Briskly, he rubbed his palms together. “Got everything? Ready to roll?”
“As soon as they bring a wheelchair. You know, hospital rules. While we’re waiting, I want to ask about something that’s been nagging me.”
His smooth forehead furrowed. He took her hand and massaged the back of it with his thumb. “Judging by your expression, it’s something serious. What is it?”
Gathering her courage, she said, “Jeff—”
Her cell phone rang. Earlier she’d transferred it from her fanny pack to her handbag. She took it out, read the LED, and answered. “Sergeant Knight?”
Jeff dropped her hand, muttering a swear word.
“Hey, Dr. Charbonneau,” the detective said. “How’re you doin’ this morning?”
She was on the verge of blurting out You may have been right about Jeff after all. But instead, she said, “I’m feeling much better, thank you.”
“Glad to hear it. Is your husband with you?”
“He’s standing right here.”
“Good. That’s good. Listen, something’s come up. Me and Buddy Grange would like to drop by the hospital before y’all leave for home. Is now a good time?”
The nurse appeared in the doorway, pushing a wheelchair.
Emory held up an index finger, asking her to wait for a moment. “What’s come up, Sergeant Knight?”
“Rather not go into it over the phone.”
Jeff. They’d discovered something that implicated Jeff.
“We’d rather talk to y’all in person,” Knight said.
A bit breathless, she said, “No need for you to come to the hospital. We’ll come to you.”
Chapter 28
Knight and Grange walked them through a squad room that Jeff had described to her in disparaging detail. “I hoped never to see this place again,” he said to Emory under his breath. “He didn’t give you a hint as to what this is about?”
“Only that he didn’t want to discuss it over the phone.”
They followed the two detectives down a short hallway and into an interrogation room. “It’ll be quieter in here,” Knight said as he held a chair for her. “Jeff, you take that seat. Can I get y’all something to drink?”
They declined in unison.
Knight sat down across the small table from her. Grange propped himself against the wall, one hand in his pants pocket, the other holding a manila envelope against his thigh. He looked casual and relaxed.
Emory wasn’t deceived.
Knight began. “You got a good night’s rest?”
No, I had an epiphany. She hedged. “You know how it is in a hospital.”
“They wake you up to put you to sleep.”
“Something like that.”
“Can we please get to the reason we’re here?” Jeff said. “We have the drive to Atlanta ahead of us.” He looked impatient, like he would very much like to be anyplace other than here.
Knight grimaced. “We’ve inconvenienced you and then some, Jeff.”