Xander twitched as the cold diaphragm of a stethoscope touched his chest.
The doctor listened quietly for a moment, then went on as he removed the stethoscope earpieces. “You also received a cut to your left femoral artery and suffered heavy blood loss, which required us to keep you in a medically induced coma after surgery until you were stabilized—”
“A what?” Xander sat back up. “A coma? How long have I been here?” His pulse raced. This couldn’t be happening. Was he too late?
“Two days.”
Xander swore. “Where are my discharge papers?”
“Discharge papers? You’re not ready for that.”
“I’m in the middle of a police investigation.” He tried to stand again, despite the burning pain the movement caused, but the nurse pushed down on his shoulder. He plopped back onto the bed.
The nurse lifted his feet onto the mattress and Xander seethed as the sharp pain cut deeper into his leg.
Seemingly oblivious, the doctor continued to check his vitals. When finished, he pointed at the plastic cup on the table.
“I think you’ll be needing those,” he said, then glanced down, scribbling something on his clipboard.
Xander sighed and reached for the water bottle and cup, the pills rattling as he took it in his hand. A quick glance at the contents told him the tablets inside were painkillers—hopefully strong ones—and after a few tries he managed to swallow them down.
“You’ll stay here for a day for observation, then we can see about your release forms.” The doctor clicked the top of his pen with his thumb.
“A day?” Xander groaned. “I have to leave now.”
Doc frowned, disapproval written all over his face. “A lot of people say that.”
“Look. This is urgent. This is a police investigation we’re talking about. A matter of life and death. I don’t need to be here, taking up space. I feel fine. Great.”
The doctor and the nurse exchanged skeptical glances. After a moment, Doc bobbed his head. “We’ll review your files. Sit tight for a few hours. Maybe we can let you go early.” With that he excused himself, the nurse trailing behind him.
Xander waited until the door clicked shut, then slowly moved his legs over the side of the bed again. He cringed and sucked in his breath as needles stabbed him up and down his leg.
The room spun, the furniture blurred. He rubbed his forehead, hung his head and waited for the swaying to stop. He’d been out for two days. Two. Whole. Days. Leila could be anywhere by now. Or dead.
No. She’s not dead. A hundred miles east. Near an oasis.
Someone knocked on the door. Xander lifted his head and straightened his shoulders. Wow, that was fast. He’d be out of here in minutes.
Then the door swung open and someone clattered into the room.
“What were you thinking?” a familiar voice shrieked.
Xander flinched at the high volume, the words reverberating like a screeching microphone. Squinting, he glanced over his shoulder.
“Good to see you, too, Emma.”
She paced at the foot of his bed, arms flailing. “What would Leila say if she saw you like this? Do you think this is helping her?” Her voice went up an octave and a few decibel points.
Xander placed a hand on his forehead to stop his skull from rattling.
“This”—a firmness returned to her voice—“this has got to stop before you kill yourself.”
“Emma,” Xander sighed, holding his head with both hands. If those painkillers would just kick in, that would be great. “I’m not going to stop. Not until I find her.”
“Or until you die.” She stopped pacing and stood at the foot of his bed, arms crossed over her chest.
“I need to get out of here.” Xander planted his feet on the floor and attempted to stand. His head swam, his body tipping forward dangerously.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Emma grabbed his shoulders and pushed him back down. “Why don’t you tell me what happened first. I’ve heard a bit of what the police said, but I want your side.”
The dizziness ebbed away. “I found a lead.” He hesitated, undecided on how much he should tell her. But being Leila’s good friend, she had a right to know at least some of what he’d learned. “Leila is alive.”
“What?” Emma fell silent for one glorious moment.
“If I hadn’t been stuck here in a blasted coma I could have found her by now.”
“She’s alive?” Emma squealed. “And you know where she is?”
“Yes. Well. Not… exactly.” At least an idea was forming in his mind, now that the headache had improved slightly and he was able to think again. “But I know where to start looking. Do you see my phone anywhere?”
Emma shrugged, then opened the closet door near the bed and glanced inside, only to shake her head. “Nope. Don’t see it. I’ll ask at the nurse’s station if they’re holding on to it.” She turned back to Xander. “Where is she then?”
“She’s in the desert.”
“The desert.” Emma’s eyes and shoulders drooped. “You have to do better than that. It’s a gazillion miles wide and another gazillion miles long.”
“I’m well aware of that. I was given a more specific location. Could you please see about my phone? Right now?”
