“Then I’ll be back.”
Juliet said, “We’re going to let the others come in before you leave the room. Everybody’s frantic.”
Heath and Daisy came in next. Heath was scowling. “This is a hell of a thing.”
“How are feeling?” Daisy asked. She looked like a kid with her hair down to her waist. She usually wore it up and in a braid around her head.
“It was bad. But they’re giving me drugs. Scarlet says if she does a treatment, I’ll feel better.”
“Then go for it,” Daisy told him.
Heath came closer to the bed. “Sorry about this. Can I do anything for you?”
“I don’t think so. You being here is enough.”
Then a guy in scrubs came in. “I’m from transport. I’m taking you to imaging.”
He nodded. He still hadn’t called Fiona. He’d wait for the results of the imaging. No use upsetting her without answers.
* * *
Elise sat in her condo and wished Finn was here. Of course, he said no more contact outside of treatments but she hoped she could change his mind. She sipped a glass of Chardonnay and turned on the TV, vowing not to give up on him.
“In other news, an attack occurred in the parking lot of the new Harmony Health Collective. Sources say one of the practitioners was working late and was overcome by a perpetrator, who also stole his car…”
His car.Hiscar.Elise shot up from her seat, spilling the wine into the carpet. She slammed the glass down on the table and, since she’d dismissed Jimmy for the evening, she called a taxi.
She arrived at the hospital, parked and hurried down to Emergency. When she walked inside, she saw a scattering of people waiting to be treated. At one larger table were the members of the collective. She’d met Juliet and Oliver Ricardi but didn’t know the others. She hurried to them.
“Excuse me.”
They all looked up. A couple seemed startled. Oliver stood. “Hey, Elise. I’m Oliver.”
“I remember you.” She grasped onto his arm. “How is he?”
“In a lot of pain, but he’s going to be okay.” He turned to the group and introduced her.
Heath said, “How do you know Finn?”
“He’s been treating me. But we’ve become friends.” Close friends. “I heard it on the news.”
Juliet said, “I hope he called Fiona. If she hears it…”
“Call her, now,” Daisy said. “He can get mad at us if he wants. If Elise heard it on the TV, she could too. We have to protect his family.”
As Juliet stepped away, Elise said, “Would I be able to go in and see him?”
Oliver squeezed her arm. “He’s in imaging right now.”
Just then the doctor approached them.
“Hello, everybody. I’m Dr. Mancini. Your friend is back from imaging and he said I could tell you that he has a rib fracture and is bruised pretty much all over his body.”
Elise stumbled back. “Oh, no.”
The doc glanced at her then continued. “He’s better off than that sounds. Or at least better than it could have been.”
“Why would someone attack Finn?” Oliver asked.
