Deadly Defiance, page 33
“The test came out positive. They’re going to have to operate.”
“Oh. I’m so sorry, honey. But at least they found out what is wrong with you. Now they can fix it and life can get back to normal.”
“What if I don’t make it?”
“Nonsense. You’re going to get through it fine.”
“I don’t know.”
The orderly left and closed the door. Stan leaned over the bed and kissed Rebekah. “I really got scared when I came in here a while ago and you weren’t here.”
She smiled faintly. “You’ll miss me when I die.”
“Cut it out. You’re not going to die.”
She sighed. “They’re going to do it tomorrow morning at six a.m.”
“That early?”
“They said it would take one to three hours depending on what they found once they cut me open.”
“I’m sorry you have to go through this, but it’s going to be okay. It will just be like going to bed at night and waking up in the morning.”
“Okay, why don’t you do it for me?” Rebekah suggested.
He laughed. “I would if I could, believe me.”
“You better go tell the kids. Give me the phone and I’ll call my mother.”
Stan gave Rebekah the telephone and then went out to the waiting room to call the kids and fill them in on the situation. While he was talking to them Paula and Bart walked in.
“Stan! How’s Rebekah?” Paula asked.
“Oh. She’s okay. They finally found out what was wrong with her.”
“Oh, thank God!”
Stan brought her and Bart up to speed then he asked her about the trial.
“The jury is out. I think it went pretty well, but you never know. Juries are funny. They don’t always see things the way we do.”
“Maybe we should have hired a jury consultant.”
“We didn’t have the money,” Paula reminded him.
“True. I doubt it would have made a difference anyway. You did a great job. Maureen was lucky to have you as her legal counsel. I seriously doubt a court-appointed attorney would have gone after Doc Mellon the way you did.”
“You got that right. They would have made her plead out, I’m sure.”
As they were talking Jodie walked in. Paula raised her eyebrows and Bart smiled.
“Jodie! You’re back,” Stan said. “How did your undercover operation go?”
“The FBI took Icaro Melendez into custody. They made a lot of other arrests, too. There was one casualty, though.”
“Who was that?” Paula asked warily.
“I’m sorry, Paula. Your friend Lee Long was gunned down.”
“What?” Paula said, feeling incredible relief. “Gee. That’s too bad. Poor Lee.”
Paula looked at Stan, restraining a smile. Bart frowned.
“So, did they ever figure out why Lee was even there?” Stan asked.
“No. Not yet.” Jodie replied. “But I didn’t come here to talk about Melendez. How’s Rebekah?”
“She’s going to be okay. She’s going to have surgery in the morning and I’m sure she’ll be fine after that. There are four very small glands that have been causing all of her problems. As long as they can save at least one of them she’ll be okay.”
“That’s good. How long will she have to stay in the hospital?”
“Just a few more days.”
The next day, bright and early, Rebekah had her surgery and the surgeon removed a walnut-size tumor from her parathyroid. Fortunately there was a good gland left to allow Rebekah to function normally in the future. In fact, within minutes of the surgery her blood work showed marked improvement. Stan was waiting for her when they brought her into the recovery room. She was wrapped in layers and layers of blankets.
“I’m so cold,” Rebekah said.
“I can see that,” Stan replied. “You’re shivering. Other than cold, how do you feel?”
“Tired. Take me home so I can sleep in my own bed.”
“I will. Just as soon as the doctor says it’s okay.”
Stan stayed with Rebekah until they took her back to her room. He talked to the doctor and was told she’d probably sleep all day after the stress of the surgery, but if everything looked normal in the morning he could take her home. While Rebekah was sleeping Stan decided to call Paula and see if the jury had come in yet.
“Yes, the court coordinator called a few minutes ago. I’m getting ready to go to the courthouse.”
“Rebekah is sleeping, so I think I’ll come down there, too.”
“Good. See you in a few minutes.”
Stan found Reggie and told him he was going to the courthouse to hear the verdict in the Maureen Thompson murder case. Reggie promised he’d stay with his mother until Stan got back.
There were press vans parked all around the courthouse when Stan emerged from the parking garage. He walked across the street and walked in the front entrance. Someone in a crowd of reporters spotted him and rushed over.
“Stan. Where have you been? We thought you’d be second chair in the Maureen Thompson case,” a reporter asked.
“Ah. Well. We were a little short on personnel so I had to track down a few witnesses and locate some evidence that was needed.”
“Was it you who found out that Doc Mellon had ordered Rodney Thompson’s death certificate?”
“Right. We’ve been looking for that link for some time. We finally got lucky and found it.”
“So, what do you think the verdict will be?”
“I’d never bet against Paula Waters. Unfortunately, I didn’t see much of her in action, but I heard she did a great job.”
Stan finally made it to the elevators and up to the ninth floor. As he walked into the courtroom he noticed the jury was filing in. He continued on and took a seat next to Paula.
“You made it,” Paula whispered.
“Yes. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
The bailiff looked over at them and frowned. Stan sat up straight and smiled.
The judge cleared his throat. “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict?”
The jury foreman stood up. “Yes, Your Honor. We have.”
“The defendant will rise,” the judge ordered.
Stan, Paula, and Maureen stood up. Paula took Maureen’s hand and held it tightly. The court clerk took a folded piece of paper from the jury foreman and took it to the judge. The courtroom was still as the judge read the verdict then returned it to the clerk.
“Please read the verdict,” the judge said.
“On the count of knowingly and intentionally causing the death of her husband, Rodney Rutherford Thompson, we find the defendant . . . not guilty.”
The courtroom burst out in general bedlam. The judge banged his gavel. “I’ll have order.”
The room quieted and everyone took their seats. Then the judge turned to the jury.
“I want to thank the jury for its hard work and dedicated service. You are discharged.” The judge then turned to the defendant. “Ms. Thompson, you are free to go. Court dismissed!”
When the judge had left the bench Maureen hugged Paula and then Stan. “Thank you so much,” she said. “I can’t believe this nightmare is over.”
“I know. Isn’t it a wonderful relief?” Paula agreed.
Maureen turned to Stan, tears flowing down her cheeks. “Thank you for not giving up on me. I know you had to leave your sick wife to track down that death certificate. I will always be in your debt.”
“Nonsense. Paula did all the hard work. She’s the one you owe your life to.”
Maureen nodded as Elena came over and gave her a hug. Then Bart showed up and advised them the press wanted to interview Maureen.
“It’s up to her,” Paula said, looking at Maureen.
Maureen shrugged. “Why not.”
“Well, I’ve got to get back to the hospital,” Stan said. “Nice job, Paula. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Paula waved as Stan made his exit. He felt elated that everything had gone so well. As the elevator took him to the ground floor he wondered what Doc Mellon was thinking. His nightmare was just beginning. That thought made him feel good. Perhaps there was justice after all.
Chapter 36
Unknown Heir
A few weeks after the surgery, Stan decided he and Rebekah needed a vacation. The obvious destination was Hawaii as Stan had a little business he needed to do there and he didn’t want to leave Rebekah at home. They flew to San Francisco and spent a few days relaxing and enjoying the sights and then flew on to Honolulu. They’d booked a cruise but had a few days before it began, so they took that time to look up Yuzu Eguchi and her son Michio.
They lived on Maui so Stan and Rebekah took a plane and landed at Kahulu Airport on the north side of the island. It was a gorgeous day, so the flight was spectacular. Since they weren’t planning to stay on the island they hired a cab to take them to Pukalani where Yuzu Eguchi and her son were supposed to live. Before they left they had called her and told her they were coming by. They didn’t want to fly all the way there and not find them home. Yuzu wanted to know what the visit was about, but Stan didn’t want to tell her over the telephone, so he just told her it was about her old friend Herbert Wolf. That got her attention.
When the cab left them off at her door she came out to greet them. A young man in his early twenties stood in the doorway watching them curiously.
“Aloha,” she said.
“Aloha,” Stan replied. “You must be Yuzu.”
“Yes.”
“Nice to meet you. This is my wife, Rebekah.”
Yuzu bowed slightly and extended her hand.
“Come inside. Meet Michio.”
Michio stepped forward and shook Stan’s hand. “Aloha,” he said.
They went inside and were seated in a small living area. Yuzu asked them if they wanted tea and cookies.
“Sure, that would be nice,” Rebekah said. “Your home is very beautiful.”
“Our family has lived here for over a hundred years. It’s been destroyed twice by hurricanes, but each time we rebuilt it.”
“Wow. We don’t get hurricanes in Dallas but a lot of people lose their homes to tornadoes.”
“Yes, I’ve heard about your tornadoes,” Yuzu said as she served them both a cup of tea.
“Thank you,” Rebekah said. “I love this china. This is a very exquisite design. I’ve never seen it before.”
“It’s very old. My grandmother gave it to us.”
“So, I guess you’re curious as to why we came to see you,” Stan said.
“Yes. How can we help you?”
“Well, as I told you over the phone Herbert Wolf has died.”
“Yes. That is so sad. He was a good man.”
“How long has it been since you’ve seen him?”
“Twenty-two years, I’m afraid.”
“So, I understand you two were quite close while he was stationed here during the war.”
“That’s true. We were young and in love, but you know what happens to wartime romances.”
“Yes. It must have been devastating for you when he left.”
“It was. I was heartbroken. It took me years to recover.”
“So, why didn’t you come to the mainland to be with Herbert?”
“Like I said, my family has lived here for over a hundred years. I didn’t want to leave. I begged Herb to stay and live on Maui, but he wouldn’t do it. He said his future was back in Dallas.”
“Have you had any contact with Herbert in the last few years?”
“No.”
“Really? No telephone calls, letters, or anything?”
She shook her head. “I wrote him quite often for about a year after he left, but he never wrote me back. I figured he had moved on and didn’t want to have to think about me.”
“I’m so sorry,” Rebekah said. “Men can be so thoughtless sometimes.”
“Yes, they can,” Yuzu agreed. “So is this about Michio?”
“Yes. Is he Herbert’s son?”
She nodded sadly, a tear welling in her eye. “I found out I was pregnant after he left. I wrote him and told him I was going to have his child but, like I said, he never wrote me back.”
“Did you write him after your delivery? Somehow he found out your son’s name.”
“Yes, I continued to write him. After a while, I figured he wanted no part of us.”
“So, why didn’t you go to court and try to get child support? It must have been hard for you to raise Michio all by yourself.”
“I’m not by myself. I have a big family and we take care of each other. Michio has not wanted for anything.”
“Well, that’s good to hear,” Stan said. “Anyway, Herb left quite a large estate and, if we can prove Michio is his son, he’d be entitled to a good portion of it.”
“I don’t want his money,” Yuzu replied.
“Well, it’s not your decision. It’s up to Michio. He’s over eighteen.”
Michio, who hadn’t said a word the entire time suddenly perked up. “How much money?”
Stan smiled. “Quite a lot. Hundreds of thousands, maybe more.”
Michio looked at his mother. “I should take the money for the family. We could use it.”
“No. I don’t want his money. The bastard left me and deserted his son.”
“He may have abandoned you,” Stan said, “but you don’t know for sure he ever read your letters. My mother had a similar experience. Her first husband served in the Korean War. When she got married her parents didn’t approve and they did everything possible to torpedo the marriage, including intercepting and hiding every letter that her husband had written to her while he was overseas.”
Yuzu frowned. “You mean you don’t think Herbert got my letters?”
“That wouldn’t surprise me from what I’ve learned. He never mentioned Michio until recently. Perhaps he found your letters long after you sent them, when it was too late to respond to them.”
Yuzu thought about that for a moment. “So, what do you think we should do?”
“I think Michio should claim his inheritance. He’s entitled to it and apparently Herbert wanted him to have it, since he brought up Michio’s name on his deathbed.”
“He did?” Yuzu asked.
“Well, he called him Mich, but I’m sure he meant Michio.”
Yuzu suddenly became choked up. Tears began pouring out of her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Rebekah asked.
“We had talked of children and I told him I liked the name Michio. He said he did too and it was a good name for a mixed couple because his nickname could be Mich and it wouldn’t offend either of our families. His parents’ friends would think it was short for Mitchell or Michael and my parents’ friends would know it was short for Michio.”
“So, it sounds like his family kept you two apart and he was as heartbroken as you were,” Stan said.
“I hate it when parents try to run their children’s lives. It’s not right,” Rebekah complained.
Yuzu sighed. “So, how does this work?”
“Well, Rebekah and I are going to be here cruising around the islands for a week. If you like, Michio could come back with us and I’ll report to the court that I’ve found him. They’ll probably have to be some medical tests done to prove he is Herbert’s son, but the whole thing shouldn’t take but a week or two. He can stay with Rebekah and me. We have a big house and all our children have grown up and gone away to school, so we have lots of room.”
“Oh, that is so nice of you,” Yuzu said.
“Rebekah will enjoy the company, won’t you, honey?”
Rebekah nodded. “Yes, it’s so quiet with all the kids gone. I’d love to have a guest for a few weeks. Have you ever been to Texas?”
“No,” Michio replied. “I have never even been to the mainland.”
“Well, we’ll give you the grand tour. I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time.”
“So, do I have any other family?” Michio asked.
Stan looked at him. He hadn’t thought of the emotional impact all of this would have on Michio. “Yes, you do, but don’t expect them to accept you with open arms. They don’t know you and your sudden appearance will decrease their share of the estate. But, in time, I’m sure things will work out.”
They continued to talk and Yuzu promised to have Michio ready to leave in a week. They agreed she’d put him on a plane to Honolulu and then they’d travel together to Dallas. When Stan and Rebekah finally left they felt good. After all this time poor Michio would finally get something from the father he’d never known.
OTHER BOOKS BY WILLIAM MANCHEE
THE STAN TURNER MYSTERIES
Undaunted (1997)
Disillusioned (2010)
Brash Endeavor (1998)
Second Chair (2000)
Cash Call (2002)
Deadly Distractions (2004)
Black Monday (2005)
Cactus Island (2006)
Act Normal (2007)
Deadly Defiance (2011)
THE RICH COLEMAN NOVELS
Death Pact
Plastic Gods
Unconscionable
THE TARIZON SAGA
Unification (2014)
Shroud of Doom (2013)
Desert Swarm (2013)
Cactus Island (2006)
Act Normal (2007)
THE TARIZON TRILOGY
The Liberator (2008)
Civil War (2009)
Conquest Earth (2010)
William Manchee, Deadly Defiance
