Page 111 of Healed Heart

I nod and press the button.

And I’m thankful she says nothing more until the elevator stops on the third floor and she gets out.

I open my mouth to wish her well, but then I close it.

She has other things on her mind, and so do I.

The elevator doors open on the floor that Ralph is on, and I get out, walk swiftly past the nurses station to his room, and?—

The door is open, and I stalk inside.

Anger curls at the base of my neck.

Angie is standing there, talking to Ralph.

“Angie!”

She turns, drops her mouth open.“I thought you said?—”

“That I had an appointment with Dr.Engel?Yes, I said that.I didn’t want to lie to you, but I had to come here.I thought I told you to stay the hell away.”

Her cheeks redden.“I appreciate you looking out for me, Jason, but I don’t take orders from you.”

Ralph is looking smug lying in his bed.His face is looking better, the bruises beginning to yellow.The cut on his lip is healing nicely.

“Can’t keep her on a leash, huh?”Ralph says.

“I know who the hell you are,” I say through gritted teeth.“And you’re not going to get away with any of this.”

He narrows his swollen eyes at me.“I know whoyouare too.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”Angie asks.

I pull on her arm, harder than I mean to, and force her outside the room.

“Jason, I?—”

“Listen to me.He’s dangerous.He killed Lindsay.I know in my heart that’s what happened.That handwriting expert all but proved it.”

“That’s not proof,” Angie says.“And frankly, whatever he did to Lindsay, you’re still being charged with his battery.We have to get him to admit that someone else beat him up.”

“And you think you can do that?”

“I don’t know, Jason.I just know I have to try.”

I grip her upper arms.“And I know I don’t want you anywhere near him.The man is dangerous.”I glare at the door to his room, grit my teeth.“I’ll get what I need out of him.”

She places a hand on my cheek, turns my head back toward her.“He hates you, Jason.He’s putting you through hell.”

“Well, someone kicked his ass, and it wasn’t me.”

“You think he did it himself?”

“No.”I shake my head.“No, I’m guessing he paid a guy to do it.”

“Jason,” Angie says, her voice softening.“You’re spiraling.”

“I’m not spiraling,” I reply, my voice harsher than I intend.“I’m just sick of sitting around doing nothing while he gets away with murder.”