Page 84 of Refuge for Flora

“Dr.Barrett Quarles to the fifth-floor nurses’ station, please. Dr.Barrett Quarles, fifth-floor nurses’ station.”

All he could do was pray that wherever she was, Flora had heard the page and would make her way to the nurses’ station by the time he got there. The door opened on the fifth floor and he strode straight toward the big desk. “Have you seen a woman around here, smallish, reddish-blond hair and green eyes?”

“No, sir. Oh. Your name is Quarles. What’s going on?”

“Nothing. I’m just hoping she heard?”

“Barrett?”

He turned and in a split second, she was in his arms. “Oh, god, I was so scared,” he whispered into her hair.

“Me too. That was?”

“I know. I heard the whole thing. What are you doing here? I told you not to leave the house!”

“Mrs.Murphy had a heart attack, I think. I couldn’t just let her go to the hospital and me stay at the house. I’m responsible for her. I had to come.”

“She’s staying overnight so you’re not responsible for her right now. You need to come with me. I’ll get you out of here, and we’ll worry about the car later. Where the hell is your phone?”

“I think it’s in the car. It was in my bag, but it spilled on the floorboard, and I guess that’s where my phone is.”

“Okay. It doesn’t matter. You’re with me now. That’s all that counts.” He turned to one of the nurses. “Got a way for me to call the admissions desk downstairs?”

“Sure. Just use that phone over there and dial nine, tell them who you want to speak to.”

“Thanks.” Barrett dragged Flora with him as he headed for the phone and called the admissions desk. “Hey, this is OfficerQuarles. Those two guys down there in that cubicle… Are they still there?”

“Yeah.”

“How much longer will they be there, do you think?”

There was a snicker from the other end of the phone. “How much longer do youwantthem to be here?”

“At least thirty minutes or more.”

“You got it. I’ll tell the doctor to drag his feet. Find what you were looking for?”

“I did, and thanks for your help. I really appreciate it.”

“Yes, sir.”

Barrett hung up the phone. “Okay. We’re going down the staff elevator to the back side of the building. I’ll go back through and get my truck, then come around to pick you up. Got that?”

“Yeah. Okay. But I’ll be alone and?”

“Just long enough for me to get the truck, and you’ll be fine.” Barrett turned back to the nurse. “Can you have security meet me at the first-floor doors to the staff elevator?”

“Yes, sir, sure can.”

“Thanks.” He smiled at Flora as they stepped onto the elevator. “See? We’ve got this under control.”

Five minutes later, they were in Barrett’s truck and rolling down the highway, passing the mall and heading out into the western end of the county, with Flora scooted up against Barrett so tightly that he could feel her ribs. But he didn’t care. She was safe with him. Nothing else mattered.

Except for the truck that followed about a quarter of a mile behind them?the one he didn’t see.

Chapter 11

They layin Barrett’s big bed, him in his boxer briefs and Flora in one of his old tee shirts. Neither of them could even hold still. All they did was toss and turn until they were driving each other crazy, so they got up and sat in the living room to watch a movie.