The woman tapped the keyboard in front of her. “What’s the name again?” she asked.

  “Elena Thompson.”

  “Let me check to see if she was transferred to another facility,” the woman said.

  “Another facility?” Liz asked.

  The woman continued to type. “Mrs. Thompson is no longer a patient,” she said. “She was discharged a few minutes ago. That’s why her status wasn’t clear in the system.”

  “Did she leave AMA?”

  “No, her treating physician cleared her. Anything else?”

  “Uh, no. Thanks.”

  As soon as she was in the hallway in front of the elevators, Liz sent Elena a text:

  Came by the hospital to see you. They say you’ve been discharged. Where are you??

  Seconds later a reply appeared:

  In the lobby waiting on Tracy to pick me up and take me home.

  Liz pressed the button for the elevator and rapidly tapped her foot against the floor while she waited for it to arrive.

  Chapter 24

  Looking slightly disheveled and sitting in a wheelchair, Elena was wearing a white blouse and dark slacks. A muscular young man stood behind her. Liz walked over to her.

  “How are you?” she asked.

  Elena glanced up at the orderly. “Perfect,” she said. “Robert is taking great care of me, but he can go now that my sister is here.”

  “This is your sister?” the orderly asked, eyeing Liz suspiciously.

  “Yes,” Elena responded before Liz could speak. “I’m adopted, and we don’t look anything alike.”

  With a shrug, Robert handed some papers to Liz. “This includes the date and time for her follow-up appointment with the doctor along with her medication list.”

  When Robert left, Elena leaned close to Liz. “I have to be careful what I say in front of the prison guards,” she whispered.

  Elena stood and abandoned the wheelchair. Outside, she took a deep breath of air.

  “Freedom,” she said with a glance skyward. “Thanks for going along with the sister story. I couldn’t stand another second being locked up. Tracy is on her way. I’ll let her know we’re outside.”

  They sat on a bench in front of some shrubs.

  “What happened this morning?” Liz asked.

  “The two doctors responsible for my care disagreed about whether to keep me. I guess it takes more than one doctor to sign off on an involuntary commitment.”

  “I discovered that when researching whether they could keep you.”

  “Let’s practice.”

  “Practice what?”

  “Your story for Tracy. Tell me what happened when you arrived at my house. Where did you find me?”

  “In the bathroom. Do you recall going in there?”

  Elena shook her head. “No, the last thing I remember is eating a grapefruit in the kitchen. Next thing, I’m waking up in the ER and hearing them talking about putting me in the psych ward.”

  Elena pushed her hair back from her face. “I look like a mess, but whatever they pumped into my IV makes me feel good. I may get the prescriptions filled. How do I seem to you?”

  “Better.”

  Elena stared in front of her. “Each day is a struggle.”

  “Maybe next week we can get together and go over your legal issues,” Liz said. “I think you should take it easy for a few days.”

  “You’re probably right.” Elena looked away. “Connor claims he found some pills on the floor of the guest bathroom at my house and that one of them was a fentanyl. He’s wrong, of course. Why would he do that? I thought I could trust him.”

  “You can,” Liz quickly replied. “Maybe you could get the pill analyzed.”

  “There’s no point in that. I’ve never filled a prescription for fentanyl and never bought any drugs except at a pharmacy. I don’t know what they claim they found in my body at the hospital. I believe I passed out from all the stress I’ve been under.”

  Tracy pulled up to the entrance. Getting out of the car, she rushed over to Elena and hugged her.

  “I’m so glad to see you,” Tracy said between sniffles. “I’ve been worried to death.”

  “I’m fine now that I’m out of that hospital,” Elena replied as she pulled away. “Let’s go home.”

  * * *

  Liz phoned Connor on her way back to the office. “Elena was discharged from the hospital,” she said. “Tracy met us there and took her home. Elena believes she passed out from all the stress she’s been under. I’m curious what the lab report on her blood revealed but didn’t ask her.”

  “I’m glad she’s with Tracy.”

  “And we’re still on for tomorrow?” Liz asked.

  “Yes. Pick you up around eight o’clock? Is that too early?”

  “Perfect. That’s over two hours later than Elena’s phone call this morning.”

  * * *

  Connor skipped lunch and put the finishing touches on his sermon for Sunday morning. Normally, he didn’t ask Michelle to preview what he intended to say, but this week would be different. He’d never had to publicly refute an insinuation of criminal charges against him. He read to her what he’d written about the situation while she sat across from him in his office.

  “How does that sound? I know it’s short,” he said when he’d finished.

  “Short is good. The more you say, the more people will start to think there’s something to this. I have only one suggestion.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Cut the line about being available to talk to anyone if they have additional questions. That encourages people to harass you. Even more than you’ve already experienced. Of course, I have a selfish motivation. I don’t want to answer a bunch of phone calls and listen to people vent to me before they talk to you.”

  “But I want to communicate that I don’t have anything to hide.”

  “You say that very eloquently when you talk about your duty to the congregation as their pastor and to God. And it’s good to remind people you work for the Almighty, not them. You should do that at least twice a year.”

  A bell chimed signaling someone had entered the door for the church office suite.

  “I don’t have any appointments on my calendar,” Connor said, glancing at his computer monitor.

  “It’s probably a friend who delivers the newspaper. I asked her to bring one by before she runs her regular route.”

  Michelle left. Connor looked out the window at the mountains in the distance. The prayer meeting with the Hamiltons had really helped. But he longed for the day when he could enjoy the beauty in the distance without anxiety about the future. It took Michelle longer to return than it should have. Connor suspected she was reading the newspaper to discover what it said about him. He went to her desk. The assistant had the paper opened.

  “So far so good,” she said without looking up.

  Michelle turned to an interior page. “Nothing about you,” she said. “It’s mostly about Matt Thompson’s business.”

  “Matt’s business?”

  “Yeah. The reporter talked to an ‘anonymous source’ who claims Matt’s company was in big financial trouble with a lot of disagreement among the owners about what to do in the future. That’s why they were meeting at Burnt Pine Tree.”

  “What would that have to do with Matt’s death?”

  Michelle closed the newspaper and handed it to Connor. “I don’t know. The article asks questions but doesn’t give any answers. It’s like the reporter leaves everyone hanging until the next installment.”

  Connor quickly read the article. If Daughbert Technology was in serious financial trouble, that would have been relevant to Matt and Elena’s marriage. Connor folded up the newspaper and returned it to Michelle.

  “This was good for me but not for Elena,” Connor said. “If Matt’s business was in bad shape, she won’t have the financial stability she expected.”

  “Unless there’s a bunch of life insurance,” Michelle replied.

  “Yeah. I have no idea.”

  “I bet you’ll hear from Elena about something before you close your eyes tonight.”

  * * *

  Contrary to Michelle’s prediction, Connor didn’t receive a call or text from Elena. The following morning, he prepared for his hike with Liz. There was a chance of rain, but absent the threat of a severe thunderstorm, Connor rarely called off a hike. He had the gear to keep dry and warm in the rain and enjoyed every face the forest showed him. Liz might have a different opinion. He packed waterproof items. Dark clouds were rushing across the sky when he arrived at Liz’s apartment. She had a cup of coffee in her hand.

  “Good morning,” he said.

  “Is it?” she replied.

  Liz was wearing jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, and socks but no shoes. There was a black ball cap on her head with her dark hair in a ponytail through the back.

  “Yeah, the weather is iffy,” he replied. “Are you still up for this?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “I’ll get my pack from the car and show you how I prepare for a day like this.”

  Connor laid everything out on Liz’s kitchen table. She picked up the blue rain jacket he’d brought for her. Beside it was a pair of camouflage rain pants.

  “The jacket and the pants aren’t color coordinated,” she said.

  “Function over fashion,” he replied. “Try them on.”

  Liz slipped on the jacket, which was big but serviceable. Connor unzipped a pocket behind her neck and put the hood over her head. The hood extended beyond her face and could be secured with a drawstring.

  “No rain can get past that,” he said. “And you’ll put your hands in your pockets.”

  “Okay, but the pants,” Liz said.

  “Never worn. I ordered the wrong size and decided not to send them back in case I needed to let someone borrow a pair.”

  “You like the camo look?”

  “Better on you than me.”

  Liz slipped on the pants that were way too long.

  “You could walk through water up to your neck and not get wet,” Connor said, stepping back. “Except for one issue.”

  “My shoes,” Liz said.

  “Yes.”

  Liz left him and went into her bedroom. She returned with a pair of brown lace-up boots. She handed them to Connor.

  “Will these work?” she asked. “They’re water-resistant.”

  “These are very nice. Have you been holding out on me about your experience as a hiker?”

  “Remember, I’m from Florida. It rains a lot there, and I needed something to keep my feet dry in sloppy weather. Those boots have taken me through a couple of hurricanes and several tropical storms.”

  “So it’s a yes for today?” he asked.

  “Can you guarantee no lightning?”

  “No, but it’s not in the forecast.”

  “Fair enough.” Liz nodded. “One more thing. Even though I’m sure the snacks you’ve brought taste great, I’d like to bring something more for lunch.”

  Liz opened an insulated sandwich bag on the counter and took out the contents. “I made wraps with dried prosciutto, bacon, and Swiss cheese. There’s coleslaw mix in this baggie, and I thought we could use mustard and mayo packets.”

  Connor smiled in appreciation. “I’d eat that if all we did was drive to the trailhead and stay in the Jeep.”

  They loaded everything into Connor’s vehicle. Liz hoisted herself up into the passenger seat. “Oh, there’s Bev and Sam Devon,” she said. “We should say hi to them.”

  Connor drove over to the couple and lowered his window.

  “Where are you going?” Bev asked with a smile.

  “Holly Creek Falls,” Connor replied.

  “It’s a beautiful morning,” Bev said.

  Sam eyed his wife. “You just told me I couldn’t go with Fred to look over that piece of property he’s thinking about buying because I might get struck by lightning.”

  “Oh, Connor and Liz will be fine,” Bev said with a nervous laugh.

  “It’s supposed to clear up later,” Connor said.

  “Bev and I don’t want to hold you for a marriage counseling session,” Sam said. “After forty-eight years, we’ll work it out.”

  “Have fun!” Bev said.

  Liz and Connor drove away.

  “Do you think Sam will go with Fred?” Liz asked.

  “Yeah, he can use us as exhibit A when he argues his case.”

  The tires on the Jeep created a loud noise when Connor reached highway speed and made it difficult to carry on a conversation. Liz leaned back in the seat and kept her eyes on the clouds that were now thicker and darker. After thirty minutes, they left the paved road for a gravel road. Connor slowed down, but the ride was now both bumpy and noisy.

  “This road is maintained by the state’s Department of Natural Resources,” Connor said over the racket.

  “Is that going to be a question on a test?” Liz replied, trying to keep her teeth from chattering.

  “No, it’s completely useless information,” Connor said with a glance in her direction. “And a terrible way to start the tour.”

  They made a couple of turns. Connor obviously knew where he was going.

  “Did you bring a compass?” Liz asked as they reached a narrow dirt road.

  The limbs of the trees alongside the road almost created a wooden tunnel.

  “Yes, and a trail app on my phone along with a backup paper map,” Connor answered, holding tightly to the steering wheel that jerked back and forth in his hands.

  “I thought you knew where we were going.”

  “I do. I’ve been there many times. But it’s good to be prepared.”

  “Were you a Boy Scout?”

  “Yes, Eagle rank.”

  “That makes sense.”

  “Why?” he asked.

  “Just who you are. You know, be prepared. Keep your wood dry.”

  “’Keep your wood dry’?”

  “Isn’t that a good idea?”

  “Yes, but it’s not a main theme in the Boy Scout Handbook.”

  Connor navigated through a deep rut in the road that tossed Liz back and forth.

  “Not far now,” he said. “The trailhead is around the next bend.”

  Connor pulled off the dirt road and stopped in front of a ditch. He turned off the motor. Suddenly, everything was quiet.

  “I don’t see any signs,” Liz said.

  “There aren’t any. We go north by northwest through the woods for about half a mile and intersect the waterfall trail. This cuts out the boring part of the hike.”

  “Did you figure this out on your own?”

  “Yes.”

  Liz sensed Connor’s energy while they loaded up the gear. “You love this, don’t you?” she asked.

  “I do,” he said, smiling. “Stay directly behind me.”

  “Will you scare off the snakes?”

  “Absolutely. They want to avoid us more than we want to avoid them.”

  Connor plunged into the woods. Liz followed. After about thirty feet, he turned right at a large tree. A few feet farther, he turned left. This happened several times in rapid succession.

  “I’m lost,” Liz said. “I have no idea of the direction to your Jeep.”

  Connor stopped and pointed at the ground. “I do. Look down and tell me what you see.”

  Liz examined the forest floor but couldn’t discern anything remarkable about it. “Pine needles, leaves, and twigs,” she said.

  Connor pointed to the left. “And in that direction?”

  Liz started to say “trees” but paused to consider the question more carefully. “Maybe there’s some kind of a path, but I’m not one hundred percent sure,” she said. “Is this the trail to the waterfall?”

  “No, we’ve only walked a couple hundred yards. This is a game trail made by the animals who live here.”

  Liz looked behind her. She could now see the narrow way more clearly. “I had no idea they did that. I thought animals just made their way randomly through the woods.”

  “No, they’re very efficient. They figure out the best way to access food and water so they don’t waste calories.”

  As Liz followed Connor, she could occasionally make out the trail, but at other times, it seemed to disappear. Connor certainly didn’t have that problem.

  “You’re really good at this,” she said after several minutes passed.

  “The Cherokees who lived here for a thousand years or so before the white settlers showed up often utilized game trails in setting up their highways through the forest.”

  Liz was intrigued by the possibility that she might be walking in the footsteps of people from so long ago.

  Connor stopped. “Here’s where the game trail intersects the trail to the waterfall.”

  At her feet was a typical hiking path about a yard wide. “I’m sorry to leave the game trail,” she said. “That was interesting.”

  “I’m glad you liked it. From here it will take us about two hours to reach the waterfall.”

  Connor turned away before he could see the surprised expression on Liz’s face.

  “Do we have to climb any mountains?” she asked, hoping her voice didn’t betray her apprehension.

  “No,” Connor replied without looking back. “Only a few hills.”

  Soon, a few raindrops started to fall. They both put on rain gear. A steady rain began. It was different from dashing under an umbrella across a parking lot. The rain wrapped itself around them. There wasn’t any lightning or thunder. Thirty minutes later, the sun came out. Liz had remained dry.

  “I liked the rain,” she said.

  “I’m glad you did.”

  Connor offered occasional comments about the plants and rocks. His knowledge was impressive. Liz tried to ask intelligent questions. Connor set a reasonable pace, and Liz settled into a rhythm. She especially liked to smell the air. It was a basket of aromas.

  Connor’s definition of a hill proved, for the most part, to be accurate until the final ascent to the waterfall. Liz could hear the sound of the water before they rounded a corner, and a glint of white came into view through the clustered tree trunks. She hoped the increasing noise of the water hid the sound of her breathing. Connor suddenly took a side path to the left. A few seconds later they were standing at the bottom of a rocky cliff and looking up at a narrow stream of water that burst over the edge of the earth at least a hundred feet above them. It crashed down several ledges before accumulating in a shallow pool not far from where they stood. There the stream re-formed and disappeared into the forest.