Exposed (Rosato & DiNunzio #5)(94)

Somebody was holding her hand.

Somebody who wasn’t letting go.

Mary didn’t have to open her eyes to know who it was.

Her heart told her.





CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Bennie sat on the waxy paper of an examining table, still dressed in her bloody and torn clothes, having been examined by a doctor, a physician assistant, and a nurse. Mary had been taken to another examining room, and Bennie felt nervous and edgy, not knowing how she was doing. Mary had been unconscious when they got to the hospital, and nobody was giving Bennie any information, much less guarantees. She had cross-examined the paramedics in the ambulance, but they had kept their mouths professionally closed. They weren’t about to give her medical information about Mary because Bennie had no legal standing vis-à-vis her. Under federal law, friends didn’t count.

Bennie got off the table and started pacing, which always made her feel better, even though she had an array of aches and pains for which they’d given her megadoses of Advil. She heard that Ray was in surgery but expected to survive, which improved her mood. She didn’t want him dead, she wanted him in jail. She herself was fine except for two cracked ribs, and they’d cleaned her up, bandaged her hands and wrists, and given her a butterfly stitch at her hairline, promising that the cut wouldn’t scar. At this point, Bennie would wear any scar as a badge of honor.

“I’m back,” said the nurse, pushing aside a patterned curtain, with a pleasant smile. Her name was Karen, and she was a middle-aged woman with short brown hair and rimless glasses that emphasized the roundness of her pretty face.

“Is there any news about my friend Mary?”

“No, nothing.” Karen looked away, which Bennie took as a bad sign. Every time a jury returned with a losing verdict, they always looked away when they came back into the courtroom. Every lawyer knew it. It was a juror tell.

“Would you let me know if there’s anything I should know?”

“Yes, of course.” Karen handed her a smartphone. “You asked for a phone? You can use mine.”

“Oh, thank you.” Bennie accepted the smartphone, grateful. The screen had a picture of a corgi in a cart. “Poor little guy.”

“She’s fine. She drives better than most people.”

“Thank you, I won’t be long.” Bennie wanted to call Declan and Detective Lindenhurst, but she wasn’t sure whom to call first.

“Good, because there are a few policemen outside who want to speak with you.”

“The local cops? I spoke with them already and I asked them to contact the Philadelphia police.”

“They did but they just want to check one or two things with you.”

“Okay, I need to make two calls. I’ll keep it short.”

“Sure, okay. Just come out when you’re finished and I’ll have your discharge papers ready.”

“Thanks.” Bennie scrolled to the phone function, hesitated, then made the first call.

“Babe, are you okay?” Declan asked, alarmed. “I’ve been call ing and texting. Anthony’s been calling Mary. We heard you left the hospital together. We’re both worried. Her family—”

“I’m okay and so is Mary.” Bennie felt so good to hear his voice. Emotions welled up from somewhere behind her cracked ribs, but she didn’t want to give in to them right now, when she had so much to do. “This was as soon as I could get to a phone.”

“Where are you? What happened?”

“I don’t have time to fill you in now.”

“Give me the headline.”

“We figured out who killed Todd and framed Simon. It was a conspiracy.”

“Are you serious?”

“They tried to kill us but they couldn’t.”

“What? Oh my God, are you hurt? Is Mary?”

“I’m fine. I’ll keep you posted but I’m worried Mary has a head injury. She’s in the examination room now.”

“Oh no,” Declan said, hushed. “Should I tell Anthony?”

“Yes, and I’ll call as soon as I know more.”

“Who killed Todd? Where are they? Were they arrested?”

“Two are dead, one survived.” Bennie felt her stomach twist. She took no pleasure in killing Mo. She never would’ve done it but to defend herself and Mary.

“How did that happen?”

“I’ll tell you another time.” Bennie didn’t want to elaborate now. “I have to call the Philly police, brief them, and try to convince them to release Simon.”

“Okay, so where are you?”

“I’m at a hospital in the boondocks. If it had more activity, there would be reporters, so there’s a silver lining.” Bennie realized she couldn’t wait to see Declan. She just wanted to bury her head in his chest and feel his arms around her. She wanted to feel safe again. “Where are you?”

“I’m outside Philly on my way to CHOP.”

“You’re not home?”

“No, I left as soon as Anthony called me. He can’t reach Mary.”

“Thanks,” Bennie said, touched. She felt tightness in her chest again and chalked it up to recent injuries, if not true love.

“Do you want me to come to you?”