“Our driver is ready to take her home, whenever she’s discharged.” Lydia looked at Sky. “I bought you a suit at Saks to wear home. Gucci. I know it’s not quite your style, but I couldn’t resist.”
“Thank you, Lydia,” Sky said. “You really didn’t have to do that.” She sounded exhausted, and I felt for her—in more ways than one. I’d been shot before. I’d also been in the hospital before, repeatedly. And I couldn’t imagine having to force an immobile, heavily bandaged shoulder and traumatized body into a Gucci suit.
Bill was talking on his phone, saying something about rescheduling an annual shareholders’ meeting. Lydia shushed him. He stood up and turned away from us, speaking more quietly.
“Have you guys been here the whole time?” I asked.
“Since she’s been conscious, yes,” Lydia said.
I nodded. That explained a lot. “You were here when the police questioned Sky.”
“Yes. They asked us to leave so they could speak to her privately, but she didn’t want us to. She insisted. She was quite emphatic, weren’t you? I was concerned about your heart rate.”
“Sky didn’t want privacy?”
“No,” Sky said. “I didn’t.”
I turned to her. “Would you be able to speak with me alone?”
Sky glanced at Lydia.
“We all trust you, Sunny,” Lydia said. “But why do you want to speak with her without us in the room?”
“It’s all in the interest of getting Dylan home safe and sound,” I said.
Lydia opened her mouth, then closed it again. I could almost read her thoughts—wanting me to elaborate and, at the same time, absolutelynotwanting me to. “Okay,” Lydia said. “Whatever Sky wants.”
Sky’s gaze was on me. She seemed calm. “Sure,” she said. “I’ll talk to you, Sunny.”
Bill ended his call and turned around. “Ms. Randall, did I hear you say you’d like us out of the room?”
“Just for a little while,” I said. “That okay?”
“Better than okay. I’m dying to get out of here.” He turned to Sky, a sheepish look on his face. “You know I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”
“No worries,” Sky said, but then a shadow seemed to pass over her. Her features tightened.Dread,I thought. Or it could have been a wave of pain from her injury. “Should I get a nurse?” I asked. “Do you need meds?”
Sky shook her head. “I’m fine,” she said. “I’ll be fine. Go ahead, you guys.”
Lydia and Bill left the room. I pulled the chair up to Sky’s bed. There was a pitcher of water on the bedside table, along with an empty plastic cup. I took the liberty of refilling it for her. She picked it up and drank.
Before I spoke, I waited for Sky to put down the empty cup. Then I leaned in and gave her a smile.
“A Gucci suit?” I said. “Is she serious?”
Sky let out a laugh. “Yeah, I like to think I can handle any challenge, but come on.”
“What about the shoes?”
“She brought me these pumps with three-inch stiletto heels,” Sky said.
“Ouch.”
“I couldn’t even walk in those things on agoodday.”
“I can go to your apartment if you want,” I said. “Pick up some sweats and sneakers?”
“God, I’d love that,” Sky said. “But I don’t want to…you know. Offend Lydia.”
