Page 53 of Judas

Paul paused, "First off, young lady, I don't like your tone. Second, I don't remember what happened."

"I'm sorry." Her lips drew into a thin line, "Is there anything you do remember?"

She forced her voice to soften.

"Well, I," Paul shrugged. "I was in my office, reading. Then all of a sudden there was someone there with a gun…that's all."

"Can you give the police a description?" she urged, unsure how far she could push him before he shut her down. "Don't you want this person to get what they deserve?"

Waving his hand again, Paul sat a little more straight against the hospital bed, "Now honey, this is just a mess that we need to let the police handle. And yes, I'm sure when orifthey are caught, they'll get what's coming to them."

"Dad," Eliza's voice was full of warning.

"He was wearing a mask," her father replied flatly and Eliza took the hint. He would give her no more answers on the topic. "Now, Betsy, please make sure the press is ready to go the second I'm released. We're going to need a statement to hand them, but I'll also be taking questions. Also, can you pick up my good navy suit from the dry cleaners? I heard once that wearing blue portrays strength. And, get Lydia to call someone about the house…I need that cleaned up before I get home. We can talk about next Thursday's speaking event tomorrow…although, I think I want to pull together one of those town halls in North Dallas the week after."

Eliza huffed, "Fine."

"Sweetheart, come here," Paul cooed. As his daughter drew closer, he took her hand, "I'm alright, honey. I know you're worried about me, but I'm fit as a bull in a pasture of heifers."

He smiled, "Jude, you go ahead and take a day or two. You've spent enough time here…you send Bobby or Beau over to stand watch until I get out of here."

"Yes, sir," he nodded, still a little confused.

"And, can you make sure Betsy gets home okay? She's looking a little pale," Paul squeezed his daughter's hand.

As the pair turned to leave, Eliza heard her father pushing keys on his cell phone. But instead of cycling back into a losing argument, she walked into the white and gray hallway, and allowed the heavy door to shut behind her. Every few feet, Judas glanced in her direction, but didn't dare interrupt what was stirring in her mind. He felt the anger boiling inside her. They walked side by side in silence until reaching the door of his car.

"Goddamn it!" she snarled.

"What the hell happened in there?" Judas demanded finally.

Eliza whirled on him, but the second her eyes met his, the tension released from her face, "My father…being a completeass. He cares more about this damn election than anything else, including his own safety. But, what's worse? Now, I think he's hiding something."

Her voice trailed into nothing and he stared intently into her face. Judas was concerned that Paul was taking the threat against his life so flippantly, but he was more worried about Eliza. He already knew her determination to get to the bottom of this ordeal, but now his uncertainty grew with her solidifying tenacity to uncover the truth.

Judas leaned close, "Let me get you home. We can tackle Paul's diversions tomorrow…after your doctor's appointment,Mrs. Christian.

The sly grin from Judas was the final hammer. Eliza's rigid facade broke as her lips cracked into a small smile.

Chapter thirty-eight

Eliza watched rain spatter the dingy windows of the Fort Worth Women's Health Center as she sat mindlessly flipping the pages of an outdated issue ofSouthern Living. The medical office, located on the fifth floor of a sprawling complex, was located near the campus of the Texas Health Methodist Hospital. Sparsely decorated, the large waiting room featured beige floral print walls, standard issue commercial tile floor, and padded seating that were purchased sometime in the mid-nineties.

After checking in, Eliza was given a clipboard with five forms to gather family history, insurance information, and health information releases. But after making up false information for ten minutes, she gave up and returned the paperwork and pen to the receptionist, and instead picked up a magazine. She was unsure of what she would say when she was called back but figured she could wing it. It was at this moment that she wished she had allowed Judas to come upstairs with her. He alwaysbrought her a sense of calm, but she reminded herself that he might raise suspicion.

"Beth Christian?"

Eliza's head snapped to the petite redheaded nurse holding her chart just outside the entrance to the exam rooms.

"Yes," she stood and moved toward the woman.

The pair crossed the threshold, zigzagging down a couple of hallways until they reached their destination. Eliza's insides trembled with anxiety as the nurse took her pulse, blood pressure, and oxygen level.

The woman's voice broke the bubble of silence, "Alright, if you want to get into that gown, Dr. Dupree will be in shortly."

With a quick movement, the nurse left and Eliza was alone. Too nervous to sit still for even a moment, she paced the small room reading and rereading several posters for cancer detection and menopause symptoms. Thirty minutes later, a sharp knock rattled the door and a tall woman, around Eliza's height with silvering blonde hair strode inside. Her white coat was neatly pressed and monogrammed. Eliza took in her entire presence, taking mental notes.

"Good afternoon, I'm Dr. Dupree," the woman announced, taking a seat on a rolling stool. She looked over to where she expected Eliza to be seated on the table, but she wasn't. "Oh, goodness. Hon, I'm going to need you up here," she patted the exam table.

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