Page 29 of Fatal Witness

Diamonds. There’d been something about diamonds in the Bennett case, but she’d have to look over the file to remember what. Alex followed Morgan and Ben to meet the doctor, who waited near the door.

“How is she?” Alex asked. Wexler looked from her to Ben, andshe added, “I’m on the list of people you can share information with. Besides, this is an investigation.”

The doctor shot Alex a puzzled look. “Investigation?”

“Someone may have broken into her house and could have possibly threatened her in some way.”

The doctor nodded and looked at his tablet. “My notes,” he said. “After the brain CT scan showed a left cerebral thrombosis, I administered a tissue plasminogen activator.”

Alex understood some of what he’d said. “Are you saying she had a blood clot on the left side of her brain and you used a clot-buster drug?”

He smiled. “Precisely.”

“But Mark Lassiter said her right side was affected,” Alex said.

“Because the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body and vice versa. If the thrombolytic therapy had been unsuccessful, Mrs. Richmond would have suffered speech and memory loss, however I’m not expecting any of those problems.”

Ben frowned. “But it is possible she won’t remember what happened?”

Dr. Wexler nodded slowly. “I never say never, but when administered quickly enough, the tissue plasminogen activator works miracles.”

Alex nodded. “One of the patrol officers I worked with in Chattanooga had a blood clot like Mae’s, and he was back at work in two weeks and mowing his grass even before that.”

“Exactly, and I don’t foresee any problems for Mrs. Richmond. I expect her to be back to her normal self very quickly, even though she’ll tire easily for a while. But she’s healthy and strong.”

“Can I talk to her?” Alex asked.

The doctor tensed.

“As a friend, not a deputy—I think a familiar face might comfort her.”

He relaxed. “In that case, yes, but don’t do or say anything that will cause anxiety.”

Alex agreed, and while the doctor answered a couple of Morgan and Ben’s questions, she joined Nathan, who was in a conversation with Rick.

“I thought you and your wife were going to Hawaii.” Nathan cocked his head toward the older man.

“No, it was always Betsy and her sister—it’s their annual trip. I’m going fly fishing in northern Wyoming.” Rick glanced toward the ICU door and grimaced. “I feel bad leaving Mae like this, though, especially with her granddaughter arriving tomorrow.”

“She’ll be the first one to tell you to go,” Nathan replied. Then he frowned. “How did you know about Danielle?”

“I think Morgan has told the whole town the story about Mae finding Danielle after seeing her photo in some pottery magazine,” Rick said with a chuckle.

Alex and Nathan laughed along with him. Everyone including Alex liked the kind pastor at Community Fellowship. He was about the age her dad would’ve been had he lived and had given her fatherly advice on more than one occasion when she was a teen. “I hope you have a good trip.”

“Thanks.” He shook hands with Nathan and squeezed Alex’s hand. “I need to get on the road, but I’ll be praying for Mae. If she needs me, don’t hesitate to call. I can always get a flight back.”

“Thanks, and watch the speed limit,” she called after him. Her deputies had mentioned he had a heavy foot on the accelerator.

Rick saluted and walked to the elevator.

“He’s a good pastor,” Nathan said after the elevator doors closed behind him. “Have you scheduled a time to see if he can officiate our wedding?”

“Not yet.” Before he could ask why she hadn’t—a question she really didn’t have an answer for—Alex said, “I was going to,but like you, I thought he was going to Hawaii. I thought I’d wait until he returned.”

Nathan studied her, then nodded as Dr. Wexler gestured to her. “I won’t be long,” Alex said and followed the doctor through the ICU doors to Mae’s room. “How long do you think she’ll be in the hospital?” she asked the doctor.

“The question is, how long will she agree to stay?” he replied with a chuckle. “She’s already asking when she can leave. I hope you can convince her to stay until Monday, but if she continues to do well, I’ll probably discharge her tomorrow. She is a very lucky woman.”

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