Night Of The Living Dandelion Part 18

"With a bra.s.s ring on top," Grace pointed out. "Perhaps it's meant to be a chandelier."

Lottie removed the next layer of newspaper and found eight bra.s.s hooks. She hung them from loops at the ends of the eight curved wires.

"It looks like a mobile," I said.

"A mobile?" Grace asked, p.r.o.nouncing it "mo-bile." "For above a child's bed?"

"No, a cell phone," Lottie said, rolling her eyes. "Of course a child's mobile."

"Someone is cross today," Grace said to me under her breath.

"If you'd had to listen to four boys rehearsing their bra.s.s instruments for their band compet.i.tion till midnight," Lottie retorted, "you'd be cross, too."

"I'm sure you're absolutely right, love," Grace said. "However, keep in mind the words of Marcel Proust." She cleared her throat and took hold of the edges of her lavender cardigan sweater. " 'Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.' "

Lottie stared at her. "Did you miss the part about them rehearsing till midnight? The only thing blossoming in my house was a big fat pounding headache."

"h.e.l.lo," I said to them. "My arm is going numb. Could you see what else is in the box, please?"

Lottie looked at Grace and they both said, "Someone is cross."

Lottie pulled out a bundle of newspaper and unwrapped it. We gasped in horror.

"It's a bat!" Grace said.

She held up a brown bat made out of clay, with its wings partially unfolded, its beady black eyes staring straight ahead, as though focused on s.n.a.t.c.hing up its next bug, and its mouth open, revealing tiny pointed fangs. To think I'd told Marco it wouldn't bite.

Lottie unwrapped another bat. This one was cobalt blue, its wings folded against its chest, its eyes closed.

We unwrapped six more, all in different colors: neon yellow, bright orange, fuchsia, lime green, bright red, and royal purple. Each was in a different position and half of them displayed teeth. We fastened the critters to the wires, and then I held the object up, trying to figure out the theme.

"I've got it. It's my mom's version of the Batmobile."

Lottie stood with her hand over her mouth. Grace whispered something that might have been a prayer.

"What are we going to do with it?" Grace asked.

"I'm telling you right now," Lottie said, "no mother is gonna hang that thing above her kid's crib. The poor child would never recover from the nightmares."

"I promised Mom I'd put it in a prominent place," I said sheepishly.

Both women gazed at the mobile as though waiting for it to turn into something else. Or fly away. "Could we hang it in a corner?" Grace asked.

"As long as it's not near the window," Lottie said. "We'll scare away customers."

We trooped into the shop to take a good look around. No one said anything for several moments, then I said, "I'll put it in the workroom until we find a place for it."

"I'll take it there for you," Lottie said, and swept it off my lap and through the curtain.

As soon as we opened the shop, the parlor filled with our regular customers coming in for their morning java fix and gossip exchange, keeping Grace busy serving coffee, tea, and freshly baked plum scones. I'd been a little concerned that she might overhear my meeting with Marco and our interviewee, but as I took a seat at a back table, I realized the loud buzz of conversation would cover anything she might pick up, if she even had a chance to listen.

At ten minutes after nine, a strikingly attractive young woman walked in with Marco, chatting animatedly. She had pale blond hair that fell in loose curls around her shoulders, lively, sparkling eyes, and a figure that would turn any male head. She was wearing a beige belted jacket over green nurse scrubs and rubber-soled tan shoes.

Marco spotted me and ushered her into the room where I waited in the wheelchair.

"Courtney Anne O'Keefe," Marco said, "this is my fi-partner, Abby Knight."

If the word fi-partner puzzled her, Courtney Anne didn't show it, but she did cast a discreet glance at my bandaged foot. She held out her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Abby."

"Same here." I lifted my right foot. "In case you're wondering, I sprained my ankle."

"I'm sorry. Sprains can be extremely painful."

"Would you like to sit down? We have plum scones today"-I pointed out the basket in the middle of the table-"and gourmet coffee or tea, whichever you'd like."

"Coffee, please." She thanked Marco as he pulled out a chair for her. She sat and unb.u.t.toned her belted jacket as she glanced around. "I love your flower shop. It's so pretty and cheerful."

"Thank you. Are you on your way to work?"

"I work the afternoon shift," she said, "but I wanted to do some shopping while I was in town. I knew I wouldn't have time to go back home and change, then make that long drive to Chicago. That is one killer commute."

Grace bustled up with a coffeepot in one hand, a teapot in the other. "Three coffees," I told her.

Marco, seated across from me, waited for Grace to leave before he took out his notepad and pen. "Thanks for coming in on such short notice. As I explained on the phone, we're looking for information on Lori Willis to help with our investigation."

"I'm not a suspect, am I?" Courtney Anne asked, a flicker of fear in her eyes. I figured her for about my age, but she seemed much younger.

"We're just hoping you'll be able to point us in one direction or another," Marco said.

Good answer. I'd have to note that for the fut-Oh, rats! Now I was doing it.

"Have you been contacted by the New Chapel police department?" Marco asked.

She shook her head, her soft curls swaying with the motion. "No."

"Would you tell us what led to your being fired from County Hospital?" Marco asked.

Her cheeks flushed a soft pink. "It's a little embarra.s.sing. I was a new hire at County, a.s.signed to the floor where Nurse Willis was supervisor. I followed her orders. I was kind to our patients. I never missed work." She shrugged. "But for some reason she took a dislike to me."

I was betting the reason was jealousy. Judging by Lori's photo, she was trying to look like what Courtney Anne already was-young and beautiful.

Courtney Anne held up her index finger, signaling a break. "Sorry. I have to try this yummy-looking scone."

"Take your time," Marco said.

She chewed and swallowed a bite, then sighed. "Wow. It's wonderful! I'm sorry. I couldn't resist. Anyway, one day Dr. Holloway introduced himself to me in the cafeteria and asked if he could join me. As if I would mind! A handsome, sophisticated cardiovascular surgeon? Be still, my heart!"

If anyone would know how to pluck heartstrings, it would be a cardiovascular surgeon.

"We talked for hours, and there was instant chemistry," she said. "I found myself telling him all about my life, even about how Nurse Willis was treating me."

"I don't mean to interrupt," Marco said, "but what was Dr. Holloway's reaction to that?"

"He was completely understanding. He said he'd talk to her if I wanted him to, but I told him I'd rather he not because it might cause more problems. Anyway, after that, things just sort of happened. One day we're having lunch in the cafeteria. The next we're meeting in a supply closet." She blushed a deep red. "That sounds terrible, but it's true. We were madly in love.

"Then one day Nurse Willis walked in on us." Courtney Anne brushed crumbs off the table. "It was terrible. I've never seen anyone get so angry, and not just at me. At Dr. Holloway, too. Nurse Willis called us vile names and said I was suspended until further notice, then stormed out of the closet."

"What did Dr. Holloway say about it?" Marco asked.

"He said not to worry. That Nurse Willis suspended me because she was in love with him and couldn't stand it that we were together. He promised to talk to her and said that everything would be fine. Then she called me at home the next day and fired me.

"I cried for an entire day. I thought Dr. Holloway had let me down, but then I heard what she did to him . . . Getting an official reprimand is devastating to a doctor's career. At least I found a new position within two weeks, but he's had to live with his humiliation. And then his wife dragged him through the courts . . . It was a horrible mess."

"Did you have any contact with Nurse Willis after you left County?"

She shook her head.

"Have you seen Dr. Holloway since you left?" I asked.

"Only once, right after I was fired," she said with a sad sigh. "We met at a coffee shop. I thought maybe he'd contact me after his divorce was final, but I haven't heard a word. I guess he's moved on."

Many times, no doubt.

"At the coffee shop," Marco said, "did Dr. Holloway express any feelings about Nurse Willis's actions?"

At that, Courtney Anne balked. "Look, I don't remember it all that well, and I really don't want you to think poorly of Dr. Holloway. He's a good guy."

A good guy who cheated on his wife and compromised a young nurse's career?

"What you tell us will not cause an innocent party to become a target," Marco told her. "We have several strong suspects already. We just don't want to leave any stone unturned."

She gave Marco a grateful smile, as if he was the most understanding man on earth. "Thank you. It was a horrible time in my life. I've tried to put it behind me, but Nurse Willis's death brought a lot of it back."

"Tell us what you remember about your last meeting," Marco said.

Courtney Anne stared into the distance, as if trying to recall their conversation. "He was very concerned about me and promised to contact someone he knew to help me get a new nursing position. That's how I got my job, as a matter of fact. I asked him how he was coping with having to work with Nurse Willis every day-but I shouldn't have brought it up. He got ugly about it. I'd never seen him be anything but charming, so it was rather unsettling to hear-"

Her face drained of color. She reached for her cup and held it to her mouth with trembling hands.

"What is it?" Marco asked.

"Maybe Dr. Holloway wasn't such a good guy after all."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

Marco gave me a look that said, This is your department . So I put my hand on Courtney Anne's shoulder.

"I know this is rough. You probably think you're betraying his friendship, but trust me, you'll feel better if you get it off your chest."

She nodded, blinking back tears. "Dr. Holloway said he told Nurse Willis she was insane if she thought he'd go for a dog like her, and if she ever came near him again, there'd be some bloodletting." She put her hands over her mouth, as though she couldn't believe she'd told us.

"Did Holloway explain what he meant by that?" I asked.

"I'm sure he was just blowing off steam." She glanced at us, seeking rea.s.surance.

"Guys talk tough when they're angry," I said.

"I knew him intimately, you know?" she said. "I would have sensed something if he was a . . ." She let her sentence die, unwilling to utter the word murderer.

Not to burst her happy bubble, but Marco had once told me that anyone was capable of murder under the right circ.u.mstances. But I said I agreed with her, and that seemed to ease her mind.

I knew Marco hated snap judgments, but I was ready to cross Courtney Anne off our list. For his sake I would withhold my opinion until we'd interviewed all of our suspects.

"I have just a few more questions," Marco said. "At your present job, do you change shifts or are you always on the afternoon shift?"

"I'm permanently on afternoons."

He jotted down her answer. "What time do you start and end?"

"I start at three o'clock, end at midnight. Then I have to commute home."

"Do you drive, carpool, or take the train?"

"I usually take the train, but today I'm driving in."

"How did you get to work last week?"

"I took the train."

"Do you ever go to the casino boat at the Little Calumet River?"

She shook her head. "I don't have money to waste on gambling."

"Were you seeing anyone at the time of your affair with Dr. Holloway?"

"No. I was between boyfriends."

"Last question," Marco said. "Is there someone I can contact at the hospital who can verify your employment information and work schedule?"

Courtney Anne gave Marco the information, then reached for another scone. "These are heavenly. I'm going to have to buy some to take with me to the hospital. The other nurses will go crazy over them."