Page 57 of Don't Forget Me
Raised voices in the hall drew her attention, and she walked to the door to find Sherrie and Nick’s agent facing off against each other.
“You should be ashamed of yourself.” The agent’s fingers clenched around the strap of her bright yellow purse. “Nick deserved so much better than you.”
“You think?” Sherrie’s voice rose an octave. “That drunken fool?”
“Watch it.”
“I was an accessory to him, don’t pretend otherwise.”
“And now you have your fame. Kudos.” The agent turned toward the door and stomped into Nick’s room.
Sherrie stared after her before pulling her phone out, punching a number in, and storming down the hall.
As much as Jasmine wanted to hear that phone call, this was her chance.
Slipping out of the room without a goodbye to the doctor, she stopped on the threshold of Nick’s room. The security guards must have recognized her because they didn’t move to stop her.
Beatrice jerked her head up, ready to yell again. Her shoulders dropped. “Oh, it’s you. You’re back.”
Jasmine couldn’t help feeling she was intruding, something that hadn’t bothered her before.
“Well, don’t just stand there. Come in and shut the door.”
Jasmine did as asked, approaching the bed cautiously.
The agent stuck a cigarette in her mouth but didn’t light it—they were in a hospital after all. She closed her eyes for a moment before opening them and removing the cigarette. “All right, dear, tell me why you’re here again.”
“To find you, actually.”
“Ah, the plot thickens. What can I do for you? We still pretending you’re a nurse?”
“Only if someone else comes in.”
She nodded. “I can respect the honesty. Go on.”
“You were right yesterday. I am writing a piece on Nick and his accident.”
“Thought so.” She flipped the cigarette on the back of her fingers and stared at it. “I quit two years ago. This whole thing makes me want to start again, but I can’t bring myself to light it.”
Making a quick decision, Jasmine reached out to take it from her, breaking it in half.
Beatrice nodded in thanks. “So, your story? Nick Jacobs drives drunk and puts the world’s greatest dad in the hospital? That’s what the rest of them are saying.”
“No.”
The agent's eyes snapped to hers.
“I think you were right. Something else is going on. Have you ever heard the name Justin Cormack?”
“Can’t say that I have, doll. Who is he, and what does he have to do with my Nick?”
“I’m not sure yet, but the car was rented in his name.”
“He could be someone working on this stupid movie I convinced Nick was a good idea to do. He fired his assistant months ago, so the producers assigned some kid named Franklin to him, but I’m sure there were others whose jobs were to help him out. He is Nick Jacobs after all. Is that all you have to go on?”
“That and my gut.”
“Has your gut ever been wrong?” Her gaze fell on Nick, her lips drawing down at the corners.
