Snodgrass, Catherine Read online

  * * *

  Dr. Rushmore had the computer up and running. The necessary records were sorted and awaited her perusal. For a minute or two, Dani thought Alec intended to push her right up to the desk. Instead, he stopped just inside and let her slip into a chair.

  "All you should have to do is scroll through the records." Dr. Rushmore shoved the mouse under Dani's hand.

  The men shuffled into position around her. Parking his hand on the back of her chair Alec took a proprietary spot directly behind her. His arms were a brace against her shoulders-a place for her to lean if the need arose.

  Dani glanced at the scene. Already there was a problem. "There are hundreds of records here. You have this many nurses?"

  Dr. Rushmore tucked his arms over his chest. "I personally refuse to believe any of our nurses could be responsible. These records are for all the women, full-time, part-time, and volunteer, who work at the hospital."

  This could take hours. "Is there any way to narrow the search?"

  He leaned forward and took the mouse. "Sure. Just tell me what you want."

  "She was Caucasian that much I know."

  With a click of a button, Rushmore knocked the list down considerably. "Anything else?"

  Dani struggled to remember. It had happened so fast. The only clear recollection was that the woman had been so nice. "She was blonde."

  "Could have been a die job," Regan said, the first words he'd uttered since arriving.

  "Thin?"

  "Could have lost weight since the photo was taken," McLane added with a grin, obviously pleased he could think as quickly as his supervisor.

  "Okay, fine," Dani snapped. "Her age. She looked like she was in her late thirties." She glanced around waiting for someone to counter her. No one did.

  Rushmore made the adjustment and stood back. "There you are."

  The list was down to one hundred. With each face she scanned, Dani became less sure of herself. No one fit the image. And when the program cycled back to the first record, Dani sagged into the arm Alec offered.

  He curled his fingers over her shoulder. "It's all right. You were groggy. We'll get to the bottom of this."

  All she could do was nod. She was so certain she could identify the woman.

  McLane tapped his notepad with the end of his pen. "Maybe it was a man dressed like a woman."

  She shook her head. "The voice, the body was definitely a woman."

  "Maybe-"

  "That's enough." Alec straightened but never relinquished his hold on her shoulder. "Go file your report. If we come up with anything else, we'll let you know."

  "She should have a guard posted at her door," Regan said. "I'll send someone over."

  "I'll take the day watch." McLane raised his hand.

  "I wanted this low-profile," Rushmore snapped.

  "And we want her alive. Miss Morgan, I'll send a sketch artist over in the morning. That might help." Regan gestured to McLane and the two left.

  Rushmore whirled around on Alec the second the officers cleared the door. "I told you I'd call the police. Why did you feel the need to go behind my back?"

  "I didn't."

  His rage focused on Dani. "You?"

  The man's gall raised her hackles. Pushing to her feet, Dani met him glare for glare. "No. He came to discuss the accident and I informed him. And why shouldn't I? A crime was committed...against me." She jammed her thumb into her chest. "The pity of it is I shouldn't have had to. You should have."

  Defiance faltered under the weight of truth. Rushmore looked away and sadly shook his head. "You're right. This had just been such a shock. I promise you, Miss Morgan, you'll be protected, and I'll do everything in my power to find this woman. Do you need help getting back to your room?" He gave a light laugh. "Of course not. Dr. Edwards will see to you. I'll...I'll stop by in the morning."

  Alec had never seen Walt so rattled. His poor choice of words earlier was nothing compared to this outburst. Surely he hadn't expected to have no police involvement. He knew Alec better than that. He also knew that Alec would use and insist on the police using the utmost of discretion. Why the panic?

  "I meant what I said, Alec."

  He looked at Dani's upturned face. In the last hour and a half he had done everything he could think of to claim her as his. It was a wonder she was still speaking to him. Alec wasn't sure he deserved the attention.

  "About what?"

  "I want to go home...now. I don't want to spend another night in this place."

  The doctor in him stepped to the forefront. "I can't in good conscience authorize that."

  When she opened her mouth to argue, he raised his palm. "You had surgery less than forty-eight hours ago. Less than twenty-four hours ago, you were fighting for your life. You can't even make it down the hallway without exhausting yourself and you-"

  "Everyone was walking too fast. I had been on my feet off and on since this morning- naturally I would tire out. If you let me go home, I promise I'll rest, I won't do any heavy lifting, and I won't leave the house."

  She almost had him convinced until that last bit. Alec arched his eyebrows, questioning.

  Dani hedged. "All right, I swear I won't leave the house. Heaven knows, I have more than enough to keep me busy." Realizing she had said too much, Dani clamped her lips shut.

  Alec fought a smile and motioned her to the wheelchair with a sweep of his arm. There wasn't much more she could say. By her own words, she had sealed her fate. She settled into the chair without discussion.

  "Where to now?" he asked. "Your room? The garden? You did demand to speak with me, or are we finished?"

  "I...we're..." There really wasn't anything left to say-at least, anything she could put into coherent words. "We're finished."

  * * *

  Alec wheeled her back to her room in silence, but the undercurrents of desire still swirled around them. Dani wondered why in the world he didn't take advantage of their time alone, why he didn't make some move to lay final claim to her. He had already made her blatantly aware that he wanted her. So what in the world was he waiting for?

  The delay made her as edgy as anxiety had earlier. She should speak up, force the issue, press the stop button on the elevator and demand to know exactly what was on his mind.

  No, damn it. He started this flirtation. She was going to make sure he worked for it with absolutely no encouragement from her whatsoever.

  Elsie tossed aside her magazine when they rounded the corner of the doorway to Dani's room. "You're back. Good. Now maybe someone will tell me what all this nonsense is about."

  Alec gave her an indulgent smile while Dani crawled into bed. "I'm sure Dani will fill you in later. But you've got to keep this absolutely quiet, Elsie. We want to catch this person, not frighten her away."

  He enclosed Dani and himself within the privacy curtain.

  "I think it would be wise if I removed myself from your case. I'm sure you understand why."

  Dani's heart raced with anxiety. The very idea of someone other than Alec overseeing her recovery was out of the question. It had to be him-no one else.

  Staring him in the eye, she slowly shook her head. "I refuse to accept another doctor."

  "Dani...the ethical-"

  "Screw them."

  In the back of her mind, one thing pushed forward. I need you and you're leaving me. She tamped the fear down.

  "So you want me. Big deal. I'm not offended. But I will be if you walk out that door." A tremor in her voice ruined her attempt to sound tough.

  She cleared her throat and tried again. "You're who I want." A double entendre if ever there was one. She prayed he wouldn't call her on it.

  "Very well. Let's take a look at those stitches."

  Professional. That's what struck Dani the most. Gone was any trace of desire, any teasing repartee-this was business. He examined her face, gently pivoting her chin to take advantage of the lighting.

  "Nice," he muttered. "You do heal quickly."

  "I
always have."

  He gave her an absentminded nod. "I'm going to need to see the others as well. Unbutton for me, please."

  Dani flashed him a quick look to scan for signs of an ulterior motive. None existed. Though her fingers shook, she slipped the buttons from their holes.

  Alec peeled back only enough fabric and bandaging to view the line of stitches along the inside curve of her breast. The rest of her breast he kept discreetly covered.

  "You can button up. There's still swelling there, but the bandages can come off," he said as he pulled back. "You've been up and around too much."

  "If I promise to..."

  Laughing, he shook his head and looked toward the ceiling. "God, this woman just doesn't give up." Still smiling, he braced his hands on either side of her thighs. "Okay, I'll bend a little on this one."

  Dani sucked in a breath to thank him.

  He measured a distance between his thumb and forefinger. "A little. We'll see how you're doing tomorrow and discuss discharging you then."

  "Thank you for at least considering it."

  "That's about all I'm doing. If I agree, I intend to set some strict rules I expect you to abide by."

  He leaned closer. Dani's stomach clenched.

  "Understood?"

  "Do I have a choice?"

  "No," he said with a smile. "Sleep well and stay in bed." He tapped her on the end of her nose, and then opened the curtain. "I'll be in surgery in the morning and I'll stop by afterward. In the meantime, you have my beeper if you need me."

  Dani found herself shaking her head long after he left. "Elsie, I just don't understand men."

  The old woman snorted. "Who does? What's he done this time?"

  It wasn't what he did. It was what he didn't do. "It's not important."

  "It never is." She patted her mattress. "Now, come over here, deal these cards, and tell me what's going on."

  * * *

  Dani watched the hands on her clock pass another hour mark. Sleep was impossible, despite the armed police officer outside her door. She was sure that she must have dozed at some point, but the slightest noise jerked her awake. At this rate, Alec would never agree to let her go home. Or maybe he would when he saw she couldn't rest here.

  Who could with a murderous nurse on the loose?

  There was a strangled sound from Elsie's bed, then a muffled cough. In the dim light, Dani watched her try to sit without success.

  Dani levered herself to one elbow. "Are you all right?"

  "No," she whispered.

  "I'll call the nurse."

  "No. Just...just sit with me."

  Dani flicked on the night and hurried to her side, taking Elsie's blue-veined hand in both of hers. "Please let me call the nurse. You don't look well."

  "Everything's fine, child. There are just some things you shouldn't fight." She squeezed her hand, and then went limp.

  "Oh my God." Dani smacked the call button. "Officer, in here now! I need help giving CPR."

  She straddled Elsie's body and positioned her palms. The door burst open.

  "Code Blue!" the nurse yelled.

  An orderly raced in behind her and yanked Dani from Elsie. "Get back!" He shoved her toward her bed, closing her behind the curtain.

  Dani pulled the edge open. Light flooded the room. One piece of equipment after the other was rolled in. She bit her finger to keep the panic away, to fight the fear, to pray it wasn't so.

  By the time the doctor gave up, by the time Elsie's body had suffered one indignity after another in an effort to resuscitate her, Dani was trembling. She listened to them clear the room and then pull back the curtain. It looked empty now, lonely, frightening, even with the hint of sunrise in the window.

  How dare the sun shine? she wanted to scream. A wonderful woman had just died.

  "Are you all right, ma'am?"

  She forced herself to look at the young officer. A woman had just died in her arms. She doubted she'd ever be all right again.

  "Yes, yes, fine," she mumbled, adding a nod as an afterthought.

  "I'll be right outside if you need something."

  Dani nodded again and pulled the covers tight against her chin. I need you, Alec. God knows I need you.

  She pulled the telephone to her pillow, punched in his beeper, then curled into a fetal position and cried while she waited for him to return her call.

  * * *

  Chapter Eleven

  Alec indulged himself in a first cup of coffee while he monitored the progress of his patients in the recovery room. Two were coming along quite nicely and could probably be released to their rooms shortly. Full recovery would take a little longer. Fortunately, both had family support to help them along.

  He braced himself against the counter surrounding Norma's station while he watched the husbands with their wives. Mr. Utley took advantage of his wife's wired jaw to tease her about not being able to talk. That same man had sat in Alec's office Friday morning, painstakingly digesting the details of the surgery Alec was to perform in order to correct the reconstruction of Mrs. Utley's chin-which was quickly succumbing to degeneration of bone.

  As for the Gasters, the mood was more solemn there. This morning's breast reconstruction was what they hoped would be the last in a long line of surgeries and hospital stays. Alec hoped so, too. He had been an unofficial part of their team since their first visit with the oncologist a year ago. What began as a lumpectomy evolved into a double mastectomy, aggressive chemotherapy and finally the surgery to reconstruct her breasts.

  Through it all Mr. Gaster had been by his wife's side, just as he was now, holding her hand, delicately tracing her thin fingers. And had their situations been reversed, Alec didn't doubt Mrs. Gaster would have done the same. True devotion. The exact opposite of the third and final patient now being prepared to leave the recovery room.

  Nick Remini was the reason for Alec's early call. Somehow in the wee morning hours, Remini had done the unpardonable-slept. That offense was enough to set off this wife. In a fit of rage apparently indicative of their marriage, she smashed a broomstick across his face as he slept, crushing the bones. It was the final act in a pattern of abuse perpetrated upon her husband. Jealousy was her motive. Her husband's good looks attracted the glances of other women.

  Using photographs of the man as a guide, Alec did his best to repair the damage. Still, despite his work and that of the oral surgeon, Remini would never look the same. At least he wouldn't be hideously disfigured. Unless, of course, he was foolish enough to return to his wife when he was released. For now, his mother and sister were prepared to see to his after-care.

  He watched Norma orchestrate Remini's move. Yep, he's gonna be back.

  Kevin ducked into the room before the doors could close on Remini's stretcher. After helping himself to a cup of coffee, he joined Alec at the counter.

  "Looks like a busy morning for you."

  "I understand you had a busy night yourself."

  "Yeah...Two rival gangs got into it last night. Knives. I worked a split shift. I was just heading home when they brought him in." Kevin motioned to Remini. "Once I saw his face, I had them contact you. How's he doing?"

  He detailed the surgery, downplaying his take on the domestic violence. Not that Kevin didn't see his share of that working ER.

  Now there was a job Alec would hate. Sure, you were doing good work, but the pace could be frantic. And where was the time to add the personal touch people needed?

  Kevin slurped at his coffee, an annoying sound he knew Alec hated. He normally used it as effect, a coup de grace when Alec's football or basketball team was losing to Kevin's.

  "What," he snapped.

  Kevin studied the contents of the supply cabinet behind the counter. "Have you checked your beeper lately?"

  "Now how the hell can I do that? As you just pointed out, I've been a little busy. Why?"

  He indulged in another extra long slurp. Alec tightened his grip on his own cup to keep from snatching Kevin's aw
ay from him.

  "Something else happened last night...early this morning." Kevin dipped into the pocket of his lab coat and pulled out Alec's beeper. "Here."

  Alec glanced at the display. Dani...about the same time he was in surgery with Remini.

  "Elsie Carter died early this morning. Cardiac arrest. Dani isn't taking it too well. Apparently, she called you to...comfort her." He pulled down a smirk that raised one side of his mouth and tried to cover it with a drink of coffee. "And here I thought you were only doctor and patient."

  The comment jerked Norma's head up from the chart she was reviewing. Alec refused to look at her. He couldn't do much to ignore the tsk she made. As for Kevin, he wasn't about to get into a discussion with him now about Dani. Obviously, Kevin suspected the truth. He didn't need clarification.

  It was the call from Dani that most affected him. In the time it took to recognize the number, Alec's emotions ran the full gamut. Joy over the victory was supplanted by overwhelming relief that he hadn't screwed things up in his obvious efforts to make her aware of his interest in her. Shame slipped in next. How could he callously treat this call for help as a trophy? Now, all that remained were sadness that he hadn't been there when she needed him, and fear that his one chance with her was lost.

  Alec tucked the beeper onto the waistband of his surgical trousers. He had an obligation to his patients. If he and Dani were to have a relationship, she would have to understand that. If she didn't, there was no point in taking things further. In the long run, it was better to discover that now before they became entrenched in a relationship that made them miserable.

  He exhaled slowly. He was already miserable. For the first time since he had chosen a career in medicine, duty and desire were at war with each other. Drawing lines had been easy before, clear-cut. Now...

  He forced his attention to the cubicles where his patients lay. The lines were still clear. He had an obligation to fulfill. Nothing must supersede that, no matter how much he wanted it to.

  Reaching over the counter, Alec punched in the number to Dani's room. It took three rings before she answered. Her voice was small, frightened, doubling his guilt.