Cut and Run(85)

When Faith entered Macy’s room, Dr. Bramley was standing by Macy’s bed checking her pupils with a small light.

Faith couldn’t see Macy from this vantage point, and as much as she wanted to insist the doctor get out of her way, she held back, waiting for him to finish his exam.

The doctor had said Macy was awake, but with a brain injury she could be facing a whole host of problems that affected her memory, cognitive skills, emotions, and even her ability to walk and move.

The doctor glanced over his shoulder and then stepped back. “Dr. McIntyre. I understand you and Ms. Crow have not met.”

As Faith gripped the strap of her purse and came forward, Macy’s eyes were not only open but also alert. The instant Macy saw Faith, she blinked and looked to the doctor, back to Faith, and then nodded as if she remembered.

“She’s real,” Dr. Bramley said. “Her name is Faith McIntyre. She’s visited you every day. We believe you two might be related.”

Faith set her purse in a chair and stepped forward. “Hi, Macy. We’ve not formally met. But Dr. Bramley is right. We might be sisters.” Telling her about Marissa would come later. For now, it was about the two of them.

Macy shrank back a fraction before she nodded. She tried to speak, but the words came out garbled. Her brows knotted, and the fingers of her good hand clenched into a fist.

“I was just having a talk with Macy,” Dr. Bramley said. “She’s come out of her coma better than we’d hoped, and she’s responding to questions, light, and small pinpricks. Finding the right words may be a challenge initially. She has a lot to recover from. But I’m very hopeful.”

Macy tried to find words, but the sounds she made were unintelligible.

Faith took Macy’s hand. “You’re doing great. It’s just going to take time for the speech to return.”

As Macy looked at Faith, her grip tightened.

“We know about Garnet at Second Chances. And we found the house in the country and the graves.”

A clear presentation of facts calmed Macy. Faith understood that Macy had comprehended every bit of what she had just explained to her. She would want her case solved.

“She’s going to fatigue very quickly,” Dr. Bramley warned. “It won’t take much to tire her out.”

Macy shot an annoyed glance at the doctor.

Faith couldn’t help but smile. “Can I talk to her? If she knows what’s going on, she’ll be more likely to rest.”

“Keep your visit short,” he said.

“I understand. Thank you.”

When the doctor left them alone, Macy looked closely at Faith. She moved her lips and then drawing in a breath said in a hoarse voice, “P-P-Paige.”

“We haven’t found her yet. But the Rangers are digging through all of Garnet’s records hoping to. We think she was at the country ranch house you found, but Garnet moved her.”

Macy closed her eyes, and Faith thought for a moment it was all too much.

“It’s a lot to take in.”

Macy opened her eyes and shook her head.

“Do you remember who hit you?” Faith asked.

“Yes. I don’t know him.”

“Garnet was murdered,” Faith said. “He was tortured like Jack. Someone was looking for something.”

Macy shook her head. “Jack. A package.”

“Where did he send it?” she asked.

“Arlington.” Her voice was barely a whisper now, and no doubt force of will had enabled her to speak this much. “Mailbox.”

“Do you know what was in it?”

“Guessing evidence against Garnet.”

Satisfaction mingled with excitement. “We’ll send someone from the FBI to open it,” Faith said.

Macy nodded.

“Whoever killed Garnet knew what he did thirty years ago. Do you have any idea who it could be?”

“No.” Her voice was barely audible now, and as Dr. Bramley had stated, she had fatigued quickly.

Faith patted her on the hand. “It’s okay. You’ve told us how to find this package, and from there we can figure out the rest.”

Macy eyes closed.

“Just rest. I’ll be back very soon, okay?”

Macy nodded.

Faith sat for a moment, grateful that all the pieces of this nightmare were finally falling into place.

As she was leaving the hospital and crossing the parking lot, her phone rang. It was Tina, the shelter director.

“Dr. McIntyre, is Kat with you?”

“No, she’s not. I haven’t seen her since I dropped her off at school yesterday.”

“I know you’re generous with that kid, and I also know she has a tendency to press boundaries. I’ve talked to all her friends at the shelter, and none of them have seen or spoken to her since last night. Please tell me she’s with you.”

Faith glanced at her cell phone and quickly scrolled through the messages. None were from Kat. “Is her computer at the shelter?”

“No. But she’s never more than a foot away from it.”

“If I don’t locate her in the next few minutes, I’ll call the police.”

“I know she’s been stressed about her baby. But you’re the one person she’s really gravitated to in the last month.”