Page 48 of High Intensity

“Postoperative delirium,” she interjects. “It’s not unusual in the elderly. It can come and go, and usually passes in a couple of days to a week. Too bad she’s not in the hospital here, I could pop by with Peanut. I’d bet she’d be able to keep your mom calm and grounded. It wouldn’t be the first time.”

“How is Hayley?”

“Yesterday was more of the same, and I don’t expect today to be any different. She only really reacts to Nugget and for the most part ignores us humans. Yesterday the sheriff tried to question her, but she simply turned her head. She’s been staring out the window at that parking lot much of the time.”

“I’m sure with time, she’ll talk.”

“I hope so. I worry if there isn’t any progress, my open welcome here will eventually run out, and I still believe Nuggetcan help. I’m only going for a few hours today though. I need to give my other guys some attention. Emo actually started chewing on my couch, which is something she’s never done. I think she’s bored.”

“Once I’m back, one or a couple of your dogs can hang out with me at the ranch. They’d have a ball.”

“I’m sure they would,” she confirms with a smile in her voice. “Well, I should probably let you get back to your mom, and I need to get to the hospital. Tell your mother Peanut and I will come visit her soon.”

Mom is sitting up in bed when I walk in, her eyes clear and lucid. I immediately notice the cannula is gone from her nose. I’m about to chew her out, but she doesn’t give me a chance.

“Don’t even start. Last check my stats were perfect so they took the damn thing off. It wasn’t me. Now tell me whatever is in that bag is for me…because whatever it was they tried to pass as breakfast was not fit to feed a pig.”

I don’t bother hiding my grin. It looks like my mother is back.

Jillian

“Excuse me?”

I startle at the voice just as I’m getting Nugget out of the back of my SUV. I turn around and catch a tall, well-dressed, middle-aged man wearing aviator shades, emerging from a black vehicle. The first thing that comes to mind is the FBI has arrived. He definitely looks the part.

“Yes?”

“Jillian Lederman?”

Small prickles crawl up my spine at the thought he may have been waiting for me. He pronounces my name with an accent I can’t quite place. It seems a little ominous to have a stranger address me by name. It appears to put me at a disadvantage and I immediately look to level the playing field.

“And you would be?”

The man flashes a disarming smile, the white of his teeth stand out against the darker olive tone of his skin. But when he reaches out one hand and removes his shades with the other, his dark eyes look far from inviting. They look empty.

“Forgive me. The name is Emiliano Rojas,” he introduces himself as I give his offered hand a brief press with mine. “I represent Grant Vallard,” he continues. “Mr. Vallard has asked me to convey his gratitude to you for finding and looking after his niece while he is making every effort to get here.”

“I’m just doing my job,” I quickly reply, dismissing him as I start moving toward the hospital entrance. “But tell Mr. Vallard it was my pleasure,” I toss over my shoulder.

There is something about the man that doesn’t feel right. I can see the girl’s uncle maybe wanting to say thanks, but I would expect that to be relayed through the Sheriff’s Department who hired me for the job. It just seems odd he would actually send a representative to convey a simple message like that.

I glance back right before stepping through the doors into the hospital lobby, and watch the vehicle pull out of his parking spot. Also pretty damn weird, as if the only purpose he had coming here was to talk to me. And that makes me wonder how this Emiliano Rojas knew he could find me here.

I try to read the license plate of what I believe is a Cadillac, but can only make out the first half before he disappears out of sight. I quickly jot down “H16” in my phone and then continue down the hall and up the stairs. To my surprise, I find Sloane on duty outside Hayley’s door.

“Hey, Nugget.”

She bends down and greets my dog before acknowledging my presence. My guess is she’s ticked I didn’t answer any of her several calls or respond to the two messages she left last night. I suppose I wasn’t ready to discuss what happened between Wolff and me two nights ago. A development she’d somehow gotten wind of, judging by her messages heavily loaded with innuendo.

“Before you ask, I volunteered for the job since I guessed you’d be here. Apparently, the only way I’m going to get any straight information is to corner you at work.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I lie through my teeth.

“Don’t give me that. Dan says something happened with you and Wolff.”

“And he would know?” I know I’m fighting a losing battle, but I can’t resist a little sarcasm before I concede defeat.

“Yes,” Sloane returns without blinking.

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