The Sun Sister (The Seven Sisters #6) - Lucinda Riley Page 0,132

news is that The Ranch has begun that process, but now, she needs to continue in some form of medium- to long-term programme that she can integrate into her life when she leaves. She will need to do that in or near Manhattan. Not least because that’s where her funding is based, if her social worker can get her state care extended.’

‘I can help if necessary, Dr Cole.’

‘And that’s more than generous of you, ma’am, but the State has got the dollars to fund the help she needs. It’s a case of working through the red tape and having a strong arm on your side. There’s a lot of misappropriation and corruption in the various government departments, but your friend Miles seems to know what he’s doing there. Anyway,’ he smiled, ‘it’s good of you to take an interest in Vanessa and be prepared to help her.’

‘Well, I was given help myself not so long ago,’ I said. ‘Please keep her here for as long as she needs. You have my cell number, don’t you?’

‘It’s on the records, yes. And now, you must excuse me, I’ve got to get round to see other patients. Goodbye.’

He nodded at me and walked away, and I went back into my ‘office’ in the restroom and dialled Mariam’s number.

‘Hello, Electra. How is your friend?’ Mariam asked me before I’d said a word.

‘Oh, she’s out of danger now, thanks. Actually, I was just wondering if you could look at flights back to New York for me?’

‘For when?’

‘Tomorrow morning if possible. I was coming out Thursday anyway as you know, so it’s only a day earlier.’

There was a slight pause on the line.

‘Okay. Are we talking by private jet here?’

‘Probably.’ I thought about the crowd of paps that were apparently stationed outside the hospital.

‘What time would suit?’

‘I don’t know, around noon? That will get me in for about ten p.m.’

‘No problem. I . . . Are you sure you don’t want me to fly down and accompany you back, Electra?’

‘I have flown alone before, Mariam, and I’m not sick or anything. Besides, it’s a long way for you to come.’

‘I’m happy to do it if you need me.’

‘Thanks, I appreciate that, but I’m sure I’ll be fine.’

‘Okay, I’ll check everything out and give you a call back between seven and eight when you have your cell phone.’

‘Oh, don’t worry about that. I’m going back to The Ranch to see my therapist now and I’m sure she’ll let me have my cell for the day. Bye, Mariam.’

As I walked back to Vanessa’s room, I wondered whether Mariam’s eagerness to accompany me home was because she cared, or because she was worried I might have drunk the on-board bar dry by the time I landed in New York.

I wondered whether I would too, but I had to face temptation alone some time.

Vanessa was sitting up in bed, picking at her breakfast of juice and a pastry. I was happy to see that the line was out of her arm and only the blood pressure monitor remained on her finger. She didn’t look as perky as she had earlier, so maybe grim reality was starting to set back in.

‘Hi,’ I said. ‘How are you?’

‘’Kay, thanks.’

‘She’s worried about the psych team coming to evaluate her,’ commented Miles from the other side of the bed.

‘Yeah, I ain’t going to no nuthouse. I might be a junkie, but I ain’t loco.’ Vanessa shuddered. ‘You won’t let them lock me away somewhere like that, will you, ’Lectra?’

‘Everyone is only trying to help you, Vanessa,’ I said, ‘and you’re going to have to trust them, okay?’

‘Yeah, but they’re not gonna lock me up in an asylum or nothin’, are they?’ she repeated.

‘Listen . . .’ I could see that Vanessa was getting worked up. ‘I just spoke to that nice doctor who admitted you last night. We talked about trying to find you a facility nearer Manhattan that can give you the help you need. It would be like The Ranch, but without the horses,’ I joked. ‘Miles and I got scared last night and we don’t want that happening to you again.’

Vanessa stared at me hard. ‘An’ why would you care what happens to me? You, with all your dollars in the bank?’

‘Because I do. And so does Miles. And you have to trust us and the doctors who all want to help you.’

‘Why should I trust you any more than I trusted Tyler? He said he’d look after me, but he just