Page 70 of Deadly Designs

Presley looked over at them, and her smile faded.When they walked in, she stood. “How are you?” she asked AjaBlue.

It warmed Chrisitan that she was concerned about her.“I’m okay.”

“What happened?” Detective Herbert asked. “You threelook like the Walking Dead.” She had a wrap around her head, andher booted foot was propped on pillows.

“I didn’t tell her,” Presley said. “She needs torest, not work.”

The detective gave her a frosty look and thenaddressed Christian. “What happened, Zamora?”

“Aja Blue’s assistant, Jay Guitterez, was founddead.”

“That changes everything.” She reached for her phone.“Gil, I just heard about Jay Guitterez’s death. Pastor Chet and hisboys are looking at a murder rap.” She listened, her browspinching. “Well, yes, but—I know. No. Of course, but this is my—Hi,Captain. I am. No . . . fine.” She disconnected and tossed herphone onto the mattress. “I’ve been officially kicked off thecase.”

Christian hated that because she had proven to be acompetent ally, but he didn’t blame her boss. She’d been through atraumatic experience. She needed to rest and recover.

“Someone do me a favor and hand me thosecrutches.”

Presley eyed her suspiciously. “Why?”

She ignored her. “Aja Blue? Please?”

Aja Blue walked over to where they were proppedagainst a wall and picked them up. “Do you need to use thebathroom?”

Nicole tossed off the covers. “Uh, yeah, sure.”

“What are you doing?” Presley barked. “I’m callingthe nurse.”

“Don’t be such a tattletale,” the detectivechided.

“Woah, there,” Aja Blue said, fastening the back ofthe gown for Nicole before she flashed the room.

Nicole lifted her leg from the pillows and tried tohide a grimace. Christian was about to step in and stop her when anurse came rushing inside.

“Ms. Herbert, what do you think you’re doing?”

“I have somewhere I need to be.”

“I knew it,” Presley muttered.

“You most certainly do not,” the nurse chided as shelifted Nicole’s leg and placed it back on the pillows beforereadjusting the IV Nicole had dislodged. “Don’t make me getsecurity for the door.”

“How did you even know to come in here?”

“You rang the call button.”

“I didn’t . . .” She glared at Presley. “Really?”

Presley shrugged unrepentantly.

Christian’s phone buzzed, and he checked the screen.It was from Captain Parsa, but he didn’t think the detective neededto hear the conversation, so he stepped into the hall.

“Captain Parsa.”

“Zamora, I have some news for you. Can you stop bythe station?”

“Absolutely. We’re on our way.”

He disconnected and went to collect Aja Blue,Presley, and Kayne. They said goodbyes to the detective andpromised to stop in and see how she was doing soon.

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