wavering voice and flung his arms open.
Emma stepped into his embrace. He flinched, and she eased back. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I have a couple broken ribs is all.”
“What on earth happened?”
He released her and gingerly lay back against the flimsy pillows.
“I was doing my best straight white male impersonation, but somehow word got out. Suffice it to say, a few of my fellow prisoners didn’t respond well.
I’m lucky they stuck to using my face for a punching bag and kicking the shit outta my ribs.
They threatened to do a whole lot worse.
” He reached out to her. “Em, you and Matthias have got to get me out of there. Please, tell me you’ve found me an alibi or are close to tracking down who really killed Sonny. Please.”
Fran touched Emma’s elbow. “I’m going to leave you two alone, but I won’t be far. If I see your guard getting antsy, I’ll pop back in.”
“Thanks,” Emma told her. Once Fran had left and slid the glass door closed, Emma squeezed Eric’s hand. “The police did speak with someone at the Pine Gable Inn and confirmed you checked in and out.”
Eric sagged. “Thank God. So they’re going to release me?”
“I’m afraid not. Trooper Fergusson feels you had plenty of time to sneak out, drive back here, kill Sonny, and drive back without being missed. No one at the motel could verify that you never left.”
He closed his bruised eyes, tears glistening on his lashes. “I’m so screwed.”
“Matthias and I are working a new angle, though.” Emma hoped she sounded more optimistic than she felt.
Eric’s eyes opened. “Oh?”
“We’re following the money. Tina Neidermeyer believes she’ll be taking over North Star Developing now that Sonny’s dead, but when we spoke to her, she had no idea I’d torn up the agreement.
It made me wonder if the two of them had a falling out.
Ashley admitted that he’d been talking about hiring a new assistant and is going to ask their attorney about it.
If Sonny was planning to change his Will and write Tina out… ”
Eric brightened. “That’s motive. She would want him gone before he had the chance.”
“That’s what we’re thinking.”
His eyes narrowed in thought. “Technically, since North Star Developing is an LLC, it wouldn’t be his Will that would change. He should have an operating agreement that specifies what happens to the business in case of his death. I have one for my company.”
Emma pulled out her phone and typed in a note about the different legal documentation.
“Now that you mention it,” Eric went on, “I did notice some strain between Tina and Sonny lately.”
“How lately?”
Eric brought his fingers to his mouth, tracing the stubble on his upper lip.
“The evening at the restaurant when Sonny was being more obnoxious than usual, Tina looked like she wanted to choke him. You know she handles the company credit card, right? I remember her pulling Sonny aside and whispering to him. I couldn’t hear much of it, but I got the impression she wanted him to cool it. ”
“Cool it?” Emma echoed.
“All of it. Being an ass with me. Ordering another round of drinks that I’m sure only he wanted.”
“You said you couldn’t hear?”
“Just bits and pieces. I didn’t have to understand the words to recognize she was pissed and doing all she could to maintain a professional front. Then there was Wednesday at his office.”
“The day Nell signed the agreement.”
“Yeah. She and I walked in on something, although I’m not sure what.”
“How do you mean?”
“I could hear raised voices when we approached the door. When we opened it, Sonny and Tina were standing there with smoke practically coming out of their ears, but they shut up as soon as they saw us and pasted big professional smiles on their faces, like nothing had happened. Later, in our meeting, I caught Tina looking at Sonny with that same angry expression as in the restaurant.”
“Interesting.” Emma needed to tell Matthias and have another talk with Tina Neidermeyer.
“Someone who might know what’s going on between them,” Eric said, “is Patrick Winslow. He and Sonny were tight.”
Except Emma remembered another disagreement—the one between Sonny and his foreman. “We were on our way to the Powell farm to talk to Winslow when your attorney called me about this.” Emma circled a hand to indicate Eric’s current situation.
“Then you should get out of here. The sooner you can prove I’m not a killer, the sooner I can go home and sleep in my own bed. Not to mention stop worrying about becoming some Neanderthal’s boy toy.”
“Is there anything I can bring you or do for you?”
“You’re already doing it. Thank you.”
Emma bent over him to press a kiss to his cheek.
As she turned to leave he asked, “Before you go, has there been any word on Nell?”
Emma slowly pivoted back. “I’m afraid not. Eric, I’m so sorry. You were absolutely right. I should never have left her alone.”
He shook his head. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I said terrible things to you that were totally uncalled for. She’s your sister. You had every right to insist on seeing her. I know you never meant to hurt her.”
“I may be her sister, but you’re as much a big brother to her as if we all shared the same blood.”
“Can we agree we both messed up and leave it at that? This isn’t the first time Nell has run away. We have to believe she’ll show up again when she’s good and ready.”
Emma wasn’t optimistic, but she forced a smile. “I’m going to get out of here and clear your name, so you’ll be free by the time that happens.”