“No. No, I need to do this. I need to see her with my own eyes, Paul.”
Silence passed between them, the tension growing between the two men, until finally Paul broke the silence.
“Just let me know if you find anything out, Elijah. Anything at all. And for God’s sake, stay away from Michael. If he sees you there he’ll have your badge and I won’t be able to help you.”
“I know,” Elijah said with a sigh.
“Listen, buddy, I have to ask… is she really worth all this trouble? I mean, she’s just one woman. There are plenty more out there.”
Elijah couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Paul was one of his best friends, and he thought he knew him more than this. Delores might be one woman to him, but to a cop she should be the most important woman. She was a victim, though of what Elijah wasn’t sure, but if Paul’s instincts were anything like his own, they should be going crazy right now. Maybe he didn’t really know Paul at all.
“I’m sorry if that comes off as heartless, buddy, I’m just trying to protect my friend,” Paul finally said.
“Then help me protect Delores,” Elijah snapped back before hanging up.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Elijah
The night sucked away the daylight, and the streetlights clicked on.
Elijah had bought a change of clothes from a small store in the middle of town. He’d almost run into Michael rushing into a restaurant, his cell phone stuck to his ear once again, laughing as if he hadn’t a care in the world. But Elijah had looked up at the last moment and ducked behind a car.
He’d decided that the moment was perfect for getting in to see Delores. Michael would be busy for at least an hour while he ate and then who knows, he might even go back to his hotel room after eating to change clothes before going back to the hospital.
Elijah got back into his Ford and drove straight to the hospital, his speed never dropping below forty. He quickly changed into his new clothes in the front seat of his car, got out, and walked up to the hospital entrance with the breath of night on his hot neck.
He waited until the nurse on reception left her station and then he pushed his way through the swinging doors, heading towards the elevator at the end of the corridor. Paul had said that Delores was on the fifth floor. He hit the number five button and waited patiently as it made its slow assent.
It was a little after six and the hospital was still busy with visiting hours. However, on the fifth floor it was silent, the soft ping of the elevator doors opening instantly drawing the attention of the nurse on reception. She looked up at him through her thick-framed glasses and smiled. She looked tired to the point of exhaustion, her features showing the signs of middle age. Her hair was knotted at the back of her neck in a low, tight bun, and she watched him as he walked towards her.
Elijah’s expression remained calm and cool, despite how panicked he was feeling on the inside.
“Can I help you?” the nurse asked, her throaty voice making it obvious she was a heavy smoker. Her name badge read Sara. Elijah cleared his throat before speaking, almost a self-conscious action because of the gravelly-ness of hers.
“Hi, yes, I’m a representative from the Yavapai Lodge over at the Canyon. A young woman was brought in yesterday, she ummm,” he leant closer and lowered his voice, “she tried to kill herself.” Sara’s eyes flickered, registering what he was saying.
“Okay,” she said cautiously, her hands shuffling the papers on her desk. “Did you know her personally? Because unfortunately there is restricted access on visitation for her.”
Elijah used his charming smile that his mother used to say would always win over her friends. “No, no, I was sent to see how she was getting on. As you can imagine, it’s not good press for the Canyon or the Lodge. If I could just have an update on her.”
Sara frowned, her tired eyes looking even more tired as the crinkles formed at the corners. “I’m sorry, but I can’t give out that information unless you’re family.”
“Ma’am, I know that you’re just doing your job, and I’m just doing mine. I just need to know if she passed away or if she’s still clinging on,” Elijah held eye contact. “For more personal reasons, I lost a cousin the same way some years back, it almost feels like I’m cursed or something.”
He took a steadying breath as if trying to hold back tears and Sara looked uncomfortable. Her hard frown was replaced by a softer expression, as if she could understand what he was going through. She looked away from him and towards her computer, a moment’s indecision on her face.
“Look, between me and you, she came out of her coma, but she’s very confused,” she said in a hushed tone.
“Oh god, thank you so much,” Elijah gushed. “You don’t know what this means to me. Could I…would it be okay if I just peeked in at her? I won’t talk to her.” He looked across the hallway at the closed doors. “No one will even know I was here.”
Sara shook her head. “Definitely not, that could cost me my job.” She pursed her lips and Elijah nodded.
“Sure, sure, it’s okay, I get it. She’s not out of the woods yet?”
An alarm sang out loudly from one of the rooms, a shrillness to the still ward. Sara stood up quickly and three other nurses rushed away from whatever they were previously doing and headed towards the room. Sara came from around her desk, her hands flattening down her blue nurse blouse, her eyes still on Elijah though it was obvious her mind was on whatever patient was in trouble.
“Look, she’s going to be fine we think,” she rushed out the words. “She’s been moved out of IC, but her husband doesn’t want any unnecessary stress for her. She’s a very sick woman, and she woke up confused and upset, like I said before.” Sara began to walk away. “I’m sorry, that’s all I can say.”
