Where the Sun Sets (13 page)

“How did Billy give a statement if he wasn’t
there? What could he possibly have said that you can collaborate?
What happened on the video? Why wasn’t it turned over right then
and there? I’m not saying you did anything wrong. Your reputation
is at stake here. Your career, your investors, everything must be
taken into account. The press will eat you up alive if word gets
out that you alone hold the one piece of evidence that could have
aided in the capture and arrest of Antonia’s shooter. You know how
the people feel about her. Josephine, I need you to tell me what
happened. Give me the shortest version you can, but leave nothing
out.”

“There is nothing I can say really. My back
was turned to the gunman. I hit my head when Anthony tossed me out
of the way. I couldn’t hear or see anything real clear until after
I arrived at the hospital. Even then I kept passing out. I only
know what I know from the video.”

“What about the video, Josephine. How is it
you ended up with it?”

“Billy gave it to me when he came and picked
me up at St. Bart’s. I didn’t give it any thought last night. I
think he said, no, he didn’t say anything. Just that it was a video
from the party and that I should look at it.”

“And did you look at it?”

“Yes, this morning, just before I left the
house.”

“And what was on the tape?”

“Justin, why not watch it yourself. If you
think I want to go over it again in my mind, you’re nuts.”
Josephine started to walk towards the awaiting officer. Justin
again had to run to catch up with her.

They did not stop their stride as he added,
“Fine, I will do just that. As soon as we finish up here, we can
ride back to your house and get the tape. I will view it and then
bring it in to the station.”

“Whatever, I am going out to see Anthony. You
can go back to the house and get whatever the hell you want.”

The officer opened the door for Josephine and
held it open still for her attorney. He followed them up the stairs
and directed them to the Lieutenant’s office where he thanked Ms.
Ferrero for her cooperation and left the two of them to their
meeting with Lieutenant Barsky. Taylor did not rise from her chair.
Upon seeing her guests she simply motioned for them to enter her
office. With a wave of her arm she then motioned for them to be
seated.

In front of her was the report, containing
the statement from Billy. She never touched it. Lifting her coffee
mug to her lips, she watched Ms. Ferrero as she sipped. “What
exactly happened out at your place, last night?” She directed her
question to Josephine but never actually spoke her name.

Josephine felt coldness in the woman’s tone
and decided right then and there not to say anything at all. “I
believe you already have that information Lieutenant Barsky,
ma`am.” Justin states.

The Lieutenants eyes stayed locked with
Josephine, who had no intention of backing down first. “I would
like to hear Ms. Ferrero’s side, Mr..?

“Justin. Justin Pictella. And I will be
speaking for Ms. Ferrero at the moment.”

Was that a glint of humor in Josephine’s
eyes? The Lieutenant wondered.

“Fine, Mr. Pictella, fine. Where were you at
the time of the shooting then?”

“If you don’t mind, my client has come down
here at your request, as quickly as possible to be of whatever
service she may in helping to apprehend the individual responsible
for the shooting. She has no knowledge of the events. She was not
facing the gunman and was knocked to the ground during the
shooting. She received a severe wound to the head from the fall.
She was taken by ambulance to St. Bartholomew’s medical where she
was treated for a concussion.”

Still the women’s eyes were locked in a
battle for superiority. Justin felt uncomfortably left out. He
continued on with his statement. “My client can give you no more
information on the shooting itself or the gunman. All she may know
she has read in the morning papers.” He let his eyes fall upon the
article on the desk. “Is there some direct question you would like
to ask of my client?”

“Does Ms. Ferrero feel as if the attempt was
made on her life? Not on the life of Ms. Dal Santo or some other
guest perhaps?” There was a slight flicker in Josephine’s eyes. The
Lieutenant made a mental note and stopped the staring contest.
Josephine, however, did not back down. She kept her gaze locked
hard on the woman, although her mind had seemingly left the
building. It had never occurred to her that someone may have wanted
Anthony dead.

Apparently the same thought had just passed
through Justin’s mind as well. He had turned a sick shade of pale.
“Ms. Dal Santo? What might suggest that she was the target?”

“What was there to suggest it was Ms.
Ferrero? Were there not thirty to forty guests as well at this
affair? Who’s to say that one of them may not have been the target?
We are going to need a list of names for all those invited and
attending last night’s shindig.

“I would request, as a personal favor to me
that it be on my desk by three this afternoon. If, by this time
your client can remember anything else that may be of some help to
us, we would appreciate her coming forward with it. We would also
like to know where your client plans to be today, just in case
something comes up that should require her attention.”

The sarcasm in the last portion of the
statement was thick and suffocating. Justin stood to leave. Turning
to Josephine, he placed a hand on the back of her chair to pull it
from under her as she stood. He took note of the fact that
Josephine had not said anything while in the office. Aside from the
steam rising from her stare, which was still directed towards the
Lieutenant, you would not have even known Josephine was in the room
at all. Justin escorted his client out of the building.

Once outside the station doors, he leaned his
head sideways to hers and asked, “What the hell was that all about
in there? What’s with the staring contest? Do you two know each
other or something?”

Josephine was lost in thought. She turned to
face Justin. There was a slight wind and it blew her hair across
her face. Justin thought it made her more attractive, if possible,
when she pulled her hair back behind her ear.

Josephine looked everywhere but at Justin.
“Do you think, what she said, about Anthony could be right? Do you
think someone wanted to kill Anthony? I mean, who would want her
dead? Why would anyone want to hurt Anthony? Why would she say
something like that?”

Justin was trying to grasp the reality of the
questions. “Ms. Ferrero, why would anyone want to kill you?” She
looked at him, briefly and then past him to the station. She
wrapped her arms around herself as a chill climbed into her. She
shook her head, as to imply she did not know. And with that she
turned and started towards her car. “I’m going to the hospital.
I’ll talk to you later.” Justin watched her leave before entering
his own car and heading out to her house.

Chapter 14

The walk back to the hospital had refreshed
him. He stopped for a moment outside the hospital and looked up
into the sky, closing his eyes to fully enjoy the sun upon his
face. A cloud cast a shadow on his closed eyes and he opened them
abruptly. There was a chill to the air all of a sudden. He inhaled
deeply as he entered the building through the ‘Staff only Doors’
and helped himself to a white jacket, carelessly lying on the top
of a basket of dirty uniforms. He entered the staircase and headed
to the kitchen for a bite to eat. It was just before lunch time.
Not a soul stopped him. No one even seemed to notice he was there.
Perhaps it was the jacket. He smiled to himself. He was feeling
daring. He walked through the kitchen and out to the cafeteria.
Grabbing a newspaper and an apple, he sat himself down in the
center of the room. To be honest, there really weren’t that many
people in the cafeteria. But those that were there hardly noticed
his presence. He enjoyed his invisibility as he read the paper.

Twenty minutes later he felt he should get on
with his business. He stood to leave, returning the newspaper to
where he had found it. He exited the cafeteria through the main
doors and headed for the elevators. Passing the receptionists desk
he noticed a bouquet of flowers awaiting delivery.

“Where are these heading?”

“Second floor, Frankel, room 223.”

“I’ll run them up for you; I have to go that
way anyhow.”

“Whatever.”

He grabbed up the flowers and once again
headed for the elevators. The card from the bouquet fell to the
floor unnoticed.

Antonia was barely awake. She felt awkward
and stiff. She did not have the strength to open her eyes, so she
didn’t try. She felt far away, separated from herself due to the
medication. But she had pain, so the medication must have missed
its target. Instinctually she knew the baby was gone. Not just
dead, but removed. Her shoulder burned inside, near the center and
her thigh ached with a pulsating throb. The only wound that did not
hurt was the one she was laying on, the shot to her back. She tried
to locate it in her mind. Her back did not seem to exist at the
moment. ‘Perhaps an epidermal’, she thought to herself. She was
pretty certain there were four shots, four bullets that had entered
her body.

She made herself slightly dizzy, from
straining her brain, as Joe would say. Antonia tried to relax
herself back to sleep. She was almost gone when the hair on her
arms stood up on end. Her stomach constricted painfully. She had no
idea why, until the door to her room opened. Very slowly it opened.
Antonia willed herself to remain calm. An odor filled the room.
Antonia’s head spun from the realization. It was a smell from her
past. Attached to the smell were painful memories.

He paused in the doorway and took in full
view of her. His heart ached a bit to see her attached to the
monitors. He gingerly walked over to her bed and placed the flowers
on the table beside her. The odor was so rich it had pushed all
oxygen aside. Antonia wished to gasp, to fill her lungs with fresh
air. But she would not allow herself. She knew she must relax. She
knew she must calm herself as well as her breathing. She could not
let her visitor realize she was awake.

His right hand found her left and gently
covered it. His left hand cautiously reached for her face. His
fingers stretched out to make contact, but his hand jerked back.
Once again he tried to touch her face. She looked so pale, so
peaceful. His fingers managed to make contact with her hair. He
rubbed a clump of her hair between his fingers.

Her hand was being lifted. She could feel the
fingers that wrapped around her wrist. The pain in her shoulder was
making any movement on her part impossible. She felt heat upon her
flesh. Felt warmth from someone’s breath. Felt someone’s skin
rubbing gently on the back of her hand. There was no way she could
be sure, but she was pretty certain it was a nose.

He inhaled deeply, filling himself with her
scent. He allowed his nose to follow her wrist, up to her shoulder.
His nose caught the smell of blood. Quickly he turned his head and
forced the odor from his nostrils. He shook his head and looked at
the shoulder. It was bandaged pretty well, but if one looked hard
enough, one could see the blood starting to ooze through the
wrapping. The smell had taken him sideways. He shook his head once
more before returning his thoughts to where he wanted them.

Antonia, his sweet Antonia. He had waited for
what seemed a lifetime for his prize. He wanted her badly but the
ICU unit was not the proper place. He must wait longer still.
Reprimanding himself for missing his target. He never meant to hit
Antonia. Never wanted to...again he raised her hand to his face. He
inhaled deeply and allowed her scent to capture him. Slowly he ran
his tongue up the back of her hand. He closed his eyes, and as if
tasting a fine wine, and savored the flavor. He outlined her hand
with his tongue, in and out of each finger slowly. A moan escaped
him as he tried to control his desire. When his tongue had made its
way to her thumb, he sucked on it. Gently he pulled it out of his
mouth and then licked her palm. He wanted her badly but the time
was not right. He scanned the room with his eyes until he found a
chair. He pulled it up alongside the bed and sat beside her for a
while. He just wanted to look at her. His visit lasted another ten
minutes more. He had work to finish.

Outside her room, he heard talking. It was
time for him to leave and finish his work. He stood to leave and
placed her hand back down by her side. He gazed at her for just a
moment before bringing his face down to hers. Antonia could barely
breathe from the stench. She forced herself to breathe as normally
as possible. He circled her face with his nose, inhaling deeply
before bringing his lips to hers. He kissed her softly on the lips,
stealing what little oxygen she had saved in her lungs. He forced
himself to walk away.

Antonia’s eyes opened without authorization.
Seemingly her body was requesting oxygen from every available
opening. She was gasping for air. Her eyes focused on the face
above hers. It was Joe, and she was very alarmed. She seemed to be
calling for a doctor. Antonia could not be sure. She was there, but
not there. Antonia was not even certain she was not imagining the
whole event. Someone placed an oxygen mask on Antonia and in a very
calming voice, told her to relax.

“Breathe slowly Ms. Dal Santo, slowly.”
Josephine watched in fear. Anthony seemed quite relaxed until her
eyes had opened and noticed her standing there. Was it possible,
that just the sight of Josephine would upset Anthony enough to make
her hyperventilate?

“She should be fine now, Ms. Ferrero. Perhaps
she had a flash back. It happens to some shooting victims you
know.” The nurse was talking as she wiped Antonia’s brow with a
damp rag. “It took a lot out of her. I am afraid I can only let you
stay another minute or two. She may not even be awake that long.
She does need to rest though. And you can come back in a few
hours.” She glanced down at Antonia, whose eyes were now closed and
was breathing regularly. She removed the mask and checked all the
monitors before exiting the room to allow the women privacy.