Page 127 of Fought and Freed

“Is this Maddy Walsh?” asked a woman’s voice.

Her brows squished together. “Yes, this is Maddy Walsh.”

“Do you know a Grant Turner?”

She hadn’t heard from or seen Grant since the night she picked him up. “Who is this?”

“I’m a registered nurse at Blueridge Hospital,” the woman said briskly. “You’re listed as Mr. Turner’s next of kin.”

She sat up straighter. “Did something happen to Grant?”

“All I can tell you over the phone is that he’s in the ICU. We can give you more information when you arrive and show your ID.”

“I’ll be right there.” Dizziness swamped her as she hung up the phone.

Concern filled Skylar’s gaze. “What’s going on?”

She stared out into space. “Grant’s in the hospital ICU, and I guess he has me listed as his next of kin. They want me to come in.”

Skylar jumped up. “I’ll tell the others.”

Maddy sat there as Skylar yelled for the guys.

They ran into the living room, asking what was wrong, and Skylar filled them in about the phone call she just received.

Ryder wrapped his arms around her. “Do you want us to come with you?”

“No, Skylar’s going to be with me. You three go study,” she stated.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

She shrugged. “There’s nothing you can do.”

Cody stood behind the couch and touched her shoulder. “If you need us, just call, and we will be right there.”

Maddy nodded and turned to Skylar. “Can you drive?”

Her car was the last one in the driveway, and she didn’t want to wreck her new car because her mind wasn’t focused on driving.

“Of course.” Skylar grabbed her keys, and they headed out of the house.

* * *

When they pulled into the hospital’s parking lot, they both got out.

“That’s a nice car.” Skyler took her hand as they walked through the front entrance. “It’s perfect for you.”

She nodded absently. “I like it.”

A nurse came out, and when Maddy explained who she was there to see, the woman checked her ID before leading her to a small room.

“Please, have a seat.” She motioned to a set of chairs and took the one across from them.

“Two days ago, someone found Mr. Turner beaten and unresponsive in an alley. They called an ambulance and brought him here.” Sympathy filled her expression. “The doctors ran tests to find out what damage was done and discovered two broken ribs, a fractured ulna, and a broken hip bone.”

She looked between Maddy and Skylar. “We’re unsure if he fell, if he hit his head, or if someone hit him, but his brain was swelling, and we had to do an emergency craniectomy. When his tox screen returned, it showed several drugs in his system.”

As she listed the drugs, nausea roiled in Maddy’s stomach. Those were the same drugs, plus a few new ones, that Mike had given to her.

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