Jodi Thomas - Twisted Creek

“I understand,” I said, even though I didn’t. “When can I see her?”

“Take this to the desk and they’ll point you in the direction of ICU. They are pretty strict about visiting hours, but they might let you see that she’s resting nicely if you promise not to wake her.” Her smile reached her summer green eyes for the first time. “Oh, and I told your family to call Mrs. Deals.”

I thought she had me confused with some other patient, but I was too tired to question. I took the papers and thanked her.

When I walked out of the emergency doors, Willie, Mary Lynn, and Paul Madison were waiting for me.

I smiled. The nurse had thought they were my family.

Wednesday

October 2

0145 hours

En Route to Lubbock

Luke drove like a madman. Paul and Mary Lynn probably had at least half an hour’s head start on him, maybe more.

Lubbock had several hospitals and he didn’t know the town well enough to know which one Allie and Nana would go to. Willie said he guessed Mary Lynn would be heading to the big University Hospital, but he didn’t know where Allie would go.

Luke didn’t see Willie as the county tour guide for hospitals, so he punched in the police code and asked the dispatcher to find out. He spelled out Nathan McCord and Nana’s last name, then hesitated.

“Edna,” Willie offered. “Her first name is Edna.”

“Edna Daniels,” Luke repeated into the phone.

“I’ll get right back to you,” she said, then ended the call without another word.

Luke held the phone a moment longer before he lowered it. “How’d you know her name? I’ve never heard anyone call her anything but Nana.”

Willie was silent for almost a mile, then he said, “I used to hear Jefferson talk about her. Once I came on him when he was sitting all sad like on the porch. He said that Edna was raising Allie all alone now.”

Willie looked out the window. “He never said nothin’ more except to mention how old Allie was or that she’d be taking over the place after he passed on. Once he said that Edna would look after her till then.”

“Did you ask who Edna was?”

“Nope.” Willie wasn’t one to pry.

Concentrating on driving, Luke finally let the silence bother him enough to ask, “How long did Jefferson know Allie and Nana? Did he write them or call them?” It made no sense that he could know and talk about them and Allie wouldn’t have ever heard of him.

Luke thought back to the first day when Allie told him she didn’t know Jefferson Platt, but she knew for sure he wasn’t her uncle.

But Luke had seen the pictures of Allie’s childhood. She might not know about him, but he’d obviously kept up with her over the years. “Someone had to be letting Jefferson know about them.”

“Don’t know.” Willie sounded bored, as if it didn’t matter. “Never asked Red about it.”

Luke swore, frustrated. He liked facts to fit together. Surely the old man would say more if he waited Willie out. He’d been at the lake for as long as Luke could remember and as far as he knew Willie mostly kept to himself. Willie, like his grandfather, must have known Jefferson when his hair was still red and not white. No one else had called Jefferson “Red” in forty years.

Finally, Willie broke. “Your grandfather and Jefferson were tight. They talked almost every night. I asked your grandpa once who Allie was. Since as far as I knew Jefferson didn’t have no kin. Your grandpa said she was like his niece and not long after that Jefferson called her that.”

“But how could she matter so much when she didn’t even know he existed?”

Willie shrugged. “Never asked, but Jefferson told me once that he put her birthday in as the combination to that old safe.”

“You know the combination to that old safe? Why didn’t you tell me? I spent one summer when I was a kid trying to figure it out.”

“You never asked.” Willie laughed. “We all figured it was something to keep you busy.”

Luke saw the lights of Lubbock. “When this is over, Willie, you and me are going to sit down and have a talk and I’m planning on asking about everything.”

“Ain’t no gossip, son.” Willie shook his head. “Never have been.”

“That’s the truth.” Luke’s phone rang. “Hello.”

The squeaky voice of the dispatcher identified herself, then told Luke that both his inquires were at University Hospital.

“Got it,” he said, “thanks.” Without a word to Willie, he dialed his headquarters and reported in.

Once he’d told all the details, including where to pick up the three drug dealers, Luke turned to Willie. “There will be men at Jefferson’s Crossing to pick up the three and deliver them to jail. I’ll worry about them in the morning. Right now, I have to check on the wounded.”

Willie shook his head. “I hope they don’t get the bad guys mixed up with the Landrys. Old fishermen and druggies pretty much have the same dress code.”

“The agents will know.” Luke thought about it a minute, then called the office back and described the two men who would be holding the prisoners.

He swung into the parking lot and a moment later raced toward the emergency entrance.

A sweet but unenlightened girl at the desk told him Edna Daniels was in surgery, and Allie Daniels was being treated and would be out soon. Nathan McCord, however, was in recovery. When Luke questioned her about the extent of their injuries, she flashed him a clueless look.

He tried again, but she only repeated, “You can wait over there. I’ll let you know as soon as there is a change posted on my computer.”

“Thanks,” Luke managed even though he wanted to yell for her to go back behind the door marked “Authorized Personnel Only” and find out.

Luke nodded to Willie, who took a seat in front of the admitting door. “I’ll check on Nathan and be right back. If Allie comes out, you take care of her.”

Willie pushed his muddy boots beneath the chair and leaned back. “I’ll be here.”

Luke ran for the elevator and headed up to the recovery area. He’d been reassured that Allie wasn’t hurt badly by the girl’s comment that she was being treated and would be out soon. If she was hurt but walking out of the hospital tonight, he told himself he could deal with that.

Paul Madison and Mary Lynn were standing in the hallway when he stepped off onto the third floor. Their heads were almost touching as they talked in whispers.

When they spotted Luke, they both smiled. A good sign, Luke thought.

Luke didn’t have time to say anything before Paul started talking in his quick, all-business manner. “Your friend is going to be fine. They took the bullet out of his arm and cleaned up the wound on his throat. It’ll leave a scar, but he’s conscious and telling all the nurses of his adventure.”

Mary Lynn nodded in agreement. “It seems he’s quite the hero. A lawman who survived three bullets in a drug raid.”

Luke smiled. He would not destroy this for Nathan. “They’re right. He is a hero. If he hadn’t distracted the guy with the automatic, I might not have gotten close enough to jump him.” If Nathan was going to have the scars, he might as well get the glory.

“Did you get the third one?” Paul asked.

“Yes, but Nana and Allie ran into him first. They’re downstairs now. Willie’s waiting for them to come out.”

“Nathan doesn’t need us.” Paul took Mary Lynn’s arm. “We’ll be downstairs when you finish here. If they are both injured, Willie may need our help.”

“Good.” Luke turned and took three steps toward Nathan’s room before he glanced back. They were at the elevator. “Thanks,” he said. “Thanks for being there.”