Page 41 of Fatal Witness

Dani turned. A twentysomething girl dressed in blue scrubs and holding a tray smiled at her.

“I’m looking for Mae Richmond’s room.”

“I’m taking this to the room next to hers—it’s right down here. Just follow me.”

Dani hurried after her.

The girl paused at a central station with medical personnel coming and going. She stopped a young woman with a stethoscope looped around her neck. “This is her nurse.”

After Dani introduced herself, the nurse smiled. “I’m Jane. Ihad a note that you were coming, and that you’re on her HIPAA form. But I would have known you were Mae’s granddaughter—you really favor her.”

Dani wasn’t sure how to respond and offered a tentative smile. “Thank you.”

“Miss Mae is an amazing woman. I wish I knew a tenth of what she knows about herbal remedies. She’s famous around here, but I’m sure you know all about that.”

Again, Dani didn’t know what to say. “How is she?”

The nurse glanced toward the window, where Dani could see a sleeping older woman with reddish hair so like her own. She’d been expecting ... maybe a gray-haired granny, certainly not someone who looked to be in her sixties.

“Her nurse from last night indicated she was restless the first part of the night but slept well after midnight. Her doctor’s already been in to see her, and if her blood pressure remains regulated, you should be able to take her home late this afternoon or tomorrow.”

The nurse thought Dani was going to take Mae home? An image of the isolated house formed. What if the person who was after Dani returned? “That soon?”

“Like I said, it’ll depend on her blood pressure.”

“Is it okay for me to go in?”

“Of course. I need to take her vitals anyway.”

A monitor beeped over the bed as Dani followed the nurse inside the room. It was only the second time she’d been in an intensive care unit, and the first time was just a month ago when she and her uncle were allowed into Laura’s room after she developed pneumonia. She glanced up at the screen. “Is her heart rate supposed to be that high?”

Laura’s was like that just before she died.

“It’s actually better than it was during the night.” The nurse turned to her patient. “Mrs. Richmond, your granddaughter ishere. I need to check your blood pressure, and then I’ll let you two visit.”

Mae slowly turned her head toward Dani and opened her eyes. “Danielle.” Then she winced as the blood pressure cuff inflated.

“I’ll be done here in a jiffy,” the nurse said soothingly. The cuff deflated, and new numbers appeared on the monitor. “Your blood pressure is improving,” she said. “And now I’ll let you visit.”

While her grandmother didn’t speak, her blue eyes bored a hole in her. Blue eyes like Dani saw every time she looked in the mirror. Once they were alone, Dani pulled a chair over to the bed and sat down. She wouldn’t want someone hovering over her. Now that she was closer, Dani could see a few silvery-white streaks in the copper strands.

Instinctively, she took Mae’s hand, and her fingers curled around Dani’s.A Band-Aid.An image of those fingers applying a Band-Aid to her knee flashed in her mind’s eye.Angelica fromRugrats.

A ton of emotions ran through Dani. Coming here was the right thing to do ... but what had she called her grandmother? Dani searched her memory bank. “Nonny?” she whispered. Yes. That was it ... Maybe.

Her grandmother blinked back tears that had gathered in her eyes.

“Did I call you Nonny?”

“Yes,” she said softly.

“I’m sorry I don’t remember you.” Even so, Dani’s heart soared. The memories were buried in her subconscious, waiting to emerge. Peace settled in her heart.

“That’s what Mark told me, but we have plenty of time to talk about that once I get out of here. You will stay, won’t you?”

“I have so many questions, and I’m sure you do too, but I’m not sure how long I can be away from Montana. I have a business there.”

“I know.” She raised the head of her bed until she was sitting up. “I read all about it on your website after I saw the article inPottery Making Illustrated.”

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