CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Haddie swallowed. “Detective Cooper.”

She gripped her phone. The two officers who had taken her statement had been clear that they would be following up with her at the hospital. No mention had been made of a detective, let alone Detective Cooper. She imagined it had been little over half an hour since then, and somehow — he was here. She felt queasy and thirsty. The antiseptic smell didn’t help either. Her little draped off area suddenly seemed small and confining.

His light brown skin looked paler here in the intense lighting. The scowl seemed diffused by the lack of shadows. “Ms. Dawson. You seem to have gotten yourself into some trouble. Campbell Park usually does not have these difficulties. Yet, you managed to find trouble there, end up in the hospital, and leave us with a stolen car.” He remained at the edge, not stepping inside her space. “Witnesses described events that could be construed as you attacking at least one of the men, though they later changed their stories to insist that you had been the victim and had merely been defending yourself — with admirable form, according to the woman.”

He didn’t ask a question, but some of his comments stirred her to respond, overriding her original shock and even trepidation at his sudden arrival. “I —”

“What I am most interested in is — why you were at this park, during this time of night?”

He’d turned everything around to insinuate she was somehow to blame. But, how much was she willing to tell him? She took a deep breath. He hadn’t said anything that might be considered a threat — so if he worked for someone trying to scare her off, he wasn’t doing so now. If he was part of it, then he would know about the ruse and the call.

“Following up on a lead. We had a call and I went out to meet with them.” Her grip relaxed on her phone.

“And . . .” He placed his thumb on his mustache, waiting. “Did you meet with them?”

Would he ask that question if he were involved? Maybe — it would be a good lie to keep her guessing. She sighed. Or I’ve gone full over into paranoia. “No.”

“Descriptions.”

Of the person she didn’t meet? She hadn’t even taken the call.

His heavy eyebrows dropped deeper over his eyes, furthering the scowl.

Haddie blinked. “Oh, the muggers?”

His expression changed quickly, lips turned thin, his head ticked, and one eyebrow inched up. Not quite rolling his eyes, he seemed to become annoyed with her lack of understanding. “It would be helpful. If you’d like us to find them.”

Her pulse rose, not in the fear and apprehension she had on his arrival, but indignant that he implied she was dim witted. He purposefully zigzagged his comments to disorient, and she was in no shape, or mood, for games. Between the meds and the stress from the night — the whole damned day, she had a hard time focusing. She took a deep calming breath.

“Man in car: white, smoker, five foot ten, one-eighty, round face, large eyes, no visible tattoos or piercings, short brown hair, right-handed, new work boots — possibly Wolverines.” Angry, her voice rose. “Second assailant: light brown skin, five foot nine, one-sixty, thin face, long eyes with an outside slant and hooded eyelids, full nose, no visible tattoos or piercings, short black hair — bangs, right-handed, black Reeboks.” Haddie glared at Detective Cooper and emphasized her last sentence needlessly loud. “Both men wore black gloves, unlabeled black sweatpants, and sweatshirts without hoodies.”

Detective Cooper sighed, pulled out his phone, and began writing notes.

Haddie didn’t let up. “The smoker, the driver of the car, did you find a cigarette butt?”

He didn’t look up. “Should we have?”

“He was smoking in his car. I never saw a butt on the asphalt. Did you check for an ashtray?” She paused. Did the 96 Plymouth Neon even have an ashtray?

He kept typing. “So, you watched the mugger case you?”

Infuriating man. “At the time, I didn’t know.”

“Obviously.” His scowl had lightened. “How long did he keep you under surveillance?”

Aisha whipped the curtain open. Even though Haddie jumped, she was pleased to see Detective Cooper start as well. “Out. I’ve got to prep.” The nurse shouldered into the detective.

“I’m not finished —”

Aisha turned inside the circumference of the curtain, and still holding the edge, whipped it in front of his face. She turned with a wink and spoke over her shoulder. “Wait outside in the hall, Detective. We’ll let you know when the victim is ready for you to resume interrogation.” She mouthed, “Dick.”

Detective Cooper didn’t press the issue.

Haddie laughed silently and lay back to stare at the ceiling. Apprehension about her arm flushed through and she wanted to ask for water, but tensed as Aisha began undoing the bandage. Her thirst could wait. She spent the next half hour getting poked and questioned for her chart. Pain medication in her IV started to ease some of the duller aches.

The doctor turned out to be a young man with orange hair and freckles. He barely spoke except to ask Aisha about medications and required equipment. Despite shots around her wound, Haddie found her teeth clenched at points.

She found Master Goh’s admonishment about hubris clear. A sweep behind her assailant’s knee would have left her room to run for the community center; instead, she’d taken the time to disarm one of two opponents. Not her brightest moment. It had been a long day. She would be happy to curl up on her bed with Rock at her feet — or across three-quarters of the bed if the mood took him.

Her phone, which Aisha had moved to a stand, vibrated in two sessions while the doctor worked. His expression never changed though Aisha’s eyes went wide in mock concern. At each opportunity, the nurse smiled or touched Haddie’s shoulder or hand to comfort. Any misgivings about the care had been presumptuous and unfounded. Haddie would have felt ashamed if she didn’t have to keep gritting her teeth.

Water finally came after the doctor left. Haddie’s forearm felt like hamburger and it ached to the armpit. Aisha promised a few minutes before she unleashed Detective Cooper, and that she’d make sure to accompany him in case he got too annoying.

Haddie only got a few sips before a commotion started outside.

A young orderly squeaked out an objection before Dad bellowed from somewhere in the middle of the room. “Haddie?”

She rolled her eyes. “Here, Dad.” The meds had her calmer than she expected. What did it matter if her dad had lived centuries? He likely had some cool stories.

The curtain rippled as it was prodded for an opening. His misshapen nose and piercing brown eyes peeked through. “How bad?”

He barely took a step in when Haddie recognized a familiar voice. “Mr. Dawson,” Detective Cooper said, “I’m glad we’ve got a chance to meet.”

Dad stopped and turned with a squint. He wore a graying 1999 Sturgis shirt that had once been black. “Do I know you?”

Haddie couldn’t see the detective. He stood on the other side of the curtain, farther out in the room. His tone sounded anything but pleased. Snarky, maybe.

“Detective Cooper. I’m looking into your daughter’s mugging — among other things.” Detective Cooper stated the last part with a particular chilling emphasis.

“What other things?”

“She was mugged tonight, during her investigation into a case that I have already closed. One that the DA is prosecuting, and your daughter’s employer is attempting to defend. Two particularly brutal murders.” Detective Cooper sniffed. “She should be careful where her questions put her.”

Was that a threat? She still couldn’t trust him, no matter Andrea’s opinion.

“I’m aware of her case.” Dad looked over to Haddie and stepped inside to inspect the bandaging on her arm. “It sounds like you’re implying this is more than a simple case of mugging. I doubt her client is a threat, she’s in jail. If the danger is still free, roaming the streets, then perhaps questions are necessary.” He gently touched her shoulder. “You okay?”

“Drowsy. They gave me some meds.” Haddie nodded toward the IV bag on her right side.

Detective Cooper moved to the opening in the curtain with pursed lips and his persistent scowl. In his left hand, he held a tablet with a black cover over the screen. “Perhaps she’ll take a break and let the courts handle this. It seems everyone has gotten a little heated over the situation. Mark Colman’s son believes that someone broke into the office.”

Panic fluttered in Haddie’s chest. Did he suspect her — them?

He looked her square in the eye. “Burglary didn’t find any evidence that anything had been taken or tampered with. Leave the questions to the professionals.”

It sounded like a threat. Her head too foggy, she didn’t trust herself to comment.

Dad snorted. “That’s her job, Detective Copper. Questions.”

“Cooper.” Detective Cooper corrected, over-emphasizing his name. His eyebrows dropped down and he pulled up the tablet into both hands.

“Whatever.” Dad smirked. He rarely engaged anyone to this level, unless they were playing poker.

“She needs to be careful, obviously.”

Detective Cooper’s subtle comments on her safety added up. His warnings had become clear. He wanted her to stop investigating. Was it usual police behavior or some tie to the murderer? Haddie stiffened, and her dad noticed.

Stepping toward the detective, Dad looked threatening. “Maybe if you spent your time investigating, she wouldn’t have to.”

Detective Cooper shrugged, stepped around the end of the bed to the opposite side of Haddie, and flipped the cover off the tablet.

Aisha arrived, striding to the open curtain and surveying the two intruders with as fierce a look as she could muster. “No visitors, yet. I need consistent vitals. The both of you — out.”

“I have mugshots for the victim to look at.” Detective Cooper waved the tablet, already queued with a set of six pictures.

Haddie peeked curiously and then waved her right hand toward her dad. “This is my dad, Aisha. Thomas. He’ll escort Detective Copper out once he’s done showing me the pictures. Is that okay?”

Aisha winked lightly, gave the scowling detective a grunt, and smiled at Dad. “Don’t let him get her upset.” She left the curtain open when she headed away.

Detective Cooper cradled the bottom of the tablet from behind, giving her a clear view of the two rows of three pictures. The second picture was the wide-eyed man, the fifth the long-eyed man. They sat in the middle, one above the other. Detective Cooper knew them from her description. This pack was just to confirm.

“The top middle for sure. He’s the smoker. The one who drove the Neon.” Pointing, Haddie inadvertently touched the image, and it opened up to page where the mugshot sat on the right and details populated the left. The man’s name was Louis Mattes.

Detective shifted the tablet and swiped, returning with the six pictures. “Anyone else?”

Haddie barely pointed this time. “The man below, in the middle.”

Detective Cooper grunted, flipped the cover over the tablet, and studied her.

What was he thinking? She started to squirm inside, feeling his proximity too close in these confined spaces.

“Time to leave, Detective Cooper.” Dad used the man’s proper name, and his voice sounded thoughtful.

Cooper nodded slowly, as if thinking about something. “Thank you, Ms. Dawson. Be careful.”

Another comment on her security. It would be hard not to think he had some part in this. If so, why had he led them to the muggers so easily? She almost asked him why he came instead of the two beat cops who had answered the call. She feared she knew.

Dad leaned down and kissed her forehead, like when she had a fever as a child. It felt good, and in all the stress, she’d almost forgotten that he was — impossible.

After they closed the curtain and left, she leaned with a grimace to retrieve her phone. Every movement seemed a dull pain. They’d put up the little gates, so it was more difficult, but safer. Her mind didn’t seem to register gravity until she’d overextended against the rail and had the phone between her fingers. Texts from Liz.

“Are you home yet?” The second text came shortly after the first. “Text me back. I’m worried.”

“Hey. I’m okay.” Haddie texted. How could she explain, without getting Liz hysterical?

Liz responded immediately. “You’re home?”

Best just to be blunt, but play it off. “I wish. Hospital with Dad. I blocked a knife the wrong way. Couple of stitches.”

“What?” Liz typed for a few moments and only managed to text, “What happened?”

“Mugging at the park.”

“I’m sorry. I should have come down.” Liz continued writing. “I want to come now. Can you drive? How bad? I can give you a ride. I owe you. What hospital?”

Haddie tilted her head in a nod. She wouldn’t enjoy a bike ride with Dad, for numerous reasons. The hospital wasn’t far from the university. Besides, Liz would be a comfort right now.

“That would be great. Sacred Heart downtown.” It gave her an easy out with Dad.

Aisha walked in glancing at the phone in Haddie’s hand. “Your Dad’s gone home to get his car. Says he rode here. It’ll be a while before you’re discharged anyway. How are you feeling?” She poured water from cheap blue pitcher into Haddie’s cup. “Drink.” She didn’t seem to care about the texting.

Liz texted, “omw.”

Aisha checked the monitors and IV bag. “How’s the pain?”

Haddie put the phone on her stomach and leaned for the water. “Bearable. I can’t handle the pain meds. Making me groggy.”

“You can get through it with Ibuprofen. The doctor will set up discharge instructions. Your father will likely be back by then.”

Haddie’s phone rang. Andrea. Aisha nodded to it and headed back out the curtain. Dad went to get the Jeep, Cooper Mini?

She glanced at the time, and then answered. “Hi.”

“Haddie, how are you doing? Have they gotten to you yet?” An unusual tone from Andrea — worry.

“Done. Pumping me with antibiotics. Codeine too, I’d imagine.” She leaned over to see under the curtains.

How long had Detective Cooper been standing outside the last time they talked? She hadn’t noticed when he arrived, but she’d had her voice low anyway.

“We’ll cover the hospital costs; this happened on the job.”

Is that what this call was about? Workman’s comp?

“I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

“Yeah. Shook up, but that should be expected, I’d imagine. Detective Cooper came and showed me mugshots. I picked out two of them.”

“Well, that’s good.”

It might be. If Detective Cooper didn’t work for the murderer, then he could actually investigate and find out who hired them. This mugging might have given them a lead. “We can pressure the police to find out who hired these thugs. It might lead us to the actual murderer.” Haddie shifted up in the bed. “We’re onto something. Mark Colman had business dealings that someone doesn’t want us to know about. We need to dig deeper into his financial records and his wife’s. Mel is just convenient for the DA; they aren’t even looking. There’s something odd about the fire —”

“Hadhira.” Andrea’s cool tone splashed like ice-water.

Haddie blinked, sucking in a quick breath. She’d been ranting.

“Haddie,” Andrea continued. “Sometimes we get a little close. We’re digging, we’ve got some time. I want you to take a few days, heal and rest. Let this go for a bit.”

The outlet across the room had four data ports and then jack ports for oxygen or other equipment. Haddie stared at them. The antiseptic scents suddenly felt — tasted — acerbic. Andrea was pulling her off the case. Just for a few days? Not permanently? Had she gone too far?

“Okay.”

“I’ll check in with you in a couple of days.”

“Mmhm.” Haddie felt cold now.

The line hung quiet for a moment. A voice beyond the curtain laughed.

“Let me know if you need anything,” Andrea said.

Haddie didn’t reply and the connection dropped.