Page 8 of The Truth Will Out
They walked up the garden path that had several stunning rose beds on either side. At the edges were dozens of companion plants. The display took Sam’s breath away. “I’d love a garden like this.”
Bob shrugged. “It’s all right, I suppose. Not really my cup of tea. I prefer something maintenance-free. There’s a lot of work gone into keeping this garden in good nick.”
“That’s true. If only I had the time.” Sam rang the bell.
Mrs Morgan answered the door within seconds. She gasped as soon as she saw them standing on the doorstep. “Oh no… this isn’t good news, is it?”
Sam shook her head. “Can we come in, Melinda?”
The woman took a step back. She slid down the wall and covered her head with her hands. “I knew it… knew I’d seen him for the last time.”
“Come on, let me help you up. We’ll chat in the lounge, shall we?”
Sam held out a hand, and Melinda gripped it. She struggled to get to her feet until Bob offered to lend a hand.
“Thank you. I guess I’m not as young as I used to be. It’s all right getting down there; it’s getting up that’s the hardest part. Shall I make a drink?”
“Not for us. Do you need one?” Sam asked.
“No, I’ll be all right.”
They moved to the large lounge, which had a modern feel to it—not what Sam was expecting at all. Melinda sat in the easy chair, and Sam and Bob chose the sofa.
“Where was he? Why did someone abduct him? Do you know?”
“Not yet. His body was found in the abandoned clinic in town, the one they’re supposed to be demolishing soon.”
Melinda pulled a tissue from the box next to her and dabbed at her eyes. “Was he gone when you got there?”
“Yes, he was already dead. We’re not sure how long he had been there or why the killer chose that location. Do you have any ideas about that?”
“No, none at all. I’m not sure if he ever went there. I’m sorry, my mind is a blur. I can’t think straight. How? How did they kill him?”
Sam always dreaded when a relative asked that particular question. “I’m going to be honest with you. It wasn’t pleasant, but I really don’t think I should go into details, not right now.”
Melinda groaned and covered her face. She sobbed for a few moments and then dropped her hands and stared at Sam. “Don’t tell me he was cut up. I couldn’t bear the thought of him suffering while someone cut him into pieces.”
“No, not exactly, although an organ was removed from his body.”
Shaking her head, Melinda asked, “An organ? Why? Which part of him was taken? Oh God, please don’t tell me someone stole it to help out another person? You hear about these dodgy backstreet kidney operations going on all the time.”
“As I said, we’re unsure how or why your husband was killed at this early stage.”
“You haven’t told me which organ the bastards stole.”
After a moment’s pause, Sam confirmed the truth: “It was his heart.”
“That’s sick,” Melinda yelled. She rose from her chair, but her legs gave way beneath her, and she sat again. “Why? Was he alive when they took it? He must have been if they intend to give it to someone else. My God, I don’t want to think about this, but I need to know. This is too horrendous for words. I hope Robert didn’t suffer for too long.”
“Without having the pathologist’s report to hand, I’m sorry, I won’t be able to answer your questions. I know that’s little to no comfort to you at this time.”
“You’re right, it’s not. What kind of warped individual rips out the heart of a doctor who has served this community well over the lastfifteen years? I can’t believe he’s gone, and in the manner that he was taken from me. Do you have any clues as to who did this? I doubt if they left a signed confession at the scene, but they might have left some form of evidence behind. Did they?”
“There was a message written on the wall of the room where your husband was found, which read, ‘Do no harm’.”
“And what’s that supposed to mean? My husband was a doctor. He never harmed anyone, not knowingly. Jesus, why has this person taken him from me? We’ve just celebrated our eighteenth anniversary, only last week, in fact. Now my life as I know it is going to change forever.”
“It’s too early to say why they chose your husband. Can you tell us if he’d received any threats over the last few months?”
