"I know we just met, but do you want me to hold you? I'll do it, happily. I'm only asking ’cause I want it to be your choice. I figure you might do with some comforting," I say.
"Please."
There’s no room on that hospital bed for me, period, but I gently move her IV stand and lift her into my lap. She lightly rests her head on my chest and cries.
Three
IletClaudia cry herself out and sometime after she’s snoring softly on my chest, I pass out. I don't know what time it is when shouting in the hallway jerks us both awake. Claudia grimaces and grabs her forehead.
“Shit. You okay?”
“Yeah. Just really tender.”
I ease out of the bed, giving her some space to get comfortable again without me in the way.
“They are both in there?! Together?” the voice that woke me up says.
“Yeah—it seems so.” That’s Jerry.
“Jesus. You guys really know how to run a tight ship.”
“Listen—”
I take a deep breath and move the IV stand closer to the bed as Claudia adjusts her covers. When I look up, a White man and a White woman in dark suits are standing in the doorway. Jerry’s behind them, his face all puffed up and red.
“Shepard Olsen? Claudia Cade?” the woman asks.
“Yes?” we both say.
“I'm Alice Lightfoot and this is my partner, Scott Tanner. We’re with the FBI. We need to speak to you.”
I glance down at Claudia.
“Okay. Speak,” I say.
“Shep.” I look at Jerry over their shoulders and shoot him an incredulous look.
“What?”
“We need to speak to Miss Cade as well. Without you.”
I glance back down at Claudia. She looks terrified, but when her fingers brush mine I realize she’s trying to comfort me.
“For fuck’s sake. Fine. I'll be back,” I tell her.
“Actually, I don't think that would be a good idea. Miss Cade needs some time to recover,” Agent Tanner says.
“Am I under arrest?”
“We’d like to talk to you first.”
“Fine.” I give Claudia’s damaged fingers a light squeeze. “I will be back.”
“Okay,” she says. Her voice is weak, but there’s confidence in her unbruised eye. She knows I’ll be back for her.
We walk out in the hallway. Jerry follows us to the main entrance. He cuts off and walks toward his cruiser near the curb.
“Sheriff, let's see if your men can follow orders this time. She doesn't get any visitors. Hospital personnel only,” Lightfoot says.
