Page 48 of Small Sacrifices

I'll do my best.

His face is uncomfortably hot when he presses "send" on that last message. He's not sure why. It could be because he's tired and dehydrated. But it could also be because hedoeshave some idea what Marisol might have been talking about. Is she genuinely implying that Everett is interested in him?

Before he can follow that thought to its conclusion, he spots the slim shape of a woman exiting the bowels of the hospital. At first, he doesn't think it's her. When he talked to her previously, Ms. Greene always sounded confident—but this woman walks slowly, with her eyes on the floor and her shoulders slumped.

Even with the bright red hair, his first thought is that it must be someone else. But then he sees how pink and swollen her eyes are, how messily her hair falls into her face. Thick strands of it have escaped her bun and are now hanging limply down her shoulders.

The sight hits him like a punch to the gut. He knew something was wrong.Fuck.

He follows her outside, pretending it's because he doesn't want to confront her in front of all of those people and not just because he froze. She's completely alone, which is a bit concerning. She doesn't look especially steady on her feet. And she looks solost.She shouldn't be alone. He has to clench his jaw shut against the thought that he is about to make it worse.

"Excuse me?" His first attempt at making contact is so breathy it's inaudible over the wind. Reid is still struggling to put on his coat. By the point he has both of his arms in the sleeves, Ms. Greene has almost reached the other side of the courtyard that separates the hospital entrance from the street.

"Excuse me!"

She whips around. "What?"

Reid almost jumps. Not only is her tone incredibly sharp, but her red hair is also currently backlit by a streetlight. It makes for quite an arresting image. He focuses on that instead of his galloping heartbeat.

"Do you have a moment?"

Ms. Greene scoffs. It sounds wet. "For a stranger in the dark? No, thank you."

She was already half turned around when he says: "I'm Reid! Maxwell. We've talked on the phone."

That stops her in her tracks. But the dreaded outburst doesn't come. Ms. Greene just stands there in the dark, half illuminated by the streetlight, half turned away from him.

He takes a few tentative steps towards her. "Ma'am—"

That one word seems to shake her out of her stupor.

"Are you kidding me?" With a few quick steps, they're almost nose to nose. "Are you fucking kidding me? Isn't it enough that I didn't call you back? You have to wait for me to leave and run after me?"

"I just wanted to make sure you're okay." Even to his own ears, Reid's voice sounds high and defensive. It sounds like he's lying. And in a way, heis.That knowledge doesn't make him more believable.

"Bullshit!" she spits. "You just want your pound of flesh."

Reid bites his lip. "We were concerned when we couldn't reach you. So we—"

"Bullshit!"Her lower lip is trembling. The queasy feeling in Reid's stomach solidifies. "This was neveraboutme, and it certainly wasn't about Robbie."

She looks so angry and lost that it makes Reid's eyes sting. Why did Mr. Wright think it was a good idea for Reid to do this?

"None of this should ever have happened," he tries. "And I agree that it's deeply unfair, but—"

"He's dead!" she screams.

Everything stops for a moment. There's no sound, not even a car from the road.

"What?"

"He'sdead,"Ms. Greene repeats, shoving him for emphasis.

Reid stumbles back. When she follows again, he takes another few steps back, but she doesn't let up. Again, she raises her hands to poke at his chest.

"My sondiedtoday, and you want me to let the fucking governor take a picture with him? How dare you!"

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. We didn't know." Everything is spinning around him.Dead.Robin is dead?

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