One by One – 8
Hoyt walked into the room the next morning a few minutes before C.J. was going to be transferred to another hospital.
"You're timing's perfect, Hoyt," said Matt.
"Oh?"
"Yes. We don't think Otto's our guy."
"What?"
"You said he escaped the night before last? Elizabeth was murdered two nights ago."
"Oh... that's right."
"And Otto's always been hands-on with his attacks, not wielding a knife," C.J. added.
"Not to mention Otto's a certified mute."
"So, it couldn't have been him who taunted you on the phone."
"Right."
Hoyt heaved a sighed. "So, where does that leave us?"
Uncle Roy walked into the room having overheard the end of the conversation.
"Perhaps split personality disorder?"
"What?"
"Could it be possible that Otto has killed in both ways?"
"In both ways? That would mean he's killed more people in the past than we first thought?"
"It's a stretch."
"Or maybe he's not acting alone on this. Maybe he's someone who prefers working with an accomplice," suggested C.J.
"How about I run a search on Baby looking for any past criminals Matt's help put away with the dates of Steve Otto's prison sentence? Maybe he's joined forces with someone he shared a cell with?" Roy offered.
"Sounds good," said Matt.
"I'll call the office and ask Chris and Murray to get started on it right away."
"And I'll go back to headquarters, make some phone calls and see what I can dig up," Hoyt offered.
Just before Roy left, he discretely handed Matt a small leather bag.
C.J. noticed and raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"
"What's what?" Matt replied, acting clueless.
She rolled her eyes. "You know what."
He shrugged. "I just asked Roy to bring me something."
"Okay ... what is it?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing for you to be concerned with."
"Houston ..." she said firmly with her eyes trained on him, forcing him to cave.
"Okay, okay ..." he said as he pulled out the leather case. She recognized it immediately.
"A gun ..." she said with a sigh of mixed emotions.
"Now just hold on. It's just in case you need to defend yourself. I want you to keep this as close to your person as possible."
"Houston ..."
"Just in case," he reiterated. "It'll make me feel better just knowing you have it."
Matt had managed to control every detail of C.J.'s secretive transfer. All the time he doted on her, constantly checking to see if she was comfortable to the point where she was almost getting annoyed.
"Now, are you in any pain?" he asked for the umpteenth time as she settled into her bed.
She rolled her eyes. "I'm fine."
"Fine, huh?" he remarked just as a nurse entered the room.
"Hello. I'm here to help Ms. Parsons," she announced.
Matt turned around and studied her hospital ID.
"How long have you worked here?"
A little put-off, she stared back at him. It wasn't the greeting she expected.
"I, uh, have been a nurse here for three years."
"How long have you been a nurse?"
"Uh, about five years."
"Do you know any one in prison? Ever kept company with anyone violent?"
C.J. pressed her lips together. "Houston ..."
"Not that I know of ..."
Matt studied her further, trying to also ascertain if she looked competent. Simple and basic chores like showering or dressing took great amount of painstaking time and technique for C.J.. She had to have a nurse assist her.
"C.J. has been through a lot. I don't want her to endure one more second of pain or discomfort."
"You have my word, Sir. I just want to take Ms. Parsons' vitals and check her wound. I'll be very gentle."
He stared at her moment, then looked back at C.J.
"I'll be right outside, okay?" he said as he tenderly touched her cheek with his fingertips.
"Okay," she said as she watched him leave. As soon as the door closed C.J. offered an apology.
"Sorry."
"It's okay."
"If it makes you feel any better, you should should have heard him grill the ambulance drivers. He wanted to know if they ever had any parking tickets."
She laughed. "You're lucky to have a husband who is so doting."
C.J thought about correcting her just as the phone rang. She waited a few more rings deciding whether or not to answer it.
"Hello ..."
"You think you're so smart, trying to outwit me," the voice said.
A shiver ran up her spine. It was him. But she couldn't panic. She had to think fast, take advantage of the opportunity. She pushed her emotions aside and brought her detective skills to the forefront.
"Who is this?"
"I'm not going to tell you," the voice said, almost laughing.
"Why not? You're going to kill me anyway."
This statement caused the nurse to look up. C.J. motioned for her to get Matt while she continued egging the voice on, trying to get him to talk as much as possible.
"Well I don't believe you. If you wanted me dead I would have been dead already."
"You will be soon. As the saying goes, you can run but you can't hide."
"Well you're either a liar or the most incompetent criminal in history," she stated just as Matt rushed into the room and grabbed the phone from her.
"Now listen here, you coward! I'm going to find you and you're going to pay for what you did! You hear me! You won't get away with this!"
The phone clicked. Matt stared at the receiver.
"What happened?" C.J. asked.
"He hung up."
He slammed the receiver down in frustration.
"Damn it. How'd he know you were here?"
"Doesn't matter. I know his voice. I know who it is."
