Page 47 of Fatal Witness

“Okay ... but why?”

“We’ll discuss it when I get there. I’ll be waiting at the side entrance to the hospital—Mark is with you, so he can show you where it is.”

Mark opened his mouth to tell Alex he was coming with Dani to the hotel but he quickly closed it. It was easier to ask forgiveness than permission—and Alex would have quickly shot down his offer. It’d be a little harder in person.

21

Mark walked with Dani to the side entrance of the hospital. Alex hadn’t arrived yet.

“Thanks for being here. I can’t believe my uncle is gone and I have to find a flight home.” She turned toward him, her face warming under his concern. She’d never met anyone so nonjudgmental and compassionate. But why did he have to be so attractive?

She did not just think that! Maybe it was a natural reaction for her mind to focus on something besides her uncle’s death. No. His murder. First her parents and now Keith. Was her whole family going to be murdered? Maybe she was next. Or her grandmother. She had to keep her focus on regaining her memory—something told her that was the key to everything.

“I’m going with you.”

Dani jerked her head up, not sure she’d heard him correctly. “What do you mean?”

“You’re not going by yourself, so book two seats when you make the reservation, and don’t worry, I’ll pay for my ticket. And Alex has already approved my time off.”

The weight that lifted off her shoulders surprised her. Shehadn’t even realized she was worrying about flying to Montana alone. “You don’t have—”

“Yes, I do.”

“Why?”

“One, I’m really sorry about your uncle, and two, Alex and I don’t think you should go by yourself.” He glanced out the door. “And it looks like she’s here.”

Alex pulled the cruiser next to the entrance, and Mark opened the passenger door. Dani climbed in and fastened her seat belt before looking up at Mark. “I’ll call you once I book our flight.”

“You’re not rid of me yet ... that is, if Alex will unlock the back door.”

“Don’t you need to go back to your room?” Dani asked as Alex popped the door locks.

He slid inside the cruiser. “The doctor discharged me early this morning.”

Dani looked at him. “But you said—”

“No,yousaid I hadn’t been discharged.” He grinned. “I was just messing with you when I didn’t correct you—you seemed so sure you knew what you were talking about.”

Dani didn’t quite know how to respond, and from the odd look Alex gave him in the rearview mirror, neither did she. A minute later the chief deputy drove through the pull-through at the hotel, and Mark hopped out first. He opened her door. “Let’s get you inside,” he said, scanning the parking lot.

His words hit her hard. In the movies, that only happened when someone wanted someone else dead. Dani swallowed hard and pressed her hand to her chest to try and slow her hammering heart. Surreal. That was the only word that fit.

Dani didn’t breathe normally until they got off the elevator on the second floor and she pulled her key card out of her pocket.

Mark took it and waved the card in front of the door. “Let me go in first.”

“No, I need to go in first. I didn’t crate Lizi, so I guarantee no one is in my room, and she would not react well to you entering first.”

“After you, then.”

Lizi met her at the door, her tail wagging. Dani glanced around the room. No torn pillows. “You’ve been a good girl,” she said, rubbing her head.

A minute later, there was a knock on the door and Mark checked before he let Alex in. “I’m making some coffee. Anyone else want any?” he asked.

Lizi sniffed Mark’s shoes, then rubbed against his leg as Dani quickly sank into a comfortable chair. That was odd. The dog didn’t usually take up with people she didn’t know well. That was a plus for the deputy.

“None for me,” Alex said.

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