“Head toward the gas station.”
“I’m about to turn … oh, shit.”
“What?”
Sophie braced for impact as the SUV accelerated. She knew she was about to get hit, but there was nowhere to go. The traffic coming from the other direction was too heavy. She’d cause an accident, possibly kill someone, if she tried to get away.
The SUV smashed into the tail end of her car, spinning her. Sophie had one second to think she was okay, that the SUV was done and was leaving. Then another car hit her from the other direction – and light exploded all around her.
The last thing she heard before she lost consciousness was Grady’s frantic voice yelling from the phone.
Twenty-One
When James got to the hospital, the first person he searched for was Grady. The first person he found was Mandy. After his initial shock wore off, he realized the man she was comforting was his brother, not a random stranger, and he headed toward them.
“Any news?”
Mandy shook her head silently, her lips thin and tight. James realized that Grady was about to blow. He put his hand on his brother’s shoulder to calm him.
“What do we know?”
“We know she was brought to the hospital unconscious,” Mandy said. “I was about to go and try to get some more information, but I was waiting for reinforcements.”
James nodded. “Why don’t you see what you can do. I’ll … handle this.”
Mandy raised her eyebrows, doubt reflected back at him, but she did as he asked. When she was gone, James focused on his brother. “Do you want to sit down?”
Grady’s face was swimming with rage. “What do you think?”
“I think you should sit down.”
“I think you should … .”
They were interrupted by the arrival of a middle-aged man and a plump blonde as they rushed to the information desk a few feet away.
“We just got a call,” the man said. “A friend of ours was brought here after a car accident.”
“Name?”
“Sophie Lane.”
James exchanged a look with Grady, who shrugged in response.
“Ms. Lane is still being looked at by our doctors,” the receptionist said. “You can take a seat in the waiting area with your other friends.”
“You must be able to tell us something,” the man pressed.
“We’re still evaluating,” the receptionist replied.
When the man and woman turned, James found he recognized something familiar about the woman. He’d met her before. He just couldn’t remember where.
The man took a few steps, joining them by the chairs. “You’re waiting for information on Sophie Lane?”
James extended his hand. “I’m James Hardy. This is my brother, Grady.”
“And how do you know Sophie?”
“Mr. Hardy is one of our advertisers,” the woman said, smiling brightly. “One of our best advertisers.”
“Hardy Brothers Security?” The man asked.
“Yes.”
“I’m familiar with your work. You’ve got a good reputation. My name is Conrad Malcolm. I’m Sophie’s editor.”
“Someone from the hospital called you?” James asked.
“Actually, one of the reporters heard it over the scanner,” Conrad replied. “We had to call around to find out what hospital she was being transported to so it took me longer than I would’ve liked to get here. How did you find out?”
James shifted his gaze to Grady. “She was on the phone with my brother when it happened.”
Conrad’s eyes narrowed. “Did she say anything?”
Grady shook his head, refusing to speak. James wasn’t sure how to answer. Sophie hadn’t said a lot about her editor and what he knew about the investigation. “He’s a little … worked up right now.”
The blonde woman next to Conrad cleared her throat.
“Oh, I’m sorry, this is Marge Sandusky,” Conrad said. “She works for the Daily Tribune, too. We came together.”
“Mr. Hardy and I are old friends,” Marge said, smiling widely.
That’s where I know here from. “That’s right. You work in the front lobby, right?”
“That’s right,” Marge purred.
James was uncomfortable with the way she was looking at him. “Um, we were just going to sit down and wait for an update. Why don’t you join us?”
Marge immediately took the chair to James’ right, pressing her thigh against his. “So, you’re here to offer moral support to your brother?”
“I’m here to make sure Sophie is okay,” James said, shifting uncomfortably. Marge’s arm was taking over his armrest and invading his personal space. And why was she smiling like that?