Suddenly Psychic (Glimmer Lake #1)(10)

“She was here in the room. It was cold, and I had a conversation with her.” Robin shook her head. “It was more than strange.”

“It must have been terribly upsetting, and I wish I could tell you it won’t happen again,” Dr. Patel said. “But it’s very likely that you might have strange dreams. You might see or hear things that aren’t there. You might overreact to things that normally wouldn’t bother you.” She handed Robin a pamphlet that had What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? on the front. “PTSD doesn’t only apply to soldiers coming home from war or survivors of violence. Your body and mind survived something very traumatic last night, and that can jolt brain chemistry in ways we can’t predict. I encourage you to see a psychologist at some point.”

Robin tapped the pamphlet. “Thanks. I’ll… I’ll check it out.”

What she really wanted was to talk to Val and Monica. Mark had texted her mom that things were looking good for both, but she wanted to see them. Wanted to talk to them herself.

Dr. Patel started toward the door. “I want to keep you for a full twenty-four hours and complete those tests. So just sit tight and try to get some rest.”

“Right.” Robin nodded. “Get some rest.”

So super easy to do with nurses—dead and alive apparently—waking her up every hour or so. The last time she’d been in the hospital was when she’d given birth to Emma, and she’d hated it then too. She wanted to be in a dark room with a comfortable bed and no one poking or prodding her.

“Dr. Patel!” Robin caught her before she closed the door. “Can you tell me anything about my friends? The ones who were in the accident with me? Val—Valerie Costa and Monica Velasquez?”

Dr. Patel gave her a rueful smile. “I can’t. I’m sorry. I believe they have some family in the waiting room though. Maybe ask your parents to track them down.”

“I’ll do that. Thanks.” Robin settled back into her bed and had just closed her eyes when a nurse tapped on the door. Again. Philip Lewis, Robin’s dad, followed after her.

“How are you, honey?” Her dad kissed her forehead. “Was it all a weird reaction to the medication or something?”

“Probably something like that.” Robin felt instantly at ease around her dad, which was the opposite of how she felt with her mother. “They’re going to run more tests. Where’s Mom?”

“Talking with Val’s parents in the waiting room. She’ll be a while. Why don’t you try to sleep more?”

The young nurse at Robin’s bedside looked familiar and was wearing the colorful scrubs worn by most of the nurses on the floor. “Sorry to interrupt with all this. I’m Lucy.” She walked over and started in on the routine. “I’ll try to make this quick so you can sleep. You want me to close those shades?”

The sun had risen, and Robin was in an east-facing room. “Please.”

Lucy walked over and pulled the chain to close the shades while her dad picked up a magazine and settled in the corner. Robin checked out the nurse’s back. No bullet holes. Nothing weird. That was a relief.

“You know, you probably heard about it when you were a kid.” Lucy kept her voice low and soothing. “My mom’s a nurse.” Lucy pointed to her scrubs. “Family business. She was working here when it happened.”

“What?” Robin was so exhausted she could barely keep her eyes open. “When what happened?”

“Debbie Hawkins. The nurse you thought you saw?” The nurse slipped the blood pressure cuff over Robin’s arm. “She died in… eighty-two, I think my mom said? Early eighties anyway. You probably heard about it when you were a kid.”

Philip lifted his head. “You know, I do think I remember something like that.”

“Huh.” It didn’t sound familiar to Robin. “Who was she?”

“She was a nurse,” Lucy said. “Older than my mom. It was so sad. Her picture is still on a plaque in the lobby.” She shook her head. “She was shot and killed by her ex-husband. She was working emergency one night, and he busted in and shot her in the back. It was awful. One of the waiting rooms is dedicated to her.”

“She died right here in the hospital?”

Philip nodded. “I do remember that. It was in the newspaper. She was seeing one of the doctors here, correct?”

Lucy glanced at him. “Yes. Tragic, right? All those doctors and nurses around, but they couldn’t save her. In fact, the doctor she had just gotten engaged to—that’s why the ex-husband went crazy, I guess—was the one on call. Can you imagine?”

“Dr. McMurty,” Robin murmured.

Lucy’s eyes went wide. “Oh my gosh, how did you know that?”

“Must have read… remembered it.” Robin felt all the blood drain from her face, and her body went cold again. “That’s awful.”

“I know.” Lucy shook her head. “If it makes you feel better, you’re not the first person who’s seen her.” She lowered her voice to nearly a whisper. “One of the nurses swears that Debbie Hawkins still does night rounds sometimes. She was always really sweet with the babies—I guess she couldn’t have kids—and they find rocking chairs moving on their own in Maternity sometimes.”