I’d like the number of Elias Goodfellow, Attorney at Law.” I got the number and wrote it on a napkin box on the side table. Luckily the nurse had inadvertently left a blue Bic pen by mistake. I reached over and again cradled the phone and started dialing the number. By the time I dialed the third number, my attention was diverted to the woman entering the room. She was dressed in black and hid behind a pair of dark shades. Her gait was slow but steady and with a purpose. The phone slipped from my grasp as my eyes moved to hers. She walked over silently and we embraced for what seemed like an eternity. Still sobbing Abbe Bowman walked over to the other side of the room and gazed out the window through the pain.
My heart was drowning in despair as I tried to talk, “I’m so sorry Abbe. I don’t…”
“No need to say another word. I know Mooney.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“We’re having the wake tomorrow. Miles will be buried on Wednesday. It would mean a great deal to me and the kids if you were there.”
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to, Abbe.”
“I’m sorry, that was stupid of me. In my grief, I haven’t even asked how you are. I just barged in here with my own baggage, you’re okay aren’t you?”
“I’m going to be just fine. If it were just the injuries, I’d be there if I had to crawl. You know that, but there’s more.”
“You’re scaring me Mooney, what is it?”
“I don’t know how to tell you this, but they’re going to arrest me for Miles death.”
“What? I’ve got to sit down.”
Abbe fell into the bedside chair; this was the last thing she needed right now. Her expression was blank as she tried to absorb my last words. She was a strong woman but needed time to regroup. The only thing I could do was sit in silence while she collected herself. Then she turned to me and spoke, “That’s crazy, there’s more isn’t there?”
The awful truth came over me with a rush, “Yeah, I’m afraid so.”
“Tell me now, I have to know. I don’t want to read about it in the papers.”
“You sure you want to hear it?”
Turning to me, she looked over at me with a rigid gaze, “I won’t ask again. Now tell me.”
“Some members of the department are saying that I killed Miles because we were both dirty. Another theory will be that just I alone was on the pad and had to kill Miles to keep him quiet. That jackass, Tony Turano is trying to pin the serial murders on me, and say Miles was on to me. They’re still trying to pick a motive, a reason.”
“This is crazy. None of this makes any sense. How can they do this to you?”
“They’ve got some circumstantial evidence. Any time a cop goes down in the line of duty, there’s a feeding frenzy to close the case. I don’t have to tell you that I’ve never been anyone’s favorite at the precinct.”
“That’s not true. You were Miles favorite and that’s good enough for me.”
I couldn’t answer, Abbe’s last words hit me like a ton of bricks. I had all I could do to hold back my emotions. “Anything you want or need just let me know. We’re family. I’ve got to go now. I’ve got to get back to the kids. You need anything?”
Unable to speak, I just nodded no. Then she kissed me on the cheek and grasped my hand for support. Neither of us said another word as she made her way across the room to the door, where she stopped and then turned back to give me one last reassuring smile.
A good hour passed while I drowned in not only my own grief, but Abbe’s as well. Abbe was a very special person, I prayed that I could find a way to help her.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The doctor assigned to my case came by a little after 4 p.m. He and the nurse reviewed the chart and again checked my vital signs. He was an Indian doctor who spoke with a heavy accent. “How are you feeling?”
Ignoring his question I replied, “When can I get out of here?”
“That depends. How are you feeling?”
“I feel fine, when can I leave?”
Neither one of us was into bedside banter. His response was curt, “We’ll release you tomorrow, at 11:30.”
“Doc, I’d prefer no more pain killers.”
He didn’t answer, seemed preoccupied with my chart. I was a little agitated when I followed up, “Any problem with that?”
“You should only experience moderate pain from the left arm. However, I still recommend that you stay on the Demerol injections for another 12 hours.”
“I’d prefer not to. I need a clear head, I’ll manage the pain.”
“As you wish.” Then he turned and hurriedly headed for the door, stopping only to admire the flowers that Abbe had dropped off. The nurse stayed behind to fluff my pillow and readjust the bed. “Is your phone working?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
“Do you want anything else?”
“No, I’m fine, thank you.”
“I’ll be back around six with dinner, just call if you need anything.”
“Will do.”
As soon as she was out the door, I was on the phone. It was time to get face to face with the future, the sorrow of the past would have to wait. I dialed the number and a gruff voice answered on the third ring, “Law office.”
“I’d like to speak to Elias Goodfellow.”
“Speaking, who’s this?”
“Mooney Law. I’m a detective with the…”
“Yeah, I know you and I know your story. What can I do for you?”
“I need an attorney.”
Elias was abrupt and to the point, “It’s gonna cost you. I don’t come cheap.”
“Not very professional of you to bring up money so early in the conversation. You let me worry about paying you. Now you want to know about the charges?”
“I already know. They’re going to try and pin your partner’s death on you. You know there’s one more thing that doesn’t help your situation.”
“What?’
“The serial killer didn’t add to his list last Saturday night. There’s a rumor floating around that you may be involved in that mess. For your sake, you better hope he didn’t just quit or leave town or they’ll try and smear you in the press for those killings.”
“I’m not overly concerned about the serial killings. You got any more good news for
