Page 93 of Deception

Dani sank against the bed, her face the color of the white sheet. Madison was certain she didn’t look any better—Nelson’s words had hit her like a gut punch. “How much was in it?”

He pressed his lips together. “I’m sorry to say, but it would have been enough to kill her.”

“Did any of the nurses recognize the person?” Clayton asked.

“No. No one other than the CNA got a glimpse. Whoever it wascould have easily ducked into one of the restrooms and changed out of the disguise.” Nelson’s face hardened. “As long as you’re in the hospital, there’ll be a guard outside your door.”

What if the person came back? A guard wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between a real nurse and a fake one. “I think you need to be out of here and somewhere safe, like my grandfather’s house. I can hire security to guard you there.”

“The doctor won’t discharge me—I’ve already asked. He said I needed at least three more days of IV antibiotics and maybe even a procedure.”

“Home health can give you the antibiotics. I’m going to check with the nurse about getting you discharged—if you want to leave.”

“I don’t want to put you in danger.”

“I’m already in danger. Someone wants to get rid of both of us, and maybe together we can stop him.”

“Or get killed together,” Dani pointed out dryly.

“Then, it’s settled.” She started for the door. “I’ll go get the ball rolling.”

“Wait.” The chief set the bag he’d been carrying on the overbed table. “I have your grandfather’s personal effects from when he was taken to the ER. I just need you to sign off on them.”

Her stomach clenched as the chief took the articles from the bag. Madison hadn’t even thought about what her grandfather might’ve had with him when he went to the hospital. His wallet. Keys. The bone-handle pocketknife made her tear up. She remembered him peeling apples for her with this very knife when she was a child.

Nelson held out the paper for her to check off the items and sign. She barely glanced at the wallet or keys as she stuffed them in her bag, but the knife she held tightly in her hand briefly before slipping it in her pants pocket. “Be right back,” she choked out.

Madison drummed her fingers against her leg while the charge nurse contacted Dani’s doctor. The nurse turned to her and relayedthe doctor’s answer as to whether Dani could leave the hospital. “Absolutely not. She’s only just had the drain tube in her chest removed, due to her collapsed lung.”

Madison had forgotten about the lung issues. “Can I speak to him?”

“Are you on her HIPAA form?”

“Yes.” If she’d looked at the chart, the nurse would have seen it. She took the phone and identified herself to the doctor. “Can you tell me how soon she can leave?” Madison asked. “I’m worried whoever attempted to kill her will try again.”

“What are you talking about?”

After she explained what had happened, he said, “I’m sorry about that, but healthwise it would be even more dangerous for her if she were to leave the hospital. Her latest chest CT scan indicates she needs a procedure on her lung. Ms. Parker and I have discussed the possibility that she might need it, and I’m scheduling it for first thing in the morning. If it goes well, I’ll consider allowing her to leave late Sunday.”

A doctor who did surgery on Saturdays. She’d have to remember him. After answering a few more questions, the doctor ended the call, and Madison returned the nurse’s phone.

She nodded to the guard on duty, then pushed the door open. Dani took one look at her face and said, “I figured he’d say no.”

“Yeah. He’s doing a procedure on your lung tomorrow.” Madison looked around. “Where’s Clayton? And the chief?”

“They went down to the cafeteria to discuss the sniper from yesterday, and someone named Corbett.”

Clayton would fill her in on what information the chief had. “Have you heard any more from Bri?”

“I talked to her this morning and encouraged her to call you. I was hoping she had.”

“She didn’t call me,” Madison said. “Have you talked to the people in Jackson? Wings of Hope?”

“I have and they’ll call me if she shows up. But I don’t expecther to go there.” Dani dropped her gaze to the sheet she smoothed with her free hand. “I’ve released her to God,” she said softly and looked up. “How about you? Where do you stand with him?”

Where did she stand with God? Church had been one of the few things her mother had been adamant about attending, taking Madison when she was a child, then dragging her when she entered her teen years. Somewhere along the way, it’d stuck, and when she first went to Texas, she’d found a church and attended regularly. Her faith was what got her through what happened with Chad, but lately she’d drifted away. “That’s a good question.”

“You want to talk about it?”

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