Imitation in Death

“Yeah, I-Shit.” Her pocket ‘link beeped. “I’ve got it,” she said, leaping up to scramble to the platform where the bed stood and grab her trousers from off of the floor.

She dragged it out of a pocket, flipped it on. “Dallas.”

“Lieutenant.” Sela Cox’s tear-streaked face filled the screen and hadEve ’s heart dropping to her knees.

“Mrs.Cox.”

“She’s awake.” The tears kept falling even as she smiled. Brilliantly. “The doctor’s with her now, but I thought I should tell you as soon as I could.”

“I’m on my way.” She started to click off, stopped herself. “Mrs.Cox. Thank you.”

“I’ll be waiting for you.”

“I just got a miracle,”Eve told Roarke and dragged on her trousers. Then she found she had to sit, just give into weak legs for one moment. “I saw her face. In my dream tonight. Hers, and the others, my own. I saw her face, and I thought she was dead. That I’d been too late for her, and she was dead. I was wrong.”

She took a deep breath as Roarke came over to join her. “I saw him, too. My father, standing on the other side of the hospital bed. He said it never ended anyway. There’s always another victim and I might as well give up before I was dead, too.”

“And he was wrong.”

“You’re damn right.” She pushed to her feet. “I’m not tagging Peabody. I want her fresh for the exam. Want to stand in?”

“Lieutenant, I already am.”

Chapter21

She strode down the hospital corridor. She’d hooked her badge on her belt to stop any medicals from getting in her way. Roarke wanted to tell her the fire in her eyes would have done the job, but he was afraid it might dim that fierce light.

And he enjoyed seeing it too much to take the chance.

The guard she’d placed at the door to ICU was at attention when she turned the corner. In Roarke’s opinion, the uniform had likely scented her energy and whipped himself on alert.

Even as she reached for the door, it swung open. The doctor, Roarke thought, was a more courageous soul. He barred her path, folding his arms across his chest and using a frown as a shield.

“I was told you’d been notified and were en route. The patient is barely conscious and drifting in and out. Her condition is still critical. I won’t risk having her interrogated at this point.”

“Twenty-four hours ago, you told me she’d never regain consciousness. She has.”

“Frankly, I consider it a miracle she’s come out of a coma, even briefly.”

Sela Cox had asked for another miracle,Eve thought. And by God, she’d gotten it. “I don’t believe in wasting miracles. Somebody put her in that room, and there’s a chance she can tell me who before he puts someone else in the hospital. Or the goddamn morgue.” Now her voice lashed like a whip that had the uniform wincing. “You don’t want to get in my face on this.”

“On the contrary.” Laurence kept his melodious voice low. “I am in your face on this, and this is my turf. My patient’s welfare is paramount.”

“On that last point, we’re in perfect agreement. I want her alive and well.”

“For her testimony.”

“Goddamn right. If you think that makes me the enemy, then you’re just stupid. I put her in the dead column, Laurence, just like you. But she showed us both what she’s made of. Now, I want her to know the man who did this to her has been put away. I want her to know I’m going to do that for her, and that she had a part in making it happen. Right now, she’s just a victim. I’m going to help make her a hero. That’s something to live for. You’ve got two choices,” she said before he could speak again. “I have this officer restrain you, or you go in with me and supervise.”

“I don’t like your tactics, Lieutenant.”

“File a complaint.” She pushed open the door, glanced at Roarke over her shoulder. “I need you to wait.”

When she stepped in her heart sank again.Marlene lay still and deathly pale in the bed. Her mother stood beside her, holding her hand.

“She’s just resting,” Sela said quickly. “When you said you’d come, I asked my husband to go down to the chapel. They’ll only let two of us in here at a time.”

“Mrs.Cox, I must tell you again,LieutenantDallas ’ presence is against medical orders. Your daughter needs to remain calm and quiet.”

“She’s been quiet since this was done to her, and she won’t be calm until he’s caught and punished. I’m grateful to you, Doctor, more than I can begin to say. But Marley needs to do this. I know my child.”

“Watch your step,” Laurence warnedEve, “or you’ll be the one restrained.”

She kept her focus onMarlene as she moved to the side of the bed. “You should talk to her,Mrs.Cox. I don’t want to scare her.”

“I’ve told her you were coming.” Sela leaned over the bed, touched her lips to her daughter’s forehead. “Marley? Marley baby, wake up now.LieutenantDallas is here to talk to you.”

“So tired, Mom.” The words were slurred and soft.

“I know, baby. Just for a little while. The lieutenant needs your help.”

“I know you’ve been through a lot.”Eve ignored the doctor as he edged closer. “I know this is hard. I’m not going to let him get away with what he did to you. We’re not going to let him get away with it, Marley. You and me. You got away from him. You stopped him once. You can help me stop him once and for all.”

Her eyes fluttered open. It was painful to watch, the effort of lifting those lashes, the intense focus in those eyes. Eve recognized the look, the determination of fighting back pain.

“It’s all blurred, all runs together. Can’t bring it clear.”

“That’s all right. Tell me whatever you can. You were coming home from work. You took the subway.”

“Always take the subway. Just a few blocks. Hot night. Feet hurt.”

“There was a van.”

“Little moving van.” Marlene shifted restlessly, but before the doctor could move, Sela was stroking her daughter’s hair.

“It’s all right, baby. It’s all over now. Nobody’s going to hurt you again. You’re safe. I’m right here.”

“Man. Big cast on his arm. Never seen big cast like that. Couldn’t, couldn’t get the sofa in. Kept sliding back out, thumping against the street. Felt sorry for him. Mommy.”

Deliberately Eve stepped closer, took Marlene’s other hand. “He can’t get to you now. He’s never going to touch you again. He thinks he beat you, but he didn’t. You’ve already won.”

Her eyes fluttered again. “I can’t remember much. I was going to help him, then something hit me. It hurt. I never hurt like that. I don’t know after that, I don’t know.” Tears began to leak. “I can’t remember anything after that, except Mom talking to me, or Dad or my brother. Uncle Pete? Was Uncle Pete here, and Aunt Dora?”

“Yes, honey. Everyone’s been here.”

“I was just floating somewhere while they talked to me, then I woke up here.”

“Before he hurt you, you looked at him.” Eve felt Marley’s fingers twitch in hers. “I bet you hesitated a little, got an impression of him. You figured he was okay, just some guy in trouble. You’re too smart to go up to someone who looked dangerous.”

“He had that big cast, and he looked so upset and frustrated. He was cute. Curly dark hair. Curly hair and a ball cap. I think. I can’t… He looked over at me and smiled.”

“Can you see him now. In your head? Can you see him, Marley?”

“Yes… I think. It’s not clear.”

“I’m going to show you some pictures. I want you to look at them and tell me if one of them is the man with the cast. Just see his face in your head, and look at the pictures.”

“I’ll try.” She wet her lips. “I’m so thirsty.”

“Here you are, sweetheart.” All but crooning, Sela brought a cup and straw to her daughter’s lips. “Take your time. Remember you’re safe now.”

“Hard to stay awake. Hard to think.”

“She’s had enough, Lieutenant.”

At Laurence’s voice, Marley stirred again, struggled to look toward him. “I heard you, when I was floating I heard you. You told me not to give up. That… you wouldn’t give up if I didn’t.”