Page 6 of Unknown

"She had an allergic reaction to the medication she was on. Now the inflammation is a problem and her heart is struggling again. The doctors are trying a new medication, but I think it might be a long shot. I mean, if it was so good, why didn’t they use it in the first place?"

Gabe frowned thoughtfully. "Who's the doc?"

Cora had seen a name badge. She'd taken it in, but it hadn't been at the forefront of her mind. Now she needed to get it there.

"Dr. Fox," she said, remembering. She was good at doing that. If she'd seen something, and she let her subconscious work on it, she usually could remember it.

"Dr. Fox? I know him. He's treated my family before, and he’s very good. If anyone can help her, it's him."

"If anyone can." Cora made a face.

"When will they know?"

"I guess when the meds have had a chance to take effect. Probably a couple of days, is what he said. The allergic response has to be managed first."

Gabe nodded without replying. Cora looked at him, curious now, because it seemed as if he was preoccupied, as if he was thinking hard about something.

"I guess I'd better tell you this," he said.

"Tell me what?"

"I don't want to worry you more, but it sounds as if your mom is stable enough for the time being." Gabe sighed.

“What do you mean?” Cora asked, aggression flaring. “Are you keeping things from me?”

Gabe held up his big hands in a placating gesture. "I would have told you anyway. Just makes it easier that she's stable. Makes me feel better about whatever it is, and what it might mean."

"And what is it?" Cora asked. They were standing in the middle of the hospital lobby, with activity all around them and people rushing to and fro. Now, Gabe took her arm and drew her to the side, away from the crowds. She glanced at him inquiringly.

"Someone I remember slightly drove through our neighborhood yesterday evening."

"Came past your house?" Cora asked, puzzled.

"No. She was outside your parents' house, just waiting, and when I walked by, she recognized me, and asked where you were. I said I saw you every so often. I suggested she go inside and talk to your folks - that was before I knew what had happened with your mom."

Cora nodded. The downturn, the allergy, had happened overnight. Yesterday evening, her folks would have been at home. So why hadn't this person gone in?

"She refused. Then I tried to give her your phone number, but she wouldn't take it. She gave me this instead, and said you need to read it. That it's important. She seemed stressed. I said I'd get it to you as fast as I could."

He rummaged in his coat pocket and took out a small, battered looking manila envelope.

"Who is she? Why aren’t you telling me, Gabe?"

"Because I don’t know. It’s a woman. She wouldn't tell me her name. And I've seen her before, years ago, but I can't remember the name either."

Cora's eyebrows rose. This did seem like cloak and dagger.

"What did she look like?"

"About your height. Silver hair, very short. Green eyes. Seemed like she had some tattoos. Dressed in a black jacket and jeans."

Cora nodded. She knew who that was, or at any rate, she thought so. It was Trisha Moss, an ex-Army connection of hers, from when she'd been in the Navy SEALs. That felt like a very long time ago. But friendships and loyalties were timeless.

Back in the SEALs, Cora been known as Cobra, and that was why she’d gotten the snake tattoo on her bicep. Trisha had been known as Mamba. Just as lethal, and she’d had a similar tattoo done on her forearm.

"It's Trisha. She's a recruiter for the Army. Or she was. I haven't seen her for years. She’s always bleached up her hair until it’s white."

Trisha had been a toughie, with a sassy sense of humor and a whip-quick mind. Brave and smart, she'd served a few years in the SEALs and then she'd moved into the role of recruiter for all the armed forces. She'd been good at that, Cora remembered. She'd been a good judge of character, of knowing who'd make it and find their niche, and who wouldn't be right. The Army had valued those skills.

---