During Elizabeth’s morning of scheduled testing, Martin took advantage of the time. Silverton PD returned the items removed from Elizabeth's home with one exception: Danny Logan released her mother's letter to Talbot. Zach and Martin parked in front of the Reed home, and Zach rang the bell.
"May I help you?" a woman's voice called out from behind the door.
"Martin Bailey and Zach Wentworth to see Governor Talbot Reed," Zach said. Martin's jaw ticked.
Talbot Reed filled the entryway. "I figured you would show up sometime. What do you want?" He turned to Celine. "Sugar, go make us some coffee. I'll be with you soon."
Martin quipped, "Does her husband know about you two?"
Zach raised a censuring brow at his friend. "Governor, may we come in to speak with you?"
"You bring a lackey, Bailey? We can talk fine right here." Reed pursed his thin lips.
"Detective Logan released some property to you from the search of Elizabeth's home in error. As part of her legal team, I want to return it to her, please," Zach said.
Talbot Reed reached into his pocket and waved the pink note at him. "You mean this?" He returned it to his pocket.
"You bastard." Martin calmed with Zach's firm hand on his shoulder.
Talbot was smug. "Interesting fiction.”
"Did you ever love her? She was good for your politics until she stood on her own two feet."
"You are naïve, Marty. Everyone plays a role, and when they fail, they can be replaced. You were in the military; you should know that. Elizabeth made her decision. If God were good, her death would end this hellish chapter of my life."
“I should kill you right here. She's your daughter. How could you?" Marty shouted before Zach pulled him away.
Zach dragged the screaming Martin to the car, then drove a safe distance from the house and pulled over. "I'm sorry.”
Martin kicked the dashboard. "He never loved her. Who could do that to their child and love them? How do I tell her? I can't make this better."
"Let's eat something, then I'll take you back to the hospital to see your girls." Zach’s reminder of Lola and Elizabeth made Martin smile. "We’ll figure this out. Threatening Reed was not your best recourse."
Martin choked down something to eat at his friend's insistence, anger still roaring in his ears. Partway through the meal, both their phones vibrated. Mike called an important briefing in thirty minutes.
Zach dropped Martin off at the front entrance. Taking a distant parking space, he called Mike. "We have a problem. Call Kieran or Ian. Martin threatened to kill Reed in front of Celine McAllister and me. He crossed the line."
Elizabeth was still in the scanner at radiology when Martin returned. Inside her room in the PICU, Lola was curled in her Aunt Amanda’s arms. Her pink color had returned. She handed Lola to Martin, and Lola rooted her head toward his chest and opened her big blue eyes. He was lost. "Hello, angel. How's Daddy's little girl?" Her tiny fingers curled around his pointer.
Amanda gestured to a shopping bag. "I just want to warn you, Mom's been crocheting. I think there are more hats, booties, socks, sweaters, and blankets for Austy, Lola, and Lissa than any ten children alive."
"Sheesh, Mandy. Keep some, and when you leave today, donate some to others here in the hospital."
Bruce opened the door for Amanda and returned to his protective post. After a check of the time, Martin kissed Lola and went to see if Elizabeth was finished.
Patrick Hedges grabbed Martin before he reached her room. "Martin, I have no ethical or technical reason to keep her here anymore, but I'm afraid if I discharge her, she won’t follow my instructions.”
"When would a generic patient with her injuries be allowed to return to home and work?" Martin tried to find bargaining chips.
"Under normal circumstances, I would've discharged her already. Then I’d keep her home for a couple of weeks and let her return to work a bit at a time. Appearances are deceiving; she has no stamina. Plus, she's left-handed. That left shoulder never received the rehab it needed. When she returns, I’d prefer an eight-hour day, but I'll give her a maximum ten hours a day, three days a week for at least another month."
"She'll love that." Martin's lips turned up. "How do we prove to her she needs to take it slow?"
"I don't know. Tying her down isn't a solution?" Patrick joked. "I will not mince my words: mandatory two weeks’ rest. Occupational testing and cardiac stress testing. And whatever the hospital orders. Today is Monday. If she progresses and gets through the testing, she can return in two weeks with the restrictions."
"How do we handle her when she’s here? She's not going to want a babysitter, but I need her safe. I'm not convinced they won't try again." Martin’s posture stiffened.
"Keys and I will overlap her. I will brief her senior residents—respect is another issue. I can't be her bodyguard. My presence could be construed as a loss of confidence in her abilities. Maybe she'll just want to be a momma for a while?"
