“Sorry, buddy, but nothing I can see that would hint at her walking out of this hospital alive. Her gynae listed the prior complications and all the technical terms associated with her death. It’s all straightforward.”
“Then how?” the question more for myself than Chris.
“Unless the doctor was involved which is unlikely, there’s no other reasonable explanation.”
“Doesn’t mean just because you can’t explain something logically, it can’t happen,” I muttered.
“Maybe it was a nurse that was involved? I’m pulling at straws here but the day it happened, was there anyone around your wife who appeared a tad suspicious?”
I wracked my brain trying to remember. “Honestly, I can’t recall anyone remotely suspicious—wait a minute.” I stopped as a memory flashed. “There was a nurse with her when I walked in. She’d helped me hold the kids.”
“That’s normal. Was she the last person with your wife?”
My heart clenched at the memory—of watching Krisha take her last breath. Then I remembered, she hadn’t. “She was. I thought Krisha had gone but she went into cardiac arrest and that nurse sent me out of the room. After that, it’s all kind of blurry. Fuck it.”
“I understand your frustrations, Trent. Even if she’s alive. Why?” Chris had been a friend since college, and I always appreciated his frankness. “Why would she fake her death, supposing she did? If she didn’t, what reason would someone have to keep her from you?”
“I’ve been asking myself that since the first day I saw her.” Had we not cremated Krisha, the possibility of digging up her grave would’ve been non-negotiable. Now, I had no idea if we’d cremated my wife or some other lost soul. “Guess I have a lot more investigating ahead of me.”
“Have you tried the direct approach?”
I sighed. “Considering she doesn’t recognize me, I doubt I’d get any answers now. I just need to bide my time.”
“Probably for the best. What about asking the people around her?”
“The less they know the better, for now.” I shifted my gaze from the view outside. Tia was headed toward me. “On second thoughts I might just ask someone.”
“Great. I have to run, but if I find out anything new, I’ll call you. I’ll also look into that nurse and see if there’s anything there.”
“Thanks, Chris, I owe you.”
Tia stopped at my table, her expression thoughtful. “Why do I get the feeling there’s more to your desperate attention than just a mere job offer?”
Smiling, I picked up the coffee refill she set down in front of me. I shrugged, relishing the rich taste of the black liquid then looked away as Rika exited the restaurant with the guy she’d hugged. Clenching my fingers, I steeled myself from rushing after her.
“Judging by that scowl, I’d say you’ve just answered my question.” Tia’s curt statement drew my gaze. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Do you have time?”
She glanced at her watch. “My shift ends in twenty minutes if you’re willing to wait?”
“Sure.” I wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. She nodded then turned away as a diner signaled for her attention.
Still curious about Rika’s relationship status, I glanced out the large windows facing the open water along the docks. My gaze froze on her and her companion standing to one side. Whatever their relationship, they were close, her smile of undisguised affection told me so. Envious, I watched him reach inside his pocket for something before taking her hand. “Fuck. Is he proposing?” I scraped back my chair and stood. “Not if I have anything to say about it,” I muttered and headed for the door.
