Chapter 75

Jeff pulled the Escalade into the circular drive and under the sheltered area where discharged patients were brought out in wheelchairs. Sheriff Tate had suggested that Joyce not try to avoid the media but instead either give a prepared speech or answer a few questions. Cautioning her that the news people might ask some off-the-wall ridiculous things, like "how does it feel to get shot?" he suggested that she just give a short statement.

Perhaps it had something to do with a number of deputies and cops standing around, but the small crowd of bystanders and media seemed to be extremely respectful of Deputy Cramer.

Caitlin had insisted that she be the one to push Joyce out, and she eased her friend/sister to the microphones that had been set up at her level.

Joyce appeared fragile as she sat in the wheelchair and looked out into the sunlight for a moment before focusing on the job at hand. "I'm flattered," she started with a small voice, "and can't imagine why you're making a big deal out of this. I've certainly been treated well while I've been here — beyond that. But I'm very, very glad to be leaving," she finished with a little chuckle.

There was a titter from the gathering of people around her.

"Seriously, I would like to thank all the people, and all the effort that went into saving my life. My fellow deputies, the paramedics, doctors, nurses, the Denver Police Department, and the helicopter pilot that lost his job because he was trying everything in his power to get me to the trauma unit before I died."

She stopped for a moment to keep her voice from breaking. You're a deputy. Don't fucking cry on TV, she admonished herself mentally.

"And I'll never forget Deputy Jesse Goodman and the woman whose car was stolen, for they stopped my life's blood from spilling away until medical help could get there."

"The news media has been very kind to me, even made me out to be some kind of hero. The fact is that I'm no hero, just another deputy doing my job. A job we're sworn to do. Most law enforcement personnel or departments seldom, if ever, get any recognition. I'm nothing special, but from all of us, I thank you. Now I'm going home with my family to rejoice that I'm alive. Again, thank you for all your support and kindness."

Caitlin backed the chair from the microphones and pushed it toward the Escalade before the questions could start.

Quickly assisting Joyce into the center seat, Caitlin gave the chair to a waiting escort person from the hospital then got in beside Joyce.

As Jeff turned into the street, the Sheriff's car pulled in front of him. When Jeff looked in the mirror, he saw Denver police cars blocking the street behind them, much to the disgruntlement of several paparazzi.

"What the crap are those idiots doing trying to take pictures of us?" Joyce groused as she looked behind them.

"Must have been a slow week," Jeff laughed. "They've been all around and in the hospital. If it hadn't been for the Denver cops, they would have been harassing us. One of the cops told me that two of the paparazzi went to jail for disorderly conduct. Apparently, they shoved a nurse aside trying to get close enough to get a picture of you when the nurses were moving you from CICU to your room. It was a mistake," he chuckled.

"I didn't even realize that it happened. I know that we seemed to go all over before we got to the room, and the nurses told me that they were trying to keep the room number a secret from the media, but I didn't know it was that bad. I thought they just went after actors. I still don't understand what all the big hype is about," she said, looking back."

"Well, you're big news," Jeff continued, "Helen says that she has set the computer to record everything she could. She says that you were on CNN and FOX, but other than the one segment we watched together, I haven't seen anything, either. We didn't want to stress you any more than you already have been."

As they turned onto the interstate, the Sheriff put his Crown Vic in the wind, moving through the light traffic, Jeff following. Three patrol cars stretched out behind them discouraging anyone from getting close to the Escalade. Jeff, Diana, Arlene and Ann were in the SUV with Joyce. The others had left a few minutes earlier.

Diana, sitting in the front, turned slightly in order to look at Joyce. Just as she started to say something, Joyce began silently crying.

Arlene hugged her asking what was wrong.

"It's ... it's Turcott. Uh, I think her first name is Alesha. Goodman tells me she is deaf in her right ear, and apparently all her high frequency hearing in her left ear is gone. That .44 did a job on her when it fired so close to her head. I'm going to get well, but she never will be. And she helped save my life." The tears streamed down her face.

Jeff cleared his throat. "Goodman tells me that her house is still considered a crime scene, and since two agencies, plus the DA's office will be investigating, the house may be off limits for weeks."

Joyce gasped. "Oh, I've been so wound up with myself that I hadn't even thought about that. Where will she go? She's already told me that she doesn't have anyone. She works for a used car lot as their bookkeeper. I doubt if she's making much money. She can't have money enough to rent a motel for the duration. She said she answered the phone at the lot, as well. How is she going to do that if she can't hear?"

"Don't worry," Jeff said. "We'll work something out. Goodman was supposed to go by the hospital this morning and check on her, but when I talked to him, he said he had calls stacked up and hadn't made it yet. She helped save one of my wives, well, soon-to-be-wife, I hope. You can bet we'll take care of her."

"I can't believe I'm doing this," Joyce said, shaking her head and wiping tears. "I don't cry. What the crap is wrong with..."

"You're just being normal, Joyce. You kissed death and walked away," Jeff softly interrupted. "Otherwise macho heart attack survivors often break down crying for no apparent reason and can't understand why, but the cause is their heart attack. You went through a lot worse. "Trust me, if you have any feelings at all, it bothers you."

"And you're still weak as a newborn kitten," Diana interjected. "By rights, you should still be in the hospital, but these days, they kick you out for your family to help finish the recuperation, though in this case they're right. Once we get you home, Jeff will finish the healing."

"Why won't you tell me about that?" Joyce said, her voice stern. "Every time I ask Caitlin, she looks like she's going into shock. What happened to me in there? They ran me through those tests early this morning like they already knew that I was fine. And those doctors made all those remarks, when I was in that intensive care unit, then got really quiet when they discovered that the back of my head was nearly well. I know that something happened to me like it did to Jeb, but I want to know how."

"I saw it, uh, her," Caitlin said further mystifying Joyce. "But I'm not going to try to describe her. You wouldn't believe me, anyway. Crap, I wouldn't have believed me a couple of days ago. Jeff said he would explain when we got back to the retreat..."

"I said that I would explain a little when we get back home. I can't tell you everything; actually very little more than you already know, Caitlin. Your seeing her couldn't be helped. But only my wives, Dave and Evie have seen her. I used her on Jeb and Annie, plus another friend of mine that you haven't met, but they haven't seen her, and she isn't to be mentioned to them. That's an absolute," he said, looking in the mirror at Caitlin and Joyce.

"Her? You're driving me crazy," Joyce said, irritably. "You bring me back, from apparently, the point of death, with her, but oh, wait, we've got to get back to the retreat before we can finish this conversation..."

"That's so you can have a place to lie down, or run in circles, whichever pleases you when Jeff shows her to you. Hell, I may join you," Caitlin said, sounding half serious.

"Oh, well, that just clears it right up," Joyce said in a sneer.

"She's sweet," Ann said from the back seat.

"She's certainly not something to be afraid of," Arlene added squeezing Joyce's hand. "She saved Daddy's life when the bear attacked him. Look closely at Mom and Dad. Particularly Mom and the other women. If Mom ever gets stopped for speeding or something, they'll never believe that's she's thirty like her license says."

"Okay, okay," Joyce sighed. "We've talked some about this before. Well, I tried, but you guys turned the subject away. I'll wait until we get to the retreat, and besides," she said sliding down in her seat and leaning back, "I'm tired. If you guys don't mind, I think I'm going to take a nap."

"We had planned to stop at The Kitchen in Winter Park. We really like the owner and her daughter," Diana said, then wound down when she realized whom she was talking to, remembering that Joyce knew the area intimately.

"Yeah, I love the place," Joyce laughed, "and the wait is always worth it. At least we can sit in the car while we wait. I don't think I'm up to standing for very long just now," she chuckled a bit morosely.

Diana looked concerned, "Maybe we don't need to stop at all, Jeff. Joyce is pretty tired..."

"No," Joyce said, "I would love to stop. At least I won't have to worry about a bunch of cameras."

"Okay," from Jeff. "Why don't you take a little nap, and we'll wake you just before Winter Park? You can decide then whether you want to stop or not."

A moment later Jeff said, "You might want to postpone that nap for a minute or two and wave at these guys. They're going to pass us, and probably turn back to Denver."

The three Denver patrol cars came past them, flashed their overhead lights, then up ahead used the crossover reserved for emergency vehicles to turn back toward the city. As they came back by in the opposing lanes, they hit their sirens and lights for a few seconds and waved again with everyone in the Escalade waving back.

Jeff's cell phone rang. Jeff listened for a moment then said, "Thanks," and hung up.

"Sheriff Tate said that the Denver guys sent their best wishes for a speedy recovery. He told them thanks for you."

The next time Jeff looked in the mirror, Joyce was sound asleep.

After meeting up with the rest of Jeff's wives and eating at the little restaurant, they were just leaving The Kitchen and were getting into their vehicles in the parking lot when Deputy Goodman called. After talking for a while, Jeff asked Goodman to hold. Muting the phone, he turned to the others.

"Problem," he said, looking at Diana. "Goodman says Turcott will be discharged soon. The clothes she was wearing when they brought her to the hospital are covered in blood. She has no clothes and nowhere to go."

As Diana started to answer, Arlene took the phone from her father. Activating it, she asked to speak to Turcott. When Goodman said that Turcott had a hard time hearing on the phone, Arlene told him to tell Turcott to just tell Arlene all her sizes, repeating so that Arlene could make sure she had everything right. Jeff got the idea and pulled a scrap of paper and a pen from his pocket. Arlene tucked the phone between her head and shoulder, spread the paper out on the hood of the Escalade and began to write.

After a moment, she asked, "What room are you in?" Then after a pause when Goodman was given the phone, repeated the question. Pausing for a moment, she continued, "Okay, we'll be there with enough clothes to get her to the retreat. Joyce is with us as you know." Still speaking to Deputy Goodman, she continued, "Please tell Ms. Turcott all about us so she'll be comfortable with us. We'll see you in a little while."

Hanging the phone up, she handed the pen and phone back to her dad. "I've got some clean jeans and a top in my bag that will fit her, I think, but we're going to have to get her underclothes, anyway. We might just as well get her a quick couple of changes of everything so she will have her own clothes, then we can go shopping with her after she's been healed," she matter-of-factly said.

"Fine," Jeff answered, "Diana can go..."

"No," Arlene interrupted. "Laura, Ann and I will go get Ms. Turcott..."

Jeff wasn't quite sure what was going on, but he smiled at her, "Come on Baby. I know you're an adult mentally, but chances are good that the hospital is going to want money when she checks out. I doubt that car lot she works for has decent insurance — if any at all. I want to pay her hospital bill. It would be better if your mother..." That's when he really noticed Arlene's eyes, and wound down.

Diana stood with an amused look on her face as her daughter failed to back down.

"Oh, I know I'm not old enough to sign a legal document, but my debit card works just fine, anyway, and so does my Visa. I've never been challenged the first time, even for the credit card. And if there is paperwork to sign, Laura can do it, or Turcott."

Jeff was still mulling over things, not sure why it seemed to matter to Arlene, as everyone separated into the appropriate vehicles and left to go their different ways.