Chapter 34: Chapter 34
A nurse came out of the hospital room first, but Trent could tell she didn’t have anything to say that would make him feel better about the situation. She simply took him by the shoulders and walked him a little bit away from the door. “They’re moving her to the OR,” the nurse said. “The doctors are still working on her, but they’re afraid they may have to open her up in order to see what damage is being done to her heart.”
Trent felt tears rolling down his cheeks as he ran a hand through his hair and tried to keep himself under control. “Open her up? Oh, God! Why?” he asked as the doors came flying open and they carted Bree off down the hall, the doctors shouting to each other as they moved her, along with a bunch of equipment Bree was hooked up to.
The nurse followed them with her eyes for a moment before she said, “We think someone came into her room and drugged her. We’re not sure, but that’s what we assume must have happened. We don’t know what she might’ve been given, but once we figure that out, it will make it easier to treat her.”
Trent nodded, letting her know he’d understood what she’d said, even if he still couldn’t comprehend it. “If they catch the person who did this, maybe she can tell them what she did. Or maybe she’ll still have evidence one her person.”
“That is certainly a possibility,” the nurse said, her expression conveying that she might not be as hopeful as Trent was. “It appears as if her condition is stabilizing at the moment, but she isn’t out of the woods yet. If you’d like to follow me, I’ll take you to the waiting area near the OR.”
“Okay,” Trent said, his feet moving even though he was still too shocked to truly think about where he was going. A few moments ago, he was reassuring her parents that Bree was fine and would go home tomorrow. Now, she was headed to the operating room in case they needed to cut her chest open and operate on her heart. How did this happen?
They walked past the doors that said OR. Trent was thankful he couldn’t hear the doctors shouting to one another anymore, though part of him did want to know what was going on in there. For a second, his mind slipped to a dark place, and he imagined what it would be like for Dr. Rook to come and tell him Bree hadn’t made it. He had to push those thoughts aside. The idea of losing her was something he just couldn’t fathom.
“Here’s the waiting room,” the nurse said, gesturing to a place with five or six chairs near a window at the end of the hall. “If you’ll have a seat, we’ll let you know what’s happening as soon as we have an update.”
“Thank you,” Trent said, but he couldn’t sit down. The nurse hurried off toward the operating room, and Trent let his eyes focus out the window.
What he saw was almost as stunning as the scene he’d seen unfolding in the hospital room when the doctors had first come in.
The police were interrogating a woman dressed in a nurses costume at the end of the parking lot. There was a car sitting there, a man inside. He looked flabbergasted, like he had no idea he was helping a would-be murderer escape the scene of the crime. Even though she was wearing a wig, and despite the distance, Trent was certain he knew who he was looking at. It was definitely Cat.
“Tell them what you did, Cat!” he said, grinding his teeth together in a silent prayer that she would cooperate. “Tell them what you did!” They needed to know what that bitch had put in Bree’s IV.
Trent’s phone vibrated in his pocket making him realize he’d have to call Bree’s parents back. Should he do that now, or wait for an update? The nurse had sounded hopeful, but if something should happen to her… something irreversible… didn’t he owe it to them to tell them in time for them to get there? Would they even have a chance to get there in time?
His eyes stayed glued to the scene outside as Cat was cuffed and slid into the backseat of a patrol car. An officer or a security guard of some sort was headed back toward the building at a fast pace. Trent hoped he was hurrying because he knew what the chemical was that Cat had given to Bree. Maybe Cat had finally done the right thing and tried to undo this. Even if it was just to save her own butt from murder charges, he didn’t care. He just wanted the doctors to have all of the information they needed in order to fix Bree.
The police car drove away, and after a quick discussion with one of the officers, the man in what he could only assume was Cat’s rideshare car drove off, too. The scene in the parking lot dissipated, and Trent had no reason to keep standing there.
He sunk into a chair, his head in his hands. This day had started off unbelievable, and it just kept getting worse. It was time for some good news. Bree had to be okay--she just had to be.
***
Minutes seemed like hours as Trent sat in the waiting room, praying that Bree would be all right, that he’d get an update soon, that her parents, who were on their way now, would arrive safe and sound. He’d had to tell them what had happened, even though it was difficult to articulate. It would take them hours to make the drive. With any luck, Bree would be just fine by the time they arrived.
It had only been about an hour since he’d moved to the waiting room, but it felt like days. The same nurse who had brought him here was headed toward him. Trent stood, wringing his hands as he tried to read her expression.
She smiled as she approached, resting her hand on his arm. “She’s going to be okay. The doctors reached her in time. They were able to identify the chemical that had been injected and confirmed that with security who took a woman into custody who had a vial on her containing one of the drugs they suspected might be responsible for Bree’s reaction. Since they’ve been able to identify what was happening in her body, they were able to stop it and are working to correct the damage now.”
That sounded like good news, but Trent wasn’t sure it was all as positive as she was making it sound. “What damage?” he asked, running a hand through his hair.
The nurse took a deep breath. “The chemical caused some reactions within her bloodstream, and part of it did reach her heart. One chamber of her heart sustained a bit of damage, but they didn’t have to open her up. They’ve administered a drug that should take the strain off of her heart and allow it to heal. She’s resting now, and the doctors want to keep her that way for a day or two so that she doesn’t have any unnecessary stress on her organs. She’ll be transferred to ICU as soon as they’re done stabilizing her, which should be a matter of moments. The police are in contact with the doctors, and they will be sure to post an officer outside of the door at all times. They’re certain they have the right woman in custody, but they want to take extra precautions in case she was working with someone else.”
Trent tried to take all of that in. While he didn’t think there would be any more of a threat to Bree as long as they kept Cat in custody this time, he wasn’t at all opposed to them placing security outside of her door. “When will I be able to see her?”
With a small smile that told him she felt sorry for him, she said, “You can see her as soon as they get her moved to ICU, but she will be unconscious for at least the next two days as the doctors keep her in a coma so that they can be sure that her heart is repaired completely.”
He understood that. He just wanted to see her. “All right. Thank you.”
“Certainly. Is there anything I can get you in the meantime?”
“No, I’m okay. Her parents are on their way here.”
“Good. She’ll be happy to see them when she wakes up. Is there anyone else I can call?”
Trent shook his head. He’d make any phone calls that needed to be made, as soon as he had a chance to see Bree. “No, thanks.”
“All right. I’ll be back to get you once she’s moved to her new room.” She patted his arm again, and Trent stumbled back to his chair before melting into it.
This all seemed like a horrible nightmare, and it just kept getting worse. As if the fire wasn’t bad enough, then the surgery on her hand, and now…. Cat needed to be locked up for a very long time.
At least they’d taken her into custody. With any luck, she would spend the rest of her life in prison. If Trent ever saw her again, he might just kill the bitch himself.
The approach of footsteps had him looking up again, hoping it was the nurse. But it wasn’t. It was two police officers. He was certain they’d want to ask him questions about what he saw and whether or not it could’ve been Cat. He was sure now that it was, and he’d do whatever it took to get her thrown in the slammer forever.