Max wanted to argue. Shutting this down right away seemed like a good option. He couldn’t, though. The naked fear on her face was enough to cause him to stumble ... and he had no intention of doing that when she clearly needed him to stand with her. “Fine.” He threw up his hands in defeat. “I’m going to help you get into that room. You have to make me a promise, though.”
“Anything you want.” Ivy mimed crossing her heart.
“When Jack asks how you managed this, I want you to forget my name because he’s going to be ticked enough to kick my ass over this and I don’t like getting my ass kicked.”
Ivy held back a smirk ... er, well, at least mostly. “I promise not to rat you out to Jack.”
“And you promise to be careful,” he added. “This entire situation sounds wonky and I don’t want you getting yourself in even more trouble. You’re already on probation.”
Ivy had considered that, and then immediately discarded it. She couldn’t ignore the situation no matter how hard she tried. “I’m going to be careful. I just need five minutes with her.”
“Okay.” Max reached over and squeezed her hand. “Let’s see what we can do, huh?”
MAX HAD THE SORT OF GOOD LOOKS that stopped even the most practical women in their tracks. Ivy entered the hospital first and breezed past the receptionist, who was different from the one on duty earlier, but equally young, and headed toward the gift shop as if she knew exactly where she was going.
That left Max to schmooze the young blonde looking bored as she futzed around with her phone.
“Hello.” Max’s voice was low and gravelly as he sauntered up to the desk. It was still relatively early in the afternoon so the after-work rush hadn’t started yet. Other than Ivy, who was making a big show of looking at balloons, he was the only one in the lobby. “How are you?”
The young woman wore a name tag that read “India” and she barely glanced up. “I’m great. How are you?” Slowly, she lifted her eyes … and then did a huge double-take when she realized the individual sucking up her valuable attention was a lot more interesting than she initially envisioned. “Um ... do you need something?”
“Actually, I do.” Max knew exactly how to charm the opposite sex and it was on full display now. “I need to find a patient.”
“Sure. Do you have a name?”
“Bethany Parker.”
India stilled. “Sure. Just give me a second.” She started typing on the computer. “Is she a sister or something? Maybe a mother?”
“She’s neither, but I am doing this as a favor for my sister,” Max replied. He knew exactly what the woman was asking, despite her roundabout way of doing it. “That’s what I get for being single and unattached. My sister always hits me up for favors because she knows I respect women too much and can always be convinced by a ‘pretty please’ and a little whining.”
India sat up straighter in her chair. “You’re unattached, huh?”
For an instant, Max felt guilty about floating the lie. For the first time in a long time he was attached to someone ... and he liked her a great deal. In fact, he couldn’t remember liking anyone as much as he liked her. Of course, it wasn’t as if he was going to date India. He was just flirting for information. It wasn’t as if Amy would have a problem with that, especially when she found out he was doing it to help Ivy. As far as Amy was concerned, Ivy walked on water. She would’ve been angrier if he’d turned down his sister’s request.
“I am.” Max’s smile never faltered. “It’s a burden to bear, but I figure I’ll find my match eventually.”
“Do you believe in that?” India asked hopefully. “I mean ... that there’s one match out there for everybody.”
“As a matter of fact, I do.”
“That’s ... great.” India stared at him wistfully for a moment and then turned her attention back to the computer. “Oh, um, I’m not supposed to give out Bethany’s room number. There’s a notation next to her name. No one is allowed up.”
“Oh, no.” Max feigned devastation. “That’s horrible. I didn’t even want to bother her. I just wanted to look through the door and make sure she’s okay.”
“I don’t know anything about her,” India hedged.
“She’s the woman who was shot in the Bellaire framing store yesterday,” Max replied smoothly. “My sister was in the store at the time. She helped keep Bethany alive until the paramedics arrived. Since then she’s been ... well ... very upset. It’s not every day you stand in front of a crazed gunman and live to tell the tale. I was hoping that if I saw Bethany and could report that she was doing okay that my sister would stop being so afraid.”
“Aw.” Absolute adoration swept across India’s face. “That is ... wow. It sounds like you’re tight with your sister.”
“I am. She’s essentially my best friend. When I was a child my mother taught me that all women deserve respect and, in turn, I made sure that my sister was always respected. This is going to crush her.”
“Well ... .” Uncertain, India glanced around to make sure nobody was listening. “I guess it can’t hurt to just look in through the door. You promise you’re not going to bother her, right?”
“I swear it.”
“She’s on the seventh floor. Room 703. Just ... don’t tell anyone up there I told you if you get stopped.”
“I won’t say a word. I swear it.”
“THAT WAS ... .”
Ivy couldn’t find words to describe her brother’s performance as they piled into the elevator together three minutes later. It took Max that long to extricate himself from India’s rather pointed attempts to get him to ask her out.
“Amazing?” Max prodded as he hit the correct button.
“I was going to say disgusting,” Ivy shot back. “You had that poor girl actually thinking she had a shot with you.”
“So? She’ll get over me ... eventually.” Max’s smile was smug. “It felt good to flirt with a complete stranger. It’s been a while.”
Ivy shot him a sidelong look. “I thought you were happy with Amy.”
She sounded so panicked Max could do nothing but grin. “I am happy with Amy, you big worrier.” He poked her side in a way he knew would agitate her. “I have no intention of going back to my wild ways. I’m just saying ... I don’t want to get rusty. Who knows when you might need my services again?”
“Yeah. Who knows?” Ivy rolled her eyes as they exited the elevator. The signs on the wall directed them which way to go, and Ivy was relieved to find the hallway all but empty. Once they found the correct room, they discovered the door was open. Bethany was inside, propped up on pillows, and her eyes were closed. Though pale, she didn’t exactly look as if she was at death’s door. “So ... should I go in?”
Max pinned her with a dubious look. “I thought that was the entire reason for you wanting to come here. If you stay in the hallway, it was a wasted trip.”
“My second wasted trip of the day,” she muttered, taking a moment to glance back in the direction they came. The coast was still clear. “Okay, well ... I’m going in.”
Max gave her an encouraging smile. “I’ll hang out here and serve as a lookout. Try not to take too long.”
“Don’t worry. I’m going to be in and out as soon as I can.” She paused by the door. “Hey, you should’ve told India that was your motto. Then she would’ve gladly let you go without trying to dig her fingernails into your wrist the way she did.”
Max scowled. “Oh, that’s the way it’s going to be, huh? See if I ever help you again.”
Ivy chuckled, the small sparring session serving as a relaxant as she slid into the room. Once separated from Max, she found her courage lacking. As she stared at the vulnerable-looking woman in the bed she realized she couldn’t wake her up. She didn’t have it in her.
She was just about to make her escape — and prepared to listen to Max’s endless complaining for the ride home — when Bethany slowly opened her eyes.
Ivy was caught off guard as the w
oman’s muddled orbs locked with Ivy’s conflicted stare. “I’m so sorry,” she offered lamely. “I didn’t mean to disturb you. I just wanted to see how you were doing.”
Bethany’s eyes were glassy and she appeared confused. “I ... are you a nurse?”
Ivy considered lying but knew that it would only make her look worse should she get caught. “No. I ... we met yesterday. Well, ‘met’ isn’t the best word. We saw each other yesterday. Do you remember that?”
“I ... .” Bethany trailed off, clearly searching her memory. Finally, she swallowed hard and nodded. “You were in the store.”
“I was.” Now that Bethany was awake and talking Ivy had no intention of backing off. She’d come to ask questions, and that’s exactly what she was going to do. “I was there when it happened.”
“When it happened,” Bethany echoed, heaving out a sigh. “I keep waking up and thinking it was a dream ... and then I remember it wasn’t a dream. I’m really here and I was hurt.”
“You were definitely hurt,” Ivy agreed, forcing a smile that didn’t make it all the way to her eyes. “Do you know why it happened? I know you’ve probably already been questioned by the police, but I can’t get it out of my head. Before he did it, you came into the store and asked for help. Were you running from him? Did you know he was right behind you?”
“I ... don’t ... .” Bethany’s forehead wrinkled as she concentrated. “Everyone has questions for me. The police keep demanding answers, but I don’t have them. I can’t really remember what happened. It’s difficult to put my thoughts in order.”
“You don’t remember anything?” Ivy tamped down the bitter disappointment threatening to overwhelm her. “I know you’re probably confused and in a lot of pain, but anything you can tell me would help.”
“I’m not in that much pain. They’ve got me on really heavy medication. That’s why I’m so confused. It makes me sleepy and fogs up my head. I’m sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry for bothering you.” Ivy was instantly contrite. “I honestly didn’t mean to upset you. It’s just ... I want to figure out who did this to you. What happened was awful. I’ve never seen anything like it and I don’t want to again. I thought if you could point me in the right direction ... .” She didn’t finish what she was going to say. She realized how ridiculous it sounded and caught herself.
“I remember your face,” Bethany said after a beat, her tone low and dragged out. “That’s how I knew I was shot. I didn’t feel anything. I thought it was weird, but there was nothing. Then I saw your face and my knees started to go out from under me. I figured I was dead.”
“But you’re going to be okay, right? Your sister came to see me today. She said you were going to be all right.”
“That’s what they say.” Bethany forced a tight smile. “I don’t exactly feel like myself right now so it’s hard for me to agree. I feel numb, as if I’m trapped outside of my own body. That probably sounds weird.”
Ivy moved closer to the bed and shook her head. “No. I get it.” On instinct, she reached out and grabbed the injured woman’s hand, giving it a good squeeze. She was hopeful she would get one of the psychic flashes she was still getting used to but there was nothing. She had no idea if it was because she was trying too hard or Bethany’s mind was too blunted from the drugs they’d given her.
“I don’t want you to worry about this,” Ivy said. “You just need to focus on getting better. The cops will find out who did this and then you’ll be perfectly safe.”
“Yeah. The cops.” Bethany frowned as she said the words. “They’ve been here a few times today. They keep asking me the same questions as you. They’re a little meaner when I say I can’t remember, though.”
“Well ... they’re just trying to solve this and make sure you’re safe,” Ivy reassured her. “It’s going to be okay.”
“Yeah.” Bethany’s eyes drooped. “I’m sorry. I’m going to fall asleep again. I wish I could’ve been more help.”
“Don’t even think about it. You just focus on getting better.” Ivy moved to drop the woman’s hand and slink out of the room, but Bethany gripped her tightly before she could.
“I do remember one thing,” Bethany said on a whisper, her eyes still closed.
“What?” Ivy prodded, anxious.
“I think someone was following me. All day. Up until then. I felt as if someone was following me. I think he might’ve caught up.”
Ivy’s blood ran cold at the way Bethany phrased it. “I think he might have, too.” Carefully, Ivy extricated her hand. “Don’t worry. I’m going to find who did this to you. I’m going to make sure you’re safe.”
Bethany didn’t respond. She couldn’t. She was dead to the world.
When Ivy turned to leave, she found a familiar figure standing behind her. Archibald, his eyes filled with fury, gripped his hands into fists and glared at her.
“Uh-oh,” Ivy gulped.
“Uh-oh is right,” Archibald hissed. “You’re in a lot of trouble now, missy. Just you wait.”
12
Twelve
Ivy thought there was a legitimate possibility that her heart might pound out of her chest. She faced Archibald, her mind going a mile a minute, and briefly wondered if she was about to be arrested. Her thoughts, unbidden, flew to Jack. What would he say? Would he be able to bail her out? Was she about to be buried?
For his part, Archibald looked almost gleeful. “Do you want to tell me how you got in here?”
“I rode the elevator,” Ivy replied blankly.
“No. How did you find out what room she was in?”
“Oh, lucky guess. I just wandered around until I found her.”
Archibald didn’t look convinced. “Uh-huh. And what did she say to you?”
Suspicion flooded her as Ivy struggled to remain calm. There was still a chance she could get out of this. That definitely wouldn’t happen if she mouthed off. “I just wanted to know if she remembered who shot her. I want to make sure this guy doesn’t get away with what he’s done.”
“And what did she say?”
“She’s having trouble remembering. She doesn’t know, although she thinks she was being followed.”
Archibald’s eyebrows hopped. “Followed? She didn’t mention that to us.”
“Well, she seems out of it. Maybe try questioning her again when she wakes up.” Ivy decided to be bold and tried to slide around Archibald. His hand snaked out and grabbed her arm roughly, though.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Ivy glared at the spot where he held her. “I would appreciate it if you would take your hands off of me.”
“And what if I don’t feel like it?”
That was a very good question and Ivy was bereft of an answer. “Well ... .”
Max picked that moment to stick his head into the room. He looked worried. “Hey. What’s going on?”
Ivy had never been so happy to see someone in her entire life. “This is Detective Archibald. He’s not really happy with me right now.”
“That’s an understatement,” Archibald growled.
“Okay, well, apologize and we’ll get out of here, Ivy. I want to get back home before rush hour.”
Even though she would’ve preferred gargling broken glass, Ivy nodded stiffly. “I apologize, Detective. I didn’t mean to step on your toes.”
Archibald’s grip didn’t ease. “Well, you did.” His gaze was speculative as it roamed her face. He was so close that she could feel his breath on her cheeks and it caused her stomach to churn. “I can’t quite figure you out. You seem pretty full of yourself.”
Max cleared his throat. “That’s my sister.”
Archibald ignored him. “Are you this way because you snagged a cop and you think he can get you out of anything? Your boyfriend has an interesting history. Did you know he was shot by his own partner and left for dead? It turns out the partner was dirty and the cops down there think Jack might’ve been a part of it.”
Ivy balked. “That’s not even remotely true.”
“He didn’t tell you about being shot?”
Ivy’s fury was on full display when she jerked her arm away. She kept her eyes trained on Archibald as she circled toward Max, who looked as if he was about to come out of his skin. “That part is true,” she offered. “He wasn’t working with his partner, though. He was shot because he was getting close to uncovering the truth. Jack is a good man. You don’t need to try to taint his reputation to prop up your own.”
Archibald snickered. “Oh, is that what you think I’m doing? I have news for you. I don’t trust either you or your boyfriend. I know you had something to do with this.”
“Then you’re an idiot.” Ivy let out a relieved sigh when she reached Max’s side. “You don’t understand a man like Jack because you can never rise to his level. You’re looking in the wrong place, Detective. You might try expanding your field of vision.”
“Uh-huh.” Archibald pursed his lips as he regarded her. “You’re going to want to be careful,” he said after a beat. “This game you’re playing ... well ... it’s going to get you into trouble.” He shifted his gaze to Max. “You’re her older brother, right? That means it’s your job to watch her.”
“I know my job,” Max said as he tugged on Ivy’s arm. “My sister is a good person. You really are barking up the wrong tree here. You should be looking for the killer, not harassing her.”
“I happen to believe I’m doing both.”
“Well ... .” Max felt out of his element. With Jack he could tease him and not worry that it would be taken the wrong way. It was the exact opposite with Archibald. “I think I’ll be taking my sister and going now. It was nice to meet you.”
Archibald’s snort was disdainful. “Yes. It was a true meeting of the minds.” He watched Ivy with a mixture of glee and suspicion as she eased out of the room with her brother. “I’ll be seeing you soon, Ms. Morgan.”
Wicked Reunion Page 11
