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I could see Do
Do
Martinez arrived just as the ambulance was leaving. Do
He peered into my face. Not that I cared, but was that a flicker of concern in his eyes?
“How’re you feeling, Ms. Bauer?’’ he asked.
“Not crazy, if that’s what you want to know. Someone ran me off the road.’’
He put out his arm for me to grab hold of. I ignored it, and climbed down off Do
“Steady, chica.’’ His warm breath in my ear sent a shiver south of my stomach. I wasn’t sure what the Spanish word meant, but it sounded nice. “Just take slow steps, okay?’’ Martinez said. “We’re going to get you to the front seat of my car. We’ll take our time.’’
He nodded curtly at Do
I smiled and waved back. But I was simmering inside. I couldn’t believe Do
“I’m telling the truth, you know,’’ I said, feeling cranky now.
As Martinez settled me into his passenger seat, I repeated what I’d told Do
When I was done, he said, “I don’t disbelieve you, Ms. Bauer.’’
What the hell did that mean? He wasn’t calling me a liar, but he wasn’t saying he believed me, either.
“We’ll know more about how it happened when we can look over your car. The officer called …’’
“Do
“All right, Officer Do
He leaned across my body and fastened the seat belt at my hip. There was that cursed twinge again. Apparently, there was nothing wrong with my nether regions. His cologne smelled spicy, but subtle. It definitely beat the ditch water stench coming off of me.
After rummaging in his trunk, Martinez returned with three roadside flares. “I’m going to light these to mark the accident scene, and then you’re going to the hospital. Your friend, Officer Do
“You were northbound when you went off the road, right?’’
“When I was run off the road,’’ I snapped at him, embarrassed by my body’s response to him.
“What were you doing out here anyway? It’s the middle of nowhere.’’
As if to emphasize our isolation, we heard the deep, bellowing grunt of a bull gator. All of a sudden, an image of Mama’s boyfriend flashed into my head. I couldn’t believe I’d forgotten to mention before now how he’d summoned me to the distant golf course.
“Salvatore Provenza, huh?’’ Martinez’s attention was riveted as I related my story. “And you say he wasn’t there when you showed up?’’
“That’s right. I didn’t even want to go out to that stupid golf course in the first place. I’d been busy all day, questioning people who might know something about Mama’s case.’’
“So I’ve heard. You’re quite the interrogator.’’ Did I see the tiniest smile cracking through the granite in Martinez’s jaw?
“Anyway, I was tired. All I wanted to do was go home, nuke some fried chicken, and vegetate in front of my TV. But he’s my mother’s boyfriend. And he sounded so desperate.’’
“Sal’s desperate all right.” Martinez rose. All trace of a smile was gone. “And you’d be wise to remember that desperate people do desperate things.’’
Dread settled like a boulder in my stomach as Martinez and I pulled up to Himmarshee Regional Hospital. I’m not afraid of doctors. But I am afraid of my older sister.
I could see Maddie through the plate glass window, washed in a red glow from the emergency room sign. She was sitting in a nearly empty row of chairs. The set of her mouth was as hard as the steel bolts that screwed the chairs to the floor. Marty was beside her, staring into space and worrying the tissue in her hands into shreds.
As soon as the doors to the waiting room swooshed open, my sisters jumped up as if they were stitched together.
“Thank God!’’ Marty ran to me and threw her arms around my neck. The tears started to flow.
“Come over here and let me take a look at you,’’ Maddie commanded, using her middle-school principal tone.
With my knee aching and Marty still clinging to my neck, I inched across the floor toward Maddie. I untangled myself, and Maddie clasped me by the shoulders. She turned me in a complete circle. When we came face-to-face again, I thought I saw a glimmer of moisture in her eyes. It was probably just a reflection from the hospital’s bright lights. She patted my arm, which turned into an awkward, one-handed hug.
“Mace, you had us so worried.’’ She let out a sigh of relief. “Do