Unintended Consequences - By Marti Green Page 0,69

worked closely together for many years. I wouldn’t want to get her in trouble. I can’t even be sure we’re talking about the same girl.”

“Why don’t we sit down? Can I get you something to eat? A cup of coffee maybe?”

Jody shook her head. “No, thank you, I’m fine.”

“Why don’t you start from the beginning? Tell me why you think you know something about Angelina Calhoun.”

“Well, Trudy and Ed never had children of their own. Trudy worked with me as a surgical nurse. We weren’t friends outside the hospital, but you know how it is. When you work with someone a long time, you talk to each other about things. Only some things Trudy never talked about. Oh dear, I think I’m rambling already.”

Tommy patted her hand. “It’s okay, dear. You tell the story any way you want.”

“Well, as I said, Trudy and Ed had been married for ten years or so and never had any children. Then one day Trudy calls in sick at the last minute—really, she should already have started her shift. We had to scramble to find a replacement. But she said a family emergency had come up. A full week passed before she came back, and when she did she told everyone that her sister and brother-in-law had been killed in a car crash. Their daughter survived and had come to live with Trudy and Ed. I thought it peculiar then, because Trudy had never mentioned a sister. Trudy missed a lot of work after that, for a few years at least. She said the niece had lingering injuries from the accident and she took time off to get her treatment. I remember asking how old her niece was, you know, when the accident happened. And Trudy said four years old. Wasn’t that the age of the little girl you’re asking about?”

“Yes, about that. Do you know the name of her niece?”

“Sunshine. I always remembered that because it was such an unusual name.”

“And her last name?”

“Well, that’s the strange thing. She should have had the last name of Trudy’s brother-in-law, but she didn’t. She used Trudy and Ed’s last name. Harrington. And whenever Trudy brought her to our annual picnic, Sunshine would call her Mommy.”

“Did she look like the girl in the picture on the flier?”

“Well, years passed before Trudy actually took her anyplace public. I’d always assumed it was because of her injuries. So when I first saw Sunshine, she must have been around six or seven years old. But yes, I think there’s a similarity. It was a long time ago, so I’m not absolutely certain. But I think so.”

“Is Trudy still working here?”

“No. She retired a few years ago. I think she lived in Byron. At least she did when she worked here. Maybe human resources can give you her address.”

Tommy thanked Jody profusely. Finally, a solid lead. After Jody left, he took out his cell phone and dialed information. “Do you have a listing for Edward or Trudy Harrington in Byron, Minnesota?” he asked the operator.

“There’s a Trudy Harrington on Aspen Road.”

“I’ll take that—and before you go, do you have a house number?”

“It’s 4. Hold on and I’ll connect you.”

The phone rang twice and a computer voice came on. “The number you have reached is disconnected. Please try again or check your number for accuracy.”

“Damn.”

But at least now he had a name. He decided to see if Dr. Jeffreys was available and rode the elevator to his floor. He walked down the hallway in the direction he remembered and opened the outer door to the secretary’s desk. “Any chance Dr. Jeffreys is in?” he asked the young woman sitting there.

“He’s off today.”

“Can you reach him at home? It’s important.”

The young woman studied him. “You’re the investigator who was here last week, right?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“About the little girl?”

“Right.”

“Dr. Jeffreys is at a medical conference in Paris. He’ll be back in two days. Normally, he doesn’t work on Sundays, but he plans on coming in to check on his patients and catch up with paperwork. Can it wait?”

Tommy put on his most winsome smile. “I wish it could, sweetheart, but I really need to speak to him. Can you give him a call?”

The secretary looked at her watch. “It’s after 8 there. I could try his hotel, but he’s probably out to dinner by now. And his cell doesn’t work overseas.”

“What’s your name?”

“Mandy.”

“Mandy, I need to see if you have records of a little girl treated here twenty years ago. Is there any way