Page 72 of Hell Hath No Fury
The cop aimed a thumb toward Eric’s door. “Can you give me some idea of how soon the prisoner will be released?”
Emma casually slid her hands—and the borrowed badge—into her pockets and spied Fran hurrying her way. “I can’t say yet. We’re still running tests. As I’m sure you know, broken ribs can be dangerous if they puncture a lung. We need to make sure we treat them properly.”
“Yes, of course.”
Fran jogged up and caught Emma’s arm. “I’m so glad I found you. You’re needed in room three.”
Emma excused herself from the guard and let Fran half drag her in the direction of the exit.
“Sorry about that,” Fran whispered. “Good cover, by the way.”
“Thanks.”
“Not to change the subject or anything, but I’ve been wanting to ask you about the stuff I found at your farm. Have you had a chance to decide what you want to keep?”
Emma had completely forgotten about the hoof pick, ring, and other junk. She’d swept it under her seat in Matthias’s Jeep.Out of sight, out of mind,she thought. “Not yet. I’ve been busy.”
“I understand, but don’t forget. I’d love to have those few artifacts to add to my collection. You should come over to my house sometime and see it.”
“Sure.” But Emma had no desire to view Fran’s so-called artifacts.
They were only about fifteen feet away when the automatic doors swished open and Troopers Fergusson and Lukan breezed through.
Emma swore and side-stepped into one of the cubicles, which was currently occupied by a young mother and her screaming toddler.
Fran followed her. “What’s going on?”
“Those are the two state police detectives investigating Sonny’s murder,” Emma whispered. “They’re convinced Eric’s guilty.”
The mother called out, “When is the doctor coming in to see us?”
Outside, the troopers passed by. Emma exhaled and smiled at the mother and son. “I’ll find out for you.” She moved closer to the door and peered out at Fergusson’s and Lukan’s retreating backs. They spoke briefly with the officer outside Eric’s room before entering.
Emma stepped into the hall, Fran at her side.
“I’ll go look in on Eric and make up some excuse for needing to be there,” Fran said. “You get out of here before someone else you know comes in.”
Emma pinched the fabric of her scrubs. “What about these?”
“Change back into your clothes and put these and the ID in the bag, then leave it with Sue, the woman who buzzed us in.”
“Do me a favor and ask when the doctor is going to check on the little boy in there.” Emma pointed at the room they’d hid in.
“I will. Nowgo.”
* * *
Matthias maneuvered the Jeep through the raised arm at the ER parking lot entrance and turned onto the street. “Did you learn anything?” he asked Emma, dressed once again in her own clothes.
She shared Eric’s observations regarding Neidermeyer and Jones. “I really want to talk to Tina again,” she said. “I wonder where she lives, and if she has any glass dividers or sliding glass doors in her house.”
Matthias considered the idea. “I want to ask Patrick Winslow a few questions before we revisit Jones’s assistant. Better we have some solid information to present to her. Or to Fergusson.”
Emma shifted in her seat. “Did you talk to him at the ER?”
Matthias and Emma hadn’t taken the time to compare notes at the hospital. She’d grabbed the bag with her clothes from him, darted into the restroom, returned, and dropped off the bag with the woman manning the desk before they made a hasty exit. “Briefly. He asked where you were.”
“And?”
