Page 37 of Judas

Eliza pulled Judas by the hand as they wove around scattered chairs and people.

"I received a text," her throat was like a desert.

"Name?" the bespectacled nurse asked.

Eliza drew a deep breath, "Paul Arthur…I'm his daughter."

The woman jabbed at keys on her computer, gazing at the monitor over her glasses, "Yes, he's been moved to recovery. If you'll please wait in consolation room one, someone will be in to speak with you."

Judas turned in the direction of her finger and nodded his thanks.

They sat in pregnant silence for a long moment in the small room. The tension between them was thick, weighing on them like the world on the back of Atlas. Judas left his position of protection by the door to take a place next to Eliza. It was as if the bottom fell out of a bucket.

"What happens if he dies?" she whispered, leaning into his shoulder, her eyes too tired to cry.

His grip enveloped her, "No, ahavah… not those thoughts. He's going to be just fine… your focus is being by his side."

"Who… would do this, Judas? Dad is… an asshole in the best of times, but," she paused. "I need to find out who did this."

"Eliza—"

The door swung open to a man in his mid-fifties in green scrubs; his face mask dangling from his neck, "Ms. Arthur?"

The pair stood, shaking hands with the doctor as quick introductions were made. He was abrupt and to the point. Paul had been shot twice; once in the shoulder, just missing his heart, and once in his back. The bullets were removed without incident but it seems as though he fell when he tried to outrun the assailant, hitting his head on something hard like a corner of a table or the floor. Paul was suffering from swelling in his brain.

"Oh my God!" all color drained from Eliza's face and Judas stood closer in case she might faint.

"Your father is in a medically induced coma. Right now, it's wait and see." He placed a reassuring hand on her elbow, "We'll know more in the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours. I am sorry I can't tell you more right now."

He looked at Judas, "He'll be moved from the recovery room to the critical care unit within the hour. You can see him then."

Judas bowed his head in thanks as the door closed. He felt the energy shift as Eliza melted into his arms, sobbing. He felt her anguish and pain as if it were his own and wished he could freeher of it. He would find out who hurt Paul. It wouldn't be out of loyalty to his employer, but out of love for the man's daughter.

"Shhh…" he soothed. He felt her breath slowing as her cries abated.

She rose from his hold touching his damp shirt where her tears saturated the soft fabric, "Thank you, Judas. For everything. I'm not sure I would be half as coherent if you weren't here with me."

He had to laugh, "Eliza, I think you are capable of conquering the world if you set your mind to it."

Her dewy eyes rose to meet his, "I have to find out who did this."

"No, you don't," Judas shook his head vehemently. "The police are perfectly equipped to handle it. Please, Eliza. Let them do their job."

The thought of her playing detective while someone with an aspiration for murder was out there drove him to the brink of madness. If there was someone with a grudge against Paul, he wanted Eliza to be as far away as possible. He knew if he pushed her too hard, she would dig in and do it anyway. Which, if he were being honest, that's probably exactly what was happening.

"I'll tell you what… you and I," he put a hard emphasis on theI, "we'll do some digging… tomorrow, as ateam. Between the two of us, I'm sure we can get closer to what really happened tonight. Deal?" He stared so hard into her glistening eyes, that he almost lost himself.

Eliza considered him for a long moment before an answer tumbled from her lips.

"Deal."

Chapter twenty-four

Judas was a sentinel from the doorway, watching Eliza hold her father's hand for an hour. It was the middle of the night and she refused to leave his side. After all the disagreements, coddling, and admonishment of poor judgment and even more terrible behavior, she was always the faithful and dutiful daughter. Judas knew this woman was otherworldly, but her strength and loyalty seemed infinite. He could only think of one other person he met in the vastness of his life that she came close to in veritable fortitude; and he loved them both, albeit, in differing ways.

Around three, Eliza took Judas by the hand and out of the presence of her father, "Hey… I'm not going anywhere, but you should go home. Get some sleep."

"I'm not leaving you," he argued.

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