Page 101 of Fatal Intent

Grant squeezed her fingers.

She glanced down to see him watching her.

“Stay.”

“You need to rest.”

“I need to know you’re safe,” he countered.

Fair enough. She felt the same about him. Rayne turned to Elias. “Let them in.”

Seconds later, two men in uniform stepped into the hospital room and questioned her. She gave them the same information she’d given Riley.

The younger man, Carrington, looked impressed. “You’re observant. Most witnesses aren’t.”

Not observant enough to identify the guy. She shrugged. “I used to be on the job. Comes with the territory.”

“Where?” Harris, the older officer, asked.

“Chicago. Ten years.”

“Why did you resign?”

No way. She wasn’t getting into her history. She didn’t want to talk about having to watch her own back because her fellow cops had found out about her past and no longer trusted her. They’d have one of two reactions once they knew the truth. Either they’d feel sorry for her or the cops would view everything she said with suspicion. “Fortress made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.” She ignored the contempt in their eyes. “Do you need anything else? Grant just had surgery. He needs to rest.”

Carrington eyed Grant. “Do you have information that will help us identify the man who invaded your room, Mr. Bowen?”

“Can’t help you. I slept through all the excitement.” He grimaced. “The painkiller the doc gave me is potent.”

After a few more fruitless questions, the officers left Grant’s hospital room.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” Grant asked Rayne. “He didn’t hurt you?”

“I’m fine. He didn’t get close to me despite my best efforts to catch up to him. The guy is fast.” She clasped his hand. “Sleeping is the best thing for you right now. Do you think you can sleep for another couple of hours?”

He shook his head.

A ball of ice formed in her stomach. Had Grant changed his mind about trusting her? Maybe, since she hadn’t caughtthe man threatening him, Grant didn’t believe she could protect him. “What’s wrong?” She steeled herself for a blow to her ego.

“The nausea has come back with a vengeance. If something doesn’t change soon, I’ll be in serious trouble.”

Relief flooded her. An easy fix. “I’ll be back in a minute.” She sped into the hallway where Elias turned, eyebrows raised in silent question. “Stay with him for a couple of minutes.”

“Everything all right?”

“He’s feeling sick again.”

Elias grimaced. “I understand.” He entered Grant’s room and closed the door behind him.

Rayne went to the nurse’s desk and asked for two more ice packs. “Grant is nauseated again.”

“Some people have more trouble throwing off the effects of anesthesia than others. Wait here.” The nurse returned in less than a minute with two cold packs. “Anything else?”

Rayne remembered another trick Violet used to help members of Echo and Artemis with nausea. “Do you have a soft drink with real ginger?”

“We do.” The nurse hurried off again and returned with a canned drink that she handed to Rayne. “How else may I help you?”

“Might be wise to ask the doctor for an anti-nausea patch for Grant. He’ll fight nausea for at least another twelve hours.”