Removing the oxygen mask and the leads, he made quick disposition of the blanket the nurse wrapped her in. "Poor baby, your bottom is sore." He washed her bottom first before he soaped up a second cloth to wash her hair and body, avoiding the IV. As soon as her head and face were clean, he replaced the mask. She wasn't bothered by the water or the mask. A rumble in his gut warned him that this should annoy her.
He depressed the call button. He found some powder, gave her a fresh diaper, and a gown three sizes too large that he managed to tie around her, then he wrapped her in two receiving blankets.
A nurse scurried in. "Everything all right?"
"I gave her a bath and cleaned her up. She didn't cry. Nothing bothers her."
The nurse listened to her lungs, checked the monitor, and opened her diaper to take her temperature. "She’s content. Her temperature is normal. Her lungs sound clear, and her heart rate is regular. Doctor Hedges ordered this for her rash. My name is Colleen. Call me if you need anything else." She applied some salve before replacing the diaper.
"Well, kiddo. It's you and me." Sitting in a chair, he offered her some sugar water. A scant half ounce later, she was asleep. He rubbed her back, cradling her head against his heart.
Ford walked into the room. "Who's this?" The small bundle fit in the palm of Martin's hand.
"Baby Girl Doe. Her mom didn't make it out of the fire. What do you have for me?"
"Your source appears right. The jail released him—they’re claiming it was a mix-up. A trailer traced to Satanta's mother was the ignition point of the entire blaze. They took a crispy critter from it. It will take dental records to confirm. The ME was able to say the body was male. The Fire Marshall says it was propane, but whether it was arson or accidental—too early to tell. So far, six dead and thirty-two injured." Ford crouched down, placing one finger on the baby’s hand. "I brought six of our people with me. Looks like a tornado touched down. You’re having a helluva night. First Austin Jr. and now little Miss Doe." Ford rose and stepped into a corner to take a call.
Patrick returned. "How's she doing?" He took her from Martin's arms and placed her in the crib. "Wow, she's beautiful. The nurses are all talking. You bathed her." Patrick warmed his stethoscope. "I'm waiting on her x-rays. She's got a bed in the Peds ICU. Thanks for all the help, Martin."
"What's going to happen to her?"
Patrick sighed. "Her eighty-one-year old great-grandfather is admitted too. He told me her mom was their only other living relative. Dad, unknown. Grandpa said Satanta hooked her mom. Social Services will double-check, and if no one turns up, foster care, then adoption. Her mom was on Social Services’ radar, my guess, drugs and neglect. She's very tiny for a month old. If she's healthy, they’ll place her soon. If not..."
"Do we at least have a name?” Martin asked.
"Lola Wyatt. The unit will be here soon."
"Any news?" Martin acknowledged Mike's arrival.
With a small nod of resignation, Mike said, "No more on the fire. We just got our eyes on the forensics report from Knox's apartment. The DNA on the panties belongs to Elizabeth. The prints and DNA in the glove were Elizabeth's. The lipstick was the same brand Elizabeth said she uses. We’re still waiting for the DNA results from the Whelan scene; I believe that will be hers as well. None of us think she killed anyone, but Zach called Newsome. As soon as SPD receives the information, they'll issue the search warrant as well as a warrant for her arrest. I'm sorry. At least you got her diaries and letters out."
"As soon as they find this little one a bed, I'll shower and go pick up Elizabeth. Anything else?"
Ford bit his lip as Martin glared at him. "That CO, Locke. He died an hour ago. Catastrophic bleed. Never woke up.”
"Damn." Martin's attention was diverted by a weak cry. "I'm here, angel."
Chapter Fourteen
Ford returned to talk with Martin and Mike about a conversation he had in the ICU with Miles Gerba. "Gerba confirmed what we knew about Knox. The prisoner Knox claimed Elizabeth interfered with was Calvin Ashbrook, who came in from the Silverton Jail. He was transferred tonight to the infirmary at Strongford Penitentiary. Gerba said Ashbrook told the staff his cellmate caused the injuries, but Elizabeth didn't think so. She showed him a copy of a complaint she sent to the Silverton Department of Corrections. She went as far as claiming the injuries were at the hands of the guards. That kind of thing makes enemies. If this is caught up in our case—she is in grievous danger."
Martin blinked slowly. "Elizabeth thought Tonette Torres was raped in custody. We need to find out where the complaints went and if she spoke with anyone. I'll ask her for a copy of her letter and why she thought it was the officers."
Sunday, July 14th, 0600 hours
Elizabeth awakened feeling nauseated and feverish. Her head pounded, and she shook with chills. She hoped a cup of tea and some acetaminophen before showering would make her feel better. Drawing her robe around her, she plodded downstairs. It took an effort to fill a cozy with tea leaves and make herself a cup. She remembered the honey and put a heaping teaspoonful into her mug. With quivering muscles and chattering teeth, she made it back to her bedroom. Struggling with the bottle of meds, she managed to take two tablets with a sip of the warm, sweet tea.
Instead of feeling better, she grew worse. Violent spasms attacked her stomach. The pain took her breath away. By the time she reached the bathroom, she was light-headed, out of breath, and her belly and gut were being ripped apart. She sat on the toilet and grabbed her wastebasket as her lips numbed. As she vomited, her throat burned, and her head spun.
"Momma, help,” she said to an apparition in the doorway. Attempting to get up to reach her phone, her limbs stiffened, and lights flashed behind her eyes. Her head bounced forward, striking the edge of her vanity as she careened toward the tile floor.
Martin pulled into Elizabeth's driveway right behind the surveillance team he assigned. "Morning." Martin handed each man a cup of fresh coffee.
"Everything is quiet, boss," Bravo team's executive officer, Josh "Hoist" Stone, reported. "We convinced Tate to go back to the hotel around 0100."
"I need to thank him." According to his watch, he was late, especially by Elizabeth's standards. He knocked on the door, and when she didn't answer, he knocked again. Josh and Kenny “Jockey” Clarke joined him on the porch. Martin's call to her cell phone went to voicemail.
"Maybe she's in the shower," Josh suggested.
