Chapter 9
Everyone exchanged greetings with Detective Logan McIntosh, who was visiting Seth in his hospital room.
"When I dropped by your office earlier, Uncle Seth," Logan began, "I heard you were here, so here I am. Your assistant told me you had been poisoned?"
"That's what they tell me," Seth responded.
"Well, you look good now. How are you feeling?"
"Like a truck ran over me," Seth stated honestly, "and how is your father doing?" he asked politely.
Logan McIntosh's father was Judge McIntosh, now under hospice care in his own home.
"Hanging in there, but barely," Logan informed him, "I'm staying at his house to care for him, and he's as stubborn and ornery as ever, but, sadly, it's just a matter of time for him."
"Sorry to hear that," Seth commiserated, "I'll come by the house as soon as they let me out of here."
"He would like that," Logan said as he next turned to Mort and Jessica, "My father used to tell me so many funny antics that he and Uncle Seth used to do in college. I remembered one time he emptied bottles of vodka from Uncle Seth's parents' mini bar and refilled it with water! Then he and Uncle Seth got really plastered with the good stuff!"
He lightly chuckled as he imagined the scene.
Seth smiled, "Yeah, my head still pounds when I think about the hangover I had the next day!"
Although Jessica could not say she enjoyed Logan's company, there were times he could be almost likable; like now, when he was being friendly with Seth.
"Oh, before I forget, Uncle Seth," Logan reached in and produced a sealed business envelope, "This envelope had been on top of your desk in your office, so I thought I'd bring it over to you."
Seth furrowed his brow, "that envelope was on my desk?"
"Yes," Logan answered as he held out the large envelope to Seth.
It had Seth's name written on the front in block writing with capital letters.
An anonymous letter is not a good thing to receive when the recipient's life had already been threatened.
Mort and Jessica exchanged alarmed looks.
"Drop that on the bed!" Mort abruptly ordered Logan, which Logan instantly did, looking a bit shell shocked.
Mort next reached into his pocket and put on some plastic gloves so he could handle the envelope. He looked disappointingly at Logan.
"What were you thinking, Logan?" Mort berated him, "You're a detective! The minute you saw something suspicious like this unidentified envelope, you should have bagged it with tweezers!"
Logan looked surprised, "I just thought it was another get well card!"
"A get well card in a business-sized envelope?" Mort questioned, "That would be highly unlikely!"
"Open it Mort, but be careful," Jessica warned him.
With gloves on, Mort ripped one side of the envelope open, and then carefully pulled out a single sheet of paper out. He unfolded it and scowled as he read its contents.
"What does it say?" Seth demanded to know.
Clearing his throat, Mort read aloud:
"Five years earlier, you and Police Captain Bradley ruined my life. Now I will ruin you."
There was complete silence for a time as everyone stared at one another.
"Hmmmm, let's see that..." Jessica stated as Mort tilted it for her to see, "this note...seems to imply that the motive for the poisonings was that the killer wanted revenge for some case Seth and then Police Captain Bert Bradley had worked on five years earlier."
"So Doc, think carefully,how many cases had you and Bert worked on five years ago?" Mort asked.
"Being that we worked in different towns, I rarely worked with Bert when he was Police Captain," Seth recalled, "to my recollections, we only came in professional contact twice."
Jessica nodded, "That certainly narrows down the possible list of suspects a bit!"
"Or not," Logan piped in, "If you really think about it...it doesn't necessarily have to be a case that occurred five years ago,"
"What makes you say that?" Mort asked, not convinced.
Logan obviously liked being in the spotlight,"Maybe the case could have occurred, let's say ... eight years ago and it's just that the killer had postponed mentioning it for three years."
Mort couldn't believe the ridiculous remark the detective just made, "Really?"
"I'm just giving you an alternative theory," Logan said, "that's what real detectives do."
Jessica tried to be polite, "But why would the killer want to postpone revenge?"
"Maybe it took him three years to plan it out," Logan theorized, "or maybe he was sick and out of commission. How am I supposed to know? I'm just saying it's a possibility."
Mort and Seth stared at Logan as if they couldn't believe he was a detective.
#
It looked like Seth would have to stay at least another day in the hospital. Dr. Henderson was still concerned about the possibility of heart damage and had connected Seth up to a cardiac monitor. Of course he was not taking the news well, but Jessica was helpful in soothing his frustrations. At last he was released in Jessica's care and Mort helped to bring Seth back home.
Seth was finally tucked into his own bed upstairs. It was determined that his nurse assistant, Beverly, would be helping with meals and anything else he may need.
Jessica had fluffing up three pillows so that Seth would be able sit up and watch TV or read.
"This is ridiculous!" Seth complained to Jessica about his situation of having help, "It's not like I'm an old man invalid! Old man, maybe! But not invalid!"
"Seth, you should be grateful for Beverly's help," Jessica pointedly said, "anyone else would appreciate being waited on hand and foot!"
"But she can't cook!" Seth exclaimed, "and if there's one thing I can't live without is-"
"Goooood afternoon, Doc Seth! Mrs. Fletcher!"
Beverly came flying into the room, a bed tray in her hand.
"And look what I have for YOU, Doc!" she stated enthusiastically, "A peanut butter sandwich with a piping hot bowl of canned vegetable soup!"
Proudly placing it down in front of the Doc, she quickly unfolded the napkin and stuffed one of the triangular edges down Seth's pajama top, to act as a bib.
Seth gave Jessica a look that could easily be interpreted as "Help me!"
"Oh myyyyy, Beverly, aren't you nice to prepare this for Seth!" Jessica stated politely.
"Oh, wait until he sees what I have in store for him for dinner!" Beverly gushed, "I just learned how to make chipped beef using a can of beef vegetable soup and a microwave oven!"
Seth gave Jessica a second look.
"Uh, Beverly, perhaps that won't be necessary," Jessica said diplomatically, "I had already planned to make myself some meatloaf tonight and as you know, it's not possible to make meatloaf for just one person! So I naturally thought I'd just bring the leftovers for Seth, just so it'll save me the trouble of having to keep it in my refrigerator for days on end!"
"Oh!" Beverly looked uncertain, "Are you sure you want to do that, Jessica? Because it would be so easy for me to-"
"She's sure, she's SURE!" Seth stated emphatically.
"Uh, alright, you do that, Dear, " Beverly forced a smile, "and my duty is done here, so I guess I'll be leaving for today... unless you need something else from me, Doc..."
"No, no, noooo," Seth shook his head.
Jessica lightly nudged him, signalling him to mind his manners and he spoke through clenched teeth, "and thank you for this uh, memorable lunch, Beverly!"
Jessica nodded approvingly.
"Glad you liked it, Doc Seth!" Beverly stated,"And remember, there are many, many more delish sandwiches to come!"
"Oh goody," Seth straight-faced.
Beverly looked pleased as she walked out.
#
Jessica stayed as Seth ate his lunch. She noticed his color was still sallow and he looked rather frail. Of course he WAS just recovering from being poisoned.
Jessica put the food tray off to the side when he finished and helped to fluff his pillows.
"No need for you to stay, Jess," he told her, "I'm actually feelin' a mite beat! Figured I'd nap at bit."
She tried not to put on a worried face.
"Of course," she said with an understanding tone,"you really do need your rest and besides, I have lots of stuff to do myself!"
Seth wasn't fooled.
"I'm assumin' 'stuff' is a substitute word for 'investigatin'!"
She didn't deny it as she leaned in and gave him a kiss on the forehead.
"You know me so well, don't you?" she lightly asked.
"Ayuh, and if you knew me," Seth pointed out, "you'd know I'd prefer gettin' a kiss somewhere else!"
Jessica looked at him lovingly.
"That could definitely be arranged, Seth Hazlitt!"
Jessica's words made his heart jump as she leaned in, her soft lips caressed lovingly into his.
Seth felt intoxicated by her lips, by everything about her and was disappointed when the kiss ended. He didn't want her to leave, but he really was exhausted.
His voice sounded huskier than usual, "I love you, Jess."
"I love you, too, Seth, and I'll be back as soon as I finish my 'stuff'!"
.
.
Please review