Passions of the Dead (A Detective Jackson Mystery/Thriller) by L.J. Sellers Page A

McKenzie River. Most of the staff would make the move later that summer. The massive new complex was in a wide river plain, not far from the newspaper’s new home on the Eugene side of the boundary. Jackson was sad to see the major institutions leave the heart of Eugene. The city was losing its core.
    Because it was late, he found a space in the small parking lot next to the hospital. He tried to hurry inside but his legs felt tired and his scar hurt. The receptionist in the middle of the huge lobby told him Lori Walker was on the third floor in the critical care unit. He took the elevator and in a few minutes was pleased to see a patrol officer sitting in the waiting room outside critical care.
    “Anything to report?”
    “No, sir. Only her aunt has been here to see her. She’s in there now. Room 317.”
    Jackson pushed through the double swinging doors, then entered the quiet corridor lined with rooms where people were trying not to die. Disinfectant hung heavy in the air. He spotted Rita Altman sleeping in a chair in a room midway down. Next to her, Lori was covered to her neck by a white blanket, her eyes closed and a tube running out of her nose. Both arms held IV lines. The pale teenager did not look as if she were regaining consciousness. Under any other circumstances, he would have walked away and let her rest. But this girl might know the identity of a homicidal maniac. Jackson eased close to her bed. “Lori, can you hear me?”
    Her lips moved in the smallest response.
    “Lori, I need you to wake up for a minute. I need to ask some questions.”
    Her eyes stayed closed and her lips were still.
    “Detective Jackson?” A nurse in yellow scrubs had come into the room behind him.
    “Are you Alisha?”
    She smiled and motioned with her head that he should follow. “I have her phone in a bag at the nurses’ station.”
    Jackson walked with her down the hall. “Do the doctors think Lori will pull through this?”
    “They’re optimistic. The knife missed her celiac artery so her blood loss was slow and steady, which is why she survived at all. There is some concern she may have suffered brain damage.”
    “Has she spoken yet?”
    “Not really. She mumbled a little when her eyes were open earlier. That’s when I called you.” They reached the desk, and she retrieved the cell phone from a zipped plastic bag.
    “What about her clothes?”
    She grimaced. “They were cut from her body in the ER, then discarded with the medical supplies used during her revival.”
    Jackson hated the loss of trace evidence, but with three other victims in the morgue, he hoped he wouldn’t need anything from Lori but her testimony. “When she regains consciousness again, please have the officer in the lobby take a statement from Lori. It’s very important and I may not be able to get here quickly enough.”
    “I’m going off duty soon, but I’ll let my replacement know.”
    Jackson started in the direction of the swinging doors, then changed his mind. He turned and headed back to Lori’s room. He might as well try again while he was here.
    Her aunt woke up when Jackson came into the room. “Hello, Ms. Altman.”
    She pushed her hair out of her eyes. “Lori’s still not awake, but the doctors think she’ll make it.”
    “I’m happy to hear that. Has she spoken to you at all?”
    “She woke up and mumbled something an hour ago. It gave my heart such a lift.”
    “I’d like to ask you some questions.”
    Rita braced herself. “Okay.”
    “Does Carla have any other relatives in town?”
    “Our parents live in Veneta.”
    “Did Carla ever say anything to you about blackmail?”
    “What?” Rita scowled. “Why would anyone blackmail the Walkers?”
    “Was Carla having an affair?”
    Rita made a scoffing noise. “Not a chance. Carla loved Jared, no matter what he did.”
    Jackson heard the implication. “What did Jared do?”
    “Nothing serious,” Rita said quickly. “He’s just never been good with