Orchid Beach

CHAPTER

13

Holly drove the chief’s car home after work. She stopped at the hospital on her way and went to the intensive care unit. Before she could ask for Dr. Green, he walked into the waiting area.

“Oh, Chief Barker,” he said. “I was just going to my office to call you. Why don’t you come in for a moment.” He led her to his office and offered her a chair.

“Has something happened?” she asked, worried.

“Chief Marley has shown signs of regaining consciousness,” the doctor said. “It’s preliminary, but people in comas don’t always just open their eyes and start talking. There’s been some rapid eye movement and some thrashing around, too; we’ve had to temporarily restrain him.”

“And your prognosis?”

“He could wake up at any time, or he could revert to his previous state. I should warn you that even if he does wake up, he may be unable to speak or understand you, and even if he can speak, he may not remember anything about the shooting. In fact, I would consider the odds of that happening very poor.”

“I understand,” Holly replied. “Who knows about this?”

“Just the shift nurses and me.”

“I’d appreciate it if you’d keep it that way for the moment.”

“Of course, and I’ll call you if there’s any change.”

She thanked the doctor and left. She still hoped that Chet Marley would wake up and tell her who shot him and why, in spite of what the doctor had said.

Daisy, who had stayed in the car, began to show some animation as they approached the trailer park.

“Yes, we’re going home, and you’re going to get your dinner,” Holly said, stroking her head. “We’ll be there any minute.” She pulled up at the trailer and let Daisy out of the car. Holly walked around the perimeter of the clearing, looking into the woods, but Daisy seemed unconcerned with intruders this evening. The dog ran to the trailer door and wagged her hindquarters, there not being enough tail to do the job. Holly fed her and let her out for her evening romp, then got herself a beer and the document that Hank Doherty had written about the dog he had trained.

“‘Excellent Working Bitch,’” Holly read aloud. “I love that, Daisy. It describes just about every woman I knew in the army, not to mention me.” It was the first time she had read the document thoroughly, and as she turned its pages her eyes widened. “Jesus,” she said, “Hank should have published this somewhere.” She had just closed the document when her phone rang. She got the cordless and brought it outside.

“Hello?”

“Holly, it’s Eleanor Warner.”

“Oh, hi, how’s it going?”

“We’ve gotten a lot done. Everything is pretty well taken care of, so we’re going home tomorrow morning.”

“I’m glad it went so quickly.”

“Mary is taking all of the furnishings; we’re taking only those things we can get onto the airplane. We’ve listed the house with a broker, and now we’ll just have to wait for it to sell. I’ve made arrangements with a local funeral parlor to take care of the cremation and ship us Daddy’s ashes. I’ll put them on my garden at home.”

“Oh, Eleanor, you’ll be glad to know that the ballistics check went well. Looks like we’ve got the perpetrators. They haven’t confessed to Hank’s murder, but as time passes, they well may.”

“I’m glad you’ve caught them, but I don’t want revenge. I’m a Christian, and that’s against my beliefs. I’ll try to forgive them and leave it to you and the justice system to see that they’re appropriately punished.”

“I think that’s a good attitude to adopt,” Holly said. “I’ve seen anger on the part of victims’ families make things worse for them.”

“Don’t worry about us, we’ll get along just fine. I want to thank you again for the use of your car. We’ll leave the keys at the counter in the terminal.”

“And I’ll send you a check for the computer and Daisy.”

“No hurry. Good-bye, now.”

“Good-bye.”

She sat, sipping her beer and watching Daisy patrol the property, sticking her nose here and there. There was a moment when she flushed a rabbit, scaring Daisy almost as much as the furry creature. The phone rang again.

“Hello?”

“Holly? It’s Jackson Oxenhandler.”

“Good evening, counselor. What can I do for you?”

He seemed somewhat embarrassed. “I was just wondering if, when this business with Sweeney and his girlfriend is over, if…you and I might…have dinner sometime.”

Holly was caught completely off guard. “Well, I…I don’t know.”

“Oh, I know it would be unprofessional of us to see each other until this case is resolved, but I thought perhaps…” His words trailed off.

“I have to agree with your ethical perceptions,” Holly said. “Tell you what, why don’t you call me when the case is over, and we’ll see?”

“That’s good enough for me,” Oxenhandler said. “And it might be sooner than you think. Good night, Holly.”

“Good night,” she said, and hung up. Daisy came over, sat down and rested her head on Holly’s knee, gazing up at her adoringly. “You’re a good girl, Daisy,” Holly said, “and the only girlfriend I have to talk to. Are you a good listener? Well, I’ve just had a call from a gentlemen of short acquaintance who’d like me to go out with him, just as soon as he’s finished defending the people who shot my boss. Does that seem weird to you? Does to me. I’m not sure just how I feel about that. Police officers don’t much like defendants’ lawyers, but…I think I might be able to get past that.”

Daisy said nothing, but Holly thought she had somehow given her blessing. Holly went back to reading about Daisy.