“Yes, Dr. Green?” She had the awful feeling that Chet Marley was dead.
“Chester Marley is awake,” he said.
“I’m on my way,” she replied, then hung up.
CHAPTER
18
H olly started to change out of her uniform. “I’ve got to go to the hospital,” she called through the open door. “Can you give me a lift to the airport? My car’s there.”
“Sure, glad to. Something to do with Chet Marley?”
She came out of the trailer, buttoning her blouse. “Sort of.”
“Okay,” he said. They got into his car and drove off. Daisy sat in the backseat.
Holly was quiet, wondering what was going to happen next. Probably, Chet wouldn’t be able to talk. Never mind, at least she could let him know she was on the job.
“I hope Chet hasn’t died?” Oxenhandler said.
“No.”
“Why are you being so closemouthed about his condition?”
“Somebody tried to kill him,” she said. “They could try again.”
“They? There was more than one?”
“Didn’t Sam Sweeney tell you that?”
“No, he didn’t. He told me he knew nothing about it. Did he tell you different?”
“He said he heard the shot but didn’t see anything. He thought there were two people.”
Oxenhandler drove along quietly for a while. “Something stinks in your police department,” he said.
“How long have you thought that?”
“A while. Chet said something to me once.”
“I didn’t even know you knew him. What did he say?”
“It’s a small town; everybody knows everybody. I had a few beers with him once, about three weeks ago. We were talking about the town. I said it was a nice town. He said it was going to be nicer before he was through being a cop. I asked how it could be any nicer, and he said it could have a better police department, and he was working on that.”
“He was,” Holly said. “That’s what got him shot.”
“You know who did it?”
“No, but I’m going to find out.”
“Good,” he said. He drove to the main entrance to the hospital and stopped.
“I’ve got to pick up my car at the airport,” she said.
“You go on in and see Chet. I’ll stay here with Daisy, and we’ll pick up your car later.”
“Okay. Daisy, stay here with Jackson and be a good girl.” She got out of the car and ran up the steps to the hospital, then took the elevator to the surgical floor and went to intensive care. Dr. Green was waiting for her. “How is he?” she asked.