Almost Dead

CHAPTER 11

 

Two o’clock Thursday, while Lizzy taught her defense class downtown, Kitally and Hayley continued the search for any clue that might lead them to the daughter Pam Middleton gave up twenty-five years ago.

 

“I think I found the man who adopted Mrs. Middleton’s baby,” Hayley told Kitally. “Dan Blatt of Rocklin, California. He’s fifty, which would be the age of the man we’re looking for. He works at Ramsland Realty.” Hayley stood. “Let’s go.”

 

Kitally raised a brow. “Why not just give him a call?”

 

“People are more apt to give out information if we talk to them face-to-face.”

 

“You don’t think he’ll tell us where his daughter is living?”

 

“Not over the phone.”

 

“Maybe she still lives at home.”

 

“If so, we’ll find out. Let’s go.”

 

“Can we take my car?” Kitally asked.

 

“You have a problem with my Chevy? The vehicle that almost gave its life rescuing you from the slimy clutches of that creep Dow?”

 

“The vehicle that almost took my life, you mean! You could’ve launched me through the back window with that heap of metal.”

 

“That’s gratitude for you,” Hayley muttered.

 

Kitally shrugged. “I seriously think it’s time for you to put that thing to rest.”

 

“Come on—let’s go,” Hayley urged. “This has taken too much time as it is.”

 

“Should we leave Lizzy a note?”

 

“No. She’ll call if she needs us.”

 

“Do you think Lizzy will be OK?”

 

“I know she will be.”

 

“There must be something we can do for her,” Kitally said.

 

“We’re doing it. We just need to give her space.”

 

It was quiet for a bit before Kitally changed the subject and asked, “When we see Mr. Blatt, what’s the plan?”

 

“I’ll know what to say when I see him.”

 

Twenty minutes later, Hayley and Kitally walked in and then right out of Ramsland Realty after they were told Dan Blatt sometimes worked from home. Today was one of those days.

 

“Let’s take a ride to his house,” Hayley said. She looked at her notes and then punched his home address into the navigation system on her cell. “It’s less than ten miles from here.”

 

Dan Blatt’s white stucco house looked like every other house on the block: two-car garage, front window, shutters, a small square of newly mowed front lawn, and a stone pathway leading to the door.

 

Hayley rang the doorbell.

 

The woman who answered was all dressed up: charcoal pencil skirt, white blouse, and black heels. Her head was angled as she worked at putting on an earring.

 

“My name is Hayley Hansen, and this is Kitally. We’re looking for Dan Blatt.”

 

“I’m his wife.” Finished with the earring, she straightened for a better look at who was standing at her door. “What’s this about?”

 

“We’re looking for Dan Blatt’s daughter.”

 

“Sorry, girls. You have the wrong Dan Blatt. We don’t have any children.”

 

A heavyset man with a bald head and a bird’s nest of a mustache came to the door. “What’s going on?”

 

“These girls are looking for the daughter of Dan Blatt. I told them they had the wrong man.”

 

“Sorry to bother you,” Kitally said before turning to head for the car.

 

Hayley looked into the bald man’s eyes. “Did you adopt a little girl twenty-five years ago?”

 

He opened his mouth, closed it, and then looked at his wife.

 

“I told you—we never had children,” the woman repeated.

 

“Is your name Barbara?” Hayley asked.

 

The woman frowned. “That was the name of Dan’s first wife, but she passed away a few years before Dan and I met.”

 

“Who exactly are you looking for?” Dan asked Hayley, obviously shaken up, nervous. “Do you have a name?”

 

“We were hired by Pam Middleton to find the daughter she gave up twenty-five years ago. It was a closed adoption, but Mrs. Middleton saw the names Dan and Barbara Blatt in the file at her attorney’s office.”

 

“I don’t think I can help you,” Mr. Blatt said, his face pale, his eyes downcast as he reached past his wife for the door, clearly ready to get rid of them.

 

Kitally was back at Hayley’s side. “Mr. Blatt,” she said flatly. “Your adopted daughter has a biological sister. She’s sixteen and she has leukemia. There’s a real possibility she’ll die unless she can find a match. Your daughter might be her only hope for survival. Are you sure you can’t help us?”

 

His wife’s face was pinched, her body stiff. “Dan, what’s going on?”

 

He sighed as he rubbed the top of his head. “Barbara and I adopted a little girl. We named her Debra. Four years later, Barbara was dead.” His head bowed. “I was grief-stricken. So was Debra.”

 

Debra Blatt. They finally had a name. Hayley was about to ask about Debra, but his wife saved her the trouble.

 

“What happened to your daughter? Where is she?”

 

“I called the adoption agency and told them I couldn’t take care of a child on my own.” Dan Blatt’s gaze caught Hayley’s. His jowls shook as he said, “I couldn’t even take care of myself.”

 

“They took her back?” his wife asked him. “Can they do that?”

 

“No,” he answered. “It’s complicated. Barbara’s mother took Debra, and I haven’t seen her since.”

 

Hayley’s stomach churned. Just one more misplaced kid. It never ceased to amaze her. People treated children worse than dogs. The child no longer suited his lifestyle, so he gave her away—decided to let someone else deal with her? Unbelievable. “You gave your four-year-old daughter away without—”

 

Kitally stepped in front of Hayley, cutting her off. “Please, Mr. Blatt. Can you give us information about Barbara’s mother—tell us where we can find her? We need to talk to her as soon as possible.”

 

“Of course he will,” his wife said. “You girls stay here. I’ll be right back.” She shut the door. Through the decorative glass, they watched her usher Dan back into the main part of the house until they couldn’t see either of them.

 

“Sorry about that,” Kitally said. “I didn’t want to interrupt, but I didn’t think ripping the man apart was going to get us the answers we need.”

 

“People like Mr. Blatt need to grow a fucking pair. Who does he think he is? The only person in the world who’s had someone die? Jesus.” Hayley turned around and headed down the path. “I’ll wait for you in the car.”

 

 

 

 

As she had done every day since the shooting, Lizzy walked into the hospital room at Sutter General and sat in a chair pulled up close to the bed. She clasped her hand around Jared’s fingers and proceeded to talk about whatever came to mind. “I miss you.” She paused. “Did I tell you that I’m living with Kitally and Hayley?” She forced a laugh. “I couldn’t live with Cathy and Richard for another moment,” she told him. “You’re probably wondering why I moved in with my sister to begin with. It was a stupid idea, I know.” She paused, smiled at Jared, then leaned closer and brushed the back of her hand over his cheek.

 

He looked so peaceful.

 

“Open your eyes, Jared. Talk to me.”

 

She watched him. Waited.

 

“Squeeze my finger so I know you’re here with me.”

 

Nothing.

 

A nurse came in. She checked Jared’s vital signs, wrote down numbers on his chart. “He looks good,” she said in a cheerful voice that grated on Lizzy’s nerves. “It says here that Dr. Calloway wants to speak with you.”

 

Lizzy stared at Jared, willing him to wake up, praying for a miracle.

 

“Did you hear what I said?” the nurse asked.

 

“No.”

 

“Dr. Calloway would like to talk to you.”

 

Lizzy looked up at the nurse, then followed her gaze, which was directed at the door. She was surprised to see Jared’s sister, Lynn, standing there.

 

Lizzy stood and gathered her coat from the back of the chair.

 

“You don’t have to leave,” Lynn said.

 

“I’m afraid I must. I’ll come back later.”

 

Lynn stepped into the room and released a long, drawn-out breath. “I realize my father never warmed up to you, Lizzy, but surely you understand why he’s fighting you on this. Jared is his only son. The two of you weren’t even married—”

 

“Jared signed an advanced directive,” Lizzy said calmly. “This was Jared’s decision. Not mine. He did not take any of this lightly.”

 

“But you’re not family.”

 

Lizzy stiffened. “When was the last time you called your brother?”

 

Silence.

 

“Exactly. Why don’t you ask your mother and father the same question. The three of you didn’t even have the decency to call Jared after wedding invitations were sent out. And yet you can stand here now and tell me you know what’s right for a man you haven’t seen in years?”

 

Lynn shook her head. “You don’t know about our family, Lizzy. You certainly can’t judge us.”

 

“Too late for that.”

 

Lynn narrowed her eyes, then heaved another sigh. “Jared always had a blind eye when it came to you.”

 

“And what exactly does that mean?”

 

“He had the whole world at his feet. He could have done so much, gone so far, but you probably have no idea what I’m talking about.”

 

“Why don’t you tell me.”

 

“Before you came back into his life, Jared was gearing up to go into politics.”

 

Lizzy snorted. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”

 

“It’s true. Ask Jimmy Martin if you don’t believe me.”

 

Lizzy inwardly counted to three. “Even if it were true, what’s your point, Lynn?”

 

“The moment you came back into my little brother’s life, I knew Jared’s future would be a dark one. We all knew.”

 

That blow landed, but Lizzy didn’t let on, just lifted her chin a notch. “You’re all so selfish. You don’t give a damn about Jared’s wishes. This is all about you. This is about you and your parents wanting power and control over Jared, something you all never had while he was growing up.” Lizzy raised her hands in frustration. “I get it now. I know why Jared picked me to make this horrible decision . . . He knew I loved him and that I would put his wishes before mine. He also knew his family would always put themselves first.”

 

Lynn closed the distance between them and slapped Lizzy’s cheek. Lizzy could’ve stopped her—could’ve done a lot of things—but she let it happen, maybe even welcomed it.

 

Lynn stepped back and put a hand to her mouth, seemingly stunned by her actions. Then she whirled about and left the room as quickly as she’d come.

 

After turning back to Jared, Lizzy fixed his hair, then leaned over and kissed his forehead.

 

When she looked up, she saw the same nurse still standing on the other side of the bed. The scene she’d just witnessed was more than likely going to give her a lot to talk about at the nurses’ station. Lizzy looked at her and said, “Do you think you could give him a sponge bath?”

 

“That was taken care of this morning. It’s right here on—”

 

“I’ll be back tomorrow.”

 

“What about Dr. Calloway? He did ask me to—”

 

“Please tell him I’ll have to talk to him some other time. I’m sure he’ll understand.” Lizzy walked out of the room before the nurse could protest further. Lizzy wasn’t ready to hear what Dr. Calloway had to say. Jared’s family would probably be surprised if they knew that they weren’t the only ones clinging to the irrational idea that Jared could still somehow pull out of this.