Chapter 17 June
JUNE
June hadn’t realized how hard it was to keep yourself steady until you were the one doing the steadying.
She’d driven to the hospital on autopilot, with her hands at ten and two like she was back in driving lessons, her shoulders stiff, mind louder than the engine.
June couldn’t believe these violent, escalating attacks on people she cared about.
What on earth was happening here? And why?
What was this all about? At the moment, all they had was speculation, and it could be this or that.
By the time June had pulled into the hospital parking lot, she sat there for a moment with the engine idling and her fingers still on the steering wheel, staring at the entrance as if it might provide an answer if she looked hard enough.
People went in and out, carrying coffees, flowers, overnight bags, and expressions ranging from bored to devastated.
Life moved on because it always did, even when yours felt like it had been lifted and shaken until nothing sat where it belonged.
June shut off the engine and forced herself out of the car, locked it twice without thinking, and walked inside.
The air-conditioning hit her first, cold and clinical, and the smell came second. Not quite antiseptic, not quite soap, just that particular hospital scent that always made her feel as if she should lower her voice.
At the nurses’ station, she gave her name and asked for Detective Dillinger, and the nurse checked the clipboard with a tired efficiency that suggested she’d already dealt with a dozen people who wanted to argue about visiting hours.
A few minutes later, June was standing outside Rad’s room, and before she could knock properly, the door opened, and Rad appeared, already dressed.
His hair was still damp from the shower, and he looked better than he had the last time she’d seen him.
His expression lifted when he saw her.
“June,” Rad said, and the relief in his voice was so immediate it tugged at something in her chest. “Thank you for coming.”
“Of course,” June replied, stepping into the room and letting the door shut behind her. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I’ve been cooped up unnecessarily for an entire day,” Rad admitted. “But I’m fine. I’m more annoyed than anything.”
“That sounds about right,” June said with an understanding smile.
“They said I have to leave in a wheelchair,” he muttered, irritation flashing. “Something about hospital regulation, so we need to duck out of here extra fast so that doesn’t happen.”
Before June could respond, there was a soft knock, and a nurse stepped in holding a clipboard. Her smile was polite but firmly professional, and June recognized that look. The look that said, I’ve had this conversation already, and I’m about to have it again.
“Detective Dillinger,” the nurse said, glancing at Rad’s chart, “we’re ready to discharge you. We’re just waiting for a wheelchair to take you to the exit.”
Rad inhaled as if he was about to argue, then paused and leaned into a strategy instead.
He put on his most charming smile, the one that made June suspect he’d talked his way out of trouble more than once in his life.
“Can I see Margo Tanner first, please?” Rad asked.
The nurse’s expression didn’t shift. “Oh, I’m sure you can do that.” She nodded and gave them Margo’s room number. “Just sign here for me, please.” She handed him the clipboard, and Rad quickly scribbled his name.
Before the nurse could utter another word, Rad dashed through the door, and June followed him. They reached Margo’s room, and he knocked, waiting politely for her to say “come in” before opening the door.
Margo was sitting on the bed. She was dressed and ready to go, looking like someone who’d been waiting for hours to go home. Her cheeks still had that faint pallor that came from smoke inhalation and too little sleep, but her eyes were alert and impatient.
When she saw Rad, her expression softened so quickly that June nearly missed it.
“Hello,” Margo greeted them both with a big, beaming smile. “This is a wonderful surprise.”
“Hello,” Rad greeted her alongside June.
“How are you feeling, honey?” June walked further in and gave Margo a hug.
“Much better, and like I want to go home.” Margo’s eyes flicked to Rad. “How are you feeling?”
“Also better,” Rad said immediately. “And also impatient to get out of here.” His smile widened. “I’ve actually been given my all clear papers to leave. So we thought we’d pop by first.”
“I’m the taxi service tonight,” June explained.
“You’re lucky,” Margo groaned, her eyes falling on Rad. “I’ve also been given my all clear to leave papers.” She sighed and glanced toward the door, impatience flickering in her eyes. “But I have to wait for my mother to finish her shift. Which can vary depending on an emergency and paperwork.”
“If we can find your mother,” June stepped up. “I can give you a lift home.”
“Really?” Margo looked thrilled and brightened.
“Yes,” June said simply. “Of course. You know I’m always here for you if you need a lift.”
“Thank you.” Margo breathed a sigh of relief. “Finally, I can get out of this place.”
Before June could reply, the door opened again, and Lucy walked in, still in her white coat, and not looking like someone who was ready to leave.
“Hello, everyone,” Lucy greeted them all and turned to her daughter. “I see you got some visitors.”
“Yes, and a lifesaver,” Margo told her mother.
Lucy’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean by a lifesaver?”
“I offered to give Margo a lift home,” June replied. “I came to fetch Rad as well.”
Lucy exhaled, looking mightily relieved. “June, thank you,” she said quietly. “I don’t want to leave—” She stopped, then corrected herself. “I can’t leave my current patient.”
June’s stomach tightened with recognition. It wasn’t just the words. It was the look in Lucy’s eyes. June’s gaze flicked to Lucy’s face, and it clicked who that current patient may be, and June’s guess was that it was Judy. While Lucy didn’t say it out loud, she didn’t need to. June could see it.
“Margo,” Lucy said, turning to her daughter again, “promise me that you’re going home with June. You aren’t going to try to get her to stop at Teacups. You are going to go straight home and stay there for the night.”
Margo’s mouth opened, then shut again when Lucy’s eyes sharpened.
“Yes, Mother,” Margo promised. “I will go straight home and not make any detours on my way. When I get home, I will have a shower in my own shower, put on my pjs, make some cocoa, and then hop into bed to watch old black and white movie reruns.”
“Sounds like heaven to me,” Lucy told her daughter with a warm smile before she walked forward and kissed her daughter's cheek, then hugged her. “I’ll pop in when I get back to the inn.”
“I’ll make sure she goes straight home,” June told Lucy.
“Thank you,” Lucy said again, and then her eyes moved toward Rad. “The same goes for you, young man. You can spend time with your son in front of the television tonight and let your grandmother spoil you.”
“You got it, Dr. Tanner,” Rad agreed. “I’m looking forward to being at home and sleeping in my own comfortable bed tonight. Without nurses in and out of my room every so often.”
“I know, right?” Margo agreed with Rad. “How the heck are people supposed to get better in here when they don’t let you sleep?
” She glanced at her mother. “Isn’t that when your body repairs itself?
When you’re asleep. But nooo, nurses are in and out every few hours.
It would be one thing if they just tiptoed in and took readings.
” She shook her head. “But no, they have to poke and prod you like you’re a ball of dough. ”
“They don’t want you to turn into a ball of dough,” Lucy pointed out to her daughter. “So they have to come in during the night to check on you.”
“Why don’t we get moving?” June suggested. “Let Lucy get back to her patients, and I’ll get the two of you home.”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Rad said. “Thank you for everything Dr. Tanner.”
“You’re welcome, Rad,” Lucy told him. “And please, take it easy for a few days. If you feel lightheaded or your chest gets inflamed, come back right away.”
“Will do,” Rad said, with a nod.
“Can I have a word with you in private quickly, please, Lucy?” June asked.
“Sure,” Lucy said.
June glanced at Rad and Margo. “Do you mind meeting me at the front desk?” she told them. “I just need a quick word with Lucy.”
“Sure,” Margo’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “We’ll be at the front desk.”
Margo leaned in and kissed her mother’s cheek. “Bye, Mother, I’ll see you at the Sandpiper Inn. Don’t work too hard.”
“I’ll be home in about two to three hours,” Lucy assured her daughter.
When Rad and Margo left, Lucy’s shoulders dropped slightly, and they walked out of the room.
June lowered her voice. “Your ‘current’ patient. Is that Judy?” she asked.
“Yes,” Lucy confirmed.
“How is she?” June’s eyes scanned Lucy’s face for answers.
“Not good,” Lucy said quietly, not mincing her words.
“Her vitals are stable, but her neuro status is not where I want it. The head injury is severe. She’s lucky the first responder got to that car in time.
If she’d gone into that pond…” Lucy stopped and swallowed.
“Right now, all I can say is Judy has been lucky so far. I hope that holds out and pushes her toward a full recovery.”
June felt the chill roll through her again.
“Carmen said she thought Judy had been unconscious before the car went over,” June retold what her sister had said at the accident scene.
Lucy nodded.
“I tend to agree,” Lucy replied, and her tone was controlled but tight. “The injury pattern doesn’t fit a simple rollover. There are signs she had a blunt force injury earlier, and then the car incident happened after.”
June’s eyes widened. “So she was attacked first.”
“Yes,” Lucy said. “And there were traces of a sedative.”
June’s breath caught.
“Traces?” she repeated.