Closure (Partners in Crime Book 5)

Chapter 3

Nicole hopped out of the sugar baby and helped Lucas wheel the man inside. Jenna checked a clipboard, "Room 107 is open, go there."

Lucas nodded, "Yes ma'am. Nicole, I got it from here, go get a nurse."

"Sure thing."

She stepped away from the gurney and walked to the front desk. "Ally, we need a-" She stopped when she saw Blake turn from the desk. "Just can't get enough of him, can you Nicole?" She muttered.

She ignored him and walked up to the desk. The secretary, Ally, was sitting there. "Hi Nicole."

"Hi Ally. We need a nurse in room 107."

"Is that where the man from the Prius went?" Blake asked.

Nicole ignored him, "Ally, also, where is the girl Sandra and her mom? What room?"

"Let me check for you." Ally's fingers clicked away on her keyboard. "Room 438."

"Thanks. And a nurse in room 107?"

"Roger that."

Nicole thanked her then turned to go see Sandra. In the elevator, it was almost closed, but Blake ran in. She squeezed herself in the corner and watched the numbers go up.

Blake sighed, "Look, I'm sorry okay? Just where is the man from the Prius?"

"I can tell you that you're going the wrong way."

Blake closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "What room?"

"Who's asking?"

"A cop."

Nicole looked him straight in the eye, "Cops aren't allowed in until they are stable and conscious. Oh wait-" She glared, "I forgot, that's just some silly fact from a cop show. My bad."

"That's not from a cop show, it's true." Blake rolled his eyes.

"So I'm not some dumb woman who gets her facts from TV."

"Do you even know what person I'm asking to see?"

"The unconscious guy from the Prius with a gun in an ankle holster. Or, was it a black piece of plastic? I guess I wouldn't know since I only watch cop shows." Nicole snapped.

Blake glared at her. "Give it up, will you?"

"Admit you were wrong."

"Why?"

"Because you called me a liar when I know my facts."

"Fine. I was wrong. Now will you tell me where he is? And how did you know he had a gun in his ankle holster?"

"Because I'm observant. He's in room 107, but you can't go in there without permission from someone." The elevator stopped and opened. Nicole walked out leaving Blake behind, happy with how she had handled that.

She entered Sandra's room where they had just wrapped up a quick surgery for her rib. "Hi Sandra."

Sandra smiled, "Hi."

"How did the surgery go?"

"Good, the doc says I'll be better real soon and I won't miss homecoming!"

"That's great!"

"Yeah."

Nicole chatted with her new friend for a few more minutes, gave Sandra her number and told her to text if she needed anything. She waved goodbye and made her way to the elevator to check on Blake's "Prius Man".

The elevator stopped at level three and her worst nightmare walked in. The door closed leaving them in there together. Alone.

"Good afternoon Nicole." Seth said.

"Afternoon." She mumbled. Just what she needed on this day. Of all days. She wasn't about to let him know he won though. "So, are you and Elena Baker engaged?"

Seth was caught off guard. Nicole did not look at him. Seth cleared his throat, "No, but I'm dating Chrissy Webster."

She almost fell over. That shallow, good-for-nothing, jerk! "Right, right."

Silence. Then, "Nicole, I'm sorry."

"For what?" She turned to her ex-fiancé, painful memories taking place.

"For hurting you."

Nicole squeezed her eyes shut, "Next time think before you act." She exited the elevator as fast as she could when it opened.

She hurried to the waiting room and saw Blake sitting there waiting. "Tanner, get up let's go." She motioned for him to come and he quickly followed.

He hurried to follow her fast pace, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." She clipped.

Blake held his hands in surrender, "Sorry."

She led him to the door where the Prius Man was staying. "Here."

Blake opened the door and went in. A nurse was standing over a wide awake man. "Sir." Blake started.

Nicole slipped out quietly.

~~~~~

Blake made it home that night, exhausted. Prius Man, who turned out to be Norman Ford was going to cause him lots of problems. The man refused to talk but Blake knew he was part of the illegal weapons ring.

He set his car keys on the counter and took his gun out and set it on the coffee table. Stretching out on the couch, he flipped on the TV. The news showed the five car pileup and the reporter was chatting up a storm. What he did notice was him and Nicole Wagner arguing in the background of one of the shots. Amazing. Let's just hope her brothers didn't watch the news. They were protective enough as it was. Especially her twin. Blake shoved the rising memories away and let himself be distracted by the boring weather channel.

His phone rang fifteen minutes later, waking him up from his catnap. "Hello?"

"Hi Blake." His younger sister, Brielle was on the phone.

"Hi Bri. What's up?"

"Life. Josh Baxton asked me out tonight."

Blake almost dropped the phone. Sure, his sister was in college, but he didn't like the idea of her dating. "He did? Want me to check him out?"

"Honestly Blake, no. I'll be fine. He goes to the same church as me and we've become pretty good friends. I just wanted to let you know. And, this gave me the headway into your love life. Any women?"

Blake chuckled. If only she knew.

"What was that laugh for?" Brielle asked.

"Nothing. I just met up with a high school classmate today unexpectedly."

"Who?"

"Do you remember the Wagners?"

Brielle paused. "I do, they were that really nice family at school right? They had five kids or something."

"Yeah, well I ran into the oldest sister today. The one with the twin."

"Nichola? Nicky? Um...Nicole!" Brielle exclaimed.

"Her."

"Ooo."

"Bri, cut it out."

"I'm just saying..."

Blake chuckled. "So tell me about Josh."