“Forested area. Behind the hospital. Yeah, I know of it.”
“I’m gonna’ go over there tonight.”
Perkins had been kicked back in his chair. Now he sat upright. “If there’s actually something going on in those woods, you may be in over your head.”
“Naw. I don’t think it’s anything yet. It’ll be fine. I’ll just watch from a distance.”
“Eh… I don’t know. Maybe you ought to take a couple of guys. Maybe we need to get some people in at a higher level. We’re going to have to talk to the FBI anyway.”
“Don’t worry about it. If I come up with somethin’, I’ll phone you right away. Otherwise, I’ll buzz ya in the mornin’ and give ya my report.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Herb Waters called an emergency hospital board meeting. For this command performance, all twelve board members were punctual.
“We have a hacker,” Waters began. “And the violation came from the hospital website.” It was obvious that Waters was about to blow. “Whoever it was hacked into the hospital’s board minutes. Apparently, someone’s interested in our communications with AHS,” Waters said. “On the record, we’re not pursuing the sale of the hospital, but our continued dialogue with AHS is getting some attention, especially since Dr. James publicly criticized how we run our hospital. Any mention of AHS in our minutes could be misleading and detrimental to the hospital’s best interests.”
LeShaun Washington, a board member who also happened to sit on the Jackson City Council, asked, innocently, “Is there potential for a future sale?”
Waters’ face flushed, but he quickly recovered and said flatly, “Such considerations are for hospital leadership to decide. This hospital board has no say in the matter.”
Waters walked to the coffee pot and deliberately filled his cup very slowly as the directors looked at each other in stunned silence. Then, he returned to the table wearing his best smile and handed out flash drives. “This is a program that will erase any sentence in your computers that mentions AHS.”
Chris Johnson, probably the only one on the board with any real curiosity, loosened his tie, then turned and whispered something in Chief Counsel Mark Levinson’s ear.
Waters clenched his fists. “Chris, if you have something to say, why not tell it to the entire group?”
Johnson stood. “Well, I was wondering, why is there such secrecy about the contacts with AHS? And why are you reluctant to just tell us what’s going on? After all, we are the supervising board of the hospital.”
Waters took a deep breath and spoke quietly, “Chris, do you not trust me as the president of this board?”
Johnson opened his mouth to speak, but said nothing.
Waters changed his focus to the other eleven members of the board. “If there are any others who doubt my ability to lead this hospital, now is the time to speak up. I’ll be happy to release any of you from your commitment to the board and appoint someone else to fill your slots.” He raised his voice. “Someone I can rely on!”
Johnson cringed in his seat. He’d just bought a new lake house and needed the money this appointment paid him. “I’m sorry if my question offended you, Herb. Your leadership abilities are without question. Of course you have my loyalty.”
Waters gave him a thin smile and then turned to the others. “Does anyone else have anything to say?”
Two of the board members stated their commitment to serving the community in this manner. Another stood and praised Waters’ leadership.
“I’ll second that,” Washington said.
All nodded their agreement.
Waters shook hands with each of the board members and thanked them for their support. Then he excused himself.
For the next two hours, the twelve smiling board members socialized as they were served and enjoyed a lobster dinner and cocktails.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
“I was worried about you,” she said, as I walked in.
Embracing her in a welcoming hug, I could feel the tension in her body and see it in her face. Anticipating as much, I’d bought a bottle of very cheap wine. “Will you join me for a night cap?”
“I’d love to,” she said.
She took off her shoes and curled up on the couch next to me. She raised her glass. “To a good team!”
“To a beautiful partnership,” I said, clinking my glass against hers.
I took a long sip, then put my glass on the table and turned to her.
“Thank you. I mean, for everything.”
“You’re welcome,” she said softly, then licked a drop of wine from her lips.
I took her in my arms and kissed her. Initially, she responded with an open mouth, but then she began to tremble and abruptly pulled away.
“I can’t. I’m sorry.” Her voice wavered and tears filled her eyes as she stood up.
“I’m sorry, too,” I said to her as she fled to her bedroom. I heard the door close and the lock set.
I polished off my wine and hers, and went to bed.
I was lying in the dark staring at the ceiling when the door to the guest room opened and Keyes padded across the floor to the side of the bed.
“Can we talk?” Her voice was soft but strong, no longer wavering.
“Of course.” I sat up and turned on the small lamp on the nightstand.
She sat next to me and told me her story. “I never knew my parents. We were a military family. They were killed in an accident on the base. A couple in England adopted me when I was two and changed my name to theirs, Keyes. It wasn’t a happy childhood. When I was fourteen, I ran away from that home and started fending for myself in the Bowery of London. I made a lot of money, enough to get out and move back to Texas. So sex for me, well… ”
“Thank you for telling me. I know it must not be easy to talk about. I’m sorry that happened to you.”
“Please understand, it’s different with you,” she said. “As adept as I am at avoiding emotional involvement with men, I have feelings for you I don’t understand. I like to tease men and dominate them, but I don’t want an emotional commitment to a man now… or probably ever.”
“Okay, I get it.”
“Thanks.” She sighed, as if relieved.
“We both could use some sleep.”
“Goodnight, Scott.” Then she kissed me on the cheek and returned to her bedroom, closing and locking the door behind her.
I lay in my bed looking at the ceiling when I heard her open her door, then mine. She came in and closed my door behind her. She stood at the head of my bed for a brief second, and then slowly, confidently, began to strip. She peeled off every stitch until she was naked before me.
“You sure you want to do this?” I asked.
She didn’t need to answer. She looked at me like she was going to devour me. My eyes moved slowly over her body. I admired her face, strong cheekbones, soft green eyes, full lips only lightly touched with pale pink lipstick, and wavy blonde hair that bounced on her shoulders.
I stood and approached her. I opened my mouth to speak and was surprised at what I said: “Can I touch you?”
“Yes… I’d like that.”
Elizabeth responded by putting her arms around me and pulling me even closer.
We stayed together in bed all night, embracing, kissing, fondling, and sleeping. I felt happy for the first time since I could remember.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN