Lullabies and Lies - By Mallory Kane Page 0,57
truth. The truth that had been eating at his insides for five days. He was falling in love with her.
No. The word reverberated inside his brain, mocking him. No! His mixed-up feelings were the result of taking this case so soon after the Senator’s son’s death, combined with returning to Nashville. That was all.
Even as the thoughts coalesced, he knew he was lying to himself. He cleared his throat. “I’ll check with the nurse about letting you leave, and we’ll go get something to eat.”
Sunny shook her head, dislodging tears from her eyes to slide down her cheeks. “I can’t eat. I want to wait here. I have to be here when Bess wakes up. She’s my only link to my daughter.”
Chapter Nine
Janie glanced at the dashboard clock as she pulled into the parking lot of Oak Grove Community Hospital. She didn’t have long. She had to be back home by six or six-thirty at the latest, to dress for a dinner being given by the mayor of New Rochelle in Eddie’s honor. Both the lawyer and the campaign manager had recommended that they act as if nothing had happened.
She’d be cutting it close, but she’d make it. It wouldn’t take her long to get ready. No one ever really looked at her anyway. They were interested in Eddie, and that was how she liked it.
She got out of the car and adjusted her baggy jacket so the .22 in her pocket wasn’t weighting down the material. As she walked toward the front entrance, she quickly assessed the area. No metal detectors, no security checkpoints for visitors.
She entered and stepped up to the information desk.
The white-haired woman in a blue volunteer jacket was talking to a middle-aged man. When the man left, the woman picked up the phone and began to dial. Janie stepped directly in front of her.
The woman started, then hung up the phone. “I’m sorry,” she said with a smile. “I didn’t see you. May I help you?”
“Bess Raymond’s room, please.”
The woman nodded and consulted a computer. “Raymond…Raymond.”
Janie slid her hand into her pocket and fingered the cold metal of the gun.
Try the Rs you idiot. She bit her tongue, working to keep a serene expression on her face.
“We have an Elizabeth Raymond.”
“Yes. That’s her. She’s my aunt.”
“Oh, of course. She was scheduled for emergency surgery at two o’clock. I can direct you to the surgery waiting room on the third floor. That way Ms. Raymond’s doctor can reach you.”
“So she didn’t say anything?”
The woman frowned slightly.
“Never mind. What about Sunny Loveless?”
“Who?”
“Sunny Loveless. Another patient.” Janie’s fingers tightened around the handle of the gun. She’d seen the EMT give Loveless an injection and load her into the ambulance alongside Bess.
“Oh.” The woman typed, then peered at the computer screen, then typed some more, then peered again. “I don’t show a Loveless.”
“Are you spelling it right?” Janie spoke through a clenched jaw. “It’s L-O-V-E-L-E-S-S.”
“I’m sorry. No one by that name has been admitted. You might check the emergency room.”
“How do I get to the emergency room?”
“Follow the circular drive to the west side. Or you could walk through. This hallway leads to the employee entrance. One of the nurses might let you in.”
Janie forced a smile. “Thank you.” You incompetent old relic. She turned on her heel and left.
So Bess had made it, so far. If she was in surgery, she wouldn’t be talking for a while. The question was, what had she already told Loveless?
Janie looked toward the sign that read EMERGENCY ENTRANCE. She sighed. It was getting late. She didn’t have time to check on the Loveless woman.
Anger sent a streak of pain through her temple. If that ridiculous volunteer had taken any longer, Janie was afraid she might have shot her, right there in the hospital lobby.
Now, because of her, Janie had to hurry back to New Rochelle. She didn’t have much time.
She’d have to come back later.
GRIFF BOOKED a double room at a hotel near the hospital. He didn’t want to leave Sunny alone, for a number of reasons, not the least of which was he couldn’t be sure what she’d do.
She had insisted she wasn’t hungry, but he’d ordered in room service anyway. She’d sat on her bed cross-legged, and eaten a little bit of her turkey wrap, more than he’d figured she would. She’d drunk a cup of coffee, but it hadn’t seemed to make much difference.
She was still drowsy from the sedative. When he saw her eyelids droop and the coffee