Any lingering hope the story did not concern him was dashed when Kim saw a photo of himself below the headlines. It was several years old with his normal shock of dark hair.
Ducking back into the car, Kim turned back the front page of the newspaper. The story was on page two:
EXCLUSIVE TO THE MORNING SUN TIMES:
Dr. Kim Reggis, a respected cardiac surgeon and the former head of the department at the Samaritan Hospital and now on staff at the University Medical Center, has taken the law into his own hands vigilante style. In response to the tragic death of his daughter on Saturday, he allegedly disguised himself with blond hair color, got a job at Higgins and Hancock under a false name, and then brutally murdered another worker by the name of Carlos Mateo. It is thought that the motive for this unprovoked killing is that Dr. Reggis believed his daughter died of meat slaughtered at Higgins and Hancock.
Mr. Daryl Webster, the president of Higgins and Hancock, has told the Times that this is a preposterous allegation. He also said that Mr. Mateo was a valued worker and a devoted Catholic, who tragically leaves behind an invalid wife and six young children…
Kim angrily tossed the paper onto the passenger seat. He didn't have to read any further to be disgusted – and concerned. He started the car and drove back to the motel. Carrying the food and the paper, he entered.
Tracy heard him come in and poked her head around the bathroom door. She was toweling her wet head, having just gotten out of the shower.
"You're up," Kim commented. He put down the food on the desk.
"I heard you go out," Tracy said. "I'm glad to see you back. I was a little afraid you might leave me here with the idea of sparing me. Promise me you won't do that."
"The idea crossed my mind." Kim admitted. He sank dejectedly into the only chair.
"What's the matter?" Tracy asked. Although she knew there was more than enough on Kim's mind, he seemed far more despondent than she expected.
Kim held up the newspaper. "Read this!" he said.
"Is it about the man at Higgins and Hancock?" Tracy asked fearfully. She wasn't sure she wanted to read the details.
"Yes, and about me, too," Kim said.
"Oh, no!" Tracy cried with dismay. "You're already associated with it?" She stepped into the room while wrapping herself in the thin towel. She took the paper and read the headlines. Slowly she sank onto the edge of the bed, turning the page to read the rest.
It didn't take Tracy long. When she was finished, she closed the paper and put it aside. She looked at Kim. "What a character assassination," she said somberly. "They even included mention of your recent arrests and that your hospital privileges have been suspended."
"I didn't get that far," Kim said. "I only read the first two paragraphs, but it was enough."
"I can't believe this has all happened so quickly," Tracy said. "Someone must have recognized you at Higgins and Hancock."
"Obviously," Kim said. "The man we killed wasn't trying to kill Jose Ramerez. And when he failed to kill me, the people who were paying him opted to destroy my credibility and possibly send me to jail for life." Kim laughed mirthlessly. "And to think I was worried about the legal ramifications. I never even considered the media. It surely gives you an idea of the money and power of this industry in this town that they can manage to distort the truth like this. I mean, there was no investigative reporting in this article. The paper just printed what the meat industry told them. They have me murdering a God-fearing family man in cold blood in a fit of revenge."
"This means we don't have twenty-four to forty-eight hours to decide what we're going to do," Tracy said.
"I should say not," Kim said. He stood up. "It means we should have decided last night. And for me it also means there's no longer a question. I'll fight this travesty but definitely from afar."
Tracy stood up and stepped over to Kim. "There's no longer a question for me either," she said. "We'll go together and fight this together."
"Of course it will mean we'll miss Becky's service," Kim said.
"I know," Tracy said.
"I think she'll understand."
"I hope so," Tracy managed. "I miss her so much."
"Me too," Kim said.
Kim and Tracy looked into each other's eyes. Then Kim reached out and put his arms around his former wife. Tracy put hers around Kim, and they hugged, pressing themselves against each other as if they'd been involuntarily separated for years. Another long moment passed until Kim leaned back to look Tracy in the eye. "It's like old times to feel close to you like this."
"Very old times," Tracy agreed. "Like in a previous life."
Kelly Anderson looked at her watch. It was almost one-thirty. She shook her head. "He's not coming," she said to Brian Washington.
Brian adjusted the TV camcorder on his shoulder. "You really didn't expect him to, did you?" he asked.
"He loved his daughter," Kelly said. "And this is her funeral."
"But there's a policeman right outside," Brian said. "They'd arrest him on the spot. The guy would have to be crazy to come."
"I think he is a little crazy," Kelly said. "When he stopped in to my house to get me interested in his crusade, he had a wild look in his eye. He even scared me a little."
"That I doubt," Brian said. "I've never seen you scared. In fact, I think you have ice in your veins, especially with as much iced tea as you drink."
"You more than anyone should know it's just an act. I'm scared every time I go on the air."
"Bull," Brian said.
Kelly and Brian were standing in the foyer of the Sullivan Funeral Home. There were a few other people milling about and whispering discreetly. Bernard Sullivan, the proprietor, was standing near the door. He was clearly anxious and glanced repeatedly at his watch. The funeral service had been booked for one o'clock, and he had a tight schedule for the day.
"Did you think Dr. Reggis was crazy enough to kill someone like they said in the paper?" Brian asked.
"Let's put it this way," Kelly said, "I think he was pushed to his limit."
Brian shrugged. "I guess you just never know," he said philosophically.
"Maybe the good doctor's absence is understandable," Kelly said. "But, for the life of me, I can't understand where Tracy is. She was Becky's mother, for God's sake. And she has no reason to avoid the law. I'll tell you: this has me worried."
"What do you mean?" Brian asked.
"If the good doctor has really lost it," Kelly said, "it wouldn't be so far-fetched to think that he might blame his former wife in some twisted way for his daughter's death."
"Oh, geez," Brian said. "I never thought of that."
"Listen," Kelly said, suddenly making up her mind. "You go call the station to get Tracy Reggis's address. I'll go have a chat with Mr. Sullivan and ask him to page us if Tracy Reggis shows up."
"You got it," Brian said.
Brian headed back to the funeral-home office, while Kelly walked over to the funeral director and tapped him on the ann. Twenty minutes later, Kelly and Brian were in Kelly's car, gliding to a stop in front of Tracy 's house.
"Uh-oh," Kelly said.
"What's the matter?" Brian asked.
"That car," Kelly said. She pointed to the Mercedes. "I think that's the doctor's car. At least it's the car he was driving when he came to visit me."
"What should we do?" Brian asked. "I don't want any madman running out of the house with a baseball bat or a shot gun."
Brian had a point. Following her scenario, Reggis could very well be in the house holding his former wife as a hostage or even worse.