Key West Gone into the Night Elizabeth Hilleren (if you give a mouse a cookie read aloud txt) 📖

“Let’s move out.”

McCabe was inspecting the back end of the car. “I don’t think this was an accident. The car was hit in the back end. There’s a traffic cop coming. I just happened to be a couple blocks back.”

*    *    *

R. Sloan’s phone rang. It was McCabe.

“Cynthia and your dad were in an accident. They’re here at the hospital.”

“I’m on my way. I thought he just got out?”

“Yeah, he just left.  Sorry, Sloan, just wanted you to know.”

“I’ll see you there.”

*    *    *

Stephanie packed her things in her hotel room.  She then checked out of the hotel and walked to a small Bed and Breakfast.

“I need a room,” Stephanie said, looking around the lobby.

The clerk smiled. “We just happen to have a nice one.”

“Oh, thank you.  Do you have a computer I can use?”

“Sure, I’ll take your bags to your room and you can use our computer room.”

“Thanks.”

She sat down at the computer and pulled up the local online newspaper section. She found the personal ads and placed an ad.

“Grandmother searching for information on the incident that Carl messed up at the Sands Inn Motel. Call 555-8802.  I have the ransom.”

She had withdrawn fifty thousand dollars from her savings account and had it in a bank money bag. The number was for a new throw-away phone she had purchased.

Now all I have to do is wait.  Carl didn’t offer them enough money, and then he only gave them half. I’ll offer them real money.  I have a gun to defend myself.   I’ll show Burt how to get things done.

She decided that she needed to get some sleep.

She got ready for bed and sat watching out the window while she sipped on a double rum and coke courtesy of the room’s mini bar.

*    *    *

Sloan turned to Piper as he closed the phone.

“What is it, Sloan?”

“Dad and Cynthia are in the hospital. They had a car accident.”

“Are they all right?”

“No, but they’re stable now.”

The doors of the emergency room swished opened as Sloan and Piper walked in. The charge nurse, Kathy, was on duty and came to meet them.

“Sloan, your dad is with the doctor. He has some minor injuries but his heart was out of sync. Cynthia has a mild concussion and bruised ribs. The doctor will talk to you after if you will wait in the waiting room. I’ll take you there.”

Sloan walked into the waiting room that he knew so well. He looked at Piper.  “I waited here for you.”  His eyes puddled up and he fought to control himself.  “It’s a place full of fear and tension.”

“He’ll be all right. He has to be,” Piper said. “Call Sharkey and see if he has heard what happened.”

Sloan pushed Sharkey’s number on the phone, and he answered on the first ring.

“Sloan, I’m on my way in. Your dad was attacked. It wasn’t an accident. I’ll be there shortly.”

Rex and Roslyn came through the door next and were shown to the waiting room.  Rex shook Sloan’s hand.

“We’re here for you, whatever you need,” Rex said.

“Sharkey said it wasn’t an accident. They were hit by someone from behind and pushed into the intersection,” Sloan said.

“You think it was the people who killed Carl Abbott?” Rex asked.

“Yeah, I do. My dad saw the woman’s face. Killing him was an insurance activity.”

Sharkey came through the door and joined them. “Sloan, any word?”

“Not so far.  They’re trying to get his heart back in sync and Cynthia has a concussion and bruised ribs and a few cuts on her face, nothing that can’t be fixed.”

“We’ll find these people. We have people working on it. The officers are talking to people who were at the scene.”

The doctor entered the room and asked to speak to Sloan. They walked out into the corridor.

“Your father’s heart is back in sync and he sustained other minor injuries. They had their seats belts on, or it could have been much worse.”

Sloan felt his heart beating in his temple. The doctor was watching him closely.

“You need to sit down, and I’ll have the nurse check you out.  Nurse. Attend to Mr. Sloan, please.”

A young nurse guided Sloan to a chair.  “Let me make sure your vitals are good.”  She smiled. “You’re dealing with a lot this morning.”

Sloan sat down in a chair and she took his blood pressure and pulse.

“Take some deep breaths for me. That’s it.”

“You’re in a little bit of shock. I’ll bring you some cold water. Stay here.”

Piper walked over. “You all right?”

“Yeah.  It all just hit me hard.”

“Try and relax. He’s in God’s good hands.”

Sloan held on to Piper’s hand tightly.

Rex and Sharkey sat together.

“I’ve got to get going and check on the scene. There was foul play here.”

“We’ll stay with Sloan and Piper,” said Rex.

“I’ll be in touch. Let me know if anything happens here.”

“Will do.”

*    *    *

Sloan sent Piper and Rex home to get some sleep. He sat down in a soft chair with a footrest and finally fell asleep. He awoke to the smell of coffee and Nurse Kathy White standing over him.

“Hey,” she said softly. “Here’s some coffee and a sandwich from the cafeteria.”

“Thanks, Kathy.”

“I have some encouraging news. Your dad and Cynthia are much better. The doctor said you can visit them shortly.”

She set the tray on the table and Sloan sat down and ate.  A doctor stopped by his chair.

“Mr. Sloan, I trust the nurse told you that you can see your father and Cynthia soon?”

“Yes. How are they doing?”

“Cynthia has a concussion and some bruised ribs but nothing to worry about.”

“I’ll see them after a little