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If there was a heaven, she was probably up there shaking her head over how badly I’d screwed that up. She had warned us about Gage, and I had let Channing get mixed up with him. That was on me. I twisted the emerald around my finger to hide the stone, as if she was watching me with it. Maybe it was better that she wasn’t around to see my colossal failure.
Still, part of me was relieved that the gun hadn’t been loaded.
That I hadn’t killed Gage.
I might have failed Channing, but what would Gran think if I had become a murderer?
I found my purse and clothing on the nightstand like I’d been dropped off and tucked into bed instead of whisked away by a magic necklace. Because a working air conditioner wasn’t creepy enough—and proof that Gage was paying attention to every word that I said. My phone had died, because the Otherworld might have fantastic fucking food but no power outlets. I went to find a charger while I contemplated the medieval torture of it. How was I supposed to vanish every night and put up with shit like that?
Not that I was living in luxury here.
My house was a small rental with only two bedrooms and one large room that served as a kitchen, dining room, and living room all rolled into one. Everything inside was worn and dated, from the kitchen cabinets to the cheap, beige carpeting that was so old it felt like sandpaper on my bare feet. I’d filled it with secondhand furniture from local thrift stores. Library books covered the water rings on the coffee table. A blanket was thrown over the couch’s thin upholstery to cover its sags and creases. Everything was utilitarian. There to serve a purpose, not look pretty.
The only decor I’d bothered with was a collection of pictures on the fridge. I’d snipped them from magazines so long ago that their edges were curled and yellowing. Paris. Venice. London. Hong Kong. Prague. Places I had never been that I wanted to remind myself existed—places outside of New Orleans. The closest I’d ever gotten to any of them was in the pages of a book.
When I finally got my phone plugged in, it powered on to show a dozen missed calls and texts—all from the hospital.
I dialed Haley directly, because if they’d been calling to upgrade my suspension to a full-blown termination, I’d rather hear it from her. She didn’t answer, and she still hadn’t called back by the time I was out of the shower. Channing’s phone went straight to voicemail. I threw on some clothes and decided I couldn’t avoid the real world any longer. But I was dragging ass by the time I turned the radio up in my Volvo, ignored the engine warning light for the thousandth time in a row, and headed a few blocks to the hospital.
The waiting room was already full. A quick visual sweep told me it was the usual mix: overly cautious parents with sick kids, a woman doubled over with what was probably food poisoning, and a man holding a bloodied rag to his head. It took effort not to check on them. But the only thing worse than kissing Garcia’s ass to get my suspension lifted would be doing it if he found out I’d been treating patients in his waiting room.
Pausing at the desk, I flashed my badge to Barb, who grimaced.
“I know you’re suspended.” She peered over the thick rim of her glasses. “But I might have forgotten to turn off your badge. Are you sure you want to go back there?”
I screwed up my face. “No, but I’m going to do it anyway.”
“Good luck,” she called as I swiped my badge. The door buzzed open with an ominous, echoing click.
Haley caught sight of me as soon as I was on the other side and beelined my direction, her long braids swaying with each step. As she reached me, she grabbed my arm, her brown eyes wide. “Where the hell have you been?”
“I was dealing with something.” Not a lie, exactly.
She frowned, her fingers digging into me as she dragged me into an empty triage room. “You went to see the Gages, didn’t you?” she asked in a low voice even though we were alone. “You think I don’t know what you were up to when you left the other night? Christ, I’ve been losing my mind. Tell me you didn’t do anything reckless.”
Define reckless. I bit the words back. “More reckless than getting suspended?” I fingered my badge before sliding it into the back pocket of my jeans. “Or am I fired?”
“No clue. Garcia has been dealing with the police.” Her eyes widened with accusation, like I needed a reminder of who had involved law enforcement.
“A crime was committed.” Now that I knew the truth, I questioned that call, but I wasn’t about to admit that.
“Well, Channing hasn’t been very cooperative. They sent some rookie down here, and he’s making Garcia jump through hoops, trying to get statements from all of us. He even stationed someone outside Channing’s door.”
I sighed. “So, I’m in deep shit all around?”
“I don’t think you’re getting employee of the month.” She shook her head and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “Maybe bring Garcia some of the beignets from that place on Canal?”
She was probably right, but even though Dr. Garcia held my career’s future in his hands, he wasn’t the reason I was here. “How is Channing?”
Haley released me, a bemused smile flashing across her face. “Not speaking to anyone. The only time he says anything is to ask for pain meds or food.”
My jaw clenched on a few choice words, frustration bubbling inside me. He could be mad at me all he wanted. He was the one who had gotten shot, and if I did regret getting the police involved, it was only because I now realized how truly powerless they were against Gage. Though none of that was a good enough reason to be rude to the people who were helping him. “Is that so? Let me see him.”
Haley swept a hand toward the door. “Be my guest. I need to get back out there. We’re short-staffed.”
I winced, her words lodging directly in my gut. The hospital’s staffing issues were only worse with me gone. I drew a deep breath as I followed her into the organized chaos of the emergency room. Weaving my way through the white coats and scrubs, I made my way to the nurse’s station to check his room number before heading upstairs.
A uniformed police officer greeted me at Channing’s room with a gruff, “No visitors.” He looked back at his phone.