Page 101 of Every Last One
“That’s good to know. Take care.” With that, the doctor was gone.
Sandra’s heart was pounding. Tears beaded in her eyes, and she took a few moments to breathe. Today had taken a crap turn with Ashmore’s execution, but this news just inserted some light. She started to walk toward the street.
“Hold up,” Brice called out, stopping her. “Just one thing before you go. While you were in there, you’ll be happy to know that I used the full backing of the Bureau to enforce the Fat Cats site be taken down. It’s already offline.”
“Impressive, and great job.”
“We’ll try to ignore the likelihood of it popping up tomorrow with a different name.”
“Let’s take the win for tonight.” There were at least a few.
“Sorry that things went down the way they did in there with Mindy Ashmore.”
“Me too, but it sounds like Phoebe Chapman has a bright future.” She told him about the call she just received.
“Hallelujah. I tell you this job is one helluva ride.”
“That it is. Night, Brice.”
“Night. I hope everything works out with your mother.”
“Me too.” She turned to leave and came into Kreiger’s path.I might never get out of here.But Kreiger just shook her hand and dipped his head.
Forty-five minutes later, due to a detour to the field office for her car, she arrived at Howard University Hospital. She had also taken time to clean up and change into fresh clothes from her to-go bag. Now, though she couldn’t get to Margo fast enough. She headed to the floor where Dana told her to go and scooted down corridors toward her mother’s room. She heard voices before she reached the doorway, and as she rounded it, the sight before her melted her heart.
Dana, Eric, and Olivia were sitting at Margo’s bedside playing cards. Margo was laughing. She must be winning.
“Eric?”
He turned and stood. “You’re here.” He hugged her and pulled back, angled his head. “You all right?”
“I will be.” While all trace from Mindy Ashmore’s death was physically gone from Sandra’s appearance, it was etched in her mind.
“Glad to hear it.”
“Mom.” Olivia hugged her.
“My little Sandra, you made it.” Margo was beaming from the bed, and it was hard to reconcile the picture in front of her with a woman who had fainted that morning. Well, except for the bandaged wrist.
“Nowhere else I’d rather be.” She gave her mother a squeeze and a kiss on the forehead.
“I’m winning.” Margo snickered. “I think they might be letting me, but I’ll take it!”
Dana shook her head. “You are winning fair and square.”
“Whatever you say. Deal my Sandra in. My little ladybug.” She winked at Sandra, and her heart puddled. That was the pet name she’d started calling Sandra not long after Margo and her husband had adopted her and Sam. It was one she hadn’t heard in a long time.
“I’d love to play.” What she’d like even more was answers, but this was a good moment, so she’d enjoy it as long as she could.
The four of them played Go Fish for a few rounds when Sandra’s phone rang. She pulled it out, and while there was no caller ID, she had a feeling the call was important.
“Excuse me, I have to take this.”
“That’s my ladybug. She does important work.” Margo hummed a tune.
Sandra touched her mother’s shoulder as she stepped away and went out into the hall. “Special Agent Vos.”
“Lieutenant Coleman here.”
