Hunter nodded in agreement. As she pulled into the hospital parking area, she noticed Ellis entering the hospital, accompanied by RL and Mike Hart. She said, “We need to get in there.”
Raymond hadn’t finished getting out of the car when Hunter raced to the hospital and pushed through to the inside halls. She turned left and trotted to Adan’s room. Raymond was close behind. Inside the room, Adan sat upright in bed, with Dario and Dario’s mother near him. Standing at the foot of the bed were Ellis, RL, and Mike Hart.
Adan felt fear, and anger. He didn’t take his eyes off Ellis. Hunter slipped around the bed to stand beside Dario, and across from Ellis and RL. She noticed that Ellis had something in his hand, but couldn’t make out what it was.
Adan glanced at her, and she touched his shoulder to reassure him. Raymond moved so quietly, he stood behind RL without RL noticing.
Ellis looked sullen. He said, “The hell you doing here?”
“Watching you.” Her eyes made Ellis nervous, and he wanted to avoid her gaze.
RL started to move, then Raymond touched him on the shoulder, startling him so he jerked in surprise.
Hunter’s eyes went to Mike Hart.
Mike had a film of sweat on his upper lip. Glancing at the female Agent, he wiped the perspiration away and said to the others, “Let’s get out of here.”
The other two followed him, but not before Ellis turned at the door and said to Hunter, “Better quit following me or you’ll be sorry.”
“What’s in your hand?”
Ellis put the object in his pocket, then nodded at her. “I’ll see you soon.”
“I can’t wait.”
Ellis left, and Raymond stood in the doorway watching them leave. Hunter smiled at Adan and Dario. “You two aren’t getting into more trouble already, are you?”
“No, we wouldn’t think of it.” Dario said.
“How’s your back?”
Dario moved his arm in circles to show the shoulder had no permanent damage. “Good, and I’m going to have a neat scar.”
Raymond smiled, “A neat scar, huh? The girls will swoon.”
“What’s swoon mean?”
“They’ll treat you like a movie star.”
“Cool.”
They talked to Adan and Dario the most, but also Dario’s mother, Erica, who said Adan could stay with her as long as he wanted. When they left the hospital, Raymond said, “Did you see what he had in his hand?”
“A small syringe with the cap on the needle, and blue fluid in the barrel. I’m thinking something like Windex.”
Raymond said, “Right in the hospital? He was gonna try to kill Adan in the hospital?”
“He has to do something, and soon. Adan will identify him if it goes to trial. I texted Carlo and he’s going to put guards on the room twenty-four-seven, he said.”
“The deputies here are way better than the guards that were on Jeffrey Epstein.”
Hunter blinked at that one, and showed Raymond a sly wink.
Ellis drove, pondering what to do next. RL said, “We have to do something soon.”
Mike Hart said, “Aren’t you guys innocent? You’ll beat them in the trial.”
Ellis said, “Sure, Mike. We’re innocent, but that doesn’t mean they won’t find us guilty of something.” He turned to RL, “I have an idea. When does that kid get released from the hospital?”