Page 31 of Complicated Past

“Detective Lowe?” A middle-aged woman wearing a short, white lab coat over scrubs looked around.

Clara got to her feet. Linc did too.

“Mrs. Feldman’s MRI is clear. There was no sign of a stroke. Dehydration could contribute to her being disoriented. We’re running an IV, and we’ll keep her overnight for observation since she said she doesn’t have family here to look after her.”

Linc started to speak up, but he couldn’t volunteer to watch over Regina when he planned to be on a flight to Mexico. The hospital could keep her safe.

“I’ll let you talk to her now. With what she’s been through, she’s pretty wrung out.” The doctor motioned for them to follow her.

“I’ll wait here,” Kendra said.

“The guy that took her was brought in with a GSW to the chest. Do you know if he made it through surgery?” Clara asked.

The doctor pressed the button for the elevator. “I heard the call come in. I can check and let you know after you talk with Mrs. Feldman. It’s best not to say in front of her.” They stopped outside a private hospital room. “I’ll check and have a nurse give you an update on the shooting patient.”

Inside, Regina wore a hospital gown and laid against pillows. Her eyes flew open as they entered.

Her hair was uncharacteristically unkempt. Without her usual make-up, her skin was pale, and dark circles under her eyes spoke of her terrifying ordeal. Her gaze darted from the doctor to Clara, then settled on Linc. “What are you doing here? Where’s Jalen? They?—”

Linc choked down the urge to defend his presence. “He’s safe. He’s with friends from my team.”

“Thank goodness.” Regina rested a hand on her chest and breathed out.

“Mrs. Feldman, I’m Detective Lowe. I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through, but I need to ask you some questions regarding your granddaughter.”

“Bri? She’s—she’s in Mexico with a woman who I—I think that woman is working with the man who took me.” Regina’s voice warbled.

“We’re aware of that,” Clara said. “We retrieved a voicemail Bri left you shortly before you were taken.”

“If she’d called me, I would have answered,” Regina shook her head.

“She called from a burner phone, likely belonging to whoever she was with. Do you know the name of the friend she went to Mexico with?” Clara asked.

“Tawnya something. She was emphatic about the pronunciation.”

“Did you meet her?”

“Briefly. She stopped by the night before they left to drop off a suitcase for Bri to use.”

Alarm bells pinged in Linc’s brain at that information.

“Is this the woman?” Clara showed her a picture on her phone of a Caucasian woman with straight, dull brown hair.

“Yes! That’s her.”

“Did they give you the name of the hotel or resort where they were staying?”

“They said Acapulco. Bri showed me pictures of blue water and palm trees where they’d be staying, but I don’t remember them saying a name. I’m sorry.” She snuffed out Linc’s sliver of hope that she knew where and that it was Bri’s actual location.

“Do you know if anyone came to the house with the man who took you?” Clara continued to probe.

“There was a second man in the van. After the first night, I only heard one man’s voice. And I heard what sounded like that Tawnya, but I’m sure they were on the phone. They mentioned Bri not wanting to do something. Tawnya was all fired up that he took me and didn’t get Jalen. Things got real heated, and I heard him leave, but I couldn’t get free.” Regina rubbed the bruises on her wrist.

Linc’s skin broke out in goosebumps. What if he hadn’t come? Malloy could have followed Kendra and gotten to her and Jalen.

“I heard him talking to a man last night, but I think it was on the phone too. I never saw anyone else. Bri’s in danger, isn’t she?” Regina locked gazes with Linc.

He nodded.

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