Witness on the Run. Hope White
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smiled as she eyed the notepaper. Jenn had written down her name, address and phone number, with the message, Call me anytime!
“If you want, I can stop by your apartment and bring back some things.” Jenn said. “Stuff that’ll make you feel better.”
And help you remember. Robin heard the inference.
“Thanks,” Robin said. “My keys should be in the briefcase.”
Jenn dug them out just as a tall, serious-looking man with a crew cut stepped into the room. A scar ran across his right eyebrow. Did Robin know him?
“Ma’am, I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” the guy said to Jenn.
“Who are you?” Jenn asked.
And where was Jake? Robin wondered.
“Detective Monroe, Seattle P.D.” He flashed his badge.
A cop, an ally. Not a threat. Robin relaxed a little.
“Okay.” Jenn glanced at Robin. “I’ll be back later.” Jenn smiled and left.
Narrowing his eyes, the detective took a step closer to her bed. Robin felt small and cornered.
“You can fool the rest of them with your amnesia ploy, but I know what’s really going on.”
“What are you talking about?”
“What’d you do, promise Cole a lead on a case?”
“I didn’t promise anything, and I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Why Cole? Huh? Was he onto something, so they sent you to lure him in?” He clenched his jaw as if he was about to snap.
“You’d better leave,” she said, her voice trembling.
“Not until you give me something.” He grabbed her wrist and cuffed it to the edge of the bed.
“What are you doing?” Her heart slammed against her chest.
“Making sure you stay put until I can get answers.” He stalked around to the other side of the bed and poured her water. “Maybe this will help.”
“I can’t remember! Let me go!” She pulled on the handcuffs.
Caught. Snared. Stalked. About to be…killed?
She repeatedly pushed the nurse call button.
He closed in on her. No matter how far she leaned away, she couldn’t escape his stale coffee breath or the look of hatred in his eyes. “Cut the nonsense, lady.”
“Get away from her!”
Jake grabbed Detective Monroe’s arm and yanked him away from Robin. Anger arced through Jake’s chest at the look in her eyes. Terror didn’t begin to describe what he saw there.
Monroe glared at Jake. “You’re interfering with an ongoing investigation.”
“And you’re bullying a witness. This woman is a victim, not your perp.”
“I’m not so sure.” He eyed Robin.
She pulled on the handcuffs.
“She nearly died in the E.R.,” Jake said. “Uncuff her and get out.”
“Not until she answers some questions,” Monroe said.
“I don’t know anything!” she cried.
A young nurse rushed into the room. “What’s going on in here?”
“Police, ma’am.” Monroe flashed his badge. “I’ve been ordered to ask Miss Strand questions.”
“She’s not ready to answer your questions,” Jake said.
Monroe glared at him. “You’re a doctor now, Walters?”
“Stop it,” the nurse ordered. “She’s not up for visitors or interrogation. Now remove these cuffs and leave. Both of you.”
Monroe fisted his hand, and Jake realized the guy was dangerously close to doing something he’d regret. There were few things worse than losing a brother in blue. Jake understood the man’s emotional state but didn’t condone it.
“Let’s call Detective Beck,” Jake said.
“You do that.” But he didn’t move to uncuff Robin.
“And I’m calling security,” the nurse threatened.
Monroe snapped his glare from Jake and went around to release Robin. She turned away, her eyes connecting with Jake’s. He offered a slight smile, wanting to let her know it would be okay. He wasn’t going to let anything happen to her.
“We’re not done,” Monroe shot at Robin.
The nurse motioned for him to leave. “You, too,” the nurse said to Jake.
“No. Can he stay?” Robin asked.
The nurse frowned. “For a few minutes.”
Monroe stormed out with the nurse on his heels.
“You okay?” Jake asked.
“I’ve been better.”
She had a resilience about her that fascinated him. A cop, one of the good guys, had threatened her. but she hadn’t backed down.
“They think I was involved in the shooting?” she asked.
“They think you might have witnessed something. A police officer was killed tonight.”
Her eyes widened. “And that cop thinks I shot him?”
“I doubt it, but cops get crazy when a fellow officer is killed.”
“Yeah, he’s crazy and wants answers.” She sighed. “And my mind is a complete blank.”
“It will come back to you, in time.”
“I get the impression I don’t have time.”
Jake shoved his hands into his jacket pockets. He couldn’t argue with her.
“Someone’s after me,” she said in a soft voice.
“We don’t know that.”
“But if I saw something…”
“You need to focus on healing. You’re safe here.”
“You’re kidding, right? I almost died in the E.R., then a crazy cop handcuffs and interrogates me.”
Jake took a step closer. “It won’t happen again. I’m sorry I let Monroe question you.”
“He’s a cop. It’s not like you could have stopped him.”
“It doesn’t matter who it is. You asked me for help. I’ll make sure no one gets that close again.”
She leaned back against the pillow but didn’t look convinced. A distant memory flashed to the surface to taunt Jake. I won’t let him hurt you again, Mommy. But Jake had failed to keep that promise.
“You know the doctor in the E.R., the one who probably put something in my IV?” she said.
“Yeah?”
“I’ve seen him before.”
“You recognized him?”
“Just his eyes.” She hesitated. “Death Eyes.”
The nurse came into the room and checked Robin’s blood pressure. “Your few minutes is up,” she said, not looking at Jake.
“How are her vitals?” Jake asked.
“Everything looks good.” The nurse smiled at Robin.
With a nod, Jake started for the door.