Sarah Woods Mystery Series (Volume 3) (12 page)

Chapter 22

I spent the next hour packing. My flight wasn't for another six hours, but what else was I going to do? Walking on the beach or lounging by the pool would only make me feel more depressed and confused.

By four-thirty, my carry-on bag was ready to go and waiting by the door. Ten thousand dollars in cash, hidden inside the secret pocket of my purse. I checked the bathroom for things I might have missed. Max's shaving kit, shampoo, and soap were still there, a stark reminder of the hole in my heart caused by his absence.

The knock on the door caused me to jump. Had to be Carter. I was supposed to call him after I got back from Jennifer's house, but I had completely forgotten.

“
Well?” he said, standing in the hallway, staring at me with a puzzled expression. “What happened?”

I invited him into the room. “I went to her house and the neighbor said that Jenn and Max left with suitcases. But Max hasn't been back to the room, all his stuff is still here.”

“
Doesn't make sense. Max wouldn't just leave town without telling you.”

I nodded. “I got into her house, but couldn't find anything other than proof of what I knew all along. Charlotte was Jennifer's mother; I saw the birth certificate.”

“
So you can prove Dennis was the father?”

“
I don't know, that part was left blank. But she had a notebook, and it appears she's been looking for her dad ever since her mom died over twenty years ago. Looks like she was able to figure it out.”

The sound of my phone's ring tone caused me to jump. I frantically searched my purse for the phone and almost fainted when I saw the incoming number was Max’s.

I answered the call with a breathy, “Hello?”

“
Sarah?” It was Max's voice, but he sounded distant, as if he were inside a tunnel. “Can you hear me?”

“
Just barely,” I said. “Where are you?”

“
I'm at the hospital.”

“
What happened?” I said, my heart thumping in my chest. “Are you okay?”

“
I'm fine. It's … Jennifer.”

I swallowed hard. “What happened?”

“
There's so much I need to tell you. I don't even know where to begin.”

“
Which hospital?” I asked him. “I'm coming to you.”

“
St. Mary's. Same place Dennis was taken.”

“
I'm on my way,” I said.

“
Look, I'm sorry about last night.” Max spoke so quietly, I could barely hear his words. “I can explain everything ... if you'll just give me the chance.”

“
Sure,” I said, feeling all the anger inside me slip away. “I'm just glad you're okay. I'll be there as soon as I can.”

I ended the call as Carter grabbed the keys to my rental. “I'm driving you there,” he said, matter-of-factly.

* * *

Max was sitting in a chair in the ICU's waiting room, bent over, head in hands, staring at the floor. He looked up and gave a half-smile when he saw me. “Have a seat. I'll explain what happened.”

The waiting room was empty, but Max leaned close to me, as if afraid anyone might try to listen in. He clasped my hands in his. “First, I want to apologize for last night. I wanted to tell you the truth about what Jenn's been going through. Since Dennis's death, she's been talking about hurting herself. I didn't want to leave her alone. The past few days, I've been trying like hell to get her to voluntarily admit herself to the hospital for clinical depression, and finally, this morning, I'd convinced her to go. I even called her doctor myself to arrange it. We packed a few small bags, though we weren’t sure how long she'd have to stay, then I took her keys and offered to drive her there, to make sure she didn't change her mind at the last minute. Halfway there, Jennifer started having a seizure. Her eyes rolled back in her head, she wouldn't speak … I didn't know what was going on. I pulled over and called 911. And now, the only thing the doctors can tell me is that she had a drug overdose and she's in a coma.”

I remembered the empty prescription bottle in her medicine cabinet. “She was taking Cymbalta. She must have swallowed the rest of the pills before you left her house.”

Max gaped at me. “Wait, how did you … did you go to her house today looking for me?”

I hesitated. “I broke in. I'm sorry, but I had no idea what happened to you. And you never called.”

“
I'm the one who should be sorry.” He squeezed my hands.

“
Doesn't matter,” I said. “I get it, now. You had to stay focused on Jenn. You did the right thing.”

“
There's more to the story,” Max said. “Much more.”

“
Does it have to do with Dennis Foster being her dad?” I asked.

Max froze, his eyes wide. “How did you know?”

“
Long story. But I didn't mean to interrupt you. Please, go on.”

Max paused to take a deep breath, and let it out slowly. “As you know, Jenn had some health problems as a child. She and her mom struggled financially and it took an emotional toll. She never told Jenn who her father was, for her own reasons, I guess. After her mom committed suicide, Jenn's been on a mission to find her father, but not for the reason you might think. She had no desire to form a relationship with him. She's made it her mission in life to find him, for one reason only. To confront him. To tell him he was the scum of the earth for abandoning her and her mom.” Max cleared his throat, then continued. “Once she found him and saw his lavish lifestyle, his expensive cars, the penthouse, the trophy wife, and all the wealth, she had a change of heart. She found out he was looking for a personal assistant so she applied for the position and got the job. She decided not to confront him. Why bother telling him that she was his daughter, when he would probably deny it anyway? Besides, she didn't have any concrete proof that he
was
her father. But a few days after working for him, she was able to collect samples of his DNA and had it tested. Came back positive.”

“
Okay, well, if she had proof, then why didn't she present it to him?”

“
Because at that point,” Max said, keeping his voice low. “She'd already come up with a different plan.”

An eerie sensation crept up my spine as I leaned closer to Max. “Are you telling me that she somehow caused Dennis's death as revenge?”

“
No, Sarah.” He gave me a discreet wink. “Dennis had a bad heart. Everyone knew that.”

And then I knew the truth, without him having to admit a thing. Of course, Jennifer had access to Dennis's heart medication. She could have easily switched his pills with something more deadly, something that would speed up his metabolism, causing his high blood pressure to soar. Even if Jennifer confessed this to Max, I knew he would never betray her. He would never breathe a word of it to anyone, even me. He would do it to protect Jennifer, even if she couldn't protect herself.

I nodded silently, letting him know that I understood, and that he wouldn't have to worry. My lips were sealed.

“
If Jenn makes it through this,” he said, “I imagine she'll be transferred to the psychiatric hospital. She might be there for weeks or even longer. I'd feel like a shit if I went back to New Hampshire now when she needs someone the most.”

“
That reminds me,” I said. “I need to call Angela Foster.”

“
Why?”

I explained to Max that Angela was the one who ultimately led me to discover the truth about Jennifer and her mother. “Angela has known for years that she has a half-sister out there somewhere. She's been wanting to find her. I think Angela will take care of Jennifer.”

Max seemed confused. “Why would she do that?”

“
Because I think Angela feels guilty, ashamed that her dad tossed them aside without remorse. She wants to make up for that ... in some way.”

He let out a sigh of relief. “Sounds promising, but I don't want to leave Florida until I know for sure.”

“
I understand. I'm going to make that call to Angela right now. Either way, we can change our flight reservations and stay here a while longer. There's no rush to get back.”

“
What about Carter?” Max asked. “Did you guys finish your business with Brook?”

“
Yes, thankfully that's over. I assume Carter will head home today. There's no reason for him to stay. I'll tell him he'll have to go back to New Hampshire without me.”

Max hugged me tight. “Thank you, Sarah. I'm sorry to put you through all this heavy stuff, but it sure would be nice to have you stay with me.”

“
I'm here as long as you need me.”

Chapter 23

“
How long do you think you'll stay in Florida?” Carter asked me as he hauled his luggage into the trunk of his rental.

“
I have no idea,” I said. “Could be a few more days, or a few weeks. I guess it will depend on Jennifer's condition. She's in a coma, so she might not even make it through.”

“
Keep me posted, okay?”

“
Sure.” I wanted to give Carter a hug, to tell him thanks for helping me through last night and offering his advice, but he seemed to be in a hurry.

He checked his watch. “Running late. I still have to return this rental. Flight leaves in ninety minutes.”

“
Okay.” I patted his shoulder. “Thanks again for everything.”

“
You bet. See ya when you get back.”

When Carter left, I went back to the room and got a change of clothes for Max. He didn't want to leave the hospital in case Jennifer woke up from her coma. I packed a small bag, including his shaving kit, just in case.

I decided to make the call to Angela Foster, to tell her I'd found her half-sister.

“
Her name is Jennifer Healy,” I said. “And she just happens to be my boyfriend's ex-girlfriend.”

“
You're not serious,” Angela replied, shock rippling through her voice. “Where is she?”

I explained the situation as best I could, opting for the shorter version, but I ended by revealing how Jenn's suicide attempt had landed her in the ICU at St. Mary's.

“
I have to go to the hospital,” she said urgently. “I need to be there for her when she wakes up.”

If
she wakes up, I thought. “I'm heading back there myself, so I guess I'll see you.”

“
Thank you, Sarah. I intend to compensate you for getting me this information.”

“
Not necessary.”

“
I insist,” she said. “Would two hundred bucks be sufficient?”

“
Tell you what,” I said. “Take that two hundred bucks and give it to your organization. It's a great cause, and I'll feel good about that.”

“
Are you sure?” she said, emotion cracking her voice.

“
I'm positive.”

* * *

When I got back to the hospital, Max looked tired and scruffy, but he had good news. Jennifer had woken from her coma, but she'd have to stay in the ICU until her vitals came back to a normal range.

“
She's not out of the woods, yet,” Max said, “But this is a good sign. I hope they'll let us see her soon.”

“
I just spoke to Angela Foster and explained everything about Jennifer. She's on her way here right now.”

“
It's so weird, isn't it? To find out about a half-sister you've never met.”

“
No kidding,” I said. “But I think this is a good thing for both of them. And just wait until Andrew finds out that the woman he's been fantasizing about is his own flesh and blood. He's gonna freak.”

Max laughed softly. “Yeah. It's a little messed up.” He eyed the overnight bag hanging from my shoulder and unloaded it from me. “Thanks for bringing my things. I should go freshen up in the restroom.”

“
Sure. I'll be right here when you get out.”

As he kissed my cheek, his whiskers scraped my skin, but I didn't mind at all.

The End

A Date With Death

Sarah Woods Mystery (Book 8)

Jennifer L. Jennings

Copyright © 2014

Query Publishing, LLC

All rights reserved.

Chapter 1

When I walked into her law office, I could tell that Kathy Woodward was a confident woman. The grey tweed business suit enhanced her trim, petite figure, but she couldn't have been more than five-foot two, even in heels. Her smooth, brown hair was tied back, forming a bun at the nape of her neck. She gave me a firm handshake.

“Please have a seat, Ms. Woods,” she said, indicating the plush fabric chair facing her desk. “I appreciate you being on time for our appointment. I have to be back in court in an hour.”

“Please call me Sarah.” I sat down, placed my purse in my lap and glanced around her office
– lots of glass and chrome, with the rich smell of leather and mahogany.

Kathy eased herself into her own enormous leather chair behind her desk
, and I wondered if her feet could even touch the floor.

With the tip of her finger, she slid the manila envelope across the desk toward me. “The copies you asked for.”

I lifted the flap and emptied the contents into my hand. Three sheets of paper, each one a profile of a man that Kathy had recently met through an online dating site.

“So,” I said, scanning the profiles. “You mentioned on the phone that you'd like to have me perform background checks?”

“Look, I know how it works. People lie on dating profiles. They often embellish the good stuff to make themselves appear more interesting and viable. Nobody ever admits to being an alcoholic, or a bigot, or a closet pedophile. It could take months or even years to find out who they really are, after you've wasted precious time thinking they might be the
one
. Well, I don't want to waste years of my life.”

I cleared my throat and tried to smile. “You think one of these guys might be a closet pedophile?”

She laughed quietly and made a dismissive gesture. “No, but everyone has secrets. As a private detective, you must know exactly what I'm talking about.”

I could understand why Kathy – a divorce attorney – would be distrustful of men and dating in general. But what exactly did she expect me to do? “I assume you've already been on dates with these guys?”

“I've met with each of them for coffee. They seemed great, but then again, my first husband seemed great when we first started dating. Truth is, people are clever at hiding their dark and dirty secrets. I see it everyday. And it's not just men. Women can be just as deceiving.”

“Forgive me for asking, but why did you join the dating site in the first place?”

“I work sixty hours a week and don't have time to mingle at bars.” Kathy sighed as she leaned forward on her desk, hands clasped. “I know this might be an unusual request, but I want you to find out as much as you can about these men.”

“A standard background check will show criminal, credit and employment history. Is that what you're looking for?”

“Sure, but I want you to dig deeper than that.” She gave me a conspiratorial look. “You know what I'm trying to say?”

“Not exactly,” I said, even though I
did
know.

She smiled, leaned back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest. “Let me put it this way, Sarah. Just pretend that your own daughter wanted to marry one of these fellows and you couldn't trust any of them. What would you do to find the best candidate?”

“Well, I don't have a daughter, but if I did, I suppose other than performing the requisite background checks, I'd get in touch with family, friends, co-workers and ex-girlfriends.”

“That's a good start, but if you're gonna do that, why not go all the way?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I want you to look through their personal stuff. Find out what's going on behind closed doors. I want to know all the things that they wouldn't even tell a therapist.”

“The skeletons in the closet?” I asked.

She smiled with satisfaction. “Exactly. Can you do that?”

“You're asking me to violate their privacy, for no good reason other than to satisfy your paranoia?”

She blinked at me, more curious than offended. “Sure. Why not? Spying on people is what you do, isn't it?”

“Well, sometimes.”

“Look.” Kathy let out an impatient sigh. “I understand this is an unorthodox approach and, if you're uncomfortable with it, I can find someone else. But there aren't many female private detectives in the area and I figured you'd be more understanding and sensitive to my plight. Forgive me for the personal question, but are you in a relationship, Sarah?”

I nodded. “A boyfriend. We've been dating for over a year now.”

“How did you meet him?”

I didn't feel like explaining my love life to a stranger, but I decided to play along for a bit. “His sister was my receptionist back when I used to be a massage therapist.” I left out the part about her being murdered.

Her eyes sparkled with amusement. “So your receptionist set you up with her brother?”

Not really. “Sort of.”

“Well, you know what happened the last time one of my friends set me up with a guy? He worked for the IRS. We went on one date, and I never called him back because he was rude to the waitress. One month later, the IRS audited me. You think that was a coincidence?”

“Weirder things have happened,” I said. “But I get your point.”

“Point is, I can't even rely on a close friend to introduce me to a decent guy. And it's not because I'm too picky. In fact, I don't really have high expectations, but I know what doesn't work for me. Don't you think it's better to know the score than to leave it to chance?”

“I suppose in some cases it does.” 

“I'm almost forty,” she said. “If I want to start a family, I can't waste my time with losers.”

“Here's what I'm willing to do,” I said resolutely. “I'll try contacting neighbors, friends, colleagues and old girlfriends for references. I’ll conduct surveillance and check social media sites. But you must understand, it's against the law for me to break into a home or office.” I didn't mention to her that breaking and entering was something I did often enough.

“That's all fine. How soon will you be able to start?” she asked.

“Today.”

“You mentioned on the phone that you had a partner.”

“Yes. Carter wanted to meet you this morning, but he had an important matter to attend to.” She didn’t need to know that Carter was at the hospital having a colonoscopy.

“Fine.” She glanced at her watch. “Shall we discuss payment? I understand you require a retainer of two thousand to start and two hundred an hour after the retainer has been met, plus expenses. Do you have the contract?”

“I do.”

As she hastily signed her name, she said, “Let's meet back here in three days. Do you think that's enough time?”

“We'll do what we can. Would you like me to send you updates as we go?”

“Actually, my schedule is going to be hectic this week. Instead of contacting me with updates, I’d rather wait until you’ve compiled all the information. Could you put it in a report?”

“If that’s what you prefer, it’s fine with me.”

We shook hands and I left her office. Then I got back in my Toyota and drove to the hospital to pick up Carter.