A Sudden Attack
Ken hurried into the hospital waiting room and yanked Kat into an embrace. “How is she?”
Kat pushed away and raised tear-filled eyes to Ken. “I shouldn’t have let her come.” She burst into loud sobs.
Ken tried to pull her back into his arms. Kat ducked, crossed her arms, and walked to the windows. She stared into the blue sky, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Bart appeared through the reception door, scrutinized Ken’s bewildered face and Kat’s straight back. “I’ve got this.”
He strolled up beside Kat and clasped his hands behind his back. “Pretty here.”
Kat sniffed.“Guess so.”
Bart turned to find some tissues and brought them to Kat.
Kat nodded thanks.
After a few moments, Bart took a deep breath. “You know, Gram is not in this hospital because you let her come to Texas.”
“Of course she is! She’d be resting at home right now.” Kat replied through clenched teeth.
“Or, she might have ended up having something happen there. And no one would have found her as quickly as you did, Kat.”
Kat thought about that and sighed. “Maybe,” she whispered.
“Just sayin’. Now, do the doctors know what’s going on?”
“Haven’t heard yet.” Kat turned to Bart. “If something happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself. I shouldn’t have left her alone. I knew how upset she was.”
“We aren’t there, Kat.”
Pete Dayton entered the room and hurried to Kat’s side. “How is she?”
“How’d you know?” Bart asked.
“I’m a police detective. It’s what I do. When I saw you and Melbourne leave the conference like someone had lit your tails on fire, I knew something was wrong. Asked around, found out where you’re staying, asked the owner. And here I am.” Dayton stared Bart in the eye, then turned to Kat. “How are you holding up?”
Kat fell against Pete Dayton’s chest and sobbed.
Bart studied Ken’s tight jaw and flashing eyes. “Melbourne, this doesn’t mean anything. Kat never lets the ones closest to her comfort her. I don’t know why. It’s how she’s always been. Think of Dayton like you would BC—he’s safe because she doesn’t care what he thinks of her,” Bart whispered.
“I remember why I used to call her the Ice Queen,” Ken said.
“Maybe she’ll change someday. Wouldn’t count on it, though. You better be okay with her just the way she is. You’re going to marry the girl, remember?”
“Oh, I remember. Nothing’s going to stop it.”
“Then, let this go.”
A middle-aged man, wearing horn-rimmed glasses and carrying a clipboard, entered the waiting area. “Ms. Tovslosky?” he called out.
Kat raised her hand. “That’s me.”
“Hello, I’m Doctor Wohlthon. We’re running tests on your grandmother. It’s going to be a while.”
“How is she?”
“She’s stable. Her vital signs are good—heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, all good. But we don’t know why she is unconscious, yet. Did she take a fall?”
“Not that I know of. She was sleeping when I left this morning.”
“Well, I don’t know what to say. We want to run a CT scan to see if there’s something going on in her brain. We’ll know more after the test.”
“We’re getting her settled in a room.”
“Please.”
The doctor took in the red-rimmed eyes and sighed. “Follow me.”
Ken, Dayton and Bart followed Kat into the sterile hallway.
The doctor held up his hand. “Just her right now.”
They stopped, looking like three little boys who’d been told to go to bed.
“Well, that stinks,” Bart snarled. “I’m her blood, too.”
Ken’s phone chirped. “What the heck?” He said to the phone, “Pastor Paul?”
“Yes, it’s me. Is everything okay?”
Ken rubbed the bridge of his nose with his free hand. Please tell me the Ravens Cove psychic telephone isn’t back in action.
“Why do you ask?”
“I had a dream. Haven’t had one like it since the last Iconoclast encounter. This time, though, it was about Grandma Bricken. Something evil touched her—dark red strings shot out from a black hand and wrapped her in a bloody cocoon. I haven’t been able to shake the evil feeling all day.”
Ken turned his back to Bart and whispered, “We’re at the hospital. Alese is unconscious; the doctors don’t know the cause.”
He turned and came face-to-face with Bart, stormy emotions clouding his chocolate-brown eyes. “Why is Pastor Paul calling?” he mouthed.
Ken held up a hand. “Say that again, Paul.”
“I said this does not sound good at all. I’ll start a prayer chain here. You need to find a man of God and have him start praying for Alese.”
“Pastor, this is a physical illness.”
“Ken, it has taken on the form of a physical illness. Find a man of God! Now!” The phone went dead.
“Well?” Bart demanded.
Ken shook his head. “The psychic club is alive and well in Ravens Cove.”
“What do you mean?”
“Okay. I’m going to tell you what Paul said. If you promise me you won’t do something stupid.”
“Of course.”
Dayton joined Bart and Ken. “What’s going on?”
“And you promise you won’t say something stupid,” Ken said to the detective.
“When did I ever do that?” Dayton asked.
“Paul says to get a preacher here to pray over Grandma.”
“Well, prayer never hurts.”
“Paul says an evil hand has hold of her.”
“The delusions of Ravens Cove have reached Hayden, Texas?” Dayton asked.
“You said something stupid.”
“May I introduce pot to kettle? What you said is not rational.”
“Think back, Dayton. Long and hard. Remember what you saw in the Cove? It is not just in the Cove,” Bart said.
Ken continued, “Paul said if we don’t find a preacher to pray over her now, he’ll be on the next plane here.”
Bart said, “Okay. Where do we find a preacher?”
“I’ll call Letty. Maybe she knows someone.”
“Good idea.”
“What do you want me to do?” Dayton asked.
Ken pointed toward the door. “Go back to the conference.”
“Not on your life. Alese Bricken took care of me when I was ill. I’m not leaving until I know she’s okay.”
Ken replied, “Suit yourself. I’m going to find some coffee. It’s going to be a long wait.”
“Find me one, too.”
“And me.”
“Bart, call Letty. Dayton, call me if the doctor shows up.” Ken blew out a long breath as he walked down the hall to the cafeteria.