Page 44 of Fireline

Dr. Zamudio clicked the mouse around, then used a keystroke combo to lock the computer. “So, I see I can give you updates. I’m sorry, but your friend Mr. Torres has multiple fractures and a collapsed lung. We have him listed as critical.”

Nova caught her lower lip between her teeth while she considered the words. Rico could’ve been killed trying to save her. Shoot, Eric could’ve been killed—her too. All because she’d tried to save someone who wasn’t even there.

But they had been there. She’d seen them with her own two eyes.

There was a light knock on the door. A woman in scrubs peeked in. “I’m Stephanie. Here to take Miss Burns to radiology.”

“Oh, look at that. They’re moving faster than I thought.” Dr. Zamudio patted Nova’s knee and winked. “She’s all yours.”

Stephanie smiled. “Okay, if you’ll follow me Nova.”

Nova followed the nurse through a maze of corridors, wondering if the doctor had done that on purpose. Told her it would be an hour just to get a rise out of her. She did want to go see Rico, but where was Booth? Probably checking on Crispin.

She still couldn’t believe Booth was a federal agent living in hiding.

He should’ve picked a job that didn’t require him to drop everything at a moment’s notice to run and fight wildfires if what he wanted to do was solve his case.

Whatever the case was anyway.

“Here we are.” Stephanie held the door to radiology open.

Thirty minutes later, nurse Stephanie led Nova back to her room. The sound of her boots squeaking with each step was drowned out by shouting. It sounded like Booth.

At the next hallway intersection, Stephanie turned left, but Nova turned right.

Stephanie followed Nova. “Your room is this way.”

“I know. Thanks. I can find it from here.” She coughed. “I need to talk to my friend.”

At the end of the hall, Booth gripped the nurses’ station with both hands.

“Where is he?” His neck flushed red up to his jawline.

Nova hurried over. “Hey, what’s wrong? Who are you looking for?”

Booth looked at her for a full beat, as if surprised to see her standing there. “Crispin. He’s not in his room.”

“Maybe they took him for some tests.”

“No!” His voice clicked up in volume. “That’s what I’m saying. They lost him! They said he was here this morning, but when they went to do rounds, he was gone. I don’t understand how they can lose a patient.”

Nova slipped her hand around his arm and pulled him to face her. “Hey, yelling isn’t going to do anything except disturb the other patients and get you kicked out of here. You got your phone back from Houston, right?”

Booth nodded.

“Good. Let’s leave your number with the nurse. She can call you if Crispin turns up. Meanwhile, take me to his room, and we’ll see if he left a note or something.”

Booth worked his jaw, then nodded. He turned back to the nurse. “Look, I apologize for being rude. Do you have something I can write my number on?”

The nurse pushed a blank piece of paper toward him and dropped a pen on the counter. Booth clicked the pen open and scribbled his digits. “Sorry. Please call me if you see him.”

She looked unconvinced but nodded.

Nova took Booth’s hand as he led her to Crispin’s room. Inside, she let go of Booth and closed the door.

The hospital room was the basic setup. Closet. Bathroom. Hospital bed with the sheets tossed back. A blue-green couch underlining the windows on the far wall. Booth was right. Crispin wasn’t here.

“Is it possible Crispin just walked out of here?” She pretty much cringed as the words came out. It sounded stupid. The man had a gunshot wound.

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