Page 98 of Dead Love

“Wow,” Catie said. “Youarealive. I’ve been trying to call you all morning.”

“Our phones have been busy,” I said.

“Yeah, and your new girl kept telling me you were unavailable.” Catie gave her a sideways glance.

Nikki shied away. “Just doing my job.”

“Don’t worry,” Catie said. “I know it’s Shea. Not you.” She turned to me. “Figured it was better if I came and told you in person anyway.” She bowed her head to mine. “Vincent is in the hospital.”

My heart stopped, my stomach sinking to the ground. “What?”

“He was in a car accident. Drunk driving or something.”

I patted my hands against my sides in a rapid movement. “But he’s not that kind of person. Why would he be drinking and driving?”

“He might have been on his way back from 52 Peaks. Possibly drugged?”

“Echo?” I asked.

She shrugged. “Some hallucinogenic, I guess. Apparently, he ‘saw’ things.”

Eventhatwasn’t like Vincent. I figured he had done drugs in his younger years, but times had changed. None of that would have interested him now.

Would it?

“He’s at Punica General Hospital?” I asked. Catie nodded. I went to the storeroom and grabbed my purse. “Let’s go.”

Nikki grabbed my shoulder. “Your mother would never let me—”

I pushed her off. “Tell her I ran.” I turned to Catie. “You’ve got a car?” She beeped her car fob. “All right. Let’s—”

The front door opened, Shea stopping us in our tracks. She placed her hands on her hips, her eyes seething as she looked down her nose at the two of us.

“Shea!” Catie said, pretending to be happily surprised. “We were on our way—”

“On your waywhere,Kora?” Shea asked.

What was the big deal if I went to the hospital to see my friend? All right. Maybe he wasn’t a friend after the things he had said. But if someone I cared about was hurt, then I needed to make sure that they were okay. I had to be strong.

“Punica General Hospital,” I said. I straightened my shoulders. “My friend is there and I wanted to make sure he’s okay.”

“He?” Shea asked. “Is Andrew hurt?”

I glanced over my shoulder at Catie. She bowed her head, encouraging me, and I turned back to face my mother. “Vincent Erickson,” I said.

Shea’s jaw strained, her neck rigid. She turned to Nikki. “And you were going tolether?”

“I—”

“I was going to go with or without her permission,” I said, trying to save Nikki. “If you could please step aside, Shea. My friend needs me.”

Shea lowered her head to mine. “Will I have to lock you in the storeroom to get you to stay?”

I searched her eyes, trying to see if she had any sympathy for me. But she was completely cold, like nothing I would do would change her mind. “Yes,” I said. “If you don’t let me see him, I won’t let it go until you do.” Shea closed her eyes. “He’s my friend, Shea. And he’s in trouble. I need to see him.”

Shea shook her head, then straightened again, opening her eyes. “Fine.Wewill visit him, then,” she said, “but you willnotspeak to him. He might say something to you; I can’t stop him from that. But you will not have a conversation with him. Understood?”

I nodded; I could compromise.