Night Hunter (17 page)

Without turning around, Nolan asked, “Will she need reconstructive surgery?”

Regina felt Donna’s fingers tighten around her hand.

“
There are more important things to concern us at the moment. When the risk of infection, dehydration, and hypovolemic shock have been alleviated, we’ll discuss reconstruction.”

The doctor checked the equipment. “Do you feel up to a visit from the police?”

Donna tapped once.

“
I’ll send him in.”

“
I’ll do it,” Nolan said quickly

“
Don’t overdo,” Hemmer said to Donna. “I’ll look in on you later.” He walked out with Nolan.

A few moments later Nolan returned with a man in a gray suit. The man moved boldly to the bed, stopping within a foot of Regina. Nolan stayed at the door.

“
Ladies, I’m Detective Lillard from the San Francisco PD, I appreciate your cooperation so soon after the incident.”

Donna stared at him under heavy-lidded eyes.

“
She can only communicate by tapping her finger yes or no,” Regina said.

The detective nodded acknowledgment. He opened a notebook and slipped out the pen from the binding. “Mrs. Lake, do you have any idea who did this?”

Two taps. No.

“
Any idea why this was done? A motive?”

Donna looked to Regina.

“
Other than the fact that it happened to another Miss Classic contestant twenty years ago,” Regina answered for Donna, “we don’t have a clue ... except for the phone calls.”

“
Threatening calls?”

“
I
thought so.” Regina glanced at Nolan. He dropped his gaze.

“
Tell me about the calls,” Detective Lillard said.

She pulled a piece of paper from her purse and read the words of the caller. Then she added, “The voice was deep, gravelly, yet it could have been either a man or woman.”

“
Who’d know about that particular show?”

“
The employees of ‘City Gallery,’ and the guests.”

“
What about the viewing public?”

Regina shook her head. “On the last program Donna announced another guest for the coming show. When that guest canceled, we moved this one up three weeks.”

“
That should narrow the field somewhat. Mrs. Lake, do you have any known enemies?”

“
Of course she doesn’t,” Nolan said indignantly. “My wife was a victim of some crazed motherfu —fanatic. It wasn’t Donna that guy was after. It could’ve been any of those women on the show yesterday. She just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Lillard turned back to Donna. “What about hate mail--”

“
That’s ridiculous,” Nolan cut in sharply.

“
You were in the studio at the time of the blackout?” Lillard asked Nolan.

“
No, I was in the production room going over the budget,” Nolan said.

“
Mrs. Lake, from the time the lights went out until you felt the acid splash your face, would you say it was less than a minute?”

Donna’s eyes were closed. When she failed to open them after several moments, Regina said, “She’s more exhausted than we thought. I think I can answer that. From the time the lights went out until I heard her scream, it was within seconds.”

“
Within ten seconds?”

“
I’d say so.”

“
Where is the breaker panel for the lights on that set?”

“
On the wall just inside the door,” Nolan said evenly.

“
Then it’s possible the assailant could see everyone in the room before he or she tripped the switch?”

Nolan shrugged.

“
Yes,” Regina said.

“
I’d like a list of everyone who was on the set yesterday, and if possible, in the entire building.”

“
That could be difficult,” Regina said. “We have an audience of about twenty-five to thirty people. We don’t ask them to sign in.”

“
Who are they?”

“
Mostly friends and relatives of the guests and crew. Some regulars ... some not.”

“
Give me what you can.”

Regina nodded.

“
Did either of you see anything suspicious or out of the ordinary? Someone acting nervous or strange? Someone that didn’t look like they belonged?” Detective Lillard looked to Nolan first and then Regina.

Nolan shook his head.

Regina remained silent. John Davie instantly came to mind, but she decided to keep his presence at the station to herself until she had a chance to do some checking on her own.

Lillard thanked them and left.

Nolan crossed the room gingerly, as if at any moment he expected to step on a land mine, until he reached the end of the bed. “The boys are anxious to see —to see how their mother is,” he said to Regina. “They’re with her father today. I’ll bring them down tonight. Her father, I’m sure, will want to join us.”

Regina rose from the bed and moved back, thinking that Nolan would kiss his wife or take her hand.

He turned and walked out,

Regina stood by silently, wondering what to do. She was about to leave when she saw Donna’s eyes open and look over at her. Regina stepped to the bed and took her hand again.

“
Nolan will be back later with the boys.” One tap from Donna. So she had heard. “We’ve decided to air reruns until you’re well enough to do the show again. Max agrees.”

Donna raised her hand and made writing motions.

Regina dug a pen and paper out of her purse. She put the pen in Donna’s hand and held the paper in her palm for Donna to write on.

Donna wrote four words.
Go on for me.

“
Nooo.”

Donna nodded vigorously. A look of pain sprang into her eyes.

“
I can’t, Donna.”

In her five years at KSCO, Regina had never worked in front of the camera, nor had any desire to. And taking over for Donna, even temporarily, seemed sacrilegious.

Donna tapped the paper.

“
Donna, you’ll be back on the show in no time.”

Donna held the pen up. Regina slipped the paper under it. She wrote,
For me. Please.

“
We’ll discuss it when you’re able to talk,” Regina said, leaning in quickly and kissing Donna’s temple. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

And she too made a speedy retreat.

Tammy’s husband, getting out of bed that Saturday morning, had awakened her. She rolled over and looked at the clock. 8:50
a.m
. Rolling back, she watched him silently. Gary kept his back to her as he slowly buttoned his shirt.

Having him so near gave her a rush of joy. God, how she adored him. He was hers and she couldn’t let him go. It had taken her too damn long to find a
normal
man. She had been thirty when she met Gary, and behind her there had been a long succession of geeks and freaks, losers and boozers, cheaters and beaters. As far back as she could remember, the oddities were drawn to her. There were so many Brads out there and so few Garys, at least for her. The Garys went for the Amandas. The Brads sponged off the Tammys of the world.

But Gary had married her, therefore he loved her. She had driven him away with her insecurities.

He had slept with her for the first time in four months. There was no question in her mind that they would now reconcile.

She came out of bed and touched his shoulder. He moved away quickly, not looking at her.

“
I’ll make breakfast. I know exactly what you want.”

“
I can’t stay,” he said.

“
Of course you can,” she said, hurrying out the door to the kitchen. She heard him call her name, but she ignored it.

The twins were sitting at the kitchen table eating Cracker Jacks and sharing a bottle of Pepsi. They looked up, expectant expressions on their faces.

“
How’d you girls get home?”

“
Patty’s mom brought us,” Kerry said.

Tammy took pancake mix down and poured it in a bowl. “Daddy’s home ... for good. Why don’t you let him know how happy you are that he’s back with us. And put that junk away, you’ll spoil your appetite.”

Kerry and Sherry squeezed and clasped each others hands.

Gary appeared at the kitchen doorway, his suit jacket over his arm, the look on his face both sheepish and miserable.

“
Daddy. Daddy,” the girls cried out in unison, rushing him, their arms flying about his waist as they hugged him.

“
We’re so glad you’re back,” Kerry said.

“
We missed you so much,” Sherry said.

Tammy smiled, her eyes misty as she looked on this happy family scene. She took milk, eggs, and bacon from the refrigerator.

“
Are we going back to the old house?” Kerry asked. “I hope so. We have lots more friends over there.”

“
You girls go on out and play, okay? I want to talk to your mother.”

Tammy paused in adding milk to the batter. Her stomach tightened. She recognized his tone of voice. There was no way she was going to let him back out now.

“
I want them here. We’re a family, we should be able to communicate as a family.” Tammy needed the girls for leverage. Everything was fair in love and war.

“
Sherry, Kerry, please go outside.”

Tammy put down the bowl, grabbed their hands, and pulled them to her. “You girls stay.”

“
I’ll walk out ... right now.” Gary slung his jacket over his shoulder. “You want to play dirty, then I’m getting the hell out.”

Both girls looked up at their mother, confused, uneasy.

Gary spun around.

“
Okay. Okay,” Tammy said, conceding. “Go next door and play with Jimmy. Don’t eat anything there. We’re having Daddy’s favorite pancakes with crumbled bacon.”

The moment the door closed behind them. Tammy turned to Gary. “I need you, Gary.”

“
I’m sorry, Tam, last night was a mistake.”

“
But you stayed.”

“
You called me. You made the first move. What was I supposed to do?”

“
You said I was beautiful ...”

“
Yes, you are. That’s true, but--”

Tears filled her eyes. “Gary, you have to stay to protect me and the girls.”

In a quiet voice he said, “That’s despicable. You never give up. You never give the fuck up.”

“
Why should I? You’re my husband.”

“
I don’t want to be your husband. I curse the day I ever became your husband. I curse the day I ever laid eyes on you. You suffocate me.”