Page 97 of Fatal Intent

Grant’s eyelids sagged, and his breathing deepened.

Good. Rayne adjusted Grant’s blanket, then turned back to Iona. “Any new leads we can use?”

“Not so far. Riley doesn’t have her laptop with her so any progress from that quarter will come after she’s at the hotel. If the Duncan police learn she’s gathering information from illegal sources, Riley will be in hot water.”

The local cops might be sticklers for following the rules but that didn’t work for Riley. In her computer tech work, she was creative. “I understand.”

Grant’s nurse returned minutes later with a soft drink in hand and woke Grant. “You should drink this, Mr. Bowen. The orderlies will be here soon to transport you to your room. Some patients feel sick during the moving process.”

Grant grimaced and took the cold drink. He swallowed several sips of the clear soft drink, then set the can aside as the orderlies walked in. They transferred him to another bed, then rolled him out of the curtained area, through the winding hallways, and into an elevator.

Rayne kept a close watch on Grant as their small group traveled to his room. In less than a minute, his face lost all trace of color. While they waited for the elevator car to rise to the sixth floor, Rayne encouraged Grant to sip more of the soft drink. She also had a barf bag the nurse gave her. She hoped he wouldn’t need it.

By the time they finally arrived at Grant’s room, perspiration beaded on his forehead. He looked miserable.

As soon as the orderlies left, Rayne encouraged Grant to sip the drink again. What he really needed was an anti-nausea patch like Violet used when operatives were injured and nauseated.

Another nurse breezed into the room. “Mr. Bowen, I’m your nurse, Candy. It’s nice to meet you.”

He nodded.

“You look a little sick. Are you feeling nauseated?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“I’ll get you something for that. If you need to throw up, press a pillow against your wound to give it support.” She handed Rayne a plastic tub. “Just in case. I’ll be back in a couple of minutes.”

Rayne went into the small bathroom and dunked a washcloth in cold water. After wringing it out, she carried the cloth to Grant and draped it over his forehead.

He moaned. “Feels good.”

When the nurse returned with medicine to inject in Grant’s IV, Rayne asked for two cold packs. After they were delivered, she draped one over Grant’s forehead and slid the other behind his neck.

Grant sighed. “That helps. Thanks.”

“Sorry it took me so long to remember Violet’s tricks for nausea.”

He captured her hand, raised it to his mouth, and kissed her palm. “Stay with me.”

Did he think she’d leave the hospital without him? Not going to happen. “I’m not going anywhere.”

A slow smiled curved his lips. “I hoped you’d say that.” Grant carefully scooted his body farther away from her and patted the mattress. “Come up here.”

“I don’t think the nurses will appreciate me sitting beside you since you just had surgery.”

“Aren’t I supposed to stay here overnight?”

She blinked. Where was he going with this? “Of course. They want to watch you for complications.”

“You sitting beside me is guaranteed to keep me right here.”

What a sneak. “We’ll try it but the moment the nurse protests, I’ll sit in a chair beside the bed.”

He smiled. “We’ll see.” Once again, he patted the space beside him.

Rayne carefully climbed onto the hospital bed and leaned back against the pillow.

Grant wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Within minutes, he was sound asleep, his body totally relaxed.