Another Chance (A Penelope Chance Mystery Book 2) Read online

  “Would you call Nurse Taylor for me?” Penelope asked Belinda when they got back to the reception desk.

  “Sure.” As she spoke, Belinda hit one of the red buttons on her desk phone, and a series of beeps sounded on the intercom.

  Moments later, the sound of measured footsteps echoing in the hallway announced the arrival of Nurse Taylor. She always walked at a pace that was more than a stroll, but not quite a run. She seemed to get where she was going when she wanted to, and not a moment sooner.

  Nurse Taylor nodded at Penelope and turned to Belinda, “Yes? What is it?”

  “Actually, Genny,” Penelope said, opening her notepad and uncapping her pen. “I asked Belinda to page you. Just a couple of quick questions, if you don’t mind.”

  “Sure.”

  “Did you take out the garbage in the break room this morning?”

  Taylor glanced at Belinda, who looked away and quickly resumed typing. Her eyes returned to Penelope. “I did.”

  “Did you happen to see a manila envelope in the break room?”

  “I did. I threw it away. I heard the garbage truck and emptied the trash. No one took it out last night.” That last comment was apparently intended for Belinda.

  Jacob picked that moment to join them. “Are you finished with my nurse?”

  “I am,” Penelope answered. “Are you ready to head over to Gainesville?”

  “Sure,” he said, and then turned to Nurse Taylor. “Penny is going to drop me off at my car. I won’t be gone long.”

  Taylor gave Jacob a nod and then went about her business.

  “Do you need your phone?” Penelope asked. “I can dust it for prints here.”

  “No, I have my backup. You have that number, right?”

  “I do.”

  “Any idea when I can get my stuff back?”

  “I’m not sure, but I’ll ask.”

  Jacob smiled and kissed Penelope on the top of her head. “Shall we go?”

  “After you, Superman,” she said.

  CHAPTER 24

  After dropping Jacob off at his car, the drive to the Gainesville Police Station gave Penelope time alone with her thoughts. She ran through the facts, determined to piece together the puzzle that was forming in her head, but around every corner more things popped up that didn’t make sense . . . and she didn’t like it.

  Penelope drove to the Northwest 6th Street station, only to find construction equipment where the police headquarters once stood. It slipped Penelope’s mind that they’d demolished the old building a couple of months earlier to build a modern facility. She pulled up to the curb and texted Donny.

  A moment later her phone chirped with the address of the temporary location.

  The downtown office building on Northeast 1st Street housed the Criminal Investigations Division; the squat building looked like it had sat down on itself. It was top heavy, a row of thick glass windows set upon a bottom story of pale brick. It was as if the building had sunk into the ground, forced down by its own weight. She walked up to the glass double doors and pushed them open.

  Donny found her in the lobby. Today he wore a light lavender silk dress shirt open at the collar. If he’d worn that shirt with a white suit he could have passed for something out of Miami Vice. But Donny classed it up with a dark gray Italian suit jacket and matching pants.

  “Glad you found it,” he said, taking her hand in a toned down version of a handshake. “Sorry about the mess down here. We’re still moving in. The whole relocation is a bit of a headache.”

  “What’s wrong with crime these days? It won’t wait for you to get settled?” Penelope joked.

  Donny paused and rubbed the back of his neck. “I spoke with Ballard . . .”

  “And?”

  “And he’s okay with you working with me if I’m okay with it.”

  “Are you?”

  Donny shifted in his polished black oxfords. “I already said I was . . . as long as you do what I say.”

  Penelope nodded her affirmation.

  “So, what’ve you got for me?” he asked.

  Penelope handed him the evidence bags, and Donny examined the items through the plastic bag.

  “A Breitling Duograph. Beautiful watch,” he said.

  “It was a gift from Jacob’s father when he graduated med school. Anything new with the case?”

  “Not on our end. Let’s hope the doc’s belongings turn up a clue,” Donny said, holding up the evidence bag. “Detective Ballard is meeting with the County Sheriff’s Department Joint Drug Task Force. There’s been a string of these types of robberies at pharmacies and drug stores in the Gainesville metro area. Each robbery had the same MO—two armed assailants, one with a shotgun, the other with a handgun.”

  Images of Jacob getting shot flashed through Penelope’s mind.

  “The robberies always occur at the end of the month,” Donny continued. “Ballard has a theory. He thinks it’s so they can get cash for rent, or something.”

  “You think it’s as straightforward as that?”

  Donny shrugged. “You’d be surprised at the lengths people will go. The hospital was their biggest hit. It looks like they’re getting more aggressive.”

  “Any idea why?”

  Donny shook his head. He was right. Nothing they’d learned was useful. They didn’t have any leads.

  “None of this makes sense,” Penelope said. “The robbery I can understand, but returning Jacob’s belongings? That’s got me stumped. I spoke to the office manager. She said the envelope was in front of the door when she opened up this morning. Addressed to Jacob.”

  “And no indication as to who returned them?”

  Penelope shook her head and handed Donny her interview notes. “These are the statements I took. Have you ever heard of a thief returning his victim’s belongings?”

  “A thief with a conscience? I don’t think so. Perhaps a good Samaritan found them and returned them?” Donny offered.

  “Maybe.” Penelope was not convinced.

  Donny flipped through Penelope’s notes, paused, and then looked up. “I appreciate your taking the notes and collecting evidence—”

  “But what?” Penelope interrupted.

  Donny put his hand on Penelope’s shoulder. It was supposed to be an act of kindness, showing friendship, but to Penelope, it felt like he was trying to soften a blow.

  “But . . . what I was going to say was, I have a mountain of paperwork and some follow-up calls to the robbery victims to make. Probably not the best day to shadow me, unless you’d like to help me by typing up your notes?” Penelope shook her head, and Donny chuckled. “I didn’t think so. I’ll keep you updated, okay? I’ll let you know when Jacob can collect his belongings.”

  Penelope nodded and forced a smile. She said good-bye and walked purposefully to her car. It was easier than trying to explain that she couldn’t sit by and wait.

  As she buckled her seatbelt, she prayed, “Lord, please guide me. Allow me to be Your instrument. If I can assist in this investigation, please help me to find a way, without being in the way. And please give Donny, Detective Ballard, and their capable team the wisdom they need to find suspects and bring them to justice. Help me to trust You, Lord. Amen.”

  CHAPTER 25

  Fifteen minutes later, Penelope found herself back at Grace Memorial Hospital. It was busier than usual on a late Saturday morning. A fire had struck a local greasy spoon, and several customers and employees were being treated for smoke inhalation and minor burns.

  Penelope walked around mostly unnoticed. She paused in the main lobby across from the clinic. There was no sign of yesterday’s struggle. Even the wall where three bullets had come to rest was patched and painted. She didn’t see Sylvia or Tina. Those poor women probably deserved a few days off after what had happened.

  Deborah Thompson, the pharmacist, was apparently made of tougher stuff. Penelope could see her distinctive hairstyle bobbing up and down behind the counter, bustling around and pulling bot
tles off the shelves. Deborah was a married mother of three grown children. She had been at the hospital for decades and everyone, even those who didn’t know her by name, knew her by her 1970s-style Farrah Fawcett hairdo.

  Penelope traced the route the robbers would have taken when they fled—through the clinic’s double door, into the lobby, and out the automatic front door. The clinic was the ideal target for a smash-and-grab job. It was a wonder the pharmacy hadn’t been hit before.

  Her eyes wandered around the spacious main lobby. Two women in white uniforms sat at a U-shaped desk in the center of the entry area. A sign above the station read Reception/Intake. Penelope looked for additional security cameras. She had only seen the videos from the hospital clinic’s three angles. There were at least two additional cameras in the lobby. The video from these cameras may not be of use, since the ceilings were vaulted, but it wouldn’t hurt to take a look.

  “Chance?” a voice called from behind.

  Penelope was so absorbed in her thoughts that she jumped when she heard her name. Her heart sped up, and a twinge of guilt shot through her.

  “Oh! Professor. You startled me . . .” She looked at the professor and tried to reconcile his face with his attire. The same professor that she had always seen in Oxford shirts and khakis was now standing in front of her in dress pants, dress shirt, tie, and a white lab coat. “What on earth are you doing here?” she asked.

  “I told you Penelope to call me Gabriel. My office is on the fourth floor.”

  “You have an office here? You didn’t mention that yesterday,” Penelope said, genuinely confused.

  “I didn’t? I was sure I mentioned it when I drove you here last night.” Gabriel looked confused too. “Well, either way, I still have a private practice. I’m between consulting cases, so I spend more time with my patients.”

  Penelope knew Gabriel could be a little spacey, so even though she found it odd that he had forgotten to mention that he had an office at the hospital, she accepted it as another one of his idiosyncrasies. He once gave a speech to her graduating class and had forgotten his notes. He had rambled on about video games’ positive and negative effects on behavior. She supposed his brilliance in his field made up for his odd behavior.

  “How’s your fiancé? Are you here to visit him?”

  “He’s okay and back to work at the clinic in Franklin today.”

  “So you’re not here to see him?”

  “No, I’m just looking around.”

  “Looking around? Looking around as in investigating the robbery, looking around?”

  “I’m here unofficially.” Penelope tried to keep her face blank.

  “Unofficially?”

  “With Jacob involved, I’m . . . interested.”

  “From what I heard, a couple of junkies robbed patients, snatched pills, and brute-forced their way out of the hospital, isn’t that right?”

  “Yes, but I’m afraid there’s more to the story.” Penelope glanced around to make sure no one would overhear. “Jacob’s belongings were returned to him this morning.”

  “So they caught the suspects?”

  “No. That’s what I thought at first. It looks like someone may have found the belongings and returned them. I don’t know for sure.” Gabriel nodded in agreement. “I dropped the belongings off with Gainesville PD to be processed,” Penelope continued, “but here’s the odd part . . . there was something missing from Jacob’s wallet.”

  “Like money? Credit cards?”

  “No, a photo he carried of us and a fortune . . . from a Chinese fortune cookie.”

  Gabriel looked surprised and interested. “And everything else was returned to the clinic where your fiancé works in Franklin?”

  “Yep.”

  “How did they know to return it to the Franklin Clinic? Why not return it here or to his home?”

  Penelope was silent for a moment. “I hadn’t thought about that.” She knew Gabriel could offer new insight.

  “Was there anything in his wallet with the Franklin Clinic address?”

  “No. Just his driver’s license, credit cards, insurance card, and some cash. Nothing with the clinic’s address.”

  “A business card perhaps?”

  “Maybe . . .” Penelope thought for a moment. “His cell phone! Maybe they got the address from his cell phone? He doesn’t have a passcode on it.”

  Gabriel rubbed the stubble on his chin with his thumb and forefinger. “You know . . . if they accessed his address book, there’s a possibility they have all his contacts.”

  “I’m in his address book,” Penelope said.

  “I don’t think it’s anything to worry about.”

  “But what about the missing photo and fortune?”

  Gabriel’s face contorted. “I think the most likely scenario is like you said . . . a good Samaritan found the belongings. The photo and fortune could have fallen out when that person was looking for identification.” Gabriel was obviously attempting to set her mind at ease.

  How did they know Jacob worked at the Franklin Clinic? And why wouldn’t they come forward? If she had that envelope, she might have been able to analyze the handwriting. A possible key piece of evidence—gone!

  CHAPTER 26

  “. . . Isn’t that right?”

  Gabriel’s catch phrase jarred her back to the present. “I’m sorry, Gabriel, what were you saying?”

  “I said it looks like we have a mystery on our hands.” His eyes lit up. “I have a light caseload. Maybe you could use a consultant. Say, a forensic psychologist?” Gabriel wasn’t insensitive—he just loved a good mystery.

  Penelope’s cell phone rang and she glanced at the caller ID. “Excuse me, Gabriel. It’s my chief. I should take this.” He didn’t look like he was going anywhere. “Hey, Chief. What’s up?”

  “Chance. I heard about yesterday. How are you holding up?”

  “I’m good, Chief. Thank you.”

  “I would have called yesterday, but I figured you’d be busy taking care of that fiancé of yours. I heard they released him from the hospital. How’s he doing?”

  “He’s good. He’s back to work today if you can believe that.”

  “Back to work? Already?”

  Penelope paused for a moment. “Well, he went in because his belongings were returned to the Franklin Clinic.”

  “Items that were stolen in the robbery?”

  “Yes.”

  “But not returned by Gainesville PD?”

  “No, we don’t know who returned his belongings. I went in this morning and collected the evidence and took preliminary statements for Detective Greene.”

  Jackson was silent for a few seconds. Penelope cringed as she imagined the look on his face. “What are you doing collecting evidence and taking statements for Gainesville PD? You’re supposed to be on vacation.” Penelope could hear the frustration in his voice. When he spoke again, he sounded tired. “Well, Chance, I suppose how you spend your vacation is your business. You find out anything . . . you tell me.”

  “You got it, Chief.”

  Jackson hung up without another word. Even though the chief was irritated with her for getting involved, he still trusted her enough to continue. He was giving her the benefit of the doubt, and she appreciated that.

  She ended the call, and her eyes met Gabriel’s. He was looking at her with interest and genuine, professional curiosity.

  “So what do you say? Could you use a consultant?” he asked.

  “This isn’t my case and I don’t want to interfere with Gainesville’s investigation.”

  “We wouldn’t be interfering. We’d be looking at the case from a different angle. They hire me to consult on cases all the time.”

  “I couldn’t hire you.” That wasn’t what he meant, but she wanted to be clear.

  “That’s fine with me. I’ll be your unofficial consultant.” Gabriel smiled. “When do we start?”

  Penelope’s stomach answered him with a growl. She hadn’t eaten a
ll day.

  “What does your schedule look like Monday?”

  “Monday? What’s wrong with right now?”

  Despite Gabriel’s enthusiasm, Penelope needed time to think. There were no clues and she had to figure out where to start. “I have to check on Jacob this afternoon and I have church tomorrow. It’s the only full day Jacob and I get to spend together. You and I could get a fresh start on Monday, the official start of my vacation.”

  Gabriel looked disappointed. Penelope was always surprised by how he acted like an excited child one moment and a respected scholar the next.

  He held his hand out to her. “Monday, then. Eight o’clock?”

  “Yes, eight o’clock Monday morning would be great,” she said, shaking his hand. “I’ll meet you here.”

  She was touched. Surely he had important work to do. She thanked God for her many loyal friends and for showing her a way to assist in the investigation—unofficially.

  CHAPTER 27

  Sunday morning, Penelope slid open the door to her closet and took out a dark navy dress, a pair of champagne leather wedge sandals, and a wide beige belt. She laid the dress on her bed. The floral print on the short sleeved, modest outfit reminded her of spring after a storm. It was also Jacob’s favorite. She turned to the mirror, arranged her hair and applied her makeup.

  It was nice to get dressed up for a change.

  With her makeup done and her hair in loose curls over her shoulders, she looked like a refined version of herself. The stress of the Findley trial had taken its toll. Her typically athletic frame had begun to look slightly stooped but now seemed taller and more relaxed. But the usual spark in her green eyes was replaced with an intensity that only appeared when she had a lot on her mind.

  Her cell phone ring tone startled her.

  Franklin PD? Why would the station be calling?

  Sunday was her day off, and she was supposed to be on vacation. Perhaps they had information on the robbery and were calling to inform her. She pressed the answer button and held the phone to her ear.