He was just about to go harass the frazzled woman at the front counter again when the magical doors finally swung open and a nurse hurried out. Her head was bent over a clipboard, but she looked up, looked around and spotted him. Her small face lit up.
“Mr. Hutchinson?”
Killian glanced over his shoulder at the row of empty chairs. Then back at the woman, certain she had the wrong person.
“Sorry?”
Smile melting into uncertainty, the nurse peeked at her notes again. “Callum Hutchinson?”
It took him a second to connect Maraveet’s very clever dots, but he caught on quick enough and got to his feet.
“Aye?” He moved closer. “Is my…?” he trailed off, not sure what Maraveet had stated him as.
“Sister?” the nurse hedged carefully, like she wasn’t entirely sure either and wasn’t sure why he wasn’t sure.
“My sister, yes. How is she?” Killian said quickly.
Blue eyes dropped down to the forms in her hands. “The doctors just left her after running multiple tests to make sure there was no internal damage. They did several x-rays and blood work that hasn’t come in yet, but—”
“Is my sister all right?” he cut in.
She smiled. “She’ll be fine. She’s banged up a little, but nothing to be worried about. The police are in there with her now, but if you—”
Killian stiffened. “The police?”
Her smile faded. “Yes, she insisted we call—”
He moved past her and charged through the doors, ignoring her when she called after him. It took several aggravating minutes of searching before he found her, nearly at the end of a very long hallway.
Sure enough, there were two police officers standing at her bedside, both in full uniform. Maraveet sat propped against a mountain of pillows while she listened to whatever the shorter of the two was saying. He expected her to be in cuffs, but they were talking to her as though she were the victim. In a sense, she was, but if they knew who she was, the situation would change very quickly.
“And you didn’t recognize the men?”
Maraveet shook her head. “No.”
“Is there anything else you can tell us?” the taller one asked.
“No, I’m sorry.”
“And the other woman?”
“Juliette? They brought her in a couple of weeks ago.”
“And you didn’t know her before then?”
“No.”
The shorter one jotted her response down while his partner continued to ask his questions. Maraveet was light on her answers, sticking to yes and no and only giving short explanations when absolutely necessary. Her posture was relaxed, but he could just make out the slight twitch in her fingers. He had no idea what she was playing at, but it was a dangerous game calling the police in. He was stunned that she would. Maraveet hated the police and they hated her with good reason; criminals and cops would never see eye to eye.
“Thank you.” He tucked his notepad away and the two took a step away from the bed. “We’ll keep in touch if we hear anything else.”
Killian ducked out of the doorway and made his way to a bulletin board against the far wall. He kept his back turned until the clip of footsteps faded somewhere in the opposite direction. Once certain they weren’t coming back, he stepped into Maraveet’s room and shut the door behind him.
“What was that?” Killian asked, moving to take their place next to Maraveet’s bed.
“That was your girlfriend’s idea,” she hissed through her teeth. The calm façade she’d been holding onto for the police was gone. In its place was a sheen of sweat across her brow and trembling hands. “She’s a bloody menace, you know that right? An absolute nut.”
“What idea?” he demanded.
Maraveet ignored him as she picked at the tape holding her IV needle in place along the back of her hand. “Should never have listened. It was pity is what it was,” she grumbled to herself. “I felt bad so I agreed. Never doing that again. Bloody cops.”
“Maraveet!” Killian snapped. “What did you two do?”
“Apparently we told the truth to save you!” she cried with great exaggeration.
“What truth?”
She tore the needle out and pitched it aside. Her hand closed around the blankets next as she struggled to heave herself off the bed.
“Ask her!” She rolled to her feet and swayed. “It was her stupid idea.” Moving with a slight limp, she hurried to the folded chair containing her coat and shoes and tossed both on. The coat took a bit longer without jostling her ribs. “They’ll return the second they find my prints on that boat and I don’t intend to stick around.” She paused and glanced at him. “I’ll wait for you at home.”
Killian nodded. “Be careful.”
She rushed to the door and peered out. The coast must have been clear, because she was gone before he could blink.
At least she’s all right, he told himself with a weary sigh.
He left the room and made his way to the other end of the hospital, the end where they were holding Juliette. Every stride was quick and determined, carrying him through the enormous structure at a near run. He told himself it was because he wanted to know what kind of scheme she and Maraveet had cooked up, but the truth of the matter was that he needed to see her, needed to know she was all right. His quick glimpse of her on the boat hadn’t assured him of anything. He still had no idea just how extensive her injuries were, not just beneath her clothes, but in her mind. Something like that left dark prints on the soul. It was like rot beneath the glossy peel of an apple, hidden from sight, but slowly devouring the fruit until it was festering. He couldn’t allow that to become Juliette. It would be just one more evil he’d brought into her life and he couldn’t stand it.
He caught sight of Frank first. He stood at the end of the hall, away from Juliette’s room, but close enough to keep an eye on her door. Sitting or leaning along that same wall was Phil, John, Melton, Tyson, and Jake who were void of their weapons, but still wore their cargo pants and black coats. And since Phil was there, Killian suspected Vi was somewhere inside with Juliette.
“What’s the news?” He stopped next to Frank.
“Cops,” was all the other man said, his face set as he watched the doorway leading into Juliette’s room. “They had questions for Miss Romero.”
Killian nodded. “They just finished talking to Maraveet. She’s gone.” He added when Frank looked over at him. Killian exhaled. “Any idea what the questions are?”
Frank shook his head. “I don’t understand how they knew. The letter we left with young Yolvoski said nothing of Miss Romero or Miss Árnason. Do you think he told them?”
Killian shook his head. “Erik wouldn’t know we would take Juliette or Maraveet to the hospital and he’s not stupid enough to confess to his crimes.”
“Then how…?”
“Juliette,” Killian muttered. “Maraveet said this was all part of her plan.”
Frank frowned. “Her plan?”
Killian only shrugged, not understanding that woman either. “How is she?”
“I overheard the doctor say she was fine. Dehydrated mostly. A few bruises. But she’ll be okay.”
“She seemed okay,” Killian mused.
Frank nodded very slowly, dark eyes pinned to the open doorway. “Young Cruz may have mentioned that Miss Romero had already incapacitated the men before you arrived.”
Memories of how beautiful and fierce Juliette had been on that boat swelled over him like a warm flood of sunlight. It laced with pride and a smug sort of satisfaction he really had no right to feel, but couldn’t stop. She hadn’t let them take her down without a fight. She had stood her ground and kicked the shit out of them. If he wasn’t already madly in love with her, that would have solidified his resolve.