Radclyffe - When Dreams Tremble

happened to her, and she forced herself to focus. “What’s causing it and what

needs to be done about it?”

Dr. Erhart smiled. “I wish I could answer both questions right now, but I can’t.

Any number of things could be causing the accelerated heart rate, including ß

uctuations in hormone levels, medications, drugs.”

When he let the last word linger in the air, Leslie narrowed her eyes. “I’m not on

any medication and I don’t take drugs of any kind. I don’t smoke and I drink in

moderation.”

“Your baseline blood pressure is also off the charts for someone your age. So it

might be something as simple as stress…perhaps something at work? Or at

home?”

“No. Neither.” Leslie made an impatient gesture, which was cut short by the taut

intravenous line tethering her to a nearby pole. “Look.

I understand the need to be thorough and—”

The ß uttering in her chest started at the same time as the monitor next to the

bed began to screech. She struggled to catch her breath and found she couldn’t.

She was aware of Dr. Erhart speaking into the intercom next to the door, and

after what seemed like an eternity, a woman in scrubs appeared and injected

something into Leslie’s IV line.

A minute later the monitor fell silent, and the wild churning in her chest subsided.

• 23 •

RADCLY fFE

“Jesus,” Leslie whispered, still short of breath. “What was that?”

“That was another run of very rapid tachycardia,” Dr. Erhart said solemnly. He

turned to the nurse. “Call admissions and tell them we’ll need a telemetry bed

for Ms. Harris.”

This time, Leslie didn’t argue. “I need to make some calls. Could someone see if

Stephanie Ackerman is here?”

As Leslie suspected, Stephanie had come to the hospital directly from the

courthouse. When she appeared, Leslie felt ridiculously comforted. “Thanks for

sticking around, Steph.”

“Hey,” Stephanie said softly. “Of course I would.” She glanced at the monitors

on either side of the bed and then back at Leslie. “What’s going on?”

“Oh, they’re just being careful. CYA.” Leslie trusted Stephanie, but she had no

intention of sharing the details. After all, it was all going to be straightened out in

a matter of a few hours. “By the time they Þ nish with all their tests, I’m

probably not going to get out of here until the morning. I’ll need you to check

with Bill and Þ nd out how the judge is going to rule on continuing the trial.”

Stephanie made notes on the rest of Leslie’s requests and promised to call her

that evening with any follow-up.

“I think that does it.” Leslie leaned back and closed her eyes, more tired than

she’d realized. “Thanks. I’ll call you when I get home in the morning.”

“Sure.” Stephanie hesitated. “Uh…anyone else you’d like me to call?”

Frowning, Leslie opened her eyes. “Did I forget something?”

“I meant personally.”

Leslie blushed. “Oh. I don’t know that that’s necessary. But thanks.”

“Sure.”

Feeling as if she should explain, Leslie added, “I’ll take care of those calls when

I get upstairs.”

“I understand. If you need anything, you know my number.”

“’Preciate it.” Leslie smiled goodbye, glad for the quiet and the chance to close

her eyes again.

When a cheerful middle-aged Asian man arrived to transport her to her room,

Leslie was surprised to discover that she’d slept for almost two hours. When

she was Þ nally settled and alone after repeating her medical history yet again to

the nurses and resident staff, she used the

• 24 •

WHEN DREAMS TREMBLE

bedside phone and asked the operator for an outside line. She wasn’t surprised

when the number she called rang to voicemail. “Rach, it’s me.

I know this is ridiculous, but I’m actually in…oh, I don’t know why I’m even

bothering you with this.” She contemplated hanging up and then Þ nished in a

rush. “I’m in the hospital. It’s nothing serious. Some little glitch in my hormones

or something. I’ll be released in the morning.

I know you’re wrapping up that big trial, so I’ll call you when I get home. Don’t

worry.”

As the sounds outside her room gradually quieted, Leslie lay awake staring at

the ceiling while reviewing her upcoming cases, prioritizing her work, and

rehearsing how she would explain away this event to her partners. Several times

she was aware of the ß uttering in her chest, which she now recognized as the

irregular heartbeat. She determined to ignore it, until just after midnight when the

frantic racing started and wouldn’t stop.

v

“My God, Leslie,” Rachel Hawthorne said, looking more aggravated than

concerned when she strode into Leslie’s room just after noon the next day.

“Why did you wait so damn long to tell me there was a problem with your going

home?”

“You didn’t need to rush over here,” Leslie said. “I just wanted you to know

that I hadn’t been released yet.”

Rachel had obviously come directly from court. Her immaculately cut slate gray

jacket and skirt hinted at her statuesque Þ gure without being suggestive. Her

lustrous copper hair ß amed around her shoulders, and her green eyes that could

look so warm and seductive during sex snapped with impatience now. Despite

Rachel’s annoyance, Leslie was glad to see her. Something as normal as

Rachel’s quicksilver temper made the situation feel normal, and the fear that had

been niggling at her all morning dissipated.

“Why are you still here?” Rachel glanced at her watch and leaned down to kiss

Leslie all in the same motion. “I’ve got twenty minutes, and then I need to be

back in court.”

“I seem to have this sensitive heart rate all of a sudden,” Leslie said lightly. “And

apparently my blood pressure problem is a little out of order.”

“Let’s cut to the chase, darling,” Rachel said, folding her arms and

• 25 •

RADCLY fFE

canting one hip in a strikingly feminine yet unmistakably aggressive pose.

“Details.”

Leslie sighed. “I had an episode of atrial ß utter in the middle of the night that

they weren’t able to control with medication. Finally at seven a.m. they

cardioverted me.”

For the Þ rst time, Rachel looked worried. “God. Why the hell didn’t you call

me?”

“Because I knew that you were in court this morning, and there was nothing you

could have done here. They sedated me, and it was over in a second. I didn’t

feel anything at all.” She smiled. “And I feel much better now. I’m just waiting

for another cardiogram to conÞ rm that the rhythm has been corrected, and then

I’m getting out of here.”

“I’m not going to be able to wait.” Rachel closed her eyes and rubbed the

bridge of her nose, sorting through alternatives. “Is it safe for you to take a

cab?”

“I’ll call a limo service.” Leslie took a deep breath. “That’s not what I needed to

talk to you about, Rach. I know this is a bad time, but there just didn’t seem to

be a good time.”

“What?” Rachel said sharply. “What else?”

“I’m going to take a few weeks off.” Leslie looked away, then into Rachel’s

eyes. “The doctors pretty much told me I have to. This stupid rhythm problem

can be controlled by medication, but I don’t seem to be one of the ones where

it’s easy. The episodes might recur for a while.