Page 35 of Wired Ghost

Sophie wokeup gradually from a terrible dream. It evaded her grasp as such things do, dissipating in a foul-smelling mist that was gone even as she tried to remember it. But as she lay in bed, her eyelids twitching, she tried to bring it back. The dream had felt urgent, important, as if there were some information hidden in it that she needed to act upon.

She moved, and everything hurt. Her lips parted to let out a sound of distress, but no sound came out.

“Easy.” Raveaux’s accented voice. She felt a straw at her lips. “Drink.”

She drank.

Room temperature water tasted like ambrosia and felt like heaven as it flowed across her mouth and down her scratchy, sore throat.

Jake.

Her eyes flew open, searching for him, but all she could see was Raveaux, looking disheveled in the same combat clothing and dark stubble he’d worn for the rescue. He’d pulled his chair close to the bed where he held the plastic cup with its straw, and patted her shoulder awkwardly. “He is being treated. He is alive,” Raveaux said. “Drink some more water.”

Sophie shut her eyes in relief. They felt gritty and dry as dusty desert stones. She must have been dehydrated, or worse. She drank until she could hold no more, then waved the straw away.

Jake was alive. That’s all that mattered.

She slept again.

The next time she woke, it was to feel her father’s hand stroking her arm, and hear his deep, resonant voice. “Sophie. My beautiful girl. Wake up, honey.”

She opened her eyes. “Dad.” Her voice was a croak, but at least she could speak now. “You came.”

“Of course, I came.” Ambassador Francis Smithson’s face looked haggard; there were more white strands than she remembered in his close-cropped hair. “You used up another of your nine lives, my girl.”

Sophie lifted a hand to cup his cheek, enjoying the way her golden-brown fingers looked against his darker skin tone. “I love you, Daddy.”

“And I love you. I thought you promised never to put me through spending a night next to you in a hospital bed, again.”

Sophie rolled her eyes. “I did try. Where’s . . .” She looked around. “Raveaux was here.”

“He went to get some needed shut-eye and update the folks at Security Solutions when I arrived last night. Haven’t seen him today.”

“And Jake? How is he?” Her voice trailed off as her father held up the familiar plastic cup and straw. “I can’t drink any more until I get to the bathroom. Can you help me?” It suddenly seemed like her bladder was going to burst.

Her father helped her get out of bed and wheel along the IV as she held her gown shut and barely made it to the toilet in time. “They seem to have pumped me full of fluids,” she said.

“Making up for all you lost.” Frank’s expression was serious as he helped her settle back into bed. “I called Alika and Armita to let them know what happened to you. They want to know if they should bring Momi and come.”

Sophie’s eyes filled, and she shook her head. “No. I don’t want Momi to be frightened by seeing me in the hospital. In this kind of shape.” She gestured to the bruises and cuts decorating her body.

“When you’re home, then. I’ll text Armita now, since your phone is missing,” her father said.

Sophie took a moment to gather her resources as Frank worked his phone with his thumbs. The nurse entered and took Sophie’s blood pressure. “You’re looking much better, young lady,” she said. “The doctor will want to meet with you in the next few hours and go over a few things, then we plan to discharge you.”

“Oh, good. I didn’t think there was anything really wrong with me except for inhaling too much of the volcano gas,” Sophie said. “But the man I came in with—my partner, Jake Dunn. How is he doing?”

“I can’t tell you about that,” the nurse said, adjusting the IV drip. “HIPAA regulations. Family only.”

“But—” Sophie frowned in frustration. “He’s my boyfriend. Ask anyone. I’m the closest thing he has to family in Hawaii.”

“I’m sorry. Regulations.” The woman adjusted a few more things, made a few more notes. “Your father can help you gather your personal items. We should have you out of here soon.”

She left.

Sophie aimed her frustration at her father. “I have to see Jake.”

Frank shrugged. “They won’t tell me anything either. Maybe Raveaux knows? He brought you two in, had to make a report to your headquarters.”

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