“Hi, you,” Jennifer said weakly. She had been unable to see visitors for almost seventy-two hours, and when they had finally given the go-ahead, Gordon Buchanan was first in line, walking with a slight limp and his left arm in a sling. “What happened to your arm?”
“Nothing too serious. I’m okay.” Gordon smiled and held up some flowers. Roses and lilies. “You look great.”
“How can I help but look good with these tubes up my nose and four or five IVs in my arms?” The sentence tired her and she took a few deep breaths to recover.
“Dr. Archer says you’re doing really well. She said if the bullet had hit a fraction of an inch to the left, you’d have died in Rothery’s office.”
“Well, thanks to Jim Allenby for being a rotten shot.”
“Yeah, thanks for that.”
“Did she tell you how long I have to stay in here? The food sucks.”
“Just until you’re well enough to travel. Then you can go home, providing you have someone to come in and take care of you.”
She managed a slight nod. “What’s going to happen to Bruce Andrews?”
“He’s been charged with numerous securities violations and complicity in Kenga and Albert’s murders. But the most serious charge is treason. They’re going to nail him to the wall on the virus thing. That really got in someone’s craw in D.C., and they’re after him with a vengeance.”
“So he’s toast,” she said lightly.
“Yeah.” He grinned at her stab at humor. “He’s toast.”
“When are you going back to Montana?” she asked.
“Thought I’d wait until you were able to go home. I’d hate to leave you alone in this big hospital.”
“And what am I going to do at home all alone, Mr. Buchanan? I hardly know a soul in Richmond.”
Gordon looked down at the sheets that covered her and said, “You could always come back to Montana. You’re welcome at my house.”
“Really?” she said.
“Yeah, really,” he answered, leaning over and kissing her on the forehead.
“For how long?” she asked.
He cocked his head slightly and smiled. “I’m kind of cheap. I was thinking of buying you a one-way ticket.”
She smiled, her eyes closing as sleep overtook her. “That would be fine,” she said, drifting off.