Page 44 of Fatal Witness

“And you love to talk about her.” Mark glanced at Dani. “I visit your grandmother at least a couple of times a week, and we spend a lot of time talking about your mom.”

A man entered the room accompanied by Mae’s nurse, and she introduced him as a physical therapist. After he checked her bracelet, he said, “Time for you to exercise a little. Y’all can come back at ten, if you’d like.”

“Do you know when the doctor will decide if she can go home?” Dani asked the nurse.

“He didn’t put it in his notes,” the nurse replied.

“Will the doctor be back this afternoon?”

“He’s usually here around five thirty.”

“Thank you.” Dani took Mae’s hand. “I’ll be back at ten.”

“You don’t have to do that, child.”

“I want to. I’ve already missed too much time with you.”

Outside the room, Mark waited while she gave the nurse her phone number. “I’m staying across the way at the hotel. If her doctor comes in, would you give me a call? I can be here in five minutes.”

The nurse agreed to her request, and Dani followed Mark to the elevator.

“You said my grandmother likes to talk about my mom. What about my dad?” Dani shot a questioning glance toward Mae’s room.

“She never talks about him, but yesterday I looked at the case. His name was Robert, but everyone called him Bobby. He had a brother—”

“Keith,” Dani said. “He raised me.”

“We could talk about him over a cup of coffee in the cafeteria, maybe even grab breakfast if they haven’t taken it up?”

She tilted her head. “You didn’t eat your breakfast either, did you?”

He ducked his head. “It wasn’t any better than Mae’s. And I’d really like for you to join me.”

She should say no, but the compassion in his face stopped her. Dani found she very much wanted to confide in him, and that wasn’t like her at all since she didn’t normally trust anyone. Mark was—she searched for the right word—comfortable. And a little bit dangerous. She could deny being attracted to him all she wanted, but her fluttering heart told her otherwise. The last time that happened had not ended well.

Dani felt her cheeks grow hot and ducked her head. Her cell phone rang, saving her from answering him about breakfast.

“You better get that.”

Dani checked the ID and stiffened.

“Who is it?”

“I don’t recognize the number, but the ID says it’s my area code.”

“You want me to answer it? It might be a robo call.”

“Would you?”

Mark took her phone and punched the answer button, putting it on speaker. “Deputy Mark Lassiter.”

There was a pause. “This is Sheriff Rex Crider in Dalton County, Montana. I’m trying to reach Dani Collins.”

“I’ll have her call you. I assume your number is on the website. Are you at your office?”

“It is, and I am, but I’m calling on my cell phone. Is there a problem?”

“Like I said, I’ll have her call you.” He disconnected. “I think it’s for real, but just to make sure, we’ll look up the sheriff’s department number and call him back. Unless you have it.”

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