Claws For Concern

“Just be careful,” Frank said. Diesel had already disappeared inside the house, eager to find Laura and baby Charlie. “We’ll take good care of Diesel.”

“I know you will, and I will be careful. Thanks again.” I left him and hurried back to my car.

By the time I reached the hospital barely half an hour had passed since Jack’s call. More like twenty-five minutes, I reckoned, so Elizabeth Barber couldn’t get here for another forty minutes or so. I didn’t think she would drive recklessly. She wouldn’t want to attract police attention.

I made my way to the floor where the ICU was situated. The visiting hours were posted, and the next visiting time was from seven to eight this evening. It wasn’t five thirty yet, so I couldn’t go back for more than an hour and a half. In the meantime, however, I could call and find out whether Bill Delaney was still there or had been moved into a room.

I was about to call when a man in scrubs came out of the ICU and started down the hall. I stopped him. “Excuse me, I’m sorry to bother you, but I’m here to visit a patient in the ICU. I realize it isn’t visiting hours, but is there any way I could possibly go in to check on him?”

The man turned out to be the same one I had spoken to earlier, I realized when I heard his voice. “You can go back for a couple of minutes,” he said. “What’s the patient’s name?”

“Bill Delaney,” I replied. “I believe I talked to you earlier about him. I’m his cousin, Charlie Harris.”

“Right, I remember,” the nurse said. “You’ll be happy to hear that he’s been released from the ICU. In fact, they just took him to a room. I believe it’s room 227.”

“Thanks, that is great news,” I said, although Bill would now be more vulnerable outside of the ICU. “One more question, if you don’t mind. Has he had any visitors today?”

The nurse shook his head. “No, nobody outside of hospital staff.”

On a sudden hunch, I asked another question. “Did one of the staff happen to be Dr. Finch? Leann Finch?”

“Actually, yes, she did come in and check on him probably an hour ago. Only stayed a couple of minutes because she had to get back down to the ER.”

By now the nurse was clearly eager to get away from me. I thanked him, and he hurried off down the hall.

Room 227, he said. Two floors down. I headed for the elevator.

When I reached the second floor, I pulled out my phone and sent Jack a text to inform him that Bill was out of the ICU and in a room. I headed down the hall toward 227.

The door stood open. When I looked inside I saw two women in the room with Bill Delaney. They appeared to be working with monitors and IV equipment. I stepped back to wait until they were finished. I wanted to talk to them before I entered the room. I didn’t want to pop in on Bill without knowing more about his status now.

His heart must be stronger than they thought, I decided, if they moved him out of the ICU this quickly. That didn’t mean, however, he should be subjected to any sudden shocks. I would have to be really careful when I approached him. I prayed that the realization that I hadn’t left things alone wouldn’t cause another setback. Surely it was all weighing on his conscience, whatever his role in the murders had been. I thought I knew what it was, but I couldn’t be sure unless he or Elizabeth Barber was finally willing to tell the truth about that night.

While I waited, I thought about the fact that Leann Finch had visited him briefly this afternoon. She was far too smart, I was sure, to try to harm him right there in the ICU, though she might have been willing to risk it. It boded well that he had been released from the ICU.

I had figured that Leann Finch’s role in all this was that of the supportive best friend. Willing to lie and cover up for Elizabeth Barber, but not an active participant in what went on in the Barber house that night. That she was protecting Elizabeth, I had no doubt. I didn’t believe she was protecting Bill Delaney, except whenever protecting him meant protecting her best friend.

I had to wait almost another ten minutes before the two women came out of Bill Delaney’s room. I waited until they were several feet away from his door before I spoke to them. I focused on the nurse. The other woman was a personal care assistant.

“Excuse me,” I said. “I’m Charlie Harris, Mr. Delaney’s cousin. I arrived a little while ago to find out that he was released from the ICU. That must mean he’s doing a lot better.”

“He mentioned you, Mr. Harris,” the nurse said. “I know he wants to talk to you, but he was falling asleep when we left the room. I’d give him at least half an hour before you try to talk to him. He needs as much rest and quiet as possible.”

“But he is stronger now,” I said.

“Yes, he’s really improved, according to his cardiologist,” the nurse replied. “He’s not ready to give up just yet.” She pointed down the hall. “There’s a waiting area down there at the end of the hall. If you’ve got time to wait, you can stay there. Like I said, give him at least half an hour to sleep before you go in.”