“Because he said he’d be here and then they could finally be together. Chelsea and Nora have already added to the security and they’ve kept it out of the media, but it puts a sensitive twist on this.”
“Sensitive, my ass,” Mason bitched. “The officers on duty for the event need to be warned. Any details that are known about this stalker need to be relayed to them. Do you realize the damage it could do to the hospital if something happened? What it could do to Hope’s Toy Chest?”
“I’m all too aware of the legal aspects of this, which is why we need to make sure nothing goes wrong. Otherwise my ass is on the line too.”
“What?” Mason glared at him. “Shit, don’t tell me that you’re not going to tell the hospital administration.”
“I’ve made my decision.” He’d struggled with it until the early morning hours, but he planned to stick to it. If he told Annabell Booth or any of the administration, the event would be cancelled. They were endorsing the event and it would be a nightmare if something happened.
“You’re insane. A woman you barely know means enough to you that you’d risk your job?”
“I love her, always have, so yes.” A weight was lifted off his shoulders as he admitted for the first time he still had feelings for her. “That’s beside the point. We’re going to make sure nothing happens.”
“How do you expect us to do that?” Mason rose from the stool and paced. “If you’re not going to tell the hospital, how can I tell my commander? He’s Annabell’s fucking brother. You’re putting me in one hell of a spot.”
“I know.” He sighed. They were friends, but what he was asking went beyond a normal favor for a friend. “You can walk away now and you’re entitled to do whatever you feel is right, but I must ask you as a friend to consider what this means to Hope’s Toy Chest. They have put in a lot of work to make this event happen. The organization does so much for the children at the hospital.”
“Fuck, Turner.” Mason slammed his hand on the counter. “I know. Shelby goes to their playgroup every month and Chelsea brought her this doll when she finished her last chemo treatment. The organization is great but is this concert worth our careers, the hospital’s reputation, and possibly Leena’s safety?”
“She’s adamant about going forth with it and Chelsea is supporting her decision.”
“What about you?”
Turner gripped the counter, the granite cool under his touch. “If I have to go out on the stage and stand in front of her, I’ll make sure she’s safe.”
“My sister would say you’ve fallen hard for her.” Mason squeezed the bridge of his nose. “That’s going to make this more difficult.”
“How so?”
“If he believes she has affections for you, that could make you a target as well,” Mason explained, slipping into cop mode with ease.
“Let’s not make this more difficult. Just focus on her. She’s the one we need to keep safe.” He wasn’t concerned with his own safety and would prefer for that asshole to come after him instead of Leena. His Leena. Oh shit, I am falling hard.
“I’m on duty at six tonight until six tomorrow morning. Get her and her guards here at five and make damn sure no one else knows. We’ll put together a plan.” He grabbed his coffee and took a deep drink. “You’re going to owe me but you can start by getting Leena’s autograph for Shelby.”
“You keep her safe and I’ll do one better. I’ll get Leena to meet her and sign it personally in front of her.” He doubted it would take little convincing for Leena to agree to that, and he was deeply in Mason’s debt.
“You do that.” He set the mug down and headed for the door. “I’ll see you tonight.”
Now he just had to tell Leena what he had done. Now or never. He snatched his keys off the counter and headed to the garage. I’m going to protect you, Leena.
The hospital was quiet and the staff was busy getting ready for the day. Not wanting to interfere, Leena strolled down the halls, peeking into the rooms. Years ago when she’d been here, she remembered one of the nurses saying that some of the patients woke early and alone. No one should have to wake up alone in a place like this.
A soft sneeze echoed out of one of the rooms and when she glanced in she saw a young girl with a scarf tied around her head, alone and brushing a doll’s hair.
“Morning,” Leena said.
“I’m not doing anything bad.” She dropped the brush and hugged the doll to her chest. “Chelsea gave it to me yesterday. She’s mine.”
“I don’t want your doll. I saw you were up and thought you might like a visitor. May I come in?”
The young girl’s eyebrows knitted together. “No one visits me.”
Taking that as an invitation, Leena walked farther into the room and dragged the only chair close to the bed. “What’s your name?”
“Brandy.” Over the top of the doll’s head, she eyed Leena with suspicion. “You a doctor?”
“Nope, just a friend.” She ran her hand along the edge of the bed.
“Social worker, then?”
Social worker? What did this girl know about such people at her young age? “No, but since you seem eager to know what I do for a living, I’ll tell you. I’m a singer.”
“A singer?” Brandy eyed her, obviously taking in her jeans and blouse, and considering if she wanted to believe it. “You don’t look like one? You look too…normal.”
“Well, I’ll take that as a compliment. What do you expect me to be wearing? One of those fancy dresses for an award ceremony?” She lifted her leg and tugged up her pant leg to show her black cowboy boots with the silver swirls on the sides. “I’m wearing cowboy boots. They don’t go with dresses.”
“Those are pretty.” She leaned back against the bed, still holding her doll close. “Are you sure you’re not a social worker?”
She crossed her legs and shook her head. “I promise I’m not.”
“Then why are you here? I didn’t do anything.”
“Visiting. If you want me to leave, just say so. But I’ve come to put on a concert in the area. It’s to raise money for Hope’s Toy Chest and what they do here at the hospital. I had some time and thought I would see if anyone wanted to visit with me.”
“You’re Leena?” Brandy’s eyes widened.
With a smile, she nodded. “Then you know who I am, so you know I’m not a social worker.”
“Chelsea brought me your CD when she gave me the doll. She said you were coming here but I didn’t think she meant here to the hospital.”
“Well, I’m here.” Leena plucked fuzz off the thin hospital blanket and tried not to think how much Brandy reminded her of a younger Meredith. “How old are you?”
“Seven. I think…I don’t really know. I was just dropped off at the police station a year ago. My mother handed me a note and told me to go inside and give it to them.” She smoothed the doll’s hair down. “I stood at the bottom of the steps to the police station and watched her drive away. She left me because I’m sick.”
“I’m sorry.” Leena leaned forward and placed her hand over Brandy’s arm. “What about your dad?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I never knew him. It’s just me now, and I’m stuck here. No one wants a sick child.”
“Oh, sweetie, I’m sure that’s not true.”
“It is.” The first tear rolled down Brandy’s cheek. “I was in a home before but when I started getting sick again they made me leave.”
A knock echoed into the room from the door behind them. “Little miss Brandy…” The young nurse paused at the doorway, her eyes wide with shock. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know you had a visitor. Brandy has chemo scheduled now, so I’ll have to ask you to excuse us.”
“Don’t go.” Brandy cupped her hand over Leena’s. “Please, Carly, can’t I do it later? I never get visitors.”
“Shh, sweetie.” Leena leaned closer to Brandy. “This is going to help you get better, so go with Carly and I’ll come back to visit you later this aft
ernoon.”
“Promise?” Brandy whispered.
“I do.” She squeezed the young girl’s hand. “Be brave and I’ll see you soon.”
“She’ll be tired when she gets back.” Carly came over to the bed and pulled up the sidebar railing.
“I know. I’ll let her rest, and if she’s sleeping I’ll let her sleep.” She glanced back at Brandy. “I’ll be back soon.”
Her chest felt tight as she strolled from the room. It broke her heart that Brandy was all alone. That poor little girl had been abandoned by those who were supposed to protect her. Left all alone to fight the battle against cancer. How could any parent just abandon their child when they needed them the most?
6
Chapter Six
Turner and Kendrick scanned the hospital lobby looking for Leena. She had snuck off without either of her guards, and while Matt waited back at the hotel in case she returned, they searched the only other place they thought to look for her. What the hell was she thinking going off on her own? His anger was only outshined by his concern for her safety. She had just come back into his life and while he didn’t think there was any chance for them to pick up where they left off years ago, he wasn’t about to see her get herself killed.
“She’s not here.” Kendrick’s gaze still traveled over the people milling about. “We’ve gone through the list of patients Nora gave us and searched each floor. Where could she have gone?”
“There’s one last place.” It came out more like a whisper than Turner had expected as he jogged toward the elevator. There was only one other place she could have been. Labor and Delivery. She used to visit that area when she was having a hard time dealing with Meredith’s health or her parents. She’d watch the babies through the observation glass.
“Where?”
“Downstairs with the newborns.” They stepped into the empty elevator and Turner pressed floor zero.
“There’s Labor and Delivery here?”
“We’re not just a hospital for oncology children.” Turner let out a deep sigh and made a mental note to talk to Annabel about expanding their image. They were one of the best children’s oncology hospitals but there was more happening within this building than just treating cancer. “We treat more high risk pregnancies and babies each year than anywhere else in the state.”
“Guess I never thought about places like this.” Kendrick shook his head. “Who wants to think about sick children?”
“That’s the problem.” The elevator doors slid open, he stepped out, and there was Leena standing in front of the nursery glass window. Her hair was pulled back in a twist, holding it up and off her back. Her light blue jeans and blouse made her look like a normal visitor to the hospital, not like someone who’d climbed the charts and stepped on stage to entertain thousands of people. Lust flared within him, but as he neared her he noticed the way her shoulders sank and her eyes narrowed in deep thought.
“What the hell were you thinking, Leena?” Kendrick demanded before Turner could find out what was wrong.
“I…um…” Her words trailed off as she continued to stare at the infants.
“Kendrick, give us a minute.” Turner tipped his head toward the elevator. The guard looked over the top of Leena’s head at him and opened his mouth to protest but then nodded and strolled away. He wasn’t sure if the distant look in Leena’s eyes did it or Turner’s heated gaze. Either way it worked and Kendrick stood near the elevator. It wasn’t complete privacy but it would do for the moment.
Turner touched the back of her shoulder, gently rubbing before working along the curve of her back. “Are you okay? Have you heard from him?” He stressed the last word so that she would know what he meant.
“No, I’m fine.” She paused and finally looked up at him. “It’s not that, I was just thinking.”
“You don’t seem fine.” When he saw the distant look in her eyes again, he squeezed her shoulder. “I’d better get a doctor to look at you.”
“No really, I’m fine. I need…” She paused as if trying to determine what she truly needed. “I need a drink, a stiff one.”
“Come on.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and tugged her against his body. “Let’s go up to my office and you can tell me why you’re worked up. Push the elevator button, Kendrick, we’re going upstairs.”
With a soft ding the elevator doors opened and the three of them stepped inside, when Kendrick pushed the floor number and turned to Leena. “Did he contact you directly?”
“No.” She leaned into Turner’s embrace, pressing the length of her body against his side. “Nothing like that.”
“What the hell were you thinking leaving without guards? I gave you direct orders to contact me when you wanted to leave the bus.”
“I know.” She didn’t even bother to defend her actions which sparked additional alarm bells for Turner.
“You put yourself in a dangerous position.” The elevator doors opened again and Kendrick stepped out, checking the hallway before she emerged.
The administration floor was quiet this early in the day. Most employees wouldn’t be in until nine, but there were a few going about their daily activities. Unconcerned about anyone else, Turner kept his arm tight around her and strolled toward his office. He’d get her inside, sitting down, and then he’d question her.
“I…shouldn’t be here.” She glanced around the area before her gaze fell on Grace, Annabell’s secretary, who was already behind her desk hard at work. “Everyone’s working.”
“You’re fine here. We’re going to get you a drink and if you want, I’ll take you back to your hotel.” He had never seen her this dazed before. She shivered under his touch and seemed ready to cry. It was so unlike the strong Leena he had always known.
“I’m going to call Matt and let him know she’s been located.” Kendrick tugged his cell phone off the clip of his jeans.
With a nod, Turner added, “Give us a few minutes.” If she didn’t seem more herself after that time, he’d have one of the doctors check her over. He slid his key into the lock as the guard took up his post. “Come on.”
“I’m fine.” She protested as he led her toward the chairs.
“I know.”
“She’s so young…so alone.” She sank down onto the chair and buried her face in her hands. “Some people don’t understand how precious children are.”
He grabbed the bottle of whiskey that one of his co-workers gave him for his birthday the month before, and two glasses. It was early and he rarely drank but if a sip of the hard stuff would pull her from this shock, he’d do it. He strolled over to her. “You had all of us concerned about you.” Hell, you still do.
“I didn’t mean to.” Her reply was muffled by her hands.
Just like when he had to interview someone as a lawyer, he decided to take it slow and work his way to what had her upset. It would help her calm down. That and the two fingers of whiskey he’d just poured in the glasses. “What was so important that you had to come without alerting Kendrick?”
“I just didn’t think about them. I grabbed the keys to the rental I had delivered to the hotel and drove over here. I couldn’t sleep and I remembered Meredith saying that some of the parents who left during the night wouldn’t come in until late. I figured it was a good time to visit.” She took the glass he held out to her but didn’t take a drink. “Brandy…”
“Who?” He set the bottle and his glass aside without bothering to pour himself any.
“I don’t know her last name. I’m not sure she does either.” She tilted the glass back and forth, watching the warm brown liquid slosh about. “She’s a young girl I visited with this morning.”
“So that’s what has you upset?” He laid his hand over hers. “Visiting with one of the children has made you think about Meredith. Leena, that’s only natural. I had been here nearly a year before I could stop by and visit with the patients, or be any assistance to Hope’s Toy Chest besides buying or wrapping the gifts. It took tim
e for me, and it will take time before the children no longer remind you of Meredith.”
“Meredith?” She shook her head. “No, it’s not that. I’ve accepted what happened…that’s a lie, but I was prepared for it. This is different.”
“Then tell me.” He squeezed her hand. “You can tell me whatever it is.”
She brought the glass to her lips and paused before finally taking a sip. “Oh, shit.” She winced as the liquid burned its way down her throat. “That’s awful.”
“Not much on hard liquors, are you?” he teased. “This is aged until perfection, until it’s woody and smooth enough to slide down your throat with ease.” Good whiskey was one of his only indulgences.
She set the glass on the edge of his desk. “I needed that. It burned its way down my throat and into my stomach and made me accept things. I’ve opened my eyes and there’s no going back.”
“Opened them to what?”
“What I really want.” She twirled the ring on her finger, back and forth a few times before finally looking up at him. “There’s a young girl downstairs. She’s sick and the people who were supposed to protect her and be by her side through this terrible ordeal have abandoned her.”
“Brandy.” Even if he hadn’t known the girl himself, he connected her to earlier comments she’d made. “She’s a sweet child who’s been given a crummy hand.”
“How can a parent just walk away from their child?” Her voice broke before she took a deep breath. “To leave a child alone to go through what she’s going through…damn it, if I ever get my hands on them they’ll wish they were dead.”
“Leena.” He squeezed her hand.
“I’m sorry.” She pulled her hand out of his and rose from the chair to pace his office. “It tears something apart inside of me to see her down there all alone and scared. But I shouldn’t be talking to you about this.”
“Why?” He stayed where he was and gave her the space she obviously needed at the moment. “Because my parents did the same thing?”
“Yes.”
Leena’s Dream Page 4
