Read Detective Wade Jackson Mystery - 03 - Thrilled to Death for Free Online Page B

stories.”
    Something clicked in Sophie’s eyes. “You’re the nurse from Planned Parenthood who was almost killed last fall.”
    “Still alive and well.” Kera suddenly realized she had an opportunity here. “Would you like to have coffee, Sophie? I have a story you might be interested in.”
    They walked over to Full City Coffee, ordered tall house blends, and found a small table in the back of the crowded little pastry house.
    “Is that how you know Jackson?” Sophie asked. “From the Planned Parenthood bombing?”
    “It’s how we met. We’re dating now.”
    “Interesting.” Sophie dug around in her big bag for a notepad and pen. “What’s really going on with Jackson? I can’t imagine him calling in sick.”
    “It’s the truth and that’s all I can tell you.”
    “Okay. What’s your story?” Sophie clicked her pen, signaling her readiness.
    “My daughter-in-law is missing. She dropped off her baby with me yesterday morning to take care of for an hour and never came back. No one has seen her since she left the doctor’s yesterday around ten o’clock.”
    “No kidding?” Sophie looked up from her scribbling. “Do you think she abandoned her baby?”
    “Why do you assume that’s what happened?”
    Sophie held up her hands. “It was just a question.”
    “Sorry I snapped. I’m curious about why that was the first thing you thought.” Kera believed Detective Zapata had come to the same conclusion. “Why not assume something happened to prevent her from coming back?”
    “I’m not sure.” Sophie put her pen in her mouth and pondered. “It’s the baby factor. A young single mother, likely overwhelmed. She doesn’t seem like a target for a kidnapper. What else is there? If she had been in a car accident, you would have heard by now.”
    Kera struggled to control her emotions. “I know. I’ve been through a hundred scenarios in my mind. Danette’s car is gone but her clothes are not.” Kera took a sip of her coffee. “What if someone did grab her? What if she fell and hit her head and now has amnesia? I’d like to get Danette’s picture in the paper and on the network news. It’s the least we can do.”
    “Tell me everything. I’ll do what I can.”

Chapter 7
     
    Jackson woke with a burning need to pee. He felt as if he’d consumed a twelve-pack of diet soda, then promptly passed out. He charged into the bathroom and relieved himself.
    A few minutes later while getting dressed for work, his bladder signaled him again. He headed back to the bathroom. How much fluid had they given him at the hospital?
    Apparently, not that much. The need to pee was there, but the urine was not. Jackson remembered the ER doctor casually mentioning the stents might produce a slight discomfort. Oh joy. Nothing like walking around with a full-bladder sensation. His ex-wife had complained about the feeling for the last month of her pregnancy. Now he understood.
    At least his kidneys were still working, Jackson reminded himself as he made coffee. So far, no intense pain like before. The disease was livable for most patients, the doctor had said. Jackson tried to put the diagnosis and impending surgery out of his head. Obsessing about it wouldn’t change his reality. He had a young woman to find.
    Again, all eyes were on him as he entered the crowded space. The wooden slats outside the windows gave the room a jail-like quality. For a while, they’d had hope the voters would approve a bond for new headquarters, but the economic meltdown had crushed it. Jackson moved a little slower than usual, the stents exerting a constant mild pressure. He hoped no one noticed. His co-workers were giving him the once-over, this being the first time he’d called in sick in recent memory. He nodded at Schakowski to let him know information would be forthcoming and ignored everyone else.
    Jackson checked his voicemail and found two calls from Cheri, his hospitalized assault victim. In the first, she said she wanted to