Scent of Danger

"Yeah, she does that. Without much regard for the people it affects."

"Dylan." Sabrina shot him a quick look. "That's the second time you've reacted that way about Susan. She really bugs you, doesn't she?"

He glanced over at the bed. "Let's take this conversation elsewhere, okay?"

"Good idea."

They left Carson's room, headed for the elevator to go back to ER and get Dylan discharged.

The elevator doors slid open, and Sabrina pushed the wheelchair inside, maneuvered herself in behind Dylan.

The doors shut behind them.

There was no one inside but the two of them..

Dylan angled his head, gazed up at Sabrina. "You asked if Susan bugs me. The answer is yes."

CHAPTER 29

Dylan got a clean bill of health, along with a warning not to overdo from the staff in ER. With that, he and Sabrina were on their way.

They left the hospital, and were surprised to see Sabrina's limo waiting outside the emergency room exit. Surprised or not, they were thrilled to take advantage of climbing in, once they saw the line of news correspondents waiting to interrogate them about their close call.

As their driver pulled away, he informed them that, at the request of Detective Whitman, he'd stopped at the Midtown North Police Precinct, and picked up the clothing and personal items that the police had rescued from Dylan's smoky brownstone and brought to their precinct. As a result, he could take them straight to Ms. Radcliffe's.

Sabrina was grateful. She was also relieved. She was eager to continue the conversation she and Dylan had begun in the elevator at Mt. Sinai.

While the driver helped Dylan carry in his bags, Sabrina went into the kitchen and brewed a huge pot of coffee. She carried it into the living room, placed it on the coffee table, and waited until she and Dylan were alone.

He joined her, dropping onto the sofa and running both hands through his hair. "Damn, that coffee looks good. Thanks for making it." A quizzical glance. "It's not decaf, is it?"

"No way," Sabrina assured him, sitting down on the adjoining love seat so they could maintain eye contact. "Not after the night we had. It's ultra-leaded. This way, we can hydrate ourselves, warm up, and get our caffeine fix all at once."

"Don't forget to add 'and talk,'" Dylan reminded her, taking a huge, grateful swallow. "I know you're chomping at the bit—even though you're supposed to be resting your voice."

"I'll rest my voice later. Or, better yet, I'll listen. You talk. Unless your head hurts too much."

"Nope. My head's much better. I'm in fine shape for talking."

"

Good. Because I want to hear what you meant when you said Susan bugs you."

"Was it really such a surprise revelation?"

"Of course not." Sabrina sipped at her steaming coffee. "But I can't help feeling like the reasons behind it are more than just the fact that she's emotionally selfish,"

"They are."

"Let's start with my most fundamental concern. Last time we touched on this subject, you said you believed Susan genuinely loved Carson. I've got to assume you meant that."

"Definitely." Dylan set down his cup. "I'd never lie about that, or look the other way if it weren't true. Like I said, if I thought Susan's feelings for Carson were anything but real, I'd go straight to Carson with it. Hey, I was planning on going to him with a lot less. I was just trying to find a way to say what I had to without pissing him off."

"About what? What is it about Susan you feel honor-bound to tell Carson?"

"That's the problem. I can't give you a specific answer. My entire argument is based on instinct. My feelings about Susan are ambiguous, at best. Sometimes I think she's full of it, and sometimes I think she's everything she seems to be and I'm imagining things. She sends out mixed signals. But my gut instinct just won't shut up. And it tells me that most of what she does, she does for personal gain. No matter how altruistic her actions appear."

A major piece fell into place. "You're not talking about her commitment to Carson. You're talking about her commitment to YouthOp." Sabrina leaned forward. "Is it that you don't think her heart's really in it?"