Haunted by the Past (Original)

Chapter 67

The afternoon dragged on with examinations and follow up scans and therapy. Every time my door opened my heart froze, not knowing who would be coming in next. Whenever I was moved between locations, my hair stood on end as I could feel the eyes of lurking shadows watching me. It wasn't until I was in my room that I could breathe again.

Even though I had my remote back, the news was just the news and the weather was just the weather. As the sky outside darkened, my anxiety grew larger. I wanted, no, needed an update from Eli. Just something to assure me that everything was still ok. The longer the radio silence went on for the more it drove me insane.

I had to get out of the hospital, but without being noticed. Even the cop on my door couldn't be trusted, as with my luck he could be the only dirty cop on the Raven Hill force. None of the nurses were trustworthy either. Even the most innocent and well-meaning nurse could slip the wrong information to Henry. Then there was that custodian obviously on Naito's payroll. Although Eli had tasked him with installing the camera in my room, there was no saying where his loyalties lied.

While I ate my dinner, I made my decision. After the nurses did their final checks, I would look for an opening and make a move to leave, which meant I had to be sober. I glanced at my precious pain medication dripping into my IV. It was time we said our farewells.

~~

"You wouldn't believe the condition of these machines!" The half-Russian, half-Japanese complained over the phone. "I would not bring my mother here!"

Pinching my forehead, I tried my hardest not to slam my head on the desk, "Coal! You're only supposed to pretend to be fixing them! Has Henry arrived!?"

"Ja, ja, ja... we talk about football game – the one with your foot, not that other one you Americans play. Oh I forget, you don't watch sport. Too busy with the clickety clacks," he mocked. "Henry, he is real man. Man of culture. He watch game."

"Good for him," my patience with Coal was so thin, I couldn't even hide my sarcasm any longer. "Don't forget he's also a sociopath and a serial killer. Don't lower your guard around him. He can turn on you at any second."

"Let him try!" Coal said cockily. "It will be a good fight!"

"Coal, for the love of- Low profile! Keep a fucking low profile!" I immediately regretted shouting into the phone. I tried to regain my calm before continuing. "I'll be occupied tonight so I'm relying on you to keep watch. Dani is your priority, don't forget that."

"Ja, ja, ja, you worry too much, Red," he clicked his tongue. "Go back to your clickety clacks."

Ending the call, I slammed the phone down so hard on the desk, I had to check that I didn't break the screen. Suddenly Dani's phone beeped on my side, but I wasn't at all surprised to see she had received an encrypted message. I would have to leave responding to later though as I had more important matters.

Returning my attention to my monitor, I watched every patron entering the Night Owl through the security cameras while Cameron and his employees worked. Cameron didn't show any signs of fear. If anything, it seemed he welcomed the prospect of Triple-6 coming for him. Every now and then he subconsciously reached below the counter and touched the shotgun he had stowed away – a confidence boost whenever he needed it.

Honestly, I didn't care too much about Cameron's wellbeing so much as being curious about the prospect of catching Triple-6's apprentice on camera. As I heard through Sheriff Parkinson's hacked phone and reconfirmed with the hospital employee records, Henry Carmichael was on shift for the night at the hospital. So it would have to be the apprentice going after Cameron tonight. It made sense with Dani mouthing off about Henry in the hospital; they wanted to draw attention away from Henry, which would give him an opportunity to make a move on her at the hospital.