Capsized by Sharon Sala

Capsized by Sharon Sala

Author:Sharon Sala
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MIRA
Published: 2003-01-14T16:00:00+00:00


Chapter 5

“Houston Medical. How may I direct your call?”

“Daryl Connelly’s room, please.”

“I’m sorry, sir. He’s in ICU. I’ll connect you with the nurses’ station.”

ICU? Quinn’s stomach knotted. “Yes, thank you,” he said, and waited to be connected.

“Fourth floor…ICU nurses’ station.”

“Ma’am, my name is Quinn McCord. I’m with the Texas Rangers and inquiring about the status of retired Ranger Daryl Connelly.”

“He’s critical, but stable.”

“Is there anyone who can tell me what happened to him? Was he robbed? Did he—”

“I’m sorry, sir. We don’t have that kind of information. There was a police officer who gave his name to be contacted as next of kin.”

Quinn frowned. “Mr. Connelly doesn’t have any next of kin.”

“But I’m sure that—”

“No, ma’am. I’ve known him most of my life, and he’s never married. He has no living relatives…anywhere. Do you have the officer’s name?”

“You need to talk to the doctor. I can’t give out that kind of information.”

“All I’m asking for is the name of the police officer on record. That’s not privileged information, and you and I both know it.”

There was a long moment of silence. Then Quinn could hear some whispered conversation in the background, but the nurse wasn’t talking. Just when he thought she’d disconnected, she came back on the line.

“Yes, well, all right. His name is Travis. Will Travis.”

Suddenly all the panic Quinn had been feeling dissipated. He knew Will Travis. The hospital must have taken the information down wrong. Whatever was going on, Will would have Daryl’s best interests at heart.

“May I please have his contact number?”

Quinn wrote quickly as she rattled off the number, then disconnected. The moment he was off the phone, Kelly grabbed his arm.

“Quinn…talk to me.”

“Daryl is in ICU. He’s critical but stable.”

“Do we know what happened? And please tell me it has nothing to do with me.”

“I wish I could, but right now I can’t, because I don’t know. However, I’ve got another call to make. There’s a cop who came in with him. Maybe I’ll know something more after I talk to him.”

“I shouldn’t have stayed. I should have let my captain come get me that first day,” Kelly said, then looked away.

Her eyes were wide and swimming with tears, but there was a jut to her jaw that told him she would be a fierce enemy if crossed.

“Yeah, good thinking,” Quinn said. “And if you had, there’s a good chance someone would already be planning your funeral.”

“Better mine than Daryl’s.”

Quinn laid down the phone and then cupped her face with his hands. Kelly twisted away, but he caught her again.

“Look at me, damn it!”

Kelly turned, meeting his gaze without flinching.

“You don’t have to like this, but I’m going to say it. What you’re doing matters to all of us. Illegal drugs are, in their own way, as dangerous as bombs. We’re in a war, honey, and you’re on the front line. If Daryl and I got involved, it was because we wanted to.” Then he took a deep breath, his voice softening. “And I’m still in this with you, because, frankly, you’re driving me crazy.



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