SO SWEET AS MAGIC, PART TWENTY

When Matthew arrived at the hospital the next morning, he found a policeman stationed outside Lila's door.

"What's going on?" he demanded.

"Nobody gets in here without authorization." said the cop.

"That's my wife in there!"

Just then, Lila's doctor arrived.

"Dr Burroughs, what's happened? Why is Lila under guard?"

"Someone entered your wife's room last night, and unplugged her life support." said the doctor, "Only the fact that she started breathing on her own kept her from dying."

"What?" said Matthew, "It must have been an accident! Maybe the cleaner accidently pulled the plug."

"The cleaners don't work at night." Dr Burroughs pointed out, 'The police are of the opinion that whoever tried to kill her came back to finish the job."

"But - it was an accident!"

"Perhaps. Perhaps not."

Matthew was having a hard time taking it all in. "Can I see her?"

" She's comatose."said the doctor, "But if you wish. Let Mr Cory in." he told the guard.

In spite of what he had been told of Lila's injuries, Matthew was shocked by the sight of her, swathed in bandages like a mummy. Her hand, with the wedding ring on it, was almost the only part of her not damaged. Matthew took hold of it; it was limp and cold.

"Lila." he said, "It's Matthew. You've got to fight - for Jasmine's sake. Our baby needs her mother."

"With your permission, I'd like to call in a specialist." said Dr Burroughs, "Wizard Wallace is available. He charges very high fees, but he's the best Healer Wizard there is."

"Money doesn't matter." said Matthew, "Get him!"

****

"Good morning, I'm here to see Amanda Cory." said David Halliday.

"I'm sorry, Sir," said the housekeeper, "Ms Cory is not at home."

"Yes I am!" said Amanda, coming into the foyer, "What do you mean by telling him I'm not home, Claudia?"

"I beg your pardon, Ms Cory. I thought you had gone out."

"Come into the living room, David. We can talk there."

As soon as they turned their backs, Claudia grabbed the phone and called Rachel. "Mr Halliday is here at the house, Mrs Hutchins! I tried to keep him out, but your daughter insisted."

"I'll be home as quick as I can!" said Rachel, "In the meantime, don't leave him alone with her!"

****

Meanwhile, two of Bay City's Finest were knocking on the door of the Hudson Farm. Eventually, Nick woke up, more or less, and answered their knock.

"Hello, Toni," he said, "What can I do for you?"

"You own a motorcycle with the license number JR375." said Toni Burrell.

"Yeah. What about it?"

"We'd like to take a look at it."

"Why?"

"It's just routine." Toni assured him, "We're checking all motorcycles with similar license plates."

"Well, mine is out in the barn." Nick pointed the way, then closed the door and put on the coffee.

He was just pouring himself a cup, a few minutes later, when the police knocked again.

"May we come in?"

"Sure. What the -?"The coffee cup went flying as Toni grabbed him.

"You are under arrest!" she said, clapping on the handcuffs.

****

"I'ts not too soon for us to start planning BRAVA's February issue." said Stark.

"What do you have in mind?" said Amanda.

Just then, Claudia brought in the vacuum cleaner and turned it on.

"Do you mind?" said Amanda, "I can't hear myself think!"

"Pardon me, but Mrs Hutchins gave me strict instructions to give this room a thorough cleaning, today."

"Well, the vacuuming can wait until David and I finish talking."

"Yes, Ms Cory." Claudia turned the vacuum off, took out a cloth and began dusting the ornaments, v-e-r-y c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y, with her ears wide open to hear what they said.

"Now, as you were saying?" said Amanda, ignoring the housekeeper's presence.

"Since St Valentine's Day is in February, I think BRAVA should focus on romance." said Stark.

"How?"

"A photographic essay, showing you in various romantic settings."

"Me?"

"Why not?" said Stark, "I don't have to tell you that you are a very beautiful woman."

"Well, yes, but - I'm not a model."

"Just let me take a few photographs, to give you an idea of the sort of thing I mean."

"I don't suppose it can hurt." said Amanda.

"Excellent. I'll just get the camera and the gown out of my car."

"Gown?"

"That pantsuit you're wearing isn't terribly romantic." said Stark, "You need the correct clothing to establish the mood."

****

"What's this about, Josie?" said Nick, rubbing his wrists as the handcuffs were removed.

"There's blood all over the front of your motorcycle." she replied. "Want to bet it's human - Lila Cory's blood, in fact?"

"Jeez!" said Nick, "I heard about Lila on the news, but I didn't do it! I haven't even LOOKED at my motorcycle since last weekend!"

"Who else has access to it?"

"Everybody! I keep a spare set of keys in the tack room, along with my helmet and a leather jacket."

"Where were you around three o'clock Tuesday afternoon?" said Josie.

"Tuesday? I was over at Vicky's! Ask her!"

"We will."

****

"This dress fits as though it was made for me!" said Amanda.

"You look lovely, Amalie - uh, Amanda." said Stark, "Let's start by having you stand next to the fireplace."

****

Wizard Wallace was not a physically impressive man, being short, slight and balding, nor did he have the air of arrogance typical of high-level adepts. His blue wizard's robe was undecorated, except for a caduceus embroidered on the left shoulder.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" said Matthew.

"Yes. Give me photographs of your wife - full-face and both profiles,if possible. They will aid me in doing the facial reconstruction." said the wizard, "And order me a meal."

"A meal?"

"Healing uses up a great deal of energy. I'm going to need to replenish it. Order enough food for four or five people, heavy on the protein and sugar. Not hospital food, please; that's inedible."

"I'll have the Harbour Club send something over." said Matthew, "It's the best restaurant in Bay City."

****

"You're sure? Thank you, Vicky." Josie hung up her telephone just as Detective Amy Dolan entered her office.

"We found tire tracks behind the Hudson barn." she said, "The lab took a cast of them."

"Good. Vicky confirms Nick's alibi. Let him out of the cage and give him a ride home, will you?"

A moment later, Toni burst into the room: "You're letting Nick Hudson go?"

"Joe Carlino isn't in charge any more, Toni." said Josie, "We don't arrest the first person we see. Not without more evidence than we've got against Nick."

"Are you sure you're not going easy on him because he's a relative?"

"Are you sure you're not being too hard on him for personal reasons?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means I've noticed that you have a racial chip on your shoulder where young, good-looking white guys are concerned."

"I do not!"

"No? Tomas Rivera was the closest thing to a saint I've ever met, and you treated him like he was some sort of trouble-making punk."

"He didn't fool me like he did everyone else."

"Then there was the time you accused Nick of raping you."

"I thought it was him!"

"You weren't nearly as sure as you said you were!" said Josie, "An innocent man almost went to prison because of you! Is that why you're so eager for Nick to be guilty now? So that you don't have to feel bad about making a false accusation?"

"You're wrong! Nick Hudson is guilty!"

"Prove it!"

"I will!"

NOTE: In NBC's AW, Wizard Wallace was Wally the Homeless Guy, his healing powers unrecognized. There is no doubt that he possessed them, however: After Felicia fell through that skylight, the doctors despaired of restoring her beauty - until Wally laid his unwashed hand against her scarred cheek. After that, they fixed her up as good as new. Better in fact: she looked as if she had just had a facelift (:-D)

To be continued