Dr. Maria Ruocco stared up at me. I had at least a foot in height on her. She spoke with a total deadpan look on her face. “You appear sane, you sound sane at times, but you're certifiable,” she said and smiled. Her bright blue eyes twinkled playfully.
“Plus, I'm armed and dangerous,” I said.
“Good night, Dr. Cross,” Maria Ruocco said and she blew me a feathery kiss.
“Good night, Dr. Ruocco. And thank you.” I sailed a kiss back at her as she walked down the corridor.
I slept restlessly on two uncomfortable club chairs pulled together inside Kate Mctiernan's room. I kept my revolver cradled in my lap.
Pleasant dreams, I'm sure.
Alex Cross 2 - Kiss the Girls
CHAPTER 50.
WHO ARE YOU? Who the hell are you, mister?'
A loud, high-pitched voice woke me up. It was close by. Almost in my face. I remembered immediately that I was at the University of North Carolina Hospital. I remembered exactly where I was in the hospital. I was with Kate Mctiernan, our prize witness.
“I'm a policeman,” I said in a soft and hopefully reassuring voice to the traumatized intern. “My name is Alex Cross. You're in North Carolina University Hospital. Everything is okay now.” At first, Kate Mctiernan looked as if she might cry, then she seemed to take hold of herself. Watching her grab control like that helped me understand how she had survived both Casanova and the river. This was a very strong- willed woman I had been watching over.
“I'm in the hospital?” Her words were slightly slurred, but at least she was coherent.
“Yes, that's right,” I said holding up one hand, palm facing out.
“You're safe now. Let me run and get a doctor. Please, I'll be right back.” The slight slurring continued, but Dr. Mctiernan was focused, scarily so.
“Hold on a minute. I am a doctor. Let me get my bearings before we invite company in to visit. Just let me collect my thoughts. You're a policeman?” I nodded. I wanted to make this as easy for her as I possibly could. I wanted to hug her, hold her hand, do something supportive and yet not threatening, after what she'd been through the past few days. I also wanted to ask her about a hundred important questions.
Kate Mctiernan looked away from me. “I think he drugged me. Or maybe all that was a dream?” “No, it wasn't a dream. He used a powerful drug called Marinol.” I told her what we knew so far. I was being so careful not to push Kate the wrong way.
“I must have been really tripping.” She tried to whistle, and made a funny sound. I could see where she was missing a tooth. Her mouth was probably dry; her lips were swollen, especially the upper lip.
Odd as it seemed, I found myself smiling. “You were probably on the planet Weirdness for a while. It's nice to have you back.” “It's really nice to be back,” she said in a whisper. Tears welled up in her eyes. “Sorry,” she said. “I tried so hard not to cry in that horrible place. I didn't want him to see any weakness he could exploit. I want to cry now. I think I will.” “Oh, please, you just cry your eyes out,” I whispered, too. I could barely talk or keep back tears myself. My chest felt tight. I went over to the hospital bed, and I lightly held Kate's hand as she wept.
“You don't sound like you're from the South,” Kate Mctierman finally spoke again. She was grabbing control of herself. It amazed me she could do that.
“I'm from Washington, D. C.” actually. My niece disappeared from Duke Law School ten days ago. That's why I'm down here in North Carolina.
I'm a detective.'
She seemed to see me for the first time. She also appeared to be remembering something important. “There were other women at the house where I was kept prisoner. We weren't supposed to talk. All communication was strictly forbidden by Casanova, but I broke the rules. I talked to a woman named Naomi ” I stopped her, cut her off there. “My niece's name is Naomi Cross,” I said. “She's alive? She's all right?” My heart felt as if it were going to implode. “Tell me what you remember, Kate. Please.” Kate Mctiernan grew more intense. 'I talked to a Naomi. I don't remember a last name. I also talked to a Kristen. The drugs. Oh, God, was it your niece? ... Everything is so hazy and dark right now.
I'm sorry ... ' Kate's voice trailed off as if someone had let the air out of her.
I gently squeezed her hand. “No, no. You just gave me more hope than I've had since I came down here.” Kate Mctiernan's eyes were fixed and solemn, staring into mine. She seemed to be looking back at something horrifying that she wanted to forget. “I don't remember a lot of it right now. I think Marinol has that side effect ... I remember that he was going to give me another injection. I kicked him, hurt him enough to get away. At least I think that's what happened ... ”There were thick, thick woods. Carolina pines, hanging moss everywhere ... I remember, I swear to God ... the house ... wherever we were being kept, it disappeared. The house where we were being held captive just disappeared on me.'
Kate Mctiernan slowly shook her head of long brown hair back and forth.
Her eyes were wide with astonishment. She seemed amazed at her own story. “That's what I remember. How could that be? How could a house disappear?” I could tell that she was reliving her very recent, terrifying past. I was right there with her. I was the first one to hear the story of her escape, the only one so far to hear our witness speak.
