Vengeance (23 page)

"What did you talk about?"

I glanced at the curtains on my right. A new emergency patient had been brought in, a screaming baby and I was confident Lucinda couldn't hear us talking even if she knew I was there. I could barely hear us talking over the screams of the infant. "He was a friend of Miss Delacroix's late father. He asked me to help her during an upcoming business transaction. When I found out she was in an accident, I felt obligated to see how she was doing."

The two officers exchanged looks. "The Metro police would like to talk with you." The older officer stood aside as two harried-looking adults, obviously the parents of the screamer, rushed past us. "As soon as possible."

I nodded. "I'll contact them after I'm sure Miss Delacroix is settled and safe at home." To my relief I saw a nurse emerging from Lucinda's alcove. "If you'll excuse me, I think she'll be dismissed soon."

The older man nodded imperceptibly. "We know where you'll be in case we need to be in touch." He gave me a tight, impersonal smile. "Thank you for your cooperation."

Damn. I really didn't want an escort back to Lucinda's house, but I might well have one. I didn't want the cops tangling with whoever was following me. "Happy to help. Now if you'll excuse me." I ducked into the alcove just as Lucinda was sitting up, helped by the beefy orderly who'd stopped me earlier.

"Why are you still here?" she demanded, swaying on the hospital bed.

"I'm here to help you."

"I don't want your help." She reached out with one white stockinged foot. Her pastel patchwork skirt was wrinkled and her jacket was torn. I glimpsed white satin and lace under her skirt hem as she tapped the floor, looking for her shoe. The orderly gave me an exasperated look, then grabbed her flat beige shoes from a nearby chair and helped her to into them, steadying her with his hand on her arm.

"You'd better take my help." I backed out of the way as she and her escort shuffled toward the curtain. "Otherwise you'll be here all night."

"Didn't you call John? I told you to call John." She peered up at me then winced. "My neck hurts. Oh, hell, everything hurts."

I moved to her other side and offered my arm. "Let me take you home. We'll call John and he can come and stay with you. You shouldn't be alone."

"I don't want your help."

"I know you don't," I said patiently. "But swallow your pride just this once and take it."

"Pride's got nothing to do with it." She hesitated then put her free arm through mine.

The orderly nodded with satisfaction. "You just wait right here. I'll grab your purse then I'll get that wheelchair so you can get started on leaving."

"Get started?" she protested, but he was gone.

"There's probably some paperwork." I led her toward the desk that spanned the entrance. "Let's go sit down."

"If I sit down I won't get back up," she grumbled. We inched our way toward the uncomfortable-looking seats. "Can't we just leave? Can't I leave a business card or something?"

The orderly came up behind us, wheelchair at the ready with Lucinda's lumpy denim purse on the seat. "Just have a seat. Won't take just a minute," he assured us. "You wait here and I'll check to make sure your chart is at the desk."

Lucinda sat down with a long sigh. "I don't want to wait." She propped one arm up on the wheelchair and leaned her head on her palm. "Can't we just leave, Nico?"

I extracted one of my Mayo Clinic business cards from the small cache I carried. "Let me see what I can do." I leaned over the back of the chair to look at her. "Wait for me here."

She stuck her tongue out at me. "I'm not going anywhere."

I kissed her on the cheek then moved to the Admissions desk. I jotted my mobile phone number on the back of the business card and handed it to the nurse. "I'm taking Miss Delacroix home," I said in my best Dr. God voice. "She was in Exam Room 4, the car accident case. If there are any questions on her care or chart, call me."

The flustered nurse took the card. "We have forms for her to fill out."

I held out my hand. "I'll see to it." I met the woman's gaze with an implacable stare, restraining a smile when she docilely put the stack into my hand. "Thank you. I'll get these back to you ASAP." I rejoined Lucinda before the nurse could speak.

I dropped the sheaf of papers into Lucinda's lap. "Your homework," I said as we trundled toward the door.

"Sir, I need to take her out." The skinny orderly was advancing on us.

I waved a hand. "I've got it. My car's outside. I'll bring the wheelchair right back." We were through the automatic doors before he could take another step.

Lucinda looked around the entrance. "Where's your car?"

"Around the corner. Hang on."

"What? Oh--"

Anything she might have said was lost in a breathless giggle as I took off at a lope. I pushed her as fast as I dared until we were out of the sight of the entrance, then I slowed. I looked down at her curly hair and slumped shoulders. A rage built that made me speechless. Someone tried to kill her. If I got my hands on the son of a bitch, I'd strangle him.

When we got to the Jag, Cerberus lunged against the doors, barking.
There she is, it's about time! What took you so long? Is she okay? What happened? What's wrong with her?

"Shut up," I snapped as the dog pressed against the rear window, his breath clouding the glass into obscurity. I clicked the remote control and the locks released with a
thunk
.

"Don't yell at him." Lucinda got up, almost falling as the chair tipped and her purse dragged her down. She reached for the door at the same moment I did. Our hands touched. Anger, fear and weariness slammed into me, as though someone had doused me in foreign emotions. She pulled back, but I was there and she ended up leaning against the car door and peering up at me. "What's happening, Nico? Why do I feel like this?"

"Like what?" I moved closer, our bodies just inches apart. I smelled disinfectant, soap and a faint perfume. It was a heady mixture.

Cerberus thumped against the car's window, woofing at us.
Come on! Come on, let's get going before we get arrested
.

"Damn that dog." I reached around Lucinda and opened the door. She fell as much as slid into the car. I stowed the wheelchair against a street lamp and got into the driver's side.

Cerberus was peering over Lucinda's shoulder as she rooted in her handbag. "Where's my phone? I need to call John and--Ah, here it is." She flipped it open as I started the car. "Damn, the battery's dead. I'll have to call him from the house." She pushed at Cerberus's head, which rested on her right shoulder. "Get back, that hurts."

Who did this?
He rested his chin on Lucinda's headrest, peering alternately down at her, then at me.
What did you find out? How is she?

"She's fine." I drove out of the parking space, thanking whatever God was watching that we hadn't encountered any more law enforcement. "She's just bruised and has some lacerations. She'll be fine if she rests."

Lucinda leaned her head against the seat and stared at me, her eyes laughing. "Who are you talking to? Cerberus?"

I checked the rearview mirror and sighed with relief. No one was following us, neither good guy nor bad guy. "What happened? Tell me about it."

She looked away, the humor vanishing. "It's none of your concern."

"It is my concern. You're my concern." We were in what passed for Burnsville's downtown district, but the driving didn't occupy my attention since the town only had one stoplight and two stop signs. We drove through the three blocks of shopping and were soon on the dark county road that led to her house. "Lucinda?" I glanced at her.

She stared out her window, her arms wrapped around herself, shivering. "Where's your coat?" I asked, reaching for the heater.

"I didn't wear one today."

"No coat? How come?" Her skirt, blouse and jacket looked like lightweight cotton, although her clothes were so badly wrinkled it was hard to tell.

"Who are you, the fashion police?" She huddled deeper in her seat.

"Fashion has nothing to do with it. I was thinking of more practical things, like staying warm."

"I didn't plan on being stranded by the side of the road. Besides, it's almost Easter."

She said it as though the fact of the holiday should have some effect on the weather. "I appreciate that, but--"

Be quiet
, Cerberus whispered.
Can't you tell she's upset? You're just making it worse
.

I opened my mouth to protest, but shut it without speaking. He was right, damn it. I hated when that happened.

We drove the last mile in silence, Lucinda staring out her window at the empty fields. When I pulled into the drive, she stirred. "I don't know where my key is." She started to fumble for her bag. "I always use the garage door opener."

"Let me check." I got out before she could say anything, turning off the car lights to hide my actions. When the motion light came on, I turned, blocking her view with my body. The lock on her side door was pitifully inadequate and I had it open in a few seconds, going inside and touching the button for the garage door. I rejoined her in the car and moved the Jag forward.

"How did you do that?" she asked as I parked in her garage.

"You must have left it unlocked." I opened the car door carefully. The sedan barely fit in the tight space. I winced when she swung her door open and I heard the soft thud as it hit the drywall on her side of the car. "Let me help you."

"I can manage." She wiggled out of the car then opened the back door. Cerberus snaked out of the car, vanishing immediately out the open garage.

Gotta pee, be right back
. His voice faded as he rounded the side of the building.

"Where is he going?" Lucinda started to follow him, barely able to move in the narrow space between car and garage wall.

"He'll be back." I met her at the Jag's trunk and pulled out the food I packed earlier, glad that I remembered it was still there. "Get inside, it's cold and you don't have a coat."

"What's that?" Lucinda eyed the picnic basket askance. "A picnic? You packed a picnic?" She shook her head. "You're the only person I know who would pack a picnic for an accident. You probably packed a bottle of wine too. And wine glasses. Real glass ones, not plastic."

"No, I didn't pack wine. I'm sure you have something we can drink." Now that she mentioned it, I was sorry I didn't pack a bottle. After all that had occurred in the last twenty-four hours, I felt in need of alcoholic refreshment.

"Sure, I've got some wine in a box and some beer."

Wine in a box? Good heavens, I didn't think anyone really drank that swill. She smiled at my expression. "Snob."

"That will be fine," I said through gritted teeth. "Let's get inside and enjoy it. I'll help you up the stairs."

"Quit acting like a mother hen." She sidestepped me and went up the stairs into her house, one step at a time. "Thanks for the ride. You can go now. I'll call John if I need anything. At least I've still got one sibling I can trust." She went into the house and I followed, almost getting hit in the face with the storm door as she swung it open.

"I'd like to help," I said as I entered the kitchen behind her.

"I don't need any help." Lucinda flipped a switch and lights came on over her stove and sink. "I'm fine. You can leave now." With practiced ease, she slipped out of her shoes and into a worn pair of bunny slippers that rested on the rug near the door.

"At least let me get this casserole in the oven," I said, removing it from the picnic basket.

"You're not staying to share it with me."

"Fine. You can enjoy it by yourself." I turned the oven on low and put the dish on the middle rack. "I'll just warm it."

Let me in, I'm done
, Cerberus woofed from the door behind me.

I turned to let him in just as two kittens came careening around a corner at the far end of the kitchen, sliding to a comical stop at the sight of Cerberus, who was shaking his fur, his legs splayed out and his huge feet planted solidly in the middle of the small foyer.
Hey, guys
, he murmured around an enormous yawn.

The kittens peered up at him from three feet away, astonishment plain on their faces. One was a gray tabby and the other orange with a white splotch on his face giving him a harlequin appearance.
It's a monster!
the tabby shouted.

Mommy! It's a MONSTER!
They scrabbled on the linoleum floor, baby claws scraping for traction on the slick tile. Two little furry butts vanished around the corner as fast as they'd appeared. Then I heard loud whispers.

Hey, wait a minute. Let's get big. We'll scare him
.

Yeah. Get big
.

Cerberus looked up at me.
Kids
, he said, deadpan. We both looked at the doorway. Two kittens came dancing around the corner, fur fluffed out, looking like pincushions bouncing on precarious needles.