Armed With Steele Read Online Free PDF Page B

purse and flipped my phone open. No missed calls. “Odd. What number have you been dialing?”
    “555-3322.”
    “Ah, there’s the problem. Mine’s 3355. Sounds like you’ve been dialing someone’s fax machine.”
    Sharon flashed a weary grin. “Oops.”
    “If you’ve been trying to call, that means…”
    The grin slipped from her face. “No, sweetie, she’s not awake. I was just trying to let you know they’d moved her into her own room. But I’m sure she’ll be happy to hear your voice.”
    We stepped inside, and Sharon closed the door behind us. The sound of the latch catching in the door jam echoed through the room—a room that was silent, save for the light beeping of a heart monitor somewhere past the blue linen curtain that hung before us, separating the room from its entryway. The space was too cramped, too sterile. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to focus on not hyperventilating. The last thing Grace’s mother needed was me passing out on her.
    Sharon moved forward and swept the curtain aside. “Grace honey,” she said, her voice soft as a feather. “Jessica’s here to see you.”
    The foot of a bed came into view, its beige cotton blanket molded around a set of still legs and feet. Yesterday, I’d done everything I could to be near her. Today, the prospect of actually seeing her had me rooted in place.
    Sharon smiled at me, and reached for my hand. “It’s alright, Jessica.”
    I met her gaze and nodded. Willed myself forward, and slowly turned my eyes upon the young woman in the bed before me. The shock of seeing Grace, lying there so peaceful and yet so bruised and battered, took my breath away.
    Her arms lay carefully placed by her sides atop the bedcovers. Both wrists were wrapped, the neutral skin-toned bandages a stark contrast to the angry red scratches and purplish bruises that ran the full length of her arms. The faded, pastel hospital gown she wore offered my sweeping gaze a momentary reprieve. But once my eyes found her beautiful face, now swollen and nearly unrecognizable, my knees went weak.
    Though I’d known she would be asleep, some small part of me had held on to the hope that I would walk in to find her inquisitive green eyes staring up at me. Instead they were closed, framed with several steri-strips helping to seal a cut along her left brow line. A handful of long, strawberry blonde hair peeked out from under the bandages around her head.
    Tears of pity began to blur my vision. “Oh, Grace.”
    “She had a pretty nasty gash on her forehead,” Sharon said after a moment. “One of Norman’s friends is a resident plastic surgeon. He assured us that with the small sutures they used, her scarring should be minimal.”
    I blinked madly, determined not to cry. Because if I cried, that might lead to Sharon crying. And if that happened, we’d both end up crying ourselves a river.
    “Can she hear us?” I whispered.
    “I don’t know. But I’d like to think so, yes.”
    I summoned what courage I had and took one tentative step forward, then another. My gaze shifted from Grace to her mother, who nodded in encouragement. I reached out and gently lifted Grace’s hand into mine. Cradled it, as if it were made of glass.
    “Hey, Grace.”
    Silence.
    I shifted on my feet. Cleared my throat.
    “I’d really hoped to walk in and find you awake this morning.”
    This time her silence was answered by mine. I didn’t know what else to say with her mom in the room. Sharon must have picked up on my indecision.
    “Jessica, do you mind if I go and grab a bit to eat? Norman was supposed to relieve me once he’d eaten, but it’s been a while now and I’d like to see where he’s run off to.”
    I half wondered if she’d find him in the cafeteria, asleep with his face planted in a bowl of cereal. “No, by all means, go.” I looked from her to Grace. “I’ll stay with her.”
    “Thank you, dear. But if you need to go before I get back…or if all this makes you too