be fine, but the minute I started to speak, she went nuclear on me.” He shook his head in bewilderment. “I mean, she went off like a bomb, screaming and striking out at my face. Hell, I didn't know what to do with her, so I caught hold of her wrists. Fortunately, that's when Doc Hawk came into the room and rescued me.”
Jill frowned. “Strange.”
“Strange?” Royce mirrored her reflection. “Try weird. This has never happened to me before.” He shrugged. “After ten years on the force, I've seen enough accident victims to understand shock and trauma. But damned if I've ever seen anyone fight against someone trying to help them.”
“Neither have I,” Jill said sympathetically. “But she seems to have quieted down now.” She smiled. “Dr. Hawk is very good at calming agitated patients.”
“Yeah, I know. She's great.” Royce moved restlessly.
Understanding his silent message, Jill stepped away from in front of him and headed for the door. “I think I'll go check out the situation.”
“I'll go with you.” Royce smiled and held up his hands placatingly when she shot him a narrow-eyed look. “Only as far as the corridor, I swear.”
“Okay, let's go.” She marched from the room.
Laughing to himself, Royce again trailed in her wake.
He cooled his heels for twenty-odd minutes, passing the time with the hospital personnel as they wandered by. At regular intervals, Royce sent sharp glances toward the door of the cubicled room, his impatience growing as he waited for some word from either the doctor or Jill. He was tired, and it was now past one-thirty in the morning.
Royce wanted to go home to bed. Leaning against the corridor wall, out of the way of the back-and-forth traffic, he yawned, stole another look at his watch, and contemplated storming into the room and the cubicle where the victim was confined. He was pushing away from the wall, determined to at least call Jill from the room, when the doctor came through the doorway, carrying the patient's chart and purse.
“I'm sorry to keep you waiting so long.” Dr. Hawk offered him a tired smile. “But, when I explain, I'm certain you will understand the reason, Royce.” Her use of his first name said much about the working friendship they had established.
“Problems, Virginia?” Royce arched his gold-tipped brows. “You sound troubled.”
“She was attacked,” she said, getting right to the point. “Before the crash.”
“What?” Royce went rigid. “Was she—”
“No, she wasn't violated,” she answered, before he had finished asking. “She managed to get away from the man. That's why her seat belt wasn't fastened.” A grim smile curved her usually soft mouth. “She was thinking, rather wildly, about flight, not driver safety.”
“And that's why she went wild with me.”
“Yes. She opened her eyes, saw a large man looming over her, and...”
“Thought she was right back in the situation,” Royce said, completing the explanation for her.
“Precisely.”
“Bastard,” he muttered.
“My sentiments exactly.” Virginia Hawk expelled a deep sigh. “She is still in shock, traumatized.”
Royce gave her a shrewd look. “Are you trying to tell me I can't question her?”
“You got it, Sarge,” she said. “She is in no condition to be questioned. From my examination, I feel quite positive that her injuries are all external, but I'm having X rays done to confirm my opinion.”
“So, if your diagnosis is confirmed, I'll talk to her afterward,” he said. “I'll wait.”
“No.” She shook her head. “If my diagnosis is confirmed, I'm going to sedate her.”
“My report, Virginia,” he reminded her gently. “You know the rules.”
She smiled. “I also know who is in charge here,” she reminded him, just as gently. “Royce, that young woman has been through enough for one night. She needs rest, escape. Your report can wait until morning.” Her tone was coaxing now. “Can't it?”
Royce was always a sucker for a soft, feminine entreaty. He gave in gracefully. “Yeah, okay.”
“You've got a kind heart, Sergeant Wolfe,” she said. “I told my husband so from the first day I met you.” Her eyes teased him. “You're almost as nice as he is.”
“Almost as tough, too,” Royce drawled, recalling the tall Westerner she was married to.
Virginia Hawk laughed. “I'd say it's a toss-up.” She ran a professional glance over him. “Right now, you appear ready to cave. Go home to bed, Royce. Come back in the morning. I'll prepare her for you.”
“Okay.” Royce looked at the woman's purse. “But first, I'd better check for next of kin, see if there's anybody—a husband, relatives—I should contact.”
“I asked. She said no.”
“She has no one?”
“Oh, she has family. Her parents retired, five, six months ago. They're on a cruise they planned and saved years for.” Virginia sighed. “She doesn't want them notified.”
“No husband, boyfriend?”
“Boyfriend?” She arched her fine blond brows.
“Okay, man friend, significant other.” He shrugged. “Whatever happens to be current.”
“Apparently not.” Her lips curved into a taunting smile. “But it wouldn't matter if there were. She said she didn't want anyone notified. End of story, Royce.”
His lips twitched. “You know what, Doc?”
“What?”
“You're even tougher than either your husband or I—and maybe even my superior officer.”
Dr. Hawk laughed delightedly. “Bank on it.”
“Good night, Doctor.” Laughing with her, Royce turned and started for the automatic doors. Then memory stirred, and he stopped, keeping the doors open. “By the way, I think she's wearing contact lenses.”
“She was.” Virginia grinned. “I found them.”
“Good, I'm outta here.” He took a step, then paused again. “But I'll be back bright and early,” he called over his shoulder. “And if anybody tries to prevent me from seeing her, you're going to see real tough. And you can take that to the bank.”
Two
She was waiting for him.
Megan was sitting straight up in bed, her legs folded beneath her, her fingers picking
