Page 34 of Pirates in Calusa Cove

He got nothing but a stare down.

Keaton raced to Trinity’s side, ignoring the pain registering in his brain. It wasn’t horrible, but his muscles burned every time he flexed his biceps. When he shifted his shoulder, it was the same thing. It was a minor inconvenience, but it still put him in a major sour mood.

Had he not been diligent, or if he’d stepped away foreven a moment, he shuddered to think what would have happened to Trinity. And on his watch.

“Are you going to give me your side of the story? Or are you going with the one where you were going to do something to Trinity when Keaton left the room? Maybe give her something to make her sleepy? Kidnap her? Kill her? You tell me,” Dawson said.

The man said nothing.

“Okay. I’m guessing you attacked him instead when that didn’t happen?” Dawson asked.

More silence. Nothing like taking the fifth to new heights.

Emily lifted Keaton’s shirt. He winced as he jerked his arm away. He didn’t need attention. He needed to give his attention to Trinity. He took her hand and pressed his lips to her palm.

“Let her look at it,” Trinity whispered.

Keaton sighed and sat on the edge of the bed while Dawson continued to try to get information from that little asshole. He asked questions like,Were you acting alone?Did someone hire you?Was your goal to hurt or kill?

But the jerk wasn’t saying shit.

“Hey, Doc, do you know that guy? Does he work at the hospital?” Keaton asked softly while the good doc poured antiseptic on his wounds.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him, and I pretty much know everyone on this floor,” Emily said. “Lulu, do you know that man?”

Lulu nodded. “His name is Warren Harley. He works nights as a janitor in the ER. I’ve seen him down there when I’ve filled in a couple of times, but never up here.”

“If he worked in the hospital, why wouldn’t he have his credentials?” With his good hand, Keaton squeezed Trinity’s thigh. His pulse had yet to calm down, and he wasn’t sure if it would until whoever was behind this was caught. “Wouldn’t he have needed them to get the supplies he rolled in here with?”

“Yeah, care to explain that one?” Dawson asked.

Warren huffed out air, but not an answer.

“If I might wager a guess here,” Emily said. “That cart was left in the hallway. He’d need a special keycode that only the doctors and charge nurses have, so he wouldn’t have been able to do anything.”

“What about the IV bag?” Keaton asked.

“It’s fluid,” the nurse said. “It was on the tray because I was making my rounds and knew Trinity needed a flush.” Lulu unclipped her badge and tucked it in her pocket. She then pulled it out and waved it. “I’ve been known to start my day with this sucker tucked neatly away. When I start my shift, it’s always easier to pull it out of my pocket to run it across the door for meds and supplies. But when entering a patient’s room, I always have it clipped.” She waved her hand toward Warren. “Any hospital staff member should have it when they enter a patient’s room, and Warren knows that, especially working in the ER. That place is a zoo, and security is tight down there, even though we’re a small town.”

“Good to know,” Keaton said.

Dawson read Warren his rights, but he still refused to speak. He stood rigid, lips pursed, and glared atKeaton, as if Keaton had personally ruined his day, instead of the other way around.

“Who do you work for, you piece of shit?” Keaton said. “Because no way could you have pulled off something like this all by your little self. You’re not smart enough.”

Warren’s eye twitched, and he snarled, but he didn’t cave.

“You know, whoever sent you is going to let you rot.” Keaton sneered. “They’ll let you take the blame. They aren’t going to bail you out or even send you a lawyer. Nope. They’re going to let you hang for attempted murder.”

“I did no such thing,” Warren said with his nostrils flaring.

“Oh, really?” Dawson let out a sigh. “Because those two stab wounds in my buddy over there paint a different picture.” He cocked his head. “And even if your intent with my friend wasn’t to kill, what the hell were you doing with this vial?” Dawson waved the small glass object he’d taken from Warren’s pocket. “Hey, Doc. Can you tell me what this is? Without touching it?”

“Sure.” Emily leaned over, glancing at the vial. “Jesus. That’s fentanyl.” She glanced between Dawson and Warren. “Where’d you get that? Only certain medical professionals have access to that.”

“I want a lawyer,” Warren said.

“Thanks for making more work for me today.” Dawson curled his fingers around Warren’s elbow. “I’m going to radio Remy and have him come get this guy.Once that happens, I’ll be back to take both your statements.”

---