Wes kicked it into overdrive. He hated what he was thinking.
* * *
Eleanor thrashed, her thoughts somewhere between the moment and her nightmares. “The puppies…save them…corn…Wes…runaway,” she cried.
“Elora, calm down,” Tara Blanchard said as she wiped Eleanor with a cool cloth. “Tell me…where is it?”
“No…no!” Eleanor screamed.I’ll never tell.
Pete Walter slipped through the open door. “I hear she’s agitated again.”
“I feel so badly for her.” Tara shook her head.
“Hopefully one or two days more, and then the fever will break. Then we will be able to assess the neurological damage, if there is any.” Pete sighed.
Don’t leave me.
“Mr. Walter, I’ll stay with her. You and Mr. Brady have been working long hours,” Tara offered.
Elora…no. She’s with them.Eleanor tried to open her eyes, but they felt stuck. “No…” She tried to pull the mask free.
Pete grabbed her hand, and she held on to him. “It’s okay, Ellie. You’re safe.”
“No…treason…” she cried garbled words.C’mon Ellie. Think.
“It’s okay, honey,” Tara soothed.
“Thanks, Tara, I have some paperwork to catch up on. I will be in the office if you need me.” Pete scanned the monitors and Eleanor before he left the room.
“Well, Elora, you’re more with it than people think,” Tara snarled.
Eleanor heard Tara’s voice far in the distance. She wanted to respond but couldn’t find the strength. Exhausted, she mouthed, “Wes,” and fell asleep.
* * *
Wes ran into his office, drowned in sweat. His lungs burned as he tried to catch his breath. “How…did….Starr…find…the …Drakes?” he panted.
“Catch your breath,” Kip said.
“How?” Wes asked, his breathing coming under control.
Kip shook his head. “I…shit…I’m gonna call Hayes and see what he says. I’ll also ask Fury to press that question.”
“Think about it. Eleanor and Belinda were both raised in hellish conditions. Eleanor told me the administrator at the senior home, whom they told about the weapons, thought she and Lindy were different. Ellie thought it was because they were twins. What if Ellie was the different one? The risktaker?”
Kip pulled a phone from his suit pocket. “Good morning.” He laughed. “You sound chipper.” He pulled the phone from his ear. “Okay… Look, I need you to make a detour.”
Wes pulled the phone from Kip’s hand. “Hey, I’m warning you, if you get hurt, I’m gonna kick your ass and Ice’s,” he yelled at Troy. “Where are you?” He listened. “How’s Witch?” He listened some more. “Yeah, you heard Kip. I hope it’s not true. But how would Starr know about the Drake’s baby ring? There is only one person central to it all, and that’s Lindy. Witch’s recording, more than once, Eleanor spoke in the first person.Iturned them in. They tried to kill me, andIwas told my twin Lindy almost died for my actions.Iwas naïve.”
“My plan is to check on Ellie, and then I’m driving over to the hospital. I want to visit Hartung, and I want to talk to some of the people who worked with Lindy. I also want to interview some of the neighbors where they lived. I’m gonna ask Kyle and Bruce to go over every interview we did. Kip is gonna check in with Hayes. And when I get back, I’m going to read every personnel file again.” Wes smiled. “You watch your six too.”
* * *
The television was playing a national news channel, and files were spread out on the bedtable in Keith Hartung’s room. “You’re supposed to be resting,” Wes said, eliciting a smile from the injured lieutenant.
“Hey, how’s Eleanor?”
“How much do you know?” Wes asked.
