Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
The nurse removed the IV and told Faith she was cleared to leave. Quickly, she checked her phone, wanting to text Sylvie and Myra about being discharged. They’d asked for updates, no matter how late at night.
But Faith’s phone still had no service. Her reception had been spotty since waking at the hospital.
“Ready to head out?” Tanner asked.
She tucked the phone in her pocket. She’d text her friends later. “So ready.”
“I’ll swing by the nurse’s station to let them know, and then I’ll go pull the car up front.”
The nurse had said she would have to be escorted out in a wheelchair.
Tanner paused in the doorway. “Kozinski’s right out here in case you need anything.”
The other bodyguard leaned his head in and waved. “Just yell, ‘Leon.’”
He was young, probably early twenties, with a heavy layer of stubble on his face. Faith knew Leon wasn’t Tanner’s favorite person. But he’d won some points with her by helping out. Tanner’s fellow bodyguards were obviously the best kind of people—loyal to a fault. Even Leon.
“I’ll be fine. I’ll see you soon, Tanner.”
Her boyfriend winked at her, then took off down the hallway. Faith sat on the bed to wait.
Her mind kept wandering to Jon and Kyle, stressing over where they were. What would happen.
Jon had sounded so desperate when he’d told her about his problems in Texas. The people he owed money. And Kyle… She remembered what Jon had said about him. He’s like a snake who can slither through the smallest crack. She had a nagging feeling in her gut that there was still more she didn’t know.
Yet having Tanner around was doing a lot to keep the fear at bay.
Faith knew taking time off work would be difficult for him. But she was incredibly proud of him, too. Telling Noah had been a very big deal.
Never in her life had she experienced the kind of closeness she and Tanner shared. Despite what they’d both gone through yesterday, they’d come out stronger for it.
She’d nearly died of a drug overdose, and Kyle might still try to come after her. If Jon was prosecuted, she might have to testify or something. But she’d also never felt this excited and optimistic about her future.
An orderly brought the wheelchair into her room. “Ms. Townsend?” she said. “Your ride’s here.” She had a deeply tanned face and wore scrubs and thick-framed glasses.
“I’m just waiting for my boyfriend to get back,” Faith said. “I’ll be ready in a sec.”
“Oh, there was one more test the doc needed first.”
“A test? What for? I thought I was done.”
The orderly shrugged, holding out a form. “They just tell me where to go. This is your name, right? Faith Townsend?”
She confirmed the paperwork did indeed have her name at the top. Had the doctor decided on an extra precaution at the last minute?
“They’re expecting us,” the orderly said tensely. “Third floor.”
“It’ll be quick? I’m really ready to go.”
“That’s what they said.”
“All right.” Faith sat in the wheelchair. The faster she got this over with, the sooner she could go home.
Kozinski looked into the room. “Should I come with you?”
“That’s okay. Wait here for Tanner. Tell him I’ll be right back.” She didn’t want Tanner to return to the room and find her gone with no explanation. If her stupid phone had been working, she could’ve just texted.
The orderly wheeled her down the hall, going surprisingly fast. They’d turned in the opposite direction from the nurse’s station. “Isn’t the elevator behind us?” Faith asked.
“There’s another down here. Less crowded.”
They reached the elevator. The orderly pushed the down button, her hands fidgeting at her sides.
Faith looked over at the woman. “You said the third floor. That’s up, not down.”
“Whatever. This is the way we’re going.”
Then the realization hit her. This wasn’t some orderly she’d seen around the hospital. This was the flower delivery woman who’d come to her room before.
Faith shot to her feet just as the woman pulled a knife from her pocket.
The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. “No questions. Get moving.” She took a step forward, brandishing the knife.
“No.” Faith tried to dart away. The woman grabbed hold of her elbow with a shockingly strong grip. The knife went to Faith’s throat. She could feel the blade against the vein throbbing at her neck. Terror made her lightheaded.
“If you scream, you die.”
The woman pulled her into the elevator, and the doors slid closed.