Shadow Of Misgivings (Margot Harris 5)

Radcliff shook his head and laughed. “You’re in the hospital recovering from a shootout on a public street. I’d say the evidence points to yes!”

Margot couldn’t argue with him.

After a few minutes of silence, she said, “You know what the big problem is? Mal’s still missing.”

“Yeah, but maybe let me worry about that one. I don’t want to have to visit you in a hospital or a jail cell for at least a couple of weeks. Let’s face it, when you start running around the desert, both of these seem best-case scenarios. Maybe you should take some time and enjoy being alive with the cowboy out of your life.”

“You know, maybe I’ll do that.”

“Can I make another suggestion while you’re drugged up and still weak?”

“Are you going to say something a stronger, less drugged up, me might punch you for?”

“It’s very possible.”

“You’ve got my curiosity up now. Go ahead and say it. I won’t do anything now, but I’m not making any promises for later.”

“Your sister has been here a lot. Unfortunately, you were asleep for most of it, but she’s coming back tonight. She’s going to ask you about seeing your dad.”

“Did she tell you why I don’t want to see him?”

“She did. It sounds valid to me, but I agree with her.”

“You think I should forgive too?”

“Nope, just see him. If she’s right, there won’t be another chance.”

“What if I’m fine with that?”

“Well, if you decide you’re not fine with it later, there won’t be anything you can do about it. Even if you just want to tell him to go to hell, you’re running out of chances.”

“You’re right.”

“I am?”

“Yeah, a healthier me might have punched you, but maybe you have a point. If he’s still breathing when I get out of here, I’ll consider it.”

Chapter 8

2 days later

“I’m really glad you’re doing this,” Melanie said as Margot slid into the passenger seat of her SUV. Since her car was trashed beyond repair, Margot had agreed she would ride with her sister up to visit her dad.

Margot didn’t want to fight, so she let her sister be glad. She wasn’t going to pretend she was happy about it. She managed to shrug, which was a good enough response for Melanie. Margot hoped this would mean they could avoid any heavy conversation on the way. Margot hadn’t even known her dad had been moved to the Norco California Rehabilitation Center up in Riverside County. It had hospital facilities other prisons didn’t. He was in the minimum security area of the hospital since he’d become sick enough they didn’t consider him a flight risk.

Margot and Melanie made the trip there in silence. When they arrived, Melanie parked in the visitor’s lot, but she didn’t turn off the car.

“You coming in?”

“They won’t let both of us see him at once, I already checked. I’ve already been here, so it’s your turn.”

Margot nodded and took her driver's license out of her purse. Since the purse was full of weapons, she left it in the car with Melanie.

Margot had interviewed people in this very facility when she was a cop, but none of them had been dying of cancer. She wasn’t expecting to find her dad in bed in a private room hooked up to several different machines. The shriveled up old man was hardly recognizable as her dad. He appeared to be sleeping, but he opened his eyes as soon as she entered the room.

“Margot,” he told her as he tried to sit up, “I’m glad you came.”

“Melanie said you wanted to see me.”