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“There’s a lot of things no one told us,” Mattheus grumbled. “So, we’ll find out where she is and go talk to her ourselves.”
“I’ll go speak to her myself,” said Cindy. “It could be too much to have both of us in her hospital room.”
“That’s a good idea,” Mattheus agreed. “In the meantime, I want to dig into the medical mistakes in this hospital, and spend more time with Konrad. There’s a jazz festival coming up I was invited to where hospital officials will be present.”
“Great,” said Cindy, grateful for the new possibilities.
“I’m glad we’ve got Loretta on our team, too,” said Mattheus. “She could find out things that would be hidden from us.”
Cindy was not sure what Mattheus was talking about. “Since when is Loretta on our team?”
“The kid’s alone, she’s got no one,” said Mattheus.
“Excuse me, she told us she had a rich father she lives with, who gives her everything,” Cindy objected, not at all sure she wanted Loretta on their team. There were too many loopholes in her story and situation.
“But her mother just died,” Mattheus wouldn’t drop it.
“A mother she never knew,” Cindy reminded him.
“All the more reason why this has to be a total nightmare for her,” Mattheus persisted.
Cindy wondered if Loretta didn’t remind Mattheus of his own long lost daughter. Was he helping Loretta as a way to be close to his own daughter as well?
“Loretta’s not on our team, Mattheus,” Cindy broke into the fantasy he was developing. “She’s a young girl whose mother just died. She’s strong, she’s interesting, but we really know nothing about her. If she wants to become a detective one day, she can go about it with her father’s support. It’s not up to us to take over her life.”
“You’re right again,” said Mattheus, suddenly sorrowful. “I just wanted to help her through.”
Chapter 16
Loretta contacted Mattheus and Cindy immediately with the number of the room where A
Cindy walked into the room quietly, looking at A
As Cindy approached the bedside she wished her own sister A
“Hello, A
A
“Who are you?” asked A
“No, I’m not,” Cindy replied. “Are you expecting someone?”
“No, not at all,” A
“How are you doing?” Cindy asked, sincerely, wanting to know.
“Much better,” A
“I’m so glad,” Cindy answered warmly, as if the two of them were old friends.
“Why are you here?” A
“I’m a private detective,” said Cindy more quietly. “Have you heard about what happened to the woman you shared the room with?”
A
“Yes,” said Cindy, looking away a moment. She felt odd talking about death with someone who had just been in a coma herself. “I’m sorry to have to bring this up.”
“No, go right ahead,” said A
“What made you think that?” asked Cindy fascinated.
“I didn’t know her, but I liked her,” said A
“I can understand,” said Cindy.
“Really, can you?” A
“That must be frustrating,” said Cindy.
“Is it ever,” A
“Where are you drifting, tell me?” Cindy felt her heart beating hard.
A
Cindy closed her eyes swiftly. Was it true what A
“What did you hear when you were in the coma, A
“When I heard things I’m not sure I was in the coma,” A
“What did you hear when you were more awake?” Cindy pursued it.
“I heard the doctors around me saying that I was doing better,” A
“Was it true that he said that? Have you asked him?” said Cindy.
“Yes,” A
That was encouraging, but not enough proof for Cindy. A
“You were laying close to Tara,” Cindy’s voice got lower. “Did you hear her husband say the same thing to her?” she asked.
A
A
“I actually did,” A
“What did he say?” Cindy felt alarmed.
“I kept hearing him say over and over that Tara would never be beautiful again,” A
Cindy started to shiver. She’d heard that exact report before. How else could A
“I wanted Owen to stop saying that,” A
“Horrible,” Cindy sympathized. “Please tell me, did Owen say anything else that you remember?”
“That’s all I remember hearing from him,” A
“Exactly,” said Cindy, “that’s why I’m here.”
“I also heard they’re blaming Owen,” A
“Yes, that’s so,” said Cindy. “I need to talk to you about it because you were there in the room with them.”
“Yes, I was,” said A
“That’s not the point,” Cindy reached out to her, soothingly. “Is there anything else you remember A
“Yes, I heard other things, but no one believes me,” A
“Tell me, I’ll believe you,” said Cindy. “Not only will I believe you, but you may be the one able to help Tara.”