Rich Blood (Jason Rich #1)(43)

“Damn right.”

“Is Cowan connected to Tyson Cade?”

Kisha cut her eyes at Teresa, who squinted back at Jason and spoke in a cautious tone. “I really don’t know. I hear a lot of things at the Brick, and I can’t imagine there not being some connections, but if there is, it’s not something that either one of them publicly acknowledges.” She hesitated and took a small sip from her drink. “The thing is, Jason, that a lot of folks think Dr. Waters screwed up. There’re rumors that he was hooking up with his CRNA and they were having an argument during and after Trey’s operation.”

“What?” Jason asked.

“True,” Teresa said. “I mean that there were rumors of a spat between them, not that there actually was.”

“And the complication?”

Teresa nudged Kisha’s elbow, who seemed to be champing at the bit to take this part. “He got an infection, which is a known complication,” the reporter began. “But the plaintiff’s lawyer argued that if Dr. Waters had done proper follow-up and timely ordered antibiotics, the infection would’ve resolved without issue.”

“Who was the plaintiff’s lawyer?”

“Local guy named Sean Calloway. He was in over his head. First med mal case.”

“And the defense attorney?”

“Knox Rogers. You heard that name before?”

Jason had. Rogers had a reputation for being one of the most skilled civil trial lawyers in the state and made his reputation trying medical malpractice cases. “He’s good,” Jason said.

“They won on a causation defense,” Kisha continued. “In other words, even if Dr. Waters was guilty of negligence, his failure to follow up didn’t cause any harm. The die was cast after the surgery. And Sean hadn’t gotten any causation experts.”

Jason sipped his club soda. “So the Cowan family had reason to be pissed off at Braxton. They’re from Sand Mountain. And they might be hooked up with Tyson Cade.”

“I’d say it’s possible but unlikely.” Teresa’s voice was firm, matter of fact.

“Why?”

“Because Trey’s a good guy. I see him down at the Brick quite a bit, and he’s a sweetheart. Not the sharpest tack in the box but not a bad actor.”

“Losing your dream in life might make someone do crazy things.”

Kisha gave a swift nod. “Might.”

“So Trey Cowan is a possible avenue of investigation,” Jason said. “Do you know where I might find him?”

“He goes to the Brick for happy hour a lot during the week,” Teresa said. “I see him almost every time I’m there.”

“He also umpires baseball games out at Ogletree Park, but the season’s almost over,” Kisha said. “The Brick’s probably your best bet.”

“Thank you.”

For the next thirty minutes, they made small talk, and Susan took their orders. Jason requested a french dip, which turned out to be outstanding. Kisha asked him if he was going to visit his family home, and Jason avoided the question, saying he wasn’t sure. He had so much to do.

As they were paying the tab, Jason thanked the couple and insisted that the meal was on him. As they walked outside, Jason took in the cooler air and was thankful for a reprieve from the heat. He hugged both women and then caught Kisha’s hand.

“Can you think of anyone besides the Cowan family who might’ve had a bone to pick with Braxton?”

“Maybe the CRNA? Her name’s Colleen Maples, and the gossip is that she and Dr. Waters had recently broken off their relationship.”

Jason glanced down at the sidewalk and then back up at his old friend. “Any other avenues worth pursuing?”

“Only one, but I’d think hard and fast before I went down it.”

“Tyson Cade,” Jason said.

Kisha squeezed his hand. “Be careful.”





32


Tyson Cade watched the tracking app on his phone, which showed Jason Rich’s Porsche as a red dot approaching Blount Avenue. If he were coming back to the hotel, he would have needed to head south on Gunter, but it looked like the lawyer was moving north.

Interesting, Tyson thought. Was he going back to see his nieces again? If so, there was no choice but to wait. Tyson wasn’t a patient man, but he gave it five more minutes. Rich’s car appeared to stop for a few minutes, and Tyson figured that the attorney was getting gas at a convenience store. Then the red dot continued along Highway 431. When it passed Buck Island Drive without turning, Tyson rose from his seat and paced until he noticed the dot turning onto Highway 79.

Then he snapped his fingers and punched a button on his cell. “Change of plan.”

“But we’ve got everything set up here,” an anxious voice answered.

“I don’t care,” Tyson said. “I think I know where this bastard’s going.”

“It’ll be easier to get the drop on him when he comes back here.” The voice on the line continued to sound agitated.

Tyson watched his screen as the dot slowly moved down Highway 79, otherwise known as Scottsboro Highway. “I’m not sure if he’s coming back.”





33


Jason turned left onto Mill Creek Road and let out a deep breath that he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. He passed by the first few houses, wondering if any of the neighbors were the same from when he was a kid. As he reached the two-story home made of wood and rock, he felt a lump in his throat. He parked in the concrete driveway, cut the ignition, and eased out of his vehicle. Then he fumbled through his keys until he found a rusty gold one that he hadn’t used in three and a half years.