Jade wasn’t going to believe it. This was some sort of social experiment, where independent film directors with far too much time on their hands set up elaborate hoaxes just to see how people would respond. Somewhere behind her were cameras, a film crew ready to catch her reaction. She wasn’t going to give them the luxury of laughing at her for being the world’s most gullible person.
“That’s ridiculous,” she argued. “I shot her myself.”
“Did you actually check the body once she fell?”
“I was a little too busy to feel for a pulse if that’s what you’re asking.”
Ben took a step back. “I’m not blaming you. I’m sure there was a lot of stress. It’s something anyone could miss.”
“I shot her.” Jade spoke the words definitively. She could still hear the sound of the gunfire, could see the way Sapphire fell.
“I know you did. And from the looks of it, she lost a lot of blood. But then the trail vanished, and no body has turned up, so we have to assume she survived. We have to be very careful.”
“She wouldn’t be stupid enough to come after us a second time.” How desperate could one woman get?
“I’m afraid she already might have. So far, the nurse in custody isn’t talking, but I’m willing to bet she put him up to it. I don’t see how else he would have known to tamper with your daughter’s IV. Your story hasn’t hit the news yet, and he doesn’t work on this floor.”
What kind of security system did this hospital have if strange men could just walk into a patient’s room and inject a child with God only knows what? Jade clenched her jaw. Anything to channel her anger and her fear. Anything to get her mind off Sapphire.
“She can’t be alive.” Even as she said the words, Jade realized there was no other explanation. “So what do we do now?”
“We tell our guys to keep their eyes open for her. And we give you and your daughter tightened security.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Well, if it won’t make you feel too cramped or uncomfortable, it probably means that you and I will be spending quite a bit more time together.”