“If you need the evening off, it’s fine. We’re not super busy today.”
“No, it’s okay, but thanks.” Gracie glanced down at the doodles she’d made on her day calendar. One word scrawled over and over: Wade.
Good Lord, she was in so deep.
“Okay, then, see you tonight.”
When she heard the pinging sound again, Gracie quickly switched over to the other line. “Hel o?”
“Ms. Baron?”
“Yes, this is Ms. Baron. Can I help you?”
“This is Frank Gaetz. I’m a friend of your father’s. He asked me to cal you.”
She wasn’t aware her father even had friends. Concerned now, Gracie asked, “My father?”
“Yes, ma’am. He’s been in an accident. It’s pretty bad.”
Gracie paled. “Oh, God. Where is he?”
“He’s at Saint Mary’s Hospital.”
Saint Mary’s was just a few blocks away. “I’l be there as soon as I can.” Gracie slammed her phone shut and shot out of her chair. After grabbing her purse from beneath the desk, Gracie headed toward the elevator. She stopped short when she realized she had no ride. Damn!
Wade was her ride, and he wasn’t due for another hour. Gracie looked around the office and spotted her boss, Marie, explaining something to a coworker. She headed toward her. “Marie?” The gray-haired woman looked up and smiled. “Can I talk to you for a second?”
“Sure, Gracie.” Marie closed the distance between them. “What do you need?”
“I just received a cal . My dad’s been in an accident.” Gracie’s hands shook as she thought of her father lying helpless in a hospital bed. He might have been a drunk, but he was stil her father.
“Oh, no!”
“I need to go to him, but I don’t have a car. I hate to trouble you—” Gracie stopped midsentence. She hated to ask the woman for a favor after she’d been generous enough to give her the time off after the accident. But what choice did she have?
Marie held her hand in the air. “Think nothing of it. Just let me grab my keys.”
Gracie stopped her before she could rush off to her office. “You have that conference cal at noon with those suppliers. You can’t miss that; it’s much too important.”
Marie frowned. “Shoot, I forgot about that.”
“If I could just borrow your car? Normal
y I wouldn’t ask, but I’m real y worried about my dad.”
“Of course, Gracie. Don’t know why I didn’t think of it myself. Let me get my keys. Be right back.”
Gracie watched her hurry off, grateful al over again for having such an understanding boss. When Marie came rushing back to her, handing the keys over, she said, “Wil can swing by and get me. Go ahead and keep it until morning.”
“Thanks, Marie. I’l take very good care of it, I promise.”
Marie tsked. “You’re the most reliable person I know, Gracie. I’m not worried.”
Gracie smiled and thanked her again, then headed for the elevator. She hit the Down button and waited. The elevator doors opened, and another man was inside, but she barely noticed him. Her mind was on her father. The last she’d heard her father didn’t have a license. So, how could he have been in an accident? As an afterthought, Gracie sent Wade a quick text, explaining where she was headed.
GONE TO ST. MARY’S. DAD’S BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.
As the doors opened, Gracie tucked her phone into her purse and sprinted across the parking lot, easily locating Marie’s black BMW. Just as she hit the Unlock button, a hand closed over her mouth. A sweet-smel ing odor fil ed her mouth and nostrils. She tried to scream, but no sound came out. Gracie reached into her purse, hoping to grab the mace Wade had insisted she carry that morning, but the words fil ing her ears sent a chil down her spine, freezing her in place.