When a Man Loves a Woman (Indigo) Read Online Free PDF Page B

“’Kay.” Blowing her nose softly, she pointed at the trauma unit doors. “Can you go and check on him for me?”
    Leaning over, Harrison kissed his sister on the cheek. “I’m on my way.”
    Lincoln frowned at what he saw when he brushed back a dread that had fallen over Vic’s forehead. “Have you gotten that checked out yet?”
    Vic gently fingered the slight, tender bump and shook her head.
    A few moments later, Zachary Tate, a lieutenant with the Oakland Police Department who was married to A.J.’s sister, Moni, walked into the waiting room. He spoke briefly with Marcel, Ray, and A.J.’s father, Alcee, for an update on his brother-in-law’s condition, and then headed straight toward Vic. “Baby Girl, I need to ask ya a few more questions about the accident.”
    Vic’s heart accelerated to a frantic pace and her eyes grew wide with alarm. “Please, Zach, you gotta believe me. It was an accident. I swear to God, I-I didn’t mean to hit Baptiste.”
    With every member of the Baptiste and Bennett family surrounding him, Zach nodded. “Calm down, now. I believe ya.” He walked Vic back over to the row of cushioned seats, letting her settle down first, then sat next to her. “But I don’t believe this accident involves just you and brother-in-law.”
    Vic stared, confused. As far as she knew, only two cars were involved, hers and the one that hit her. “So, what are you saying, Zach?”
    Zach leaned forward and placed his elbows atop his knees. “Baby Girl, there was another car that got broadsided less than a mile from where y’all were hit. No witnesses actually saw either crash, but from the evidence we’ve been able to gather, we suspect the same car’s involved.”
    “Oh, Jesus.” Vic wrung her hands together. “Who was in the first car? W-Were they hurt?”
    Zach cleared his throat. “I understand it was a young family. The mother and father came out with a few scratches, but their daughter…well, uh…she’s in critical condition.” He paused for a second. “Baby Girl, she might not make it.”
    Vic covered her face with both hands and sobbed. After gaining her composure, she became blistering mad. “Whoever was in the car that hit me and the first car didn’t stop and try to help any of us!”
    Zach released a weary sigh. “Listen, I know how ya feel, but I promise ya…and brother-in-law, I’ma find the bastard who did this.”
    Vic nodded.
    “Baby Girl, this might not be a simple case of hit-and-run anymore. We might be looking at vehicular manslaughter or homicide, depending on how things turn out.” Zach reached inside his suit coat and pulled out a notepad and pen. “Is there anything— anything— ya recall that ya didn’t tell the officers at the scene?”
    Vic shook her head vigorously, even though it throbbed. “No. I told them everything I remembered.”
    Zach flipped his notepad shut and placed a soft kiss against Vic’s cheek. “I want ya to take it easy, hear me? If ya think of somethin’ else, let me know. Okay?”
    Vic nodded and reached over to squeeze Zach’s hand.
    A few moments later, Alex Robinson, a close friend of the Baptiste family, walked into the waiting room. He spoke to Marcel, Ray, and Alcee first, then squatted in front of Vic. “Hi there. How you holding up?”
    Vic answered by bursting into tears.
    Alex pulled a clean handkerchief from his back pocket. “The man in there is my brother,” he declared proudly, wiping Vic’s face, “and he would kill me if I didn’t take care of his lady in his absence.”
    Vic offered a weak smile when Alex finished. “Thank you.”
    The next ten minutes passed in absolute silence, and the agonizing wait rattled Vic’s nerves. She noticed her brother Lincoln inconspicuously beckon Marcel, Ray, Alex, Zach, and Alcee outside into the hallway. She couldn’t help noticing the stoic expression on his face. After a few seconds, a frightening thought crossed her mind. What if Harrison had shared something