Page 40 of High Intensity

Also, does that mean I won’t be allowed to see her?

The disappointment that thought brings with it comes with a few faint alarm bells. I barely know the child and am already feeling way too attached.

Still, I retrace my steps into the lobby and pull out my phone, looking up Junior Ewing’s number.

“Shit, I meant to call you,” is how he answers his phone. “You’re at the hospital, right?” he guesses.

“You would be correct. What happened?”

“Can you hang tight? I’m on my way.”

“Sure,” I tell him, even more confused now.

Whatever it is, he clearly wants to explain face-to-face. Which doesn’t feel very reassuring to me. I take a seat in the lobby so I can keep an eye out for him. Nugget is adaptable and curls up on my lap. He doesn’t care much where we are as long as he gets his snuggles in.

Ten minutes later Ewing stalks through the automatic doors, his hat in his hand and his face flushed.

“Sorry, it’s already been a crazy morning,” he huffs, dropping down in the seat next to me.

“So what’s going on with the security?” I prompt him.

Ewing glances around the lobby before responding.

“Precautionary. I got a call from Polman this morning, he’s the NTSB lead investigator.”

“Yeah, I met him.”

Something in my tone makes him smile. “Made an impression on you as well, did he? He must’ve skipped charm school, but at least the man is thorough. They found some evidence that could indicate the plane crash was not an accident.”

“Who would do that?”

The sheriff shrugs. “Your guess is as good as mine. You’d be surprised at the messed-up stuff people do for the stupidest reasons. Anyway, until they can confirm either way, hesuggested we put security on the girl. Especially since it looks like her uncle will be stranded in Guatemala for the time being.”

“Stranded?”

I sit up straighter. That poor girl, she must feel so alone in the world.

“The Guatemalan government foiled an attempted coup yesterday morning, but there is ongoing unrest and fighting. They shut down all air travel indefinitely. Grant Vallard called me from the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City where he’s been hiding. Apparently, it’s a mess down there.”

“So now what? What happens to Hayley in the meantime?”

“For now she stays in the hospital, we’ll have to take it a day at a time. If Vallard still isn’t here by the time she is released, we may have to place her in protective custody. Unless, of course, sabotage is ruled out, in which case it’ll likely be foster care.”

I don’t want either of those things for her. It would mean more strange people.

“Am I still allowed to see her?”

“Normally I’d probably say no, but she’s just a kid, and her doc says this guy seems to have a positive effect on her,” he says, scratching Nugget’s head. “Besides, she already knows you and could probably use a friendly face.”

I set Nugget down on the floor and get to my feet.

“In that case, where can I find her?”

He grunts as he gets up too. “I’ll take you.”

Hayley is staring out the window but her head swings around when we walk in the door. Her eyes immediately search for Nugget at my feet when she recognizes me.

“Hey, sweetheart. I see you’ve got new digs. Nice view.”

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