Page 234 of Cross & Crown

reached the hospital. Nick had to school his features into

a more professional mask as they inquired into JD’s room

number and rode the elevator up.

When they found the room, Hagan was there, and so was

Alex. She was sitting beside JD’s bed, filling him in on the

details he was still missing. They both looked up when Nick

and Kelly entered.

“Hey,” JD said with a tentative smile.

234

“How you feeling?” Nick asked him. He moved closer,

giving Alex a nod in greeting.

“I’m okay,” JD scooted up a little in the bed, wincing and

holding to his side. “Alex says this isn’t the first time I’ve been shot, so . . . hey, no big deal, right?”

Nick smiled and patted JD’s arm, unable to quell the

urge to continue trying to comfort the man. He noticed a

stack of books on the table beside JD’s bed. They were all his

adventures, told by him.

“His story all checks out, O,” Hagan offered. “He was

taken from his hotel room in New York by a group that had

been contracted by a company called Sanco Pharmaceuticals.

Apparently it’s not uncommon for these big companies to

take unusual routes for miracle cures. First time one of them’s ended in kidnapping and murder, though.”

“Pharmaceutical companies after medieval scrolls,” Kelly

mused. “Sure, why not.”

“I’m sorry I kicked you in your transplant scar,” JD offered,

looking at Nick with what could only be described as hope.

Nick cocked his head, frowning. “How’d you know it was

there?”

“Saw it the night I was talking to your friend on the

phone.”

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