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“His voice changed to high pitched, like he was on drugs or something,” I mention as Allie crosses the room and pulls my trembling body against her own, holding me tightly. “They’re going to find him, Lexie. They’ll find him, and he’ll go to prison for an exceptionally long time. This security team is not going to let him anywhere near you,” Allie reassures.
I’m listening, but she doesn’t know about the rap sheet or the multitude of heinous crimes he’s suspected of in this state and others.
Trent takes pity on me and tries to soften the reality. “We have the best intel in the world working night and day to get a lock on this guy. Darwin’s damn good, but we’re better. We have the entire block completely canvassed and haven’t seen anything out of place. That doesn’t mean Darwin’s not out there, but if he could have gotten near you, he wouldn’t be calling, now would he?” Trent states.
I nod, but I’m not positive that makes me feel any better about the situation. “Thanks for everything you’re doing,” I tell him, but he doesn’t even respond, already pounding out another message on his cell.
My mom comes to sit beside me and hands me a bottle of water. “Hydrate, dear, you’ll thank me in the morning. You should really phone the police and report the call,” she instructs.
I don’t miss the concern in her eyes or the dark circles underneath them caused by nights of worrying about her closest friend in the world, and now this.
I shake my head and hug her to me. Definitely not going through an inquisition again tonight. “Tomorrow. It will have to wait until tomorrow. I need more sleep and to put this entire day out of my mind,” I reply, taking a long drink of the water before following her and the guys to the dining table where Mom has laid out the assortment of food that was delivered.
We’ve just finished eating when Allie’s phone rings, and she excuses herself but returns shortly with a scowl plastered on her normally friendly face. “The ER is running even shorter of staff, along with every other department at the hospital. We’ve already had to pull temp nurses onto many of the floors tonight. I’m going to get some sleep. I need to get on the phone early in the morning and find staff for the rest of the week with the increased flu volumes and sick calls,” Allie states.
“I’m going to turn in too,” I direct to Allie before turning to Trent. “Did you text Sheldon and give him an update?” I don’t miss the start of a smile that Liam quickly tries to hide.
Trent smirks at me. “He’s been updated.”
“Night, then,” I reply, heading to the back bedroom. Sheldon got me to safety, but I wish he were here. I breathe in deeply because this is what it will always feel like without him, without his presence, without his protection, and without his dominance. It’s what a strong independent woman should want, but if it were so right, I wouldn’t be feeling so alone or empty right now.
I slide into the comfort of the oversized bed, and my fingers hover over Sheldon’s contact number. I’m tempted to hit the button just so I can hear his voice, but he said he would call. I’m so emotionally drained, but it still takes forever to get to sleep after dozing all day long. I finally fall into a restless sleep, dreaming of red splashed walls and a deep, creepy voice, but by four a.m., I’m wide awake.
The door slowly opens.I swallow the lump in my throat, gripping my cell phone under the covers like it can save me from whatever sinister thing is going to happen in the very next minute.
Allie’s slight frame comes into view. “Hey,” she whispers, coming in and closing the door behind her.
I let out the breath I’ve been holding, but it takes more than a minute for my racing heart to get the false alarm message.
“I didn’t know if I should wake you or let you rest, but I’ve had the nurses giving me an update on Jan and thought you would want to know. I’m really sorry, Lexie, but Jan took a terrible turn for the worse. I have to head back to the hospital. One of the nurses just went home sick. I know the security guys want me to stay here, but I don’t have a choice. I need to get to the hospital and thought you would want to know about Jan.”
My eyes finally adjust to the dark. Allie’s completely dressed and ready to go in her scrubs. My friend would take on the world for her patients, even risk the wrath of the security guards to do it. This confrontation won’t be good.
“There is no way you’re going alone, Allie,” I whisper. “Not with this psycho out there. Give me five minutes, and I’ll go with you.”
“Whoa! You’re not going, Lexie. These guys will hit the roof if I drag you out in the middle of the night. I just wanted to let you know about Jan and where I’m going so you wouldn’t be alarmed if you woke up.
I narrow my eyes at my protective friend. “This isn’t one of the times I’m asking for anyone’s permission. There’s safety in numbers, and you’re not going alone. If Jan’s taken a turn for the worse, I’m going too. Maybe we can catch her physician if we hurry. I’d like to talk to him before breaking it to my mom,” I retort, sliding out of bed and pulling on my clothes from yesterday before scurrying into the adjoining bathroom to brush my teeth. “No clue how we’re going to convince Trent and Liam that this unplanned trip is necessary, but I can’t let Jan be alone.” I point past her to the door. Sliding into my shoes, I grab my purse, check to make sure I have my phone, and we head for the door.
“I was just out in the kitchen filling my water bottle. They’re both sound asleep. If we’re quiet, maybe we can sneak right past them. We’ll call from the hospital—you know—so they know we’re safe,” Allie remarks.
I nod, and we quietly tiptoe through the living room where Trent and Liam are sprawled on the two couches. We head downstairs and right out to the street. Not one damn security team member in sight, and now the hairs on the back of my neck are stinging me with tiny prickly sensations. I glance around and try to tame my overactive imagination because while there may be no sign of the guards, there’s also no sign of any danger.
There’s always a cab sitting around at this time for people who need a ride to the airport at the crack of dawn, and today is no exception. We see a bright yellow taxi on the corner and race down the block, jumping into the back seat. “Central Hospital,” Allie instructs the driver as he pulls away from the curb.
“I really am sorry about getting you into this mess, Allie.” Her job means everything to her, and I’m the cause for her being holed away in isolation instead of on the floor with her nurses where she loves to be, especially with a huge influx of patients.
“It wasn’t your fault, and I want you to quit worrying about me. Let’s find out how Jan’s doing before I sign into work.” She glances at her watch, punches a contact on her phone, and it’s answered immediately.
“They said Dr. Carson hasn’t been to ICU yet, so we should be able to talk with him while we’re there,” Allie tells me as if I didn’t hear the entire conversation.
It’s less than ten minutes later when we pull up to the hospital. I rummage in my purse for a credit card. “I’ll catch the fare,” I say, swiping the plastic into the machine on the back of the passenger seat and leaving a nice tip since it’s practically the middle of the night. I yawn, secure my purse around my shoulder, and glance around. There’s not a person in sight, but that same prickling sensation is back.
I pull my jacket around me, warding against the sudden chill. We head directly to ICU, and Allie waves to the nurses, letting one know that she’s going to pop in and check on Jan before heading head to the ER while I wait for the physician.
Jan’s sleeping peacefully, and it’s hard to tell that she’s doing worse, but Allie has already started checking all the monitors, giving me a play-by-play of what each number means. I’m just about ready to make myself comfortable in the chair next to her when a code blue sounds overhead.
“Gotta go!” Allie hollers, tearing across the room and out the door.
