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"The man was in scrubs, with a head covering and a mask," the detective replied. "He was trying to disconnect the machines when a nurse entered the room. He shoved her and got away. Fortunately, your mother's condition is unchanged. We're putting security on your mother's room now."
I had trouble processing his short, clipped words, but one thing was clear. Whoever had tried to kill my mother yesterday had come back today to finish the job. "It wasn't random," I muttered.
"No," he said grimly.
"I don't understand," Dani interrupted. "Someone tried to kill our mother here in the hospital with all these people around? How could he get away? There's security. There are cameras."
"Yes, but it's difficult to identify him with his face covering. He got out of the building through a back stairwell and disappeared into the parking lot. But we're just starting our investigation. We'll find him."
"Do you think it's the same person who shot her?" I asked.
"That would be my guess." His gaze narrowed. "I also heard from one of my officers that there was a problem at your mother's house last night."
"Problem? What problem?" Dani asked, giving me a sharp look.
"Someone was outside," I said. "They knocked over a plant on the porch. It looked like they tried to get in, but they didn't. Everything was fine."
"You should change the locks and stay somewhere else," the detective said. "Whatever is going on is not over."
"I spoke to someone she's been dating—Mark Harrison. I gave him your name and number. He said he would call you. He's a parent at my mom's school."
"I appreciate that."
"Can we see our mother now?" I asked.
He nodded and took us down the hall, introducing us to the security guard. Then he said, "I'll be in touch. In the meantime, we'll do everything we can to keep your mother safe."
"Thank you." I opened the door and walked into the room.
Dani stopped just inside. I could see the panic in her eyes.
"Are you okay, Dani? You don't have to do this," I said.
"I do have to do this. I just don't want to." Dani lifted her chin, drew in a breath, then said, "Okay, I'm ready."
I took her hand in mine, and we walked over to the bed together.
My mother looked the same as she had last night. Whatever had happened to her an hour ago hadn't visibly changed anything. She was still, pale, and lifeless.
"It really is her," Dani murmured. "All this time, a part of me thought you were mistaken."
Her words irritated me, but I also knew how difficult it was to accept the truth—that our mother had not died, she'd just disappeared.
Dani turned to face me. "Do you think she's going to wake up?"
"Not today. The doctor said they're sedating her so her brain can heal. But she's holding her own, and we should be hopeful."
"I still can't believe it's her or that someone tried to kill her," Dani mused.
"Twice," I said. "She must have some dark secrets. Maybe that’s why she left us. She didn’t want us to be in danger."
"That would be the best reason. But it might not be the real reason."
"I know, but I want to believe she loved us, that she didn't forget about us."
Dani bit down on her lip, her eyes filling with tears.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
