Chapter 20 #3
“It is. Except we’re in a real life murder mystery and I’m the number one suspect. Remember?” Roxanne shook her head. “Also remember, this was your idea. I wasn’t going to risk going to the hospital.”
“I know. But you needed something to distract you and cheer you. I thought you’d really like to see Lindy. She wants to see you.”
“You were right. I can’t believe you got up this early on a Saturday.” Roxanne smiled at her friend.
If she forced herself to believe Al would get her off, she might even be able to think of this whole experience as an adventure. The only problem with that was when she allowed herself to remember the fact that Donald really did die. And she did lose the game—her heart—to Brian Dennis. Big time.
“Oh, it’s not such a risk really. We sneak in the back way up to her room. I’ll make sure no one else is in there before you go in and that’s it.” Laura was clearly proud of herself. It was Roxanne’s turn to be astonished.
“It’s damned risky. Now it could affect Brian’s custody battle.”
“Don’t worry. No one will know. I brought camouflage.” Laura glanced over her shoulder to the back seat.
Roxanne looked. There was a hat, sunglasses, and an overcoat. “You thought of everything. I hope.”
“It’s early. No one else will be there. Rox, Lindy really needs to see you. She’s worried about you. Tim’s concerned that she’ll feel abandoned.”
She took a deep breath and her heart pounded with urgency now. “Okay. No more worry from me. But this is a change of tune for you. Is this the new Laura? Or is this a one-shot deal?”
“No. I think you might see me taking more and more risks in the future.”
“Great. Now all we need is for me to start taking fewer and fewer risks.”
“No, not that. I would be alarmed if I really thought you would,” Laura said.
“Why shouldn’t I be more careful? Don’t I have a right to be shell-shocked at this point?”
“Yes. I can see you retreating for a while. But it’s not in your nature to be cautious and after all this blows over your wild stripes will show again.”
“You’re probably right.” Roxanne didn’t feel wild.
Brian Dennis kept going through her mind. She had taken too wild a risk with him, even for her. That was one area in which she wasn’t used to betting such high stakes. She’d bet and lost her heart and soul, though she’d never intended to.
“I needed this visit. Thank you. It’ll be my farewell visit to Lindy. I didn’t feel right not saying good-bye to her.” It hurt to say the words.
“What do you mean? I thought things were okay with you and Brian since he bailed you out.”
“Al put him up to it. He probably went along out of guilt. No. Our affair is over. There’s no room for a woman like me in his life and I have no use for a man like him.”
God, that sounded so final. She gritted her teeth to hold in the anguish.
With no reporter’s cars in sight following them, Laura drove into the service garage entrance and they walked up a rarely used stairwell in the wing of the hospital where Lindy stayed.
When they got to Lindy’s floor, Roxanne waited in the stairwell while Laura, true to her word, scouted ahead.
The plain beige raincoat along with a wool hat and sunglasses would have to get her down the hall unrecognized.
Laura came back and opened the door. “The coast is clear. Tim is in there. He’ll keep everyone else out. Come on.” Laura’s voice was hushed as she motioned for Roxanne to follow.
“Remind me to do something special for you later,” Roxanne said as they speed-walked down the hall.
Roxanne felt conspicuous but no one gave her a glance. She felt like she’d changed roles with Laura as she followed her into Lindy’s room. She shook her head. Things really weren’t the same anymore.
Tim stood at Lindy’s bedside, taking her blood pressure. Roxanne felt everything else wash from her mind. All her own troubles melted into insignificance next to the sight of this child lying in her bed, sleeping, connected to tubes and monitors.
“How is she?” Roxanne asked Tim. He looked up at her.
“As well as she can be. It’ll be a long haul from here, though.” He paused. “How are you?”
The question took a second to register as she watched Lindy. “As well as I can be. It’ll be a long haul from here though.” She smiled. He chuckled.
“Give me the official stats,” Roxanne said.
“She had a minimal loss of blood and fluids. We’re pumping her now. Temp’s good, blood pressure is low but stable, good strong pulse. The light’s ahead there somewhere if you look hard enough down the tunnel.”
“That’s what I came to hear. And to say good-bye.
I wasn’t sure if I’d find her awake so I wanted to leave this with you.
” Roxanne handed him a package. It was the Christmas present she’d never had a chance to give the child.
It was a gold locket containing miniature pictures of Brian and Cynthia, Lindy’s mother.
It hadn’t been easy finding the photos, but she’d managed it.
“If you want you can give it to Brian for her. He’ll probably be back soon,” Tim said.
She felt a jolt of fear and anxiety shoot through her gut. “I can’t. I don’t want to see Brian. It’s a mutual agreement.”
“Okay. Whatever you say.”
Laura spoke. “Let’s go down to the coffee shop and talk. It should be empty. There’s some other business you should know about, Rox,” Laura said.
“Only for a minute. I shouldn’t be hanging around here. I might ruin your reputations.” She turned and led the way out of the room.
She stopped and held the door. Tim and Laura walked out. Roxanne turned back and went to Lindy. She whispered good-bye, leaning over the girl. Unable to resist, she gave her a hug. Lindy’s eyes fluttered open. A smile lit her face and the girl hugged her back.
Down at the coffee shop, Roxanne blotted the remnants of her tears. She found Laura already gulping coffee. Tim sat calmly eating a donut. Roxanne took a chair. Laura pushed aside her cup and spoke
“That detective, Turner, from Marblehead, apparently had a talk with Dr. Evans the other day. Harry found out. Dr. Evans somehow gave Turner the impression that you might be mismanaging funds. Harry told him he was barking up the wrong tree.”
“Barking up the wrong tree?” Roxanne listened to Laura and felt like another shoe was about to drop.
“Anyway, Harry says Turner didn’t seem convinced. So we’re looking into it. We think it’s Evans who’s been mismanaging funds—remember the money he took from Tim’s research fund to use for the building project?”
“You’re looking into it?”
“Yes. Harry, Tim, and me. We’re going to do a little investigation work of our own. In the meantime, Harry’s holding all the checks that come into the office in his office safe. As we speak we’re putting together all the information we have on the fund.”
Roxanne was about to tell Laura how impressed she was when she saw Al walk in the coffee shop door. He stopped dead when he saw her. He turned a shade paler. Roxanne felt her pulse shoot into panic mode. She knew she wasn’t supposed to be here.
“Someone arrange a party I didn’t know about?”
Roxanne flicked an uncomfortable glance at Laura. She could see the disapproval taking the place of surprise on Al’s face. No one answered him. He stepped closer to their table.
“What are you doing here, Roxanne?” He kept his voice low.
“You know why I’m here.”
“Yes. Not very smart.”
“What are you doing here?” She had a feeling about his answer.
“I’m meeting Brian about his custody hearing. He has to sign some papers.” Al took a long hard look at her, then stepped back. “I’ll wait outside for him.” He walked out.
Roxanne looked at her two friends and addressed their questioning looks. “I need to get out of here. Al’s concerned about my affect on Brian’s custody of Lindy. He wants me to pretend I never met either of them …”
“Oh no.” Laura cut Roxanne off and covered her eyes. Roxanne turned to see Paul Paris walk through the other door to the coffee shop.
“Laura, you sent invitations, didn’t you? And this was supposed to be a top secret visit.” Roxanne tried for lightness, but her anxiety ratcheted up when Paul came over to their table. She wasn’t surprised until he pulled up a chair.
“I’m glad I found you here, Dr. Oki. I was looking for you earlier.
I wanted to talk to you about how Lindy was doing.
” He turned to Roxanne without waiting for the doctor’s response.
“I must say I’m surprised to see you here after reading this morning’s headlines.
But I suppose keeping a low profile isn’t exactly your strong suit, is it? ” He kept his eyes on her.
Roxanne was past feeling flustered. Instead she found herself appreciating the irony of the occasion. She felt defiance well up. Laura flashed her an anxious warning glare, which she ignored.
“Yes, you’re right of course. Anything for the photo-op.
I’m a publicity hound. I thought I’d hang out here at the hospital and see if I could attract some media attention this morning.
It’s been so boring since I was fired from my job and banned from my volunteer work …
” She would have gone on if it weren’t for Dr. Oki.
“You’ll be glad to know, Paul, that Lindy is doing well.
Laura and Roxanne were both here to ascertain the same thing this morning.
She’ll be asleep for a while though and require a lot of rest for the next week or so.
” Dr. Oki rose and looked at Roxanne and Laura as if to say this was a good time to leave.
Roxanne was framing a parting remark for Paul, who also stood, when Brian stormed into the coffee shop toward them. Al was close on his heels.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Brian wasted no time in confronting her.
“You should know better than anyone.” Paul snickered at Brian.
Brian turned and looked at Paul as if he’d just noticed him. “You keep out of it, Paris. This is none of your God damned business.”