Watched (10 page)

“Like what?” Mrs. Louangrath’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Alexandra forged onward, choosing her words carefully. “We ran a tox screen before the procedure, and found elevated levels of nicotine in her blood. Smoking, or secondhand smoke, can cause blood clots in people who are already at risk. Is there a smoker in your household?”

The shock on Mr. Louangrath’s face answered her question, but his wife answered anyway. “Of course not.” Disgust was etched into her face. “Are you accusing us of smoking around our little girl?”

“Not necessarily.” Alexandra paused. “You might want to question your daughter about her habits, although there might be other factors…” She trailed off when Mrs. Louangrath stood, her face bright red and fists clenched.

“How dare you!” The other woman seemed on the brink of rage. “You pump our daughter full of chemicals, and now you want us to believe our little girl has picked up some disgusting habits, and it’s not your fault she’s in this position!”

Alexandra shook her head slowly. She had seen angry family members before, but this was beyond her experience. There was a delicate line to tread. “Asking her would be just to rule out the possibility. It’s possible she ingested some nicotine from the fruits and vegetables she eats, or accidentally came into contact with a pesticide.” That seemed to calm Mrs. Louangrath.

“Momma?” Kailea was awake, watching with wide red-rimmed eyes.

Mr. Louangrath went to his daughter’s side, gesturing for his wife to slide in beside him. The small family hugged in silence. Chanmali still glared at Alexandra over her daughter’s shoulder, but when she turned to her daughter her expression was gentle.

Finally Kailea turned to Alexandra. “What happened?”

Mr. Louangrath answered before Alexandra had a chance to. “You had a blood clot, honey. We have a question we need to ask you.” He glanced at the two women before continuing, “They found nicotine in your blood. Do you - ah - do you smoke, honey?”

Kailea jumped, her startled reaction so weak it barely moved the covers which lay over her body. “What?” She looked from her mother to Alexandra, nervousness evident on her face.

Chanmali’s anger seemed to rekindle at her husband’s question. Her spine stiffened, and she glared at him. “Don’t tell me you believe that woman.” Her glare turned to Alexandra full force. “Do you see what you’ve done?”

Mr. Louangrath ignored her. “It’s really important,” he insisted, placing his hand over Kailea’s.

Kailea nodded, her head only moving a fraction of an inch. “I’ve just been really nervous,” she confessed. “They helped me feel better. Calmer, you know?” The pleading way she watched the adults in the room tugged at Alexandra’s chest. “I’m really sorry.”

Both parents seemed in a state of shock, so Alexandra stepped forward and took the girl’s hand. “I understand, but you should know it’s very dangerous for someone in your condition. I’d recommend you stop immediately.”

“Get away from her!” Chanmali shoved Alexandra aside, standing between the doctor and the hospital bed like a protective mother bear. She snatched up her purse, rummaging through it until she found an orange prescription bottle. She threw it at Alexandra, the pills rattling. “My little girl gets pumped full of chemicals, your anti-depressants and your chemotherapy, until she thinks the only way to make herself happy is more of them! And now you have the nerve to tell her what to do about it!”

She lunged at Alexandra, her hands outstretched before her. Alexandra deflected her, careful to avoid hurting the other woman. Chanmali collapsed against her, bursting into tears.

Alexandra held up a hand to stop Mr. Lounagrath’s cry of disbelief, and let Chanmali sob against her shoulder. She considered saying something to soothe the woman, but this seemed like one of those times when it was best to say nothing.

The smaller woman beat against her shoulders, weak blows which did more to punctuate her cries than hurt. “I hate you,” she wailed. “I hate you.”

“Momma, please don’t cry.” Kailea tried to sit up, her eyes huge in a pale face. “I’m sorry.” Her father soothed her, and Alexandra jerked her head, indicating the hallway. He nodded, then followed the doctor and his distraught wife.

Chanmali was slow to dry her tears, wiping her face as her husband patted her on the shoulder. She drew herself up, but still only glanced at Alexandra. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me.”

Her tone was bitter, but Alexandra nodded her acceptance. “It’s all right.” There was no point to antagonizing a grieving parent. “It’s important to understand,” she began, looking between each of them. “Your daughter is making these decisions while stressed. Both her body and her mind are affected, and she’s looking for relief. It’s our job to help her find relief in a safe way, and I think we can do that.” She watched the couple before her before she continued. “This is a long road, but I believe Kailea will make a full recovery. We just have to make sure we can help her.”

Chanmali nodded. “You really think she’ll get better?” She looked to her husband, then back at Alexandra. Her eyes looked less dull than they had in weeks. “It’s just she’s been so sick. I didn’t know if you were telling us the truth about her chances.”

Alexandra folded her hands together. “I wouldn’t lie to you. I can’t see the future, but based on her condition and what I know of Kailea, I have every reason to expect a full recovery. But she’ll need your help.”

Chanmali straightened. “Of course. I’ll do anything you need. I’m just not sure how to help.”

Mr. Louangrath put his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “We haven’t tried those antidepressants.” He looked to Alexandra. “Maybe now would be a good time to try?” He gave his wife’s shoulders an encouraging shake, and she nodded again. “Until then, I think we should go home and get some rest. It’s been a long day, and I’ll come back to keep Kailea company overnight.”

After Mr. And Mrs. Louangrath left, Alexandra stepped into the room again. Kailea wasn’t her only patient on this floor, but she was the reason Alexandra had been called in. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay.” The girl shrugged. “Did my parents get to the truck okay? They parked in the front lot, you might be able to see it out the window.”

Alexandra peered out the window, looking down to see the couple crossing the parking lot. Mrs. Louangrath looked wilted, and Alexandra felt a pang. She couldn’t blame the woman for being angry, she would probably also have a bad reaction as a mother. “They’re headed across the parking lot right now.” She almost turned away from the window, but she caught a glimpse of something which glued her to the spot.

There, in the middle of the parking lot, was a large yellow truck. As she watched, horrified, Mr. and Mrs. Louangrath climbed into the cab. A spear of cold shot down her spine as they drove away.

“What happened, what’s wrong?” Kailea asked, her voice rising in pitch as she watched Alexandra. The girl strained to sit higher on her bed and look out the window.

Alexandra plastered on a fake smile. “Nothing, I just realized something I had forgotten. They left. I’ll be back in for a visit soon.” She helped the girl relax, then retreated from the hospital room.

Yellow truck. The one which had almost run her over outside the gym. The same truck she had squeezed past the night her car had been keyed. It belonged to Mrs. Louangrath, the woman who had just lunged at her and screamed her hatred.

It was the same truck, she was certain.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Hunter

Hunter sat next to Alexandra at the kitchen table while her phone sat in front of them. The speaker phone blared with the voice of Detective Caldwell. “I’m afraid Mr. Louangrath’s alibis are airtight. I checked three times. His wife doesn’t appear to have an alibi at all, but we still haven’t found her.” Static crackled over the line as Caldwell cleared his throat. “She might have gone into hiding, or left the state. If that’s the case, we’ll need to contact other agencies to find her, and it might take a little longer.”

“Is there anything I can do, some way to protect myself?” Alexandra’s lips were thin, her face nearly colorless. Hunter gave her a squeeze, and she laid her head on his shoulder.

Caldwell sighed. “Pepper spray, always be aware of your surroundings, the usual. Is there somewhere you can go, perhaps a place Mrs. Louangrath doesn’t know about? Sometimes removing yourself from the situation for a while can make harassment slow down or even stop.”

Hunter and Alexandra exchanged a look, and he thought of John. The thought of her ex-husband in the same house as her for any extended period gave him the creeps, but if it would keep her safe, maybe it was worth it. He raised his eyebrows at Alexandra in silent question.

Equal parts relief and frustration tunneled through his brain when she shook her head. “No,” she told the detective. “I’m an only child, and my parents have passed away. I don’t have any family I can contact.”

“Understood.” The sound of shuffling papers came over the line, and the detective sounded resigned. “We’re doing everything in our power to find her. Please stay safe, and I’ll contact you the moment I find something.”

When the line went silent, Hunter reached behind Alexandra and rubbed her neck. “You’re tense.”

“Of course I’m tense,” she snapped, standing up and resting her hands on the back of the chair. “You would be to, if someone was threatening you.” Alexandra scrunched her eyes shut, then rubbed her forehead. “I’m sorry. I’ve felt on edge for the last few days, but I shouldn’t take it out on you.”

A shrug loosened his posture as she stood. He laid a hand on her back. “It happens.” She stepped into his embrace, and he wrapped his arms around her for only a moment before letting go. “You’ve been cooped up ever since you found out about the Louangraths and that truck,” he said. “Two days is too long for anyone to be in one place, maybe it’s time to get out for a while. Let’s take a walk, I know this great secluded place, you can shake some of this cabin fever.”

Alexandra hesitated. “I don’t know. Do you think it’s safe?” She glanced up at him, and the faint hope in her smile mirrored his own.

“As safe as it can be. Even the detective thinks she’s out of state.” He looked around at the beige walls, seeking inspiration. “Plus, even if she’s not, she knows where you live. You’re not much safer here than anywhere else.”

“Oh, how comforting,” Alexandra said, the smirk on her lips growing. “Remind me not to ask you if I’m safe here ever again.”

“Sorry.” He curled a strand of her hair around his finger, enjoying the first smile he’d seen from her in two days. “But does that mean you’ll come on a walk with me?”

Alexandra’s smile turned into a grin. “Fine, it sounds like you could use the time out too.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Alexandra

He took her on a long hiking trail, hidden down a small road. She basked in the beauty of it. Ferns and moss covered branches sway around them like scenes from a Jurassic forest. A stream flowed along beside them. The cheerful bubbling lifted her spirits.

She stripped off her cardigan and wrapped it around her waist. The warm sunlight felt good on her shoulders. She was glad it was such an easy trail, because she had chosen a long skirt for the day. It swished around her legs as she kept pace with him. “This is such a beautiful trail.” She said as they crossed a brook. “I’m surprised there’s no one here.”

Hunter shrugged, wrapping his arm loosely around her shoulders. “It’s never crowded, but in the winter sometimes there’s a hiker or two. My secret getaway.” He reached into the pack on his back, pulling out a bottle of water and offering some to her. “It’s really nice here in the spring. That’s when all the flowers come out.”

“We should take Simon here sometime. He’d love it.”

“Have you two spoken lately?”

“No,” she admitted. “I know I should tell him about us, and about what’s going on, but how does one even start that kind of topic? ‘Hi honey, how was your day? Well, I’m sleeping with our landlord, and someone has a vendetta against me. Did your painting do well at the competition?’ That’ll go well.”

Her line of thought was interrupted when Hunter lightly brushed his knuckles across the base of her neck. Little jolts of electricity flashed to life under his touch, making her skin tingle in anticipation. She looked up to find amusement dancing in his eyes.

“Maybe you could start with breaking the news about us, then move on to the scary parts.”

She licked her lips, distracted by the hand stroking slowly up and down her neck. How did he turn her on just by a casual touch? Her nipples drew into taut buds, aching for his attention. She turned away to hide the flush on her cheeks.

“I’m worried about Simon. I don’t want to upset him. He’s only fifteen, he might not understand.” She broke off as his deep chuckle vibrated through her. The richness of it sent a rush of awareness up her spine. Her pulse sped up even as she raised an eyebrow at him. “What’s so funny?”

“There's something you need to know about Simon.” He told her, rubbing his hand up and down her upper arm as they followed the path to a hollow behind a small waterfall. The misty cavern air smelled of stone and moss. Goosebumps rose on her arms. “He's already talked to me about you.”