Page 46 of Fatal Witness

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Mark punched the answer button on his phone. “Lassiter.”

“Have you seen Dani?” Alex asked. “I tried to call her, but it went straight to voicemail.”

“She’s with me.” He sensed movement to his right and turned. Dani. She pointed toward the nearby restroom and he nodded. At least she was steady on her feet. “We’ve been on the phone with the sheriff where she lives—her uncle was murdered sometime last night.”

Alex gasped. “What?”

“The sheriff wants her to return home to see if anything is missing.”

“Is he going to provide protection for her while she’s there?”

“He only has three deputies.”

“So that’s a no,” Alex said. “I don’t think she should go.”

He was thinking the same thing. Unless ... “I’m going with her.”

“What? Why would you do that?”

He didn’t understand it himself, so he didn’t know how to explain it. Or maybe he did, but Alex wouldn’t understand. It was almost like he’d been given a second chance. “Someone needs togo with her, and after last night, I probably need to be on light duty anyway.”

“The county can’t pay your airfare.”

“I know. But you’ll give me the time off and see after Gem for me?”

“Of course.”

“Thanks. Is there a reason you wanted to talk to Dani?”

“She needs to call Hayes to take her to the hotel. No, on second thought, tell her to call me.”

“What’s going on?”

Alex continued like she hadn’t heard him. “I assume you’re not in your room? You’re supposed to be under observation.”

“The doc came by and discharged me early. Then I went to see Mae—that’s where I ran into Dani.”

“How is Mae?”

“Getting better. She remembered thinking someone was in her house yesterday.” He filled Alex in on what Mae had told them.

“Does she have any idea who they were or what they were looking for?”

“The nurse ran us out before we could discuss that. She should be discharged later today or tomorrow. You can question her then.” He stared at the floor.

“Good. Be sure to have Dani call me when she’s ready to leave.”

“Sure. I assume she has your number?” When there was no answer, he checked his phone. Alex had disconnected.

“What’s wrong?”

He looked up. “Alex wants to talk to you.”

Mark waited while Dani scrolled through her phone for Alex’s number and punched it. He didn’t know if she meant for it to be on speaker. But it was.

“Thanks for calling me back,” Alex said. “I’m almost to the hospital. I’ll pick you up and take you to your room.”

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