Page 22 of Black Bird

“Wren, for fuck’s sake.” Sarah smoothed her palm over her face. “So, what … you’re saying they tried to get my records?” She dropped her hand into her lap.

“They didn’t try. Theydidget them. EverLife has an access code with the hospital, and it was used to sign out your lab reports. They didn’t just take one, they took them all. When we put two and two together, it was obvious that something wasn’t right. It leads me to believe that staying here probably isn’t the best option for you.” It was hard not to notice Sarah’s face grow two shades paler. Wren knew she was piecing together some things that she had only shared with her. Onlytrustedwith her. This wasn’t good. It could mean about a hundred different possibilities.

“Oh, hell nah.” Wren turned and stormed out the door, patting her hand against the top of the desk and startling the nurses on the other side. “What’s the hold up? Can somebody get me her paperwork, please?” The nurse closest to her nearly shook beneath the look Wren was giving her, and an older nurse came to her side.

“Throwing us an attitude won’t get it done any faster. We’re not Lynn.” Her crow’s feet rose with the snarky smile on her face. Wren peered down at her name tag.

“Oh, I see. How fast would it get done if I reminded you that her fiancé is Brent Stratford? One of the best lawyers in this city, and the son of a man that could bury you with lawsuits if we decide to press charges for your facility’s lack of judgment while you allowed her records to betaken without permission. Would that light a fire under your ass,Gladys?” Wren smiled, but there was no mercy in her eyes when she stared down the woman. The nurse that cowered next to her raised a clipboard and slid it forward, handing her a pen.

“You can sign for her if you’ll be the one taking her home.”

“Thank you,” Wren bit, snatching the pen and signing her name on the dotted line. “Anything else?” They all stared at her, speechless. “No?” She dropped the pen to the counter. “Great.”

Wren stomped back into the room where both Sarah and Detective Kane were looking at her as if her head would shoot like a rocket from her pale neck. “Nicely done.” Kane smirked; arms still crossed.

“I thought so, too.” Wren winked, rounding the bed and opening the narrow closet to collect Sarah’s things. “Put these on,” she said, handing Sarah her boots and her leather jacket. Sarah started doing what she said, until she eyed the plastic bag Wren had pulled out next.

“Throw those out.” Sarah said, holding her palm toward her like she couldn’t bear to even look at the bloody clothes inside it. Wren made to toss them into the trash can, but Kane stopped her.

“Don’t …” he said quietly, taking the bag from her hand. “Don’t leave those here. Not until we know what’s going on. You don’t want to give them anything.”

“Don’t they already have enough?” Sarah cut in, pointing to the IV still taped to her forearm. “What’s a little more blood on some clothes?”

“We need to get them to take that out.” Kane started for the door, but Wren watched as Sarah started ripping the edges up from her skin. He paused, watching her as well as she tore the needle out and tossed it to the floor. No one made a sound.

“Let’s go,” Sarah breathed, grabbing her books and laptop while Wren carried an overnight bag. Kane followed behind them and Wren made sure every one of the hospital staff saw her middle finger as they passed and made their way to the elevator.

“Do you have a place to go, Miss—Sarah?” Wren smirked when he’d corrected himself, yet again.

“I thought you were a detective.” Sarah glanced at him, and they held that stare again while they waited for the elevator. Kane took the computer and the books from her arms, and she let him. Her whole demeanor seemed to change around him.

“I am.”

“Then shouldn’t you already know I’ve got my own place?” She smirked. The elevator bell chimed, and they stepped inside, a brave nurse rushing to put her arm through the doors as they started to close.

“I’m sorry, ma’am. I need you to ride in the wheelchair. It’s hospital policy upon discharge.”

“Oh, fuck off.” Kane growled, pressing the button and closing the doors in her face. Wren and Sarah burst into laughter as they started heading down. He only shook his head. “I knew you had your own place; I just think it would be best if someone stayed with you. That’s all I was meaning to say.”

“Are you offering?” Wren asked, earning herself a reaction from both Kane and Sarah. “Christ, I’m kidding. I’ll stay.” She chuckled. They reached the ground floor and stepped out, hurrying through the front entrance and out to the pick-up circle.

“Where’s your car, Wren?” Sarah asked.

“Yeah, about that. I slept over at hottie drummer’s house last night … took a cab here.” Wren bit down on her lip.Lie.Though Sarah didn’t seem to notice.

“I can take you, if you want.” Kane offered, looking between them both.

“Sweet.” Wren smiled, sliding on her yellow sunglasses. “Where are you parked?”

Kane stepped up to the motorcycle that was illegally parked in the circle. “Right here.” Wren’s smile drooped and she shook her head frantically.

“Oh, no. Not me. Gimme your shit. I’m not riding that thing.” She reached for everything he had in his hands. “I’ll meet you at the apartment. You got your phone?”

Sarah stared at the bike … and the detective now straddling it. “Yeah, I’ve got it.” He slipped a helmet over his head and handed her his spare. Wren watched, intrigued while he fitted it to her head and strapped it under her chin, careful not to upset her bandage. It didn’t feel accurate to describe whatever was happening here as sparks flying. Especially not as Sarah didn’t give her so much as a “fuck you” when she climbed on behind him and slid her arms around his waist. He started up the bike and turned his wrist to rev it up before they started making their way around the circle.

“Ohhhhh hell,” Wren muttered, rolling her eyes and smirking as they disappeared onto the street.

This was bad. She was trying not to beat herself up about the fact that there was no way she could have known in the state that she’d been in at the hospital, that someone—no—EverLife … was prying into the past she fought desperately to hide. Sarah was now very aware of two things. One of those things was that the circumstances surrounding her mother’s horrible death were dangerously nearing the surface, and if that was the case … so were all of Sarah’s dark secrets. Wren was the only person that she’d trusted with what little knowledge she had about Katherine and whether Sarah had only dreamt that she’d been taken in the weeks that followed and used as a lab rat. For whom, she still didn’t know. But dreams aren’t real … and the marks left in her skin from needles had let her know that there was a decent chance she wasn’t losing her mind. All she had left of her mother’s body was also still missing. There was too much going on now for any of this to be a coincidence.

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