2. Feel Guilty

2

FEEL GUILTY

" A ndi. Andi. Come on, wake up."

Andi heard a voice in the distance. It sounded like Jack, but Jack was in another state so it couldn't be him.

Had to be a dream.

One that sucked harsh lemons because her head felt as if Congo drums were beating on it while her achy body vibrated along.

What the hell was going on?

"Open your eyes, Andi. You're moving and I know you can hear me."

She listened to Jack's voice getting louder and guiding her.

She'd always trusted him before and wouldn't stop now.

With more energy than it should have taken, she forced her eyelids open. What the hell? They felt as if they had ten pounds of concrete on them.

Finallyshe got them popped open and the bright lights had them shutting again and flinching.

She heard noises as if someone was walking in the room and more voices.

"The light is off for now," Jack said. "Open them again. You're in the hospital." His voice was lower and it felt as if he was whispering in her ear. "You're safe. It's your cousin Jack. Open your eyes."

Cousin Jack meant something happened and she had to play along. She at least had her wits to do that.

Her eyes popped open again. "Jack," she said.

He let out a breath. "It's me. You're here in the hospital. The doctor wants to look you over and then we'll talk."

She nodded and watched as he stepped back. She turned her head and saw a doctor standing next to her.

"My name is Dr. Hudson Mills. You've got a nasty bump on the head. We've run tests and haven't found any other injuries, but can you tell us if anything hurts or what happened?"

"Everything hurts," she said. "My head the worst."

"You've got a concussion," Dr. Mills said.

"I just ache," she said. "And I'm hungry. What time is it?"

The fact Jack was here when it was afive-hourstraight flight told her it easily had to be dinnertime or later.

"It's seven at night," Dr. Mills said. "You've been here since eleven this morning. Been unconscious the whole time."

"Damn," she said. "Can I get a drink?"

She saw the water to the side and watched as the doctor poured her some and moved a straw closer to her lips.

She took a drink slowly. She'd been in the hospital before. Not long ago enough in her eyes.

"Anything other than aches and pains?" Dr. Mills asked.

"I don't think so," she said.

Another man came into view next to Jack. The doctor was still on one side of her. "I'm Investigator Bond with the State Police," the man said. Younger than Jack. Very handsome too and she found it funny she noticed that. "Can you tell us what happened? Do you remember?"

She looked at Jack, her eyes wide. She wasn't sure what to say.

Jack nodded his head. "I went for a walk. I had the day off and it was beautiful out. I was taking pictures of nature and the animals. I think I tripped. I'd done it more than once. Maybe I tripped and fell. I just don't know."

"We had someone go back to where you fell," the investigator said. "I found you. I was on the water when you came tumbling down the hill. There was no evidence of foul play, but in a situation like this, we need to gather facts to make sure."

Andi took a deep breath and let it out. She saw Jack do the same thing and the investigator watching them both with an unflinching gaze.

"Yeah," she said. "I was just walking. I didn't expect the path to be that unsteady."

"You shouldn't be out on your own," Jack said, staring at her.

If she had the energy to argue with him, she would have. "It was a walk. Accidents happen. Just like this seemed to be one of them." She felt something sharp on her tongue and tried to find it again, and then put her hand in her mouth. "Urgh. I broke a tooth?"

"You broke two of them," Dr. Mills said.

She felt around and found the other. One on the top and bottom, almost on top of each other.

"At least they are still in my mouth and not out completely."

"No," Jack said. "Nothing else seems to be wrong. They can discharge you tonight as long as someone is with you or you can stay here."

"I want to go home," she said. "You know that."

"I figured. That's why I'm here," Jack said.

"We can get your discharge papers," Dr. Mills said. "But you'll need to follow up with your primary in a few days. It's going to be another hour or so I'm sure. We can have some food brought up if you want?"

"That would be good," she said. "I don't care what."

"Here is a menu," Dr. Mills said, pulling it off of something hanging on the side of the bed. "If you just call the number on it and tell them what you want, it will be delivered soon."

"Thanks," she said.

Jack moved over and took the menu out of her hands. "I'd go get it, but I'm not ready to leave your side just yet."

"Order me some soup if they've got it. That's easy to eat and fast. I shouldn't chew much until I can figure out my teeth situation."

Jack picked up the phone on the side and ordered her soup to be brought up.

After the doctor left with the investigator, Jack said, "You scared the shit out of me."

"Accidents happen," she whispered. "It's fine. Does anyone know anything?"

"No," Jack said. "They called me and I said I was your cousin and you had no family."

"Mostly true," she said, frowning.

"They didn't run your prints. Thankfully the guy that found you, found your phone too; otherwise they might have."

"That shouldn't be an issue," she said. "You told me that and I know. Don't get me worked up and make me feel guilty about this move."

She winced again and grabbed her head. Maybe it didn't hurt enough to grab it, but she knew he'd feel like crap he was arguing with her right now.

"Fine," Jack said. "We'll talk more tonight and tomorrow."

"I'm supposed to work tomorrow. Someone needs to let my clients know."

"You don't think I'm going to be the one to call them, do you?" Jack asked.

"No. If you give me my phone I can text Amanda. She owns the salon I rent a chair from. She'll do it. She's great that way." Her mind finally caught onto something. "The investigator, he has the same last name as Amanda."

"What?" Jack asked. "Shit. I didn't realize that."

"You're losing it that you didn't," she said.

"I was a little worried you had some head damage or that someone was here looking and found you."

"Don't be worried," she said. "Give me my phone, please."

Jack handed her phone over and she sent a quick text to Amanda to let her know what was going on and would touch base tomorrow. It's not that Amanda was her boss, but they did use the same software and Amanda would be able to see her clients and their contact information to let them know she wouldn't be around tomorrow.

Not the best way to keep clients, but nothing she could do about this.

"I'm going to have to go talk to the investigator," Jack said. "I want to know what he is filing in his report and what he hasfound."

"They haven't told you anything?" she asked.

"No. I just got here thirty minutes ago and came right to you. I didn't even know it was the State Police that found you until the doctor came and told me while I was trying to wake you. Nor did I know they went back to the scene either."

"They don't know you're a marshal?" she asked.

"I'm here as your cousin," Jack said. "For now I'm leaving it that way."

There was a knock at the door and they turned to see someone come in with a tray. "That was fast," she said, looking at the cup of soup.

"Dr. Mills asked to put a rush on it. Enjoy."

"Thanks," she said, pushing the button to sit up some in the bed. It only made her body hurt more, but she knew some food in her belly would help.

Jack moved the tray closer to her and she picked up the soup. The first spoonful of the chicken noodle soup tasted like heaven and that was saying a lot for hospital food.

"I'm going to see what I can find out. You keep eating, but I'm not going to be far."

"You don't need to be a watchdog," she said. She hoped this wouldn't be one of those times she had to give in and relocate again.

In order tomove here, she'd had to cooperate. And she knew the rules. If there was any thought of her identity being compromised, she'd have to leave.

She wasn't and she was going to make sure of that.

It was nothing more than her being a klutz because she was afraid of turning her ankle, which had been busted almost two years ago.

Stupid Leo was still making her life miserable from the other side of the US.