a trip to the emergency room might not be such a bad idea. I was feeling sick to my stomach again and knew I might have a hard time driving. Besides, this was the best way I could think of to get away from Fielder.
The most ridiculous thing about my ride in an ambulance to the same hospital where I’d met with Sister Nell only a short time ago was how they strapped me like a mummy, neck brace and all, to what felt like a frozen surfboard. Turns out the backboard hadn’t been refrigerated, though. I was simply freezing. And even after I was x-rayed, scanned, and shot full of medicine for the nausea that just wouldn’t quit, I still shivered and shook like it was ten below zero in the hospital.
“You’re a little shocky from the trauma,” the nurse who gave me the injection told me. She then wrapped a warm cotton blanket around my shoulders, placed another on my lap, and said she’d be back.
The medicine had burned like the dickens when it went in, but now my stomach was finally feeling better. Better, that is, until Kate showed up looking all panicked and upset. I hadn’t called her, so how had she found me?
She stood in the doorway to my emergency room cubicle for a second, swallowed hard, and forced a smile. But knowing her, she didn’t like what she was seeing.
I quickly held the ice pack up to my face to hide the enormous bruise. “It’s really not as awful as you think,” I said.
“The doctor said you’ve got a hairline fracture in your maxillary bone. I’d say that’s awful enough.” She walked over next to me and started to touch my face, then thought better of it. Instead she took my hand and squeezed. “So what were you doing at the hotel, Abby?”
“I went to see Graham and was about five seconds too late. But how did you know?”
“An Officer Henderson called me. Did you see what happened to Mr. Beadford?”
“Nope. I didn’t even see the door hit me, it happened so fast.”
“Jeff is on his way, and he is going to be so upset to see you like this.”
“On his way from Seattle?”
“No, he came home and called me when he didn’t find you at your place, asked if you were with me. Then Henderson called on the other line while we were talking and said you’d been hurt, so I picked Jeff up and we drove down here together.”
“Wait a minute,” I said, holding up a hand. “Maybe getting whacked upside the head has—”
Just then Jeff appeared in the door. He looked tired and worried, but if there was any leftover anger in his eyes over my stupid, impulsive remarks, I couldn’t tell.
“Are you okay?” he said quietly.
“Yes,” I said. “And now that this stomach thing is better, I’m about ready to leave this place.”
“Stomach thing?” Kate said. “What are you talking about? Did you get punched there, too?”
I removed the ice pack. “I was never punched. Can’t you see the imprint of a door on my face?”
Jeff nodded. “Oh yeah. Think we’ll be seeing that for a while. Did they give you something for pain?”
“A nurse shot me up with some medicine for this little stomach problem, but as for pain, my face is numb right now.”
“Do you have a stomach virus, then? Or is it from being hit so hard?” Kate asked.
“My stomach’s been upset all day, but now it’s almost gone. I did drown myself in salsa, and combined with all that wonderful Jamaican food, I think I did this to myself. I do know why they call it jerk chicken now. It’s because you feel like a jerk when you puke all over the place.”
Jeff smiled. “If you’re cracking jokes, you’re feeling better. Maybe even well enough to tell me what went on tonight.” He came over to my gurney and picked up the ice pack I’d set down. He gently rested it against my cheek.
“It’s kind of hard to think right now.” I looked at Kate. “Would you mind getting me a Coke? I feel better since I had that medicine, and I could use something to drink.”
“Sure. Diet?” she asked.
“Regular,” I said.
“You?” Kate looked at Jeff.
“Coffee.” He rubbed the stubble on his chin with a knuckle. “Haven’t slept since I don’t know when.”
After she left, I said, “Did you get my messages? Because I’m so sorry—”
He leaned over and kissed me lightly on the lips, then said, “Shut up. It’s over.” He dragged a chair beside me, sat down, and gripped my hand.
I felt every muscle in my body relax. We were gonna be fine. “Did you get to talk to Fielder?”
“Only for a minute. Kate dropped me off at the hotel so I could pick up your car, and Quinn was wrapping up the scene. Graham Beadford most likely got some help off his hotel balcony—a witness saw a shadow of someone else behind him right before he fell—so she’s got two homicides now.”
“I feel so awful, Jeff. I was right outside his room when it happened.”
He gripped my hand tighter. “Looks like you dodged one, Abby. You sure you want to be a PI?”
“I have to do this,” I said. “Just like you have to do your job.”
“Yeah, I know, but... if anything happened to you—”
“Hey, just because someone tried to knock me senseless doesn’t mean I’m quitting.” I punched his arm playfully. “I’m as tough as you are.”
“Probably tougher,” he said with a grin. “You’re gonna have a shiner to go with the rest of your blue and purple face tomorrow.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.”
“What upsets me is that I didn’t see the guy.”
“It was a guy?” he said.
“Honestly, I’m not sure.”
“So your memory hasn’t returned yet?” came a new voice from the doorway.
Jeff stood and nodded. “Quinn,” he said politely.
I swear she blushed, but I wasn’t sure why.
“Hello, Jeff,” she said. “I’d like to ask Ms. Rose a few questions now that she’s been treated for her injuries.”
“Give her until tomorrow,” he said. “She needs a good night’s sleep and some time to recover.” He reached into his pocket for his Big Red and offered Fielder the pack.
She refused by shaking her head and said, “I’m working a homicide, and you know better than anyone that I need answers. Now.”
“Abby’s been through a lot. She’ll know just as much tomorrow as she does now.”
“It’s okay, Jeff,” I said. “Ask your questions, Chief.” I had something she wanted, and I liked being in that position. And I also had knowledge of other things, things I’d learned in Jamaica and things I’d learned since coming home. Things that might help her solve her case if she’d quit acting like she’d had a major power failure in her brain.
“You don’t have to say anything, Abby—and those are words I never thought I’d hear myself say.” Jeff opened two sticks of gum and folded them in his mouth.
Fielder wasn’t about to give me time to reconsider my generosity, though. “What went on inside Graham Beadford’s hotel room? Did he attack you first?”
“Attack me? I didn’t even talk to the man. If you think I killed him, you’re nuts.”
“You were there when a man died. I need to know why,” she said coldly.
“You’re fucking up big-time, Quinn.” Jeff’s eyes had darkened. I couldn’t remember seeing him look so angry.
She glared at him. “You don’t supervise me anymore, Sergeant. And maybe you should open your eyes. Your girlfriend pretends to cooperate on the first murder, but when I try to find her, I learn she’s left the country. And the minute she comes back, I’ve got another dead Beadford and no apparent motive. She’s been at the scene of two homicides and—”
