Page 42 of Linc
“I spoke with a contact who works closely with the chief.She gave me the details from the preliminary report that was filed at the scene.”
“The scene?”I think I’ve lost all faculties of reasoning.I can’t even compute what she’s saying.Like I’m having an out-of-body experience.
“According to the initial statements, Linley made an appointment to have a massage by Everly under a pseudo name.Several minutes after ten, screaming and crying for help was heard coming from a massage room.A worker rushed in and found Linley standing over Everly with a metal pipe, beating her while she was on the ground.Security, by the name of Bubba, came in and tackled Linley to the ground right when she came down and hit Everly in the head.He was able to get to her fast, so the hit to the head wasn’t as hard as it could’ve been if he hadn’t stepped in, according to the officer.Bubba then pinned Linley down, holding her there until the police arrived.”
I can’t move.
I can’t breathe.
All the oxygen from the room feels like it’s been sucked out and I can’t breathe.I start to tug at my tie and collar to gain some relief, but I find none.
“Wh…how is—”
“The officers responding to the call said it looked like a fucking bloody massacre.They arrested Linley as the paramedics were rushing Everly to the hospital.”Olivia clamps her hands firmly on my shoulders and gives me a shake.
“Is this a joke?Are you messing with me?”I finally focus and my eyes land on Olivia.“How did this happen?”
“I think we need to get to the hospital, Lincoln.I’ll drive you.”
I nod because for the first time in my life, forming words isn’t happening at the moment.
“Is she?They said attempted homicide, so does that mean—” I can’t even finish the sentence because I don’t want to get my hopes up.
“We won’t know until we get to the hospital and find out, but we need to move fast.”
She grabs my phone and jacket and somehow, we manage to walk to the elevator and get in her car and into a parking space at the hospital before I can even blink.It’s like I’ve walked into a nightmare I can’t wake from.
“Let me do all the talking” Olivia whispers as we approach the help desk.
An elderly woman, with snow white hair, sits behind the desk and looks as though she’s about to fall asleep.
“Hello, we were wondering if you might help point us in the right direction?”Olivia asks as sweetly as possible, turning on her charm.
“Huh?Honey, you’re going to have to speak up,” The old woman practically yells, and it echoes off the walls.
Olivia pulls her lips into a tight smile then proceeds to try again.
“I’m looking for a patient.”Olivia bends down and is almost in her face yelling.“Everly Bryant.”
“Are you a family member?”
“This is her husband.”Olivia points over to me.“I’m her attorney,” she enunciates each word so the elderly woman won’t question us anymore.
The woman nods then starts to slowly type on the computer.A sloth would be faster at this point.I move to take the keyboard away and do it myself, but Olivia must’ve anticipated this and grabs my arm, stopping me.
“She’s in surgery.”
My heart actually stops and my knees buckle.My hands mounted on the top of the counter keeps me from falling in a heap on the floor.
“Fourth floor.Go through those doors and down all the way, hook a left and those elevators will take you to the waiting room.Flag a nurse down and she’ll be able to help answer your questions.”The old woman hands over two badges that say ‘family’, and tells us to place them where the staff can see them.
“Thank you,” Olivia says, taking the badges and snagging my arm to get me moving.“You’d think the hospital would be a little more secure than taking the word of people and handing over badges without fully checking the people out,” she mumbles.
“This is all my fault,” I say once we’ve reached the elevators and are ascending to the fourth floor.Olivia has fastened the badge to my white shirt and is typing on her phone.My hands are raking through my short hair as panic sets in.
“This isn’t your fault, you didn’t tell Linley to do this so you couldn’t have known what was going to happen.”She pauses for a second from texting and looks up at me.“Right?”Olivia gives me an eye that says I better tell her if she needs to be the one representing me.
“Of course I didn’t tell her to do this.I haven’t even seen her in weeks,” I demand, feeling heated that she’d suggest that.
