“Yeah, he said he's been a little backed up with orders lately but is willing to make an exception for the wonderful staff that have been taking such good care of Glenn.”
“Such a sweet man,” the brunette says.
“How'd he take the news?” The blonde says wearily.
“He hasn't come by yet and he hasn't answered his phone when we tried to contact him.”
“Has his brother?”
“Yeah,” the blonde says with a curt nod. Wendy is what it says on her badge. “He's actually here now.” They both look my way and I keep walking, not stopping until I'm behind the room door again.
“You're back. Get lost?” Patrick perks up, taking the cold cup from my hand.
“I think we should go soon.”
“Why?” His brow furrows.
“I think I know who left you those cookies. It's probably the same person who started the fire and cut off your brother's finger.”
His face goes two shades lighter. “Who?”
I look behind me, eyes zoning in on a pink bag on one of the shelves. I pick it up and shake the contents in it. “Yours brother's supposed husband.”
“I…that's the same bag that…” His hand covers his mouth, eyes widening in shock and the cup almost slips through his other fingers as they shake.
“Same bag and same cookies. These smell the same as yours did. I think he was hoping you'd eat them when you came back to visit. He left some at the nurse's station too but I don't think those were tampered with.”
“Fuck. Should we at least wait and see if he comes back?”
“I don't think he will. At least not as long as he knows we're here. He can't kill your brother as easily if we are.”
“I'm surprised he hasn't done it yet. What's he waiting for?”
“I don't know. To use him to get you to go away first. But why, I'm not sure.”
“It doesn't make any sense. He's not into anything bad. Not that I know of. I've been all over his house and the man collects nature magazines for crying out loud.”
“There has to be a reason and I don't want to wait for them to show us what it is.”
“Them?”
I nod, looking around me and step closer. “We shouldn't talk about this here.” I pocket the cookies and help him up from the chair.
“How about I stay here and you go see what all you can find.” He tugs on his bottom lip with his teeth.
“I don't want to leave you alone here.”
“I'm not alone. There are staff and patients everywhere. They also said they'd be watching this room more closely.”
“Yes but they won't know who to watch for. They were talking about the guy as if he was this saint.”
“I have my phone. I'll call if anything happens or he shows up.”
“Fine,” I breathe out. “Don't leave this room. Not for anything.”
He nods, sitting back in the chair. “I won't.”
I turn to leave and my steps come to a halt when he says, “Thank you, Nick.”