Meghan Ross: Con Artist in Training

Asterisk: One Secret Revealed

Meghan sat beside the empty hospital bed. The suspension on her visitor's pass had been lifted two weeks prior now that the nurse's strike was over. She was still mad about that, and now felt validated.

Mike had told her before that he was looking for a place for their grandmother that was closer to them. She liked the idea of Edith living in the city, with in-home care of course.

The pools hanging from her lower lids were more than threatening to spill. The woman who raised her was gone. Forever. She hadn't been able to bring herself to call Mike. Every time a nurse came in, they told her they still hadn't gotten a hold of her brother. But they would keep trying.

She went home after several hours. The hope that Mike was there so they could comfort each other was dashed by his usual absence. Her cell phone in her hand, thumb hovering over his contact's name. She wanted to go to him, knowing he was at the new apartment. But it had taken every ounce of physical and mental strength she had just to get home.

A vote was coming up at the office and it was taking priority in every employee's life, even Mike's, so she couldn't talk to anyone there about it. No one there seemed to care about anyone but themselves and their own entertainment anyway.

She waited for him to come home. The emotional strength to call his cell phone was as nonexistent as the desire to see the new apartment with the change in circumstances. But there was one person she could call who would drop everything to find her brother.

Mike was going to be upset with her for doing this, but she didn't care. He'd be more upset that no one told him.

With her cellphone to her ear, she dialed the familiar number Mike had had her call so many times. The line to Rachel Zane's office. She knew the number well, though had minimal personal contact with her brother's crush.

"Pearson Hardman: Rachel Zane speaking."

"Hi, Rachel... It's Meghan," she said through snot riddle sniffles.

"Where have you been?" Rachel's voice went from friendly to a tone she'd only ever heard from Mike, Harvey, and Donna. "Everyone here has been expecting you to collect their coffee orders and fill their printers. Even Jessica has been asking for your whereabouts."

"Well, they can all get off their lazy asses and do that themselves..." Meghan paused after hearing the anger in her voice. These people didn't know what she had just been through, and she was lashing out on innocent people. "Sorry. I need to tell my brother something... and I don't think I can do it alone."

"I'd love to help, but I have to go see Mike at the new apartment. His grandmother's nursing home has been calling the office all day. Did you know he has a sister? They said she was there."

"I'm sorry, Dad... I'm so sorry," Meghan said more to herself than to Rachel. "What I'm about to say needs to stay between you and me... and eventually one other person..."

"Can you tell me quickly? I'm kind of in hurry. Mike's message can't wait."

"He's going to be so mad at me." Now that Mike was all she legally had left, it hurt more to break his trust than it did to lose their grandmother. "Never mind. I'll just meet you there."

~***~***~

Rachel placed the phone back in its cradle. Of all the phone contact she'd had with Meghan, this latest one was definitely high on the weird scale. The kid didn't even acknowledge her mention of Mike having a sister.

What was she crying about?

She removed her jacket from its hook, then put her arms through the sleeves.