Part 50 (1/2)

”You need attention, Inspector.”

”Keep away from me.” He bent over her, searching for a pulse.

Blood dripped down his arm and onto her throat. ”Natalie. Please.”

”Is she all right?” With tears streaming down her face, Deirdre dropped down beside him. ”Is she going to be all right?”

”She's breathing,” was all Ry could say. ”She's breathing,” he repeated, stroking her hair.

Mercifully, most of the next hour was a blur. He remembered climbing into the ambulance with her, holding her hand. Someone pressed oxygen on him, bound up his arm. They took her away the minute they hit the E.R. His panicked raging came out in hacking coughs.

Then the world turned upside down.

He found himself flat on his back on an examining table. When he tried to push himself upright, he was restrained.

”Just lie still.” A small, gray-haired woman was scowling at him.

”I like my st.i.tches neat and tidy. You lost a fair amount of blood, Inspector Piasecki.”

”Natalie...”

”Ms. Fletcher's being tended to. Now let me do my job, will you?”

She stopped what she was doing and eyed him again. ”If you keep shoving at me, mister, I'm going to sedate you. My job was a lot easier when you were out cold.”

”How long?” he managed to croak.

”Not long enough.” She knotted the suture, and snipped. ”We picked the gla.s.s out of your shoulder. Not much damage there, but this arm's nasty. Fifteen st.i.tches.” She granted him a smile. ”Some of my best work.”

”I want to see Natalie.” His voice was raspy, but there was no mistaking the threat underneath. ”Now.”

”Well, you can't. You're going to stay where I put you until I'm done. Then, if you're a very good boy, I'll have someone check on Ms. Fletcher for you.”

Ry used his good arm and grabbed the doctor by the coat. ”Now.”

She only sighed. In his condition, she was well aware, she could knock him back with a shrug. But agitation wasn't going to help him. ”Stay,” she ordered, and went to the curtain. Pus.h.i.+ng it aside, she called for a nurse. After a few brisk instructions, she turned back to Ry. ”Your update's on the way. I'm Dr. Milano, and I'll be saving your life this evening.”

”She was breathing,” he said, as if daring Milano to disagree.

”Yes.” She moved back to take his hand. ”You took in a lot of smoke, Inspector. I'm going to treat you, and you're going to cooperate. After we've cleaned you out, I'll arrange for you to see Ms. Fletcher.”

The nurse came back to the curtained opening, and Milano moved off again to hold a murmured consultation with her.

”Smoke inhalation,” she announced. ”And she's in shock. A few minor burns and lacerations. I imagine we'll keep her in our fine establishment for a day or two.” Her face softened when she saw Ry's eyes close in relief. ”Come on, big guy, let's work together here.”

He might be weak as a baby, but he wasn't going to let them shove him into a hospital room. Over Milano's disgusted protests, he walked out into the waiting area. Deirdre sprang up from a chair the moment she saw him.

”Natalie?”

”They're working on her. They told me she's going to be all right.”

”Thank G.o.d.” With a m.u.f.fled sob, Deirdre covered her face.

”Now, Ms. Marks, why don't you tell me what the h.e.l.l you were doing outside the office tonight?”

Taking a deep breath, Deirdre levered herself into a chair. ”I'd be glad to. I called Natalie's brother,” she added. ”I suppose he's already on his way out. I told him she was hurt, but I tried to play it down.”