Page 18 of Under Fire in Big Sky

“She’s in there,” Dr. Kelly said.

The sign on the door read Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Unit.

Dr. Kelly pulled two disposable booties from a nearby box on the wall and handed them to him. “You’ll need to put those on before you go inside.”

He slipped the shoe covers on over his boots. “Why is she in there?”

“Ms. Adani will have to explain. You can go inside.”

Putting his hand on the door, he hesitated. “How long does she have to be in there?”

“Two hours. We hope that’ll be enough.”

Enough for what?

He didn’t bother to ask. He’d save his questions for Liv, provided she felt like speaking.

Eli pushed through the door.

In the middle of a small, white-tiled room was a one-person unit. A clear tube. Liv was inside, lying down on an inclined cot, propped up on pillows, with a blanket covering her. An attendant stood in front of a control panel with rotary switches and tiny red reflector lights.

Liv’s gaze found his and she smiled at him. His heart leaped for joy and every thought in his head vanished.

Her face was clean but her complexion ashen. She appeared exhausted, with dark circles beneath her eyes, and vulnerable, wearing the hospital gown and stuck inside that tube.

“In order to talk to her,” the attendant said, “you’ll have to use the phone, which is connected to speakers inside the HBOT unit. I’ll be right out in the hall if you need me.”

As the attendant left, Eli strode over to the oxygen unit that was a smaller version of a recompression chamber. He imagined it worked, in principle, in a similar way.

Eli picked up the black phone. “Hey.”

“Hey.” She gave him another bright smile that almost made her look well, like she only needed a little rest.

But if she was all right, then she wouldn’t be in the oxygen unit.

“Are you okay?” they both asked in unison.

He smiled while she laughed.

“You go first,” she said.

“I’m fine.”

“Really?” She sounded doubtful. “The doctor wasn’t allowed to say anything. Please tell me the truth.”

“I’ve never lied to you. They want to keep me overnight. Simply to monitor me.”

“Same.”

He sighed. “You and your double standards.” She expected him to be completely honest. In return, he got fragments of truth. Never lies, but what she chose to disclose was always carefully chosen. It was a byproduct of being an intel officer for too many years. He didn’t even think she could help it at this point. “Why are you in that tube?”

“I had to see a specialist. He was concerned about carbon monoxide poisoning.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “This was his recommendation. I should be discharged tomorrow.”

That was fantastic news.

He hated the fact he couldn’t touch her. Hold her. He put his hand up to the glass.

She pressed her palm to the other side. “Thank you for getting me out of there.”