Page 47 of Deception

After they had exhausted the subject of Lindsey, Madison took Clayton up on the chance to snooze on the way to the hospital ... or at least make him think that’s what she was doing. Her whole life had been upended with this Lindsey Tremont and then her grandfather’s shooting.

She needed time to process the fact that she might have a twin sister. The thought boggled her mind. Why hadn’t it shown up on the DNA test she’d done? Maybe because Lindsey hadn’t taken the DNA test until recently? But then again, when was the last time she’d opened an email from the testing site?

Madison had called the hospital before they left Mount Locust and checked on her grandfather and Lindsey. He was critical and still unconscious. However, her possible twin was off the vent, and while mostly sleeping, she was alert when awake. Maybe Madison could get some answers ... but then again, Lindsey might be clueless as well about their connection. She wouldn’t be clueless about her identity, though, and they could discover why she was listed as dead.

At the hospital, Clayton parked near the entrance, and they hurried inside and opted for the stairs instead of the elevator. When they reached the ICU doors, Clayton stopped her. “Let’s find out if Lindsey has been told about you before we descend on her—we don’t want to get kicked out of the hospital.”

As much as Madison wanted to barge right in and question Lindsey, Clayton was right. If she didn’t know she had a twin, seeing Madison for the first time might be a shock. “You check with your friend while I check on my grandfather.”

He gave her a thumbs-up, and she walked to her grandfather’s room. A different US Marshal sat outside the door. She showed her ID. “Do you know how he is?”

“Nurse says he’s about the same.”

“Still unconscious?”

“Yes.”

“I’m going to step inside just a minute.” Even though she’d spent the night at the hospital to be close to her grandfather, she hadn’t actually seen him. Since her mother’s death, Madison wasn’t good with visiting sick people, much less critically ill family members she loved.

She slipped into the room and stopped at the sight of her grandfather hooked up to more tubes and wires than she’d ever seen. Madison squeezed her eyes shut. Her mother hadn’t lived to get to the hospital, and she hadn’t seen her this way.

She couldn’t do this.

Her grandfather had always been so strong. Her champion. Madison did not want this picture imprinted in her mind.

He’s always been there for you. Now it’s your turn.She wanted to put her hands over her ears, but the voice had come from inside her head.

Take a deep breath. Hold it. Blow it out.She repeated the process until she could approach the bed.

The whoosh-whoosh-click of the ventilator broke the quiet of the room. She avoided her grandfather’s face and instead slipped her hand in his and looked up at the monitor someone must have silenced. Heart rate was one hundred. Madison supposed that wasn’t bad. Blood pressure—not too bad either for his condition.

A slight pressure on her fingers surprised her. “Grandfather? I’m here.”

More pressure, and she finally lifted her gaze to his face. It was the color of the sheet, but his eyes flickered like he was trying to open them. Madison moistened her dry lips and bent closer. “I’m here, Grandfather.”

A groan came from his throat.

“Don’t try to talk. Just rest and get better.”

There was no response.

The door flew open and a nurse rushed in as code blue sounded from the overhead system. “Clear the room!”

“Why—” Her heart hammered in her chest. Madison dropped his hand and backed away from the bed.

“Go!” The nurse swung the glass wall open, and someone with a crash cart barreled in.

The US Marshal led her from the room into the hall. “He’s coded. Let’s get out of their way.”

This couldn’t be happening.

A nurse closed the door and pulled the curtain so Madison couldn’t see what was going on. She strained to hear what they were saying, but words and sounds came at her too fast.

Madison felt someone by her side and looked up into Clayton’s blue eyes, concern etched on his face.

“What happened? I heard a code blue and came to check on you.”

“I think his heart stopped,” she whispered.

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