Page 9 of Risk of a Lifetime
“JB?” Her breathing slowed as her body wilted against his. “Am I okay? Did you get him?”
He gripped her closer. “You’ll be fine. Your IV needs a little repair work, though.” He fingered the blood on top of her hand where the needle dangled from the tape strapped across her skin.
The nurse rushed to her side and worked to stop the bleeding.
Landon approached the end of Marcy’s bed, and she cringed, grabbing onto JB tighter. The fear on her face made him take a second look at the man.
Tall and built like a defensive center, Landon could be an imposing presence. Never mind his squarer-than-square jaw, a twice-broken nose, buzz-cut hair, and heterochromic eyes—one blue, one brown. Even with his tinted contacts to correct the coloring, his look disconcerted a lot of people the first time they met him.
“Could be she simply had a reaction to the medication.” The nurse re-hooked tubes to the machines. “Happens.”
The doctor nodded.
JB worked to remain objective. What was she seeing? What had happened before he burst into the room? Hallucinations? Delirium? Something had her terrified.
“This is FBI Agent Dwight Landon. He’s here to help with the bank case.” JB soothingly palmed her cheek and glanced at his previous work associate. “This is Marcy Bradley. My ex-wife.”
Landon reached out his hand. “I figured as much. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Bradley.”
“Marcy. Just Marcy.” Her voice trembled as she pushed herself up further in the bed, moaning with each little move.
She scrunched her legs against herself. Like a frightened child, she eased her hand into JB’s. One look said she was seriously afraid. Like victims he’d consoled right after a vicious attack. Terrified. Panicked.
His instincts revved, focusing on Landon. “How did you know this was Marcy’s room?”
“The nurse told me.”
Dr. Crowley stopped his check of the beeping equipment. “Which one?”
Landon’s expression hardened at being questioned. “The male nurse assigned to this room.”
The nurse working on Marcy’s hand glanced up. “There are no male nurses on this floor. This is my room assignment for the shift.”
JB moved closer to the other agent. “Maybe you should explain how you got in here.”
Landon stared at the bedrail and didn’t flinch. “I know you’re upset seeing as how it’s your wife.”
“Ex-wife.” JB countered.
Landon sighed. “Okay, ex-wife. But don’t push me, or you’ll end up with another write-up in your personnel file.”
“Too late. I already quit.”
The agent looked up in disbelief. “Now why the hell would you do that?”
“Gentlemen.” Dr. Crowley stepped between the two men. “Please take this outside the room.”
“First things first,” JB said. “What did this male nurse look like?”
“Six-two. Green shirt. Heavy, black-framed glasses, grey hair, mustache. Pushing a cart loaded with books and magazines. Needles and syringes,” Landon said.
“That sounds more like a volunteer, except he wouldn’t have sharps on his cart. Must have been pens.” The nurse worked at getting the bed sheets back in place. “They all wear a pale green shirt.”
Landon eased his shoulders. “Look, I got off the elevator, and this guy was standing there at the nurse’s counter. I asked where the Bradley room was, and he pointed me in this direction.”
“Without checking the room assignments?”
“The man said he’d just left a book in her room. Then he got on the elevator, and I came down here.”
