Lee shook his head and ignored her last comment. “I saw her too. I also saw Hector watching her the entire time I spoke to her.”
“Was it intense?”
Was it intense?
Hector never gave anything away, anything that was personal.
He gave it away that afternoon. He couldn’t take his eyes off Sadie.
“It was intense. Tonight when he got to her, Hector wouldn’t wait for an ambulance. He picked her up and made Luke drive them here.”
Indy’s eyes grew wide. “Was that smart?”
“No.”
“Holy crap,” she whispered as her eyes slid to Hector.
“Doctor.” They heard Stella say and everyone turned as the doctor walked in wearing scrubs, a white lab coat and an unhappy expression.
“Anyone here for Sadie Townsend?”
Everyone looked at everyone else except Hector who said a sharp, “Yes.”
The doctor looked at Hector as Stella moved close to him. “Are you her partner?”
“Yes,” Hector lied, bold, bald-faced and without hesitation.
The doctor’s face changed and it wasn’t a good change. “We need to go somewhere and talk.”
“Say it,” Hector snapped.
The doctor’s face scanned the crowd then his eyes went back to Hector and said, “Sir, I think –”
“Fuckin’ say it!” Hector barked, his body rigid, his face filled with fury and the doctor took a step back as Stella took another step in, getting close, putting her hand on Hector’s arm and keeping it there.
“I don’t think you under –” the doctor began.
Lee got close to Hector. So did Eddie and Darius. Hank, Vance, Mace and Bobby closed ranks. Luke was already close. The doctor took this in and his body relaxed.
“Just say it,” Shirleen appeared by the doctor and she was speaking quietly. Lee hadn’t even noticed she arrived. This was unusual for Lee Nightingale, there wasn’t a lot he didn’t notice but that night his mind was on other things.
“You’re amongst Sadie’s friends,” Shirleen went on, also bald-faced lying and also without hesitation.
The doctor looked at Shirleen, she smiled encouragingly but he said, “We have a policy –”
“Ain’t no policy when there’s friends,” Shirleen interrupted. “We all gotta know. We’ll all eventually know. Just tell it like it is.”
The doctor sighed, pulled his hand through his hair and looked at Hector.
“She’s been beaten badly.”
“I guessed that.” Hector voice was sharp and impatient.
The doctor nodded and went on, “Five broken ribs, a broken wrist, dislocated shoulder, severe concussion and multiple cuts and contusions. She’s had to have a deep cut on her cheek stitched. She’s been admitted.”
The doctor stopped, his back went straight and everyone held their breath.
“I really think –” the doctor hesitated, eyes on Hector.