Page 27 of Night Fall (The Quantico Files 1)

13

After assuring Mike they were on their way, Alex told Logan that Nettie was asking for her. “We’ve got to go down there.”

“Sure. I have everything I need with me, but you might want to change first and—”

“You’re right. Give me a minute.”

Alex hurried into the bedroom and shut the door. She pulled off her hoodie, sweatpants, and T-shirt, then kicked off her slippers and grabbed her jeans, a sweater, and boots. After dressing, she went into the bathroom, where she quickly brushed her hair and tied it back into a ponytail before applying a little mascara.

Why did Nettie want to talk to her? Did she know the person who attacked her and killed Willow? When she walked back into the living room, Logan looked surprised. “That was fast. I don’t think I could have gotten ready that quickly.”

“That’s because you’re so vain,” Alex said.

“Yeah, someone once wrote a song about me,” he said with a grin.

Alex folded her sketch into the pocket of her jeans before grabbing her jacket, making sure she had everything she needed in those pockets as well. Then they hurried downstairs to the car the FBI had rented for them. Alex was grateful the SUV had four-wheel drive. Safer on snowy streets. It was coming down pretty good now. The streetlights highlighted the large flakes, making them look like brilliant bursts of luminescent prisms. As Logan drove, Alex had to tear her eyes away from the beauty around her and concentrate on what lay ahead. The dichotomy of nature and the evil in the hearts of humans made her ache inside. It was a reality that people in law enforcement had to balance every day. Sometimes they were successful. Sometimes they weren’t.

It didn’t take them long to reach the hospital. They parked in the large covered parking garage and strode through a walkway to the main entrance. As they entered, they found Mike waiting for them.

“Hi,” he said. “You’ve beat the KCPD. I had to call them too, of course. She’s in ICU on the fifth floor. Come with me.”

The three of them got into an elevator and headed upstairs.

“How is Nettie doing?” Alex asked. “Will she be okay?”

“Her sister-in-law, Barbara, drove in from Independence as soon as she heard. She told me the doctor said Nettie’s chances of recovery are good. But it’s hard to be sure with the kind of head injury she has. There was some internal bleeding too, and they had to remove her spleen. Hopefully that will be it.”

“Are you keeping a guard on her?” Logan asked.

“She’s safe. No one can get into ICU without the nursing staff questioning them. If and when Nettie’s moved to a regular room, someone will be posted outside her door. Meanwhile, I’m gonna hang around.”

It felt as if the elevator was barely moving, driving Alex crazy. When an orderly got on at the fourth floor, she wanted to yell at him. Silly. She felt uncomfortable. Worried about something she couldn’t put her finger on.

When the doors finally opened on the fifth floor, they got out. Mike led them to the ICU nurses’ station.

“These are the folks I told you about,” Mike said to an older nurse who didn’t seem happy to see them.

“You can take only one person in with you,” she said, her tone leaving no doubt she meant it.

Alex glanced down at the woman’s badge. “Ruth, we’re also with the FBI.” Alex took her creds from her jacket pocket and showed the crotchety nurse. “I’d like my partner with me when I question Mrs. Travers.”

Ruth nodded at Mike. “Then you have to stay out here.”

“Not a problem,” Mike said, then turned to Logan. “But Nettie made it pretty clear she would talk only to Alex. I’m not sure she’ll want you in there.”

“Let’s try it,” Alex said to Logan. “If she objects to having you in the room, you can come back out here. I’d like you there for backup. I don’t want to miss anything.” Having two behavioral analysts was better than one in Alex’s mind. The truth was she’d been shaken by Willow’s death, and she hadn’t slept. She felt the need for another set of eyes and ears.

“Is Nettie’s sister-in-law still here?” Mike asked.

Ruth shook her head. “Once Mrs. Travers was conscious, she went to a hotel to rest a bit. She’ll be back a little later.”

“Okay, let’s go,” Alex said.

Ruth gestured toward a large door. “Come with me.”

Alex and Logan waited for her to step in front of them, then they followed her through the door and past several rooms before she finally stopped in front of one. She pushed the door open and waved Alex and Logan inside. Nettie was hooked up to both an IV and a heart monitor. Her face was bruised so badly Alex wouldn’t have recognized her. Both her eyes were swollen almost shut.

“Come ... closer...” Nettie croaked as soon as she saw them. “Who are you?”

---