Chapter Eight
After Pride left, Rachel sat in the interrogation room as bad memories of her former employer mixed with the bittersweet ones of her lost son. She always considered Leland Hollister a major league asshole, but had tolerated him because they worked together. She could have filed a sexual harassment suit against him, but since he was friendly with a lot of the higher ups at the hospital, she didn't want to sabotage her career there. At the time, her husband Ronnie was distraught over the loss of his job, their eldest son, Junior, was in law school, Matt was in college, and Luke and Grace were still in high school. She had to get a stable income; there was no room for drama.
She had heard rumors about Davis slinking around his brother's practice at odd hours, but took them with a grain of salt - the hospital was a giant petri dish infected with gossip. If what they thought was right, it appeared that those stories were true. The Hollisters came from an old southern family peppered with doctors, lawyers, judges, and a congressman or two. It always confounded her when seemingly intelligent people from so-called good families chose the dark side. Maybe they were rebelling, or maybe they just thought they were above the law. Whatever the cause, they only left a trail of destruction. Unfortunately, she saw the effects of this evil everyday in the victims of abuse, gunshots, and drunk drivers. She never understood it in any incarnation.
She thought of her sweet son who, lacking direction, left college for the Marines. She had begged him not to enlist, but he said he wanted to test himself and find his passion. Of course, she had noticed some changes in him after he was shipped overseas, but she figured it was the effects of war. Had he been on drugs? She racked her brain but still could not recall seeing any signs. Of course, it might not be obvious over a FaceTime connection. Maybe he was only suspected because he hung around with the others. But, Pride was right, no matter how this all shook out, she had to have him exhumed to know. There was a chance that his body was too deteriorated for any definitive answers. If tests showed he was involved, then she'd deal with it and move on-it would never negate his heroism. But, if he wasn't, then she could stop the rumors. She owed it to him.
While it felt better to have a plan, she didn't relish having to follow through. She was almost relieved when she heard a knock on the door that diverted her thoughts.
"Pride?" she called out. When there was no answer, she got up and opened it. There stood Ginny Dow.
Rachel wouldn't be more surprised to see the devil himself at the door. "Ginny, what are you doing here?"
"I knew you'd make a beeline here, when I told you they wanted to talk to you," Ginny sneered. "You always were the obedient type Rachel."
She was confused. "I thought they wanted me to come."
"Oh, I'm sure they would have gotten around to it, given all the crumbs I left leading right to your perfect little self," Ginny taunted. "Of course, I didn't know you had any real information. I didn't know there was a list, until I found out the agents were snooping around the old records."
"You were the one who called the code that day," Rachel realized, her eyes getting wide. "You're the one who injected the sailor with air."
"Wouldn't have had to if Davis had been more accurate with his gun," Ginny sniffed.
"But, why…" Rachel stuttered.
"Loose ends, dear," Ginny said with resignation. "And now, you're another one dangling in my way."
Rachel's heart quickened at the sight of a pistol pointed at her midsection.
"Unfortunately for you, I am a much better shot." Ginny motioned with the gun. "Let's go! I want to be long gone before Dudley Do-Right gets back."
As they left the room, Rachel looked furtively to the left hoping to make eye contact with someone, but the kitchen was empty.
Ginny pressed the gun into Rachel's shoulders. "Keep moving." As they left the courtyard, Ginny held the gate for Rachel, not allowing her to bang it or make any other noise.
"But why Ginny," she said. "Why did you get involved?"
"Oh don't you know we gals will do anything for the men we love," she said. "Besides, the money was good."
"But, those boys, those drugs ravaged their bodies," Rachel said. "How can you do that as a nurse?"
"There are always side effects," she replied. "You know that. Not everything we do is for the benefit of the patient. They knew what they were doing."
They turned the corner where a blue Lexus was parked, engine running. Rachel took a guess at who was driving.
"So you switched brothers just like that," she was feeling a bit bold.
Ginny's face hardened. "I like a warm body to hold at night. Especially one who doesn't betray you."
"Was it another woman or the police?" Rachel forgot her peril for a moment. She wanted to know what led to these events.
Ginny replied by digging the gun into her kidneys. "Shut up and get in the back," she hissed.
In a split second, Rachel considered her options. She knew going to a second scene meant certain death. If she could keep herself near the NCIS office, they might still find her.
Rachel started toward the car, then dropped to the ground. "I lost a contact," she yelled.
This distracted Ginny for a minute. "What?" As she leaned down, Rachel whacked her with all her might and got up to run.
But, the other woman was too quick and tripped her.
"That was stupid, Rachel," she said. "Given our history, I was going to take you somewhere clean and peaceful. But, now you really pissed me off." She pulled Rachel to her feet and dragged her into a nearby alley, behind a dumpster. A huge rat rambled out and ran over her foot. Ginny shot it. She turned back to Rachel.
"I guess I just have to take care of you here among the other vermin."
"C'mon Ginny, you don't want to do this. You know you'll get caught eventually. Do you just want to keep killing?" Rachel said softly. "I know this isn't you."
"I guess you don't know me as well as you thought," she said, cocking the trigger.
Suddenly, Rachel saw something larger moving around the dumpster. Her heart leapt to see Pride creep behind Ginny and her eyes involuntarily went wide.
Ginny scoffed, "You must really think I'm stupid to fall for that 'someone's behind you' shit."
Pride held a gun at her back. "Then I guess you're not as smart as you think," he said. "NCIS! Drop that gun now and put your hands behind your head nice and slow."
She did as told, but, too soon, another shadow rose behind Pride.
"Pride! Watch out!" Rachel yelled.
An arm came down on his head, dropping him efficiently. Davis Hollister glared at Rachel like a hungry wolf.
"Well, lookie who got herself all messed up in our nasty business," he licked his lips. "The elusive Mrs. Norton."
He looked over at Ginny who had recovered her gun.
"Guess, it's me who has to clean up for you this time," he spat at Ginny. "Adios," he said to Rachel, who for the second time in as many minutes was at the business end of handgun.
"Not so fast there amigo." It was LaSalle. " Drop the gun, hands up, turn around real slow."
Davis turned to see LaSalle holding his gun with his good arm, supporting it with his slinged arm.
"Well if it isn't the gimp patrol," Hollister spat out. "This is going to be eas…." He was interrupted when Pride, having gained consciousness, tackled him. In the excitement, Ginny turned her attention away from Rachel. The gun fell to the ground. Both women scrambled for it, but this time, Rachel had the upper hand. She took the gun and held her former friend at bay.
"So, I see you disobeyed me again son," Pride said to LaSalle as he handcuffed Hollister.
"Actually, I was on my way to the car when I saw you run down the street," LaSalle snapped. "But, looks like I saved your ass anyway," he grinned. At that moment, Percy and Brody came running down.
"We turned around and got here soon as we could when LaSalle called," Brody said.
"Looks like country mouse did ok, even with his bad paw," Percy smiled.
"Told you the sling would make a good holster," LaSalle smiled. "Pride you want us to…"
Pride put his hand up for him to be quiet. Rachel had cornered GInny on the ground and was growling as if possessed. "Was Matty involved? Tell me. I know you know." When there was no answer, Rachel's timbre increased, "Talk, you bitch, tell me now!" the gun shook wildly.
Pride put his hands over her's to gently take the weapon. "Rachel, don't," he said softly. "We don't need any more tragedy." She was still shaking as Percy put the cuffs on Ginny, while Brody stood with Davis.
"Make her tell you!" Rachel screamed. "Make her tell you!" She started crying. Pride pulled her away and tried to comfort her, but she shook him off. She took a deep breath. "Just get them to tell you the truth!"
"I will." he said.