Weaving The Web: A Cold Hollow Mystery (Cold Hollow Mysteries Book 2) (17 page)

Tom’s expression was one of utter shock. “She did? He threatened you?”

“Yes, and Sarah is at the hospital under psychiatric care.”

“I’m confused. If Warren is dead now, why are you still under guard?”

“He said there was someone else in town with a sick mind and hoped they didn’t find me.”

Tom rubbed his hand over his forehead. “Shit. I don’t mind Hugo being here though. Liam likes the man a lot. He’s a good influence on him.”

“He sure is, but I’m so worried about Sarah.”

“The poor, sweet girl. I’ll make it a point to check on her tomorrow and review her chart. It’s a shame, but she mustn’t have been in her right mind.”

Myrna shook her head. “No, she wasn’t. It was frightening to see. We are all going to visit her tomorrow for a few minutes, just so she knows she has the town’s support and to alleviate any fears she might be having. I just pray she snaps out of it. I mean, Tom, she could not stop staring off into space!”

“She was in shock, honey. She’s probably already coming out of it. Don’t worry; the doctors will know how to handle it when she comes around.” He poked her shoulder as her eyes slid shut. “I forgot to make your tea tonight. I’m sorry.”

She yawned and grinned, but never opened her eyes. “I don’t think Liam or I need it tonight, do you?”

He chuckled as he reached for his bedside lamp. “No, I don’t think so at all.”

CHAPTER 21

Robert Collins and Becky Macy sat on either side of Sarah’s bed as soon as visiting hours commenced at the hospital. Robert told her what they did at home and at the restaurant while she was being cared for. Becky tried to make her smile or giggle, but Sarah appeared to be drugged half out of her mind and would only grin and squeeze their hands. Robert glanced at Becky now and then with a worried expression, but Becky would just shake her head and say aloud, “My sister is tough, Robert. She’ll come around, you just wait and see.”

Sarah opened her mouth to say something, but her mouth was as dry as the desert and she tried to gather some saliva. Robert jumped up, poured a glass of water, and stuck a straw in it. He watched as she took long sips from it and pushed the straw out with her tongue when she had enough. She whispered, “Did you have the test yet?”

Becky nodded. “Yep, right before we came up here to see you. We should hear the results tomorrow.”

“Good.”

Becky squeezed her hand. “Do you want us to bring you something mouth-watering for supper? I can run over here during opening hours and put it in takeout containers.”

Sarah finally smiled. “Yes. The food here is awful.” Her eyes made their way to Robert, and she said, “You’ve ruined us for common fare.”

Robert chuckled, “It’s my job.”

When they noticed her eyelids sliding shut again, they kissed her cheeks and said they’d be by around supper. She was breathing regularly, so they slipped out of the room.

As they walked down the hall to the elevator, Becky said, “I cannot stand the stench of hospitals. What on earth makes them smell so bad?”

Robert pushed the down button and said, “It’s all the harsh cleaning chemicals they use to kill the germs brought in from the outside.”

The elevator doors slid open, and Becky pushed the main floor button. As they descended, she said, “We use the same stuff at the restaurant, but it doesn’t smell like this.”

Robert raised his face to the ceiling of the elevator and said, “Perhaps my fine cooking erases the crappy odor and fills it with deliciousness.”

Becky burst out in laughter and playfully punched his arm. “You’re nuts. Those urinal cakes in the men’s room smell like hell. We need to find something better smelling.”

He shrugged as the doors slid open, and they walked out the door of the hospital to the pickup truck. “Okay, whatever you say.”

She stopped walking and smiled. “Whatever I say? Oh! How about Sarah and I get to go on a shopping spree for clothes when she gets released?”

Robert opened the driver’s-side door and gave a deep laugh. “You’re abusing your power as my daughter before the test results are even in?”

She climbed up into the truck and plopped in her seat. She straightened her shirt and said, “Yep.”

***

Myrna stood at the kitchen window and watched Hugo making a perimeter sweep of their property. He had his rifle slung over his shoulder, and Liam was following behind him, marching like a soldier. She felt arms wrap around her midsection and could smell Tom’s aftershave. She turned her head and kissed him good morning. He was already washed and dressed for work. She handed him his coffee and a toasted muffin and watched as he took them to the breakfast island and devoured it. She turned back to the window and giggled as she saw Hugo call out to Liam to do an “about face, soldier,” and watched as Liam followed his order to perfection.

When she turned around to tell Tom, she noticed he was already chuckling. He said, “I heard Hugo and can already imagine Liam’s response. The boy puts a smile on my face each day.”

She sipped her coffee. “Me too.”

“What are your plans for today?”

“I have to go and see Sarah, then to the bakery, and then the town hall to finish up some paperwork. I should be home early. You?”

“Same thing I do all the time. I work my shift, check on Sarah Macy, hopefully get out early, and come home to you.”

“Can you make sure Liam’s psychiatrist sees her?”

“If I know her, she snatched up the case the minute Sarah entered the hospital doors, but I’ll make sure it’s her if it puts your mind at ease.”

Myrna rounded the kitchen island and leaned into him to kiss his cheek. “Thank you. It will put my mind at ease. I love you.”

He turned in his seat and gazed at her face. “I love you too.” He puckered his lips, and she gave him a lingering kiss that held promises for the evening.

When they pulled away, his cheeks were flushed. He leapt from his chair, grabbed his bag, and rushed for the front door while shouting over his shoulder, “The sooner I get going, the sooner I get home to you! I know what that kiss meant!”

Myrna stood at the kitchen island, filled with laughter. After cleaning up their coffee mugs and muffin crumbs, she washed and dressed for the day.

The chief radioed he couldn’t pick her up on time, so Hugo loaded them into Myrna’s vehicle and drove them to the hospital. Myrna surmised bringing Liam to visit Sarah might make her feel a little better. She didn’t worry about opening the bakery; she knew Donnie would take care of it, and last night she had prepped enough for the day. Hugo parked in a convenient spot near the entrance and escorted them to the doors and up the elevator to Sarah’s room.

Myrna peeked inside to see Sarah’s eyes make their way to her. Myrna smiled and ushered Liam inside the room. She lifted him to the bed so he could sit beside Sarah and listened as Sarah asked Liam, “Are you taking good care of your gnome family?”

Liam assured her he checked on them daily and was taking good care of their favorite flowers. He then asked her if the gnomes ever got hungry for food.

She shook her head and smirked. “They eat the pollen from their favorite flowers. It floats around the air and fills their bellies at night.”

Liam’s mouth dropped open and he turned to Myrna. “I knew it! I knew they were sneaky!” Myrna and Sarah giggled as Myrna sat on the bed and held Sarah’s hand. Hugo stood guard at the door to the room.

Sarah noticed and frowned. “He’s not here for me, is he?” Myrna shook her head and watched Sarah’s eyes widen in realization. “Oh! It’s because of what
he
said before…”

Her words drifted off, and Myrna finished her sentence. “Yes, Sarah, he is here for my protection. You don’t need to say anything more. As far as your future, I don’t want you to worry about it either. The chief and I have a good plan in place, and you have many people in this town willing to drive in a caravan to your court hearing to support you. I do not want you worrying about it.”

“Are you sure?”

Myrna nodded. “Yes. Now I need to ask you a question. I want to know if it would be all right for Becky and me to begin your mother’s arrangements. We will let you approve of it beforehand. I just had an idea it would be one less worry on your mind if we got a head start on it.”

“It would help out a lot. I have one request, though.”

“Yes?”

“I want all the flowers at her service to come from our nursery. Becky knows which vases my mom treasured, and she’s great at arranging bouquets. Would it be okay?”

Myrna patted her hand “I think it’s a sweet sentiment, and I know Becky will love it. Is there anything else?”

“Make her urn the most beautiful they have to sell. I don’t care what it costs, but it should be just as beautiful as she was.”

Myrna smiled. “It’s a deal. I have to ask, do you like your psychiatrist?”

Sarah yawned and said, “I like Dr. Burch. She’s nice and soft-spoken.”

Liam perked up and smiled. “Hey, she’s my doctor too! I like her because she’s nice and then gives me lollipops. Did you get a lollipop yet?”

Sarah smiled and shook her head. “Not yet, but I bet I will get one soon. The doctor says I’m doing great and it shouldn’t be much longer before I can leave. Perhaps in a week?”

Myrna clapped her hands and Liam mimicked her. They said in unison, “Terrific!”

They noticed her yawning again, and Myrna could tell the doctors had drugged her but would slowly wean her off the strong stuff before allowing her to be discharged. Myrna and Liam each took a cheek and kissed her good-bye. Myrna promised her she’d have Donnie bring lunch to her so she would not have to suffer through the hospital food. She didn’t complain and said she appreciated it.

***

The phone rang at Robert Collins’s home and, as usual, Becky ran to answer it. It was Myrna, and she wanted to know if Becky was available to go to the funeral parlor to begin making arrangements for her mother. “Sure, I already visited Sarah and checked on the nursery. What time?”

She heard Myrna’s response on the other end. “Well, I’m here helping out at the bakery, and I’m having Donnie deliver your sister some lunch at the hospital. So, give me an hour to straighten things out?”

“Can Robert come too?”

“Absolutely. Maybe the chief will leave me alone if Robert is with us.”

Becky said, “Okay, we’ll see you in an hour.”

Becky hung up the phone and turned to Robert. “We’re going to go and make arrangements for my mom and pick out her urn in an hour. I guess Myrna cleared it with Sarah already.”

Robert had just poured cream into his coffee and returned it to the fridge. “Sounds good to me. Did you finish picking out the colors for your bedrooms yet? We can order the paint on our way to meet Myrna.”

“Yep.” She pulled the paint samples from her back pocket and showed them to him.

He nodded. “Good, because the plumber is done and the contractor is almost done mudding the drywall. What about the adjoining bathroom?” She pointed to a third color, and he slipped the samples into the back pocket of his jeans. “Let’s get a head start.”

“Wait! I have to walk Hercules first.”

Robert glanced at the dog sitting at Becky’s feet and frowned. “Come on, you big dummy. We’ll take you on the trails today and wear you out so you don’t piss on my rugs.”

Becky laughed as she tugged on Hercules’s collar, and they headed out the back door of their home.

***

Myrna hung up the phone at the bakery and turned to the chief, who was sitting at the prep table. “I’ll be with Robert Collins and Becky for a while. You don’t need to escort me.”

“Says you. I’m going. I let Hugo go to work at the trails, and you have to have someone with you who is licensed to carry a firearm. Where is Liam?”

Myrna rolled her eyes, threw her arms up into the air, and groaned as she went to retrieve her pocketbook. “He is with Grandma. Artie is at the town hall to protect all the women and children there.”

The chief snickered, and Myrna growled, “Don’t underestimate Artie, Chief. He’s quick and sharp. Since his surgery, he doesn’t trip all over the place and has the eyes of a hawk. He’s not stupid, either, and knows anyone could possibly be the killer. They are not just going to pop up and go ‘Ta-da!’”

“I’d be more afraid of Grandma Dumont.”

Myrna replied, “She’s a woman to be reckoned with too.”

The chief pushed himself up off the stool and grumbled, “Damn straight. Let’s go.”

Myrna reminded Donnie to bring Sarah her lunch at the hospital during the slow period. She smirked when she noticed him placing a vase with a flower in it in the take-out bag. The boy was weak in the knees for Sarah. It was evident.

The chief turned Myrna around and shoved her out of the kitchen and toward the front of the store. She clucked, “Just for that, stop at the five-and-dime on the way to the funeral parlor.”

He grumbled, “Yes, dear. Whatever you say, dear.”

With lightning speed, she flung her arm out and walloped him in the chest. She heard some of the customers cackling and smiled as he escorted her to the patrol car. “I could arrest you.”

She snorted. “You just shoved the mayor of this town, so it looks like we’ll talk to the district judge about it when we go to court with Sarah.” He shook his head, slammed her door shut, rounded the car, and slid inside. He took her to the five-and-dime and went inside with her. He hated shopping, but Myrna knew exactly what she wanted. She made her way down an aisle, scanned a few items, and returned with a large cookie jar he presumed was for Liam. The cashier wrapped it and bagged it for her. After she paid, they made their way to the funeral parlor.

***

Robert Collins and Becky Macy left the hardware store and made their way to the truck. Becky had also picked out some faucets and a showerhead for their bathroom while they were there. She rubbed her hands together as Robert drove to the funeral parlor.

“You nervous?”

“I hate these places. They smell funny too. It only reminds me of my dad’s service. He was a police officer, so it was a sad but grand affair.”

He frowned. “We don’t have to have her service there if you girls don’t want to. We can have it in the small banquet room at the restaurant.”

Her eyebrows rose. “We can? It would be great, and I think Sarah would love it.”