Side Effects

by VK Powell

  A light tap on the door announced the doctor’s arrival just before she stepped inside. “How are you feeling today, Jordan?” Doctor Newkirk, a petite woman with blond hair and bright-green eyes, nodded at Neela and reached for the chart at the foot of the bed. “Are you ready to go home?”

  “Yes, please.” Jordan tugged at the restraints on her arms. “I’m even more ready to get out of these things.”

  “Promise not to pull your IV out again?” Jordan nodded, and the doctor unbuckled the straps and let them fall to the side of the bed. “Better?”

  Jordan stared at the red marks around her wrists and fought down a wave of queasiness. She rubbed the indentions and breathed deeply through her mouth. When she looked up, Neela was smiling at her. She was momentarily lost in the warmth and the total absence of pity in her eyes. Slowly but surely, she could learn to accept and return these kinds of feelings.

  “Everything looks in order. We can take the IV out in a couple more hours. I want to make sure you’re sufficiently hydrated. Your blood pressure is back up, and that nasty wound is bandaged again. Try not to put too much stress on it for the next week.”

  “When can I leave?”

  “I’ll have the release order ready by mid-afternoon. Soon enough?”

  “Not really, but it’ll have to do. Thank you, Doctor Newkirk.”

  The doctor smiled on her way out, and Bex and Liz slid in around her. “Always the impatient one. Is she still causing problems?” Bex hugged Neela and gave Jordan’s leg a squeeze. “I know you’re healing and still flat on your back, but we’ve got things to talk about.”

  “Like where’s my bike,” Jordan said. “Hi, Liz.”

  “Handled. It’s at your apartment.”

  “Thanks, Bex. But in case you hadn’t heard, I’m not working, not even light duty yet.”

  “I know, but you need something to keep your mind sharp.” Bex knew if Jordan wasn’t riding or screwing, she was working. And right now she needed to concentrate on something besides what had just happened to her. “And then there’s the phone call Neela got.”

  “What phone call?” Jordan tried to push herself up on the bed and winced.

  “Careful with your shoulder,” Neela said. “I haven’t had time to tell you about that. Somebody left a threatening message on my cell the day…the last time I saw you.”

  “I thought we were in the clear after you resigned.”

  “So did I.”

  Bex waved a folder in the air. “He said Neela’s made a big mistake of some sort. Not sure if he’s talking about her resignation or something else. The lab guys have analyzed the message for background noise but didn’t find anything. They’re doing a voice-print analysis for comparison with other samples. Still nothing concrete.”

  “And the shooter?” Jordan’s head was still fuzzy from the drugs, but she wanted to stay awake and concentrate. If Neela was still in danger, she had to help find the suspect.

  “I talked to the Crimes Against Persons detectives this morning. The license plate on the SUV was stolen, big surprise there, and none of the witnesses saw enough to compile a composite. They were too busy diving behind cars after the shots. So we’re back to square one.”

  Jordan reached for the water cup and took a big gulp, letting the cold liquid soothe her sore throat and clear her head. “I’ve been thinking about the Guilford Citizens for Equality group. They’ve always conducted peaceful protests. Over nine hundred of their members have been arrested so far for trespassing and failing to disperse because of their objections to Governor Lloyd’s agenda. I suppose it’s possible one of them fixated on Neela, but that seems far-fetched. Besides, this group is in favor of a woman’s right to choose, so it’s unlikely they’d target her because of her stance on abortion. We’ve got to be missing something.”

  Neela cleared her throat. “Do you really think now is the best time for this? You’ve been through a pretty rough ordeal. Shouldn’t you rest a bit before launching back in full tilt?”

  Jordan took her hand and tried her best to be reassuring. She definitely wasn’t one hundred percent, but she had to focus on something besides her ordeal, as Neela called it. “Thank you for being concerned, but I really need to do this. Can you understand?”

  “Of course, but I don’t have to listen to all this police talk and be bored senseless, do I?” Neela grabbed Liz’s hand and pulled her toward the door. “We’ll be in the gourmet hospital cafeteria. Want anything?”

  She and Bex shook their heads, and when the door closed behind them, Jordan turned to her friend. She was grateful to Bex for finding her and possibly saving her life, but she was also upset she’d taken Neela with her.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Bex said. “But I didn’t have any choice. She’d been trying to get in touch with you for two days, and she was an emotional mess. When I let it slip I might have an idea where you were, I couldn’t stop her. She can be pretty stubborn too.”

  “I didn’t want her to know about my past there. It’s not pretty.”

  “It’s also not your fault. Crappy things happen to all of us, but we don’t have to let them define who we are. Who doesn’t have issues? Neela and I care about you, and we’re not going anywhere. Now, can we get back to business? All this touchy-feely talk is making me nostalgic for Liz.”

  “I guess that’s going pretty well?”

  “Better than. She’s the absolute best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

  “I’m glad for both of you. Seriously. I’m afraid to hope for something that good.” She pointed at the folder Bex had yet to open. “Want to tell me why you’re really here before the Betadine has dried on my injuries?”

  She pulled up a chair next to the bed. “You’re not as drugged as I thought.” She opened the folder and emptied the contents onto Jordan’s legs. “Remember these?”

  “The most contentious legislative initiatives coming up for approval this term.”

  “Right. You said you might’ve found something.”

  “Nothing in the text itself, but I started wondering who was driving these proposals and what they had to gain from them,” Jordan said.

  “Me too, and I bet we came up with the same person.”

  “Elliot Ramsey?”

  “Bingo,” Bex said. “He’s got his fingers in a lot of pies, most of them leading back to the governor’s mansion.”

  Jordan started to say something else, but she heard laughter outside the door. Neela and Liz came in giggling like two schoolgirls who’d been trading secrets. Liz handed Bex a coffee and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Are we interrupting something?”

  Jordan nodded for Neela to sit. “Does the name Elliot Ramsey mean anything to you?”

  “Seriously? You’d have to live under a rock in North Carolina not to know who he is. Ramsey is the Karl Rove of the Lloyd administration, but it goes beyond that. He was not only the governor’s strategist for the last election, but he was also his moneyman. Why?”

  “Where does his money come from?” Bex asked.

  “Officially, he made billions in tobacco and textiles when he was younger and diversified later. Unofficially, he receives generous donations from politicians and businessmen all over the country. He’s established think tanks to conduct surveys and push the conservative agenda.”

  “Have you ever heard of him being involved in anything shady?” Jordan asked.

  Neela gave her an adoring smile. “Darling, he’s a politician. I’d be surprised if he wasn’t. Men like Elliot Ramsey seldom make as much money as he does without being involved in something improper. Please tell me you’re not about to rattle his cage.”

  Jordan focused her attention on the documents scattered across the foot of her bed. “Only if he’s rattling yours.”

  “And how do we find out,” Bex asked. “It’s not like we can just walk up to him and ask, and we certainly can’t get a tap on his phone without a warrant.”

  “We do it the old-fashioned way—�
��

  “Stakeout. I hate those damn things.”

  “Can I come?” Liz kissed the top of Bex’s head. “I’d make the time pass a lot faster.”

  “I’m certain of that,” Bex said, “but I’m afraid not. My partner wouldn’t like it if I two-timed her with another woman on a stakeout.”

  “First, I need to get out of here. Then we’ll talk about how. We’ll keep eyes on him night and day to identify his associates. Even that might not give us what we need, but we have to start somewhere. In the meantime, Bex, see if you can quietly get a list of his business interests. That could help us narrow the field of players.”

  “I’m on it.”

  Neela had remained silent for too long, and Jordan could feel her anxiety building. She reached for her hand, but Neela stood and walked toward the door. “I’ll see if I can find those discharge papers.”

  “What?” Bex looked at Liz. “Did I say something wrong?”

  “No, honey. She’s worried Wonder Woman will get herself hurt again or worse. She’s not used to caring about somebody who puts herself in danger on purpose. Her life was very quiet and settled until you two showed up. Give her some time. She’ll be fine.” Liz gathered the empty coffee cups and dropped them in the trash on her way out. “I’ll see if I can help her, and then I’ll bring the car around front. Text me when you’re coming down.”

  Jordan shook her head. “Am I destined to always be in trouble with Neela?”

  “Pretty much a given.” Bex stuffed the papers back in the folder. “I’ll let you get dressed. Your clean clothes are in that trendy paper bag over there, but I’m getting tired of being your handmaiden so stop getting hurt.”

  When Bex opened the door to leave, Molly came in. They exchanged a brief nod before Molly said, “Well, looks like I made it just in time. I heard you had quite an interesting visit to the old home place.”

  “How did you know I was here?” Molly glanced back toward the door. “Bex. She shouldn’t have called you.”

  “She’s your friend, and she wanted to make sure you were okay. Are you okay?”

  “I think so. I haven’t processed it yet, but I think going back might’ve helped. At least I was able to vent some of my anger. We’ll see.”

  “So, not ready to talk about it?”

  “Not quite yet. Is that all right?”

  Molly took her hands and waited for Jordan to look at her. “Of course. Whenever you’re ready, I’ll be here. Just remember, you’ve faced it head-on. Everything else is downhill. Let your friends be there for you. It looks like you have some good ones. Take care, Jordan.”

  “Thanks for coming by.” Molly gave her a quick hug and slipped out. A few minutes later the nurse came in to remove Jordan’s IV.

  Alone again, Jordan stood and gripped the chair arm until a brief wave of nausea passed. The drug fog had partially lifted, and except for the exhaustion, she felt pretty normal. She pulled the hospital gown off and quickly dressed. When Neela returned, she was sitting in a chair by the window tapping her foot anxiously.

  “I would’ve helped you get dressed.”

  “I’m fine, just a little weak. Come sit with me.” She waited until Neela pulled up a chair and rested a hand on Jordan’s lap. “Have I done something else to upset you, beyond the normal annoying stuff I seem to do without realizing it?”

  “I’m just worried about you. It’s what I do. I’m worried you’re leaving the hospital too soon, blocking what happened yesterday without dealing with it, going back to work too quickly, getting involved with a man who could have you killed. Is that enough, because I could go on.”

  She covered Neela’s hand with hers. “You’re a wonderful woman who worries too much about me and everyone else. Trust me, I haven’t blocked what happened yesterday, and I’m not avoiding it. I just need to deal with things in my own way, and that involves work for the time being. As for the job, taking risks is what I do, and I can’t change that.”

  Neela leaned forward and kissed Jordan lightly, then more urgently. “I don’t expect you to change anything. Just please be careful.”

  “You have my word.”

  “Let’s go home.” Neela stood and offered her hand.

  When Jordan entwined their fingers, she felt a sliver of hope. Neela had learned one of the most horrible things about Jordan’s life and was still supportive and understanding. Maybe Neela could accept the rest of her story and still care about her. Only time, a huge amount of courage, and a little luck would tell.

  Bina was standing in the doorway with Blue when Neela and Jordan pulled up to the house. Blue broke Bina’s hold and greeted Jordan the instant she opened the car door. “Hey there, fella. How’ve you been?” He licked her hand and wagged his tail like a windshield wiper gone berserk. “I’ve missed you too.” She knelt in the grass and stroked his fur for several minutes before waving to the protection officers across the street and going inside.

  When she got to the threshold, Bina grabbed her around the waist, unable to reach her neck even on tiptoes. “You have been gone too long, my Jordan. How are you?”

  “Better now,” she said and hugged Bina again. “I’ve missed your gorgeous face.”

  “Come in. We will have tea and cake.”

  She nodded to Blue, who was now posted at her side. “Looks like you’ve been feeding him too many cakes. Huh?”

  Bina’s cocoa skin flushed a bit darker before she hobbled toward the kitchen, waving her hand to say, no matter.

  Neela took Jordan’s arm as they walked down the hall, her cast tapping a slow rhythm. “My mother is very taken with you. Please don’t break her heart.”

  “Does she know about…what’s happened between us?”

  “No, but I told her about my sexuality.”

  Jordan stopped and stared in disbelief. “You what?”

  “I don’t like secrets. That’s how I live my life.”

  Jordan tried to imagine life without her skeletons but lost track of how her revelations would change everything. Would the relief of sharing her darkest secrets be worth the possibility of rejection? She wouldn’t have nearly as many people to confide in as Neela did, but the task still seemed daunting. Neela either didn’t care what others thought or was so secure it didn’t matter. Could she ever be so self-confident about her personal life?

  “What did Bina say?”

  “She already knew, and nothing has or will change between us. We’ve always had a wonderful relationship. Don’t be self-conscious. I don’t usually discuss my sexual trysts with my mother. That would be taking honesty a little too far. But she thinks you hung the moon, so just act normal.”

  “Whatever that is.” A mixture of relief and something akin to disappointment flooded through her—relief that Bina didn’t know how badly she’d treated Neela and disappointment that Neela had referred to their interactions as trysts. But she was exactly right. They hadn’t been anything else, so why did it bother her to have Neela state the truth? She followed Neela into the kitchen, where Bina was waiting patiently at the table.

  “So…cake?” Neela asked.

  “Yes, please. And then we must rest. Afternoon naps for everyone.” Bina smiled. A nap was apparently cause for celebration.

  “I have to meet Liz at the lab this evening, but I do need some sleep first. And you?” She looked at Jordan.

  “I’m exhausted. A little downtime sounds excellent, right after that cake.”

  Thirty minutes later, the dishes were in the dishwasher, Bina was in bed, and she and Neela headed down the hall to their respective rooms. Neela stopped at the guest-bedroom door. “Want to come to my room? Just to sleep.”

  “Better not. I’m on my best behavior with Bina. Besides, I think we both really do need to rest. Looks like you haven’t slept in days.”

  “Thanks, darling, that’s certainly what a girl wants to hear, especially after she’s given up her beauty sleep to keep vigil at your bedside.”

  “Jeez, I didn’t mean it l
ike that. I’m really grateful.”

  Neela stood on her tiptoes and kissed Jordan. “Lighten up. I was kidding. Sleep well.”

  Jordan closed the door, deposited her weapon on the nightstand, and stretched out across the bed, too exhausted to undress. Her mind immediately went to the annex, but before she could process what happened, she fell asleep.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “The emergency panic button has been activated. The police are responding.”

  Jordan woke to a disembodied voice and the sound of alarms throughout the house. She sat up and immediately grabbed her head, still groggy from blood loss and drugs. Reaching for the bedside table, she almost tumbled headfirst to the floor. How long had the alarms been going off? She glanced at the clock, four in the morning. As she rose, she retrieved her weapon from the nightstand and worked her way down the hall.

  Neela’s room was closer, so she checked and found it empty. She’d said she was meeting Liz at the lab. Closing the door, she moved to Bina’s suite and found her lying on the floor. “Bina, can you hear me? Are you okay?”

  “I fell down, but I pushed the button just like you told me.”

  “Good job, and you used the audible button instead of the silent one. Are you in pain? Does anything feel broken?”

  “No, but I am afraid to move.”

  “Will you be okay for a minute while I check the house, turn off the alarm, and let the guys know we’re all right?” She hated to leave her alone, but she had to be sure the house was secure and notify dispatch not to send patrol cars.

  “Yes, dear, do what you need to. I will wait here.”

  In a few minutes, Jordan had searched the rest of the house, reset the alarm with the monitoring company, and waved the all-clear to the protection detail out front. She returned to Bina’s room and sat down beside her. “Now, let’s talk about this. Have you fallen before?”