Fatal Intent - Jamie Jeffries Page 0,40

for about four months.”

Wanda sat up straight, appearing alarmed. “No one reported her missing?”

“I guess her parents finally did, but apparently the investigation went nowhere. Dawn said she quit coming to meetings about the same time. I’d like to get to the bottom of it, but the trail is cold.”

“Maybe she doesn’t want to be found,” Wanda said.

Alex looked at her, puzzled at the statement. Wanda looked tired again, and Alex was thinking they ought to get her home where she could rest. Or maybe to the hospital. Was that weariness she saw in Wanda’s face normal for a woman not yet seventy? She started to get up and go to her dad for advice when Wanda said something else. It was slurred, but Alex understood it perfectly.

“Reminds me of your mother.”

“What? What about my mother?” Alex said. Wanda didn’t answer. She seemed to have passed out.

“Wanda? What did you mean about my mother?

“Ask your dad, dear, I’m too tired,” Wanda mumbled, and then her head lolled to the side.

“Dad! Dylan! Hurry! Something’s wrong with Wanda!”

Both men came running. Dylan put his hand around Wanda’s wrist and spoke urgently. “She has a pulse. Get an ambulance, quick!”

Paul went running for the house phone while Alex tried to keep the boys out of the way. In a matter of minutes, two EMTs came running through the house and cleared everyone away. “Looks like heart. Who’s with her?”

“I am,” Dylan said, looking to Alex and then the boys before climbing into the ambulance with Wanda.

She nodded. “I’ve got them. See you in a few.”

As the ambulance raced away, Alex reached deep inside herself for calm. She needed to quiet the boys and get them home. Her dad was already on his way to the hospital, and she wanted to be there herself, but her first duty was to Dylan’s boys. She got them home, read them a few stories and then got them through their baths and ready for bed. As soon as they were both asleep, she called Ange.

“Can you come over, Ange? I’ve but the boys to bed, but I need to go to the hospital. No, it isn’t Dylan, sorry I scared you. It’s Wanda Lopez. The EMTs said probably heart attack. Dylan went with her. Okay, thanks.”

Ange arrived ten minutes later, gave Alex a peck on the cheek and said, “You could have called earlier. I’d have put them to bed.”

“I know, Ange, but we all needed to calm down. I was glad to have something to do. They’re asleep now. Thanks for coming. I’ll call you when I know anything.”

“You’re welcome. Go take care of your man,” Ange said.

On the way to the hospital, Alex recalled what Wanda had said, just before she collapsed. Something about her mother, and that she should ask her father. Was it possible he knew something about her disappearance? Something he’d kept secret all these years? White rage spiked through her vision, causing her to swerve. When she regained control, she told herself aloud to set it aside. She could confront her dad about it when Wanda was better.

Wanda had to get better. Dylan couldn’t lose her so soon after he’d lost his mother. For that matter, Alex couldn’t lose her either. Tears blurred her vision as she swung into the hospital’s parking lot. First priority, Wanda. Then she’d have a ‘come to Jesus’ talk with her dad.

SIXTEEN

Dylan had just seen Wanda after they moved her from the ER to a room when Alex came in. She looked at her dad with an angry expression and then turned to Dylan, worry in her eyes.

“How is she?” she asked.

He had only a few seconds to wonder about the look she’d thrown her dad, before his attention turned to her question. “The docs think she had a mild heart attack,” he reported, including Paul in his glance. “They’re going to keep her overnight for observation, and talk to her primary care doc about what more to do for her tomorrow. She may need bypass surgery.”

“But she’ll be all right?” Alex asked. “That was so scary, watching her turn blue. Was it what we were talking about that brought it on?”

Dylan frowned slightly. “I don’t know. What were you talking about? But no, it was a blockage, they said.”

Alex seemed to ignore his question, but sighed heavily, which Dylan took as a sign of relief.

“They can fix that, can’t they?” Alex asked. “She can have a stent or something, right?”

“Or something. I don’t know if