Chapter 9 - A Woman Behind the Glass

Rachel ended the call and dialed Bear. He told her to go to St. Agnes Medical Center, two counties east, where Elena had been transferred under a false name.

"You said the hospital wasn't safe," Rachel replied.

"It wasn't. We moved her. The nurse I'm working with was my mother's best friend."

"And I should trust that because?"

"You shouldn't. Ask her anything you need."

St. Agnes looked like every hospital Rachel had ever worked in: bright floors, tired families, a vending machine that ate dollar bills. Nurse Andrea Walsh met them by the side entrance.

"My name's Andrea," she said, crouching to Lily's eye level. "You don't have to hug me. You can stay beside your mom."

She showed Rachel her hospital identification, the transfer order, and the patient number. Rachel checked each detail against the department board.

Elena lay behind a glass wall, bruised and breathing through a thin oxygen tube. Bear sat outside her room, hands clasped as though in prayer.

When Lily saw him, she hid behind Rachel. He moved away, giving her room.

"I know I scared you at the diner," he said. "I'm sorry."

Andrea made Rachel wash her hands before entering Elena's room, then quietly asked whether the children needed something to eat. She didn't make promises about recovery, and she didn't tell Lily to be brave. She brought paper cups of water and sat on a stool while the little girl drew a picture of their old apartment. Kindness had become so rare on the road that the ordinary gesture nearly undid Rachel.

"You yelled," Lily answered.

"I did. I thought somebody was about to get hurt. Next time I'll explain before I shout, if I can."

Lily studied him. "You look like a bear."

"Been told that."

For one brief second, she almost smiled.

Elena opened her eyes when Rachel entered. She struggled to speak. Andrea bent close and adjusted the oxygen.

"Ledger," Elena whispered.

"We have it," Rachel said.

Elena grabbed her wrist with surprising strength. "No. The blue one is a decoy."

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Rachel felt the floor tilt.

Elena's eyes filled with tears. "The real list is inside the diner."