Page 24 of Backwater Justice

“Maggie?” Milton furrowed his brow.

“Maggie Spritzer. She’s my best journalist. She was inspired by the story of Vanessa Rowan. Too many teenage runaways. She’s doing a follow-up and expanding the subject.”

“Good idea. I’m still befuddled about all that,” Milton said softly.

“Hopefully, the girl will turn up. Many of them do,” Myra said.

You have no idea how right you are,Annie thought again.

“Do you want me to go with you?” Myra asked.

Annie knew she was going to need help. What kind of help was still unknown, but help she would surely need.

“I’ll go to the hotel and get the car so you can visit with Mill for a few more minutes.” Annie made a slight gesture toward the pocket where she kept her phone. Myra gave her a look saying she understood. Annie was going to call her or text her shortly.

“Bye, Milton. We’ll see you later.” Annie kissed the back of his hand.

“Yes, you will.” He smiled. He was feeling much better with all the positive energy around him.

* * *

Annie moved quickly when she spotted an empty gurney. She commandeered it as if it were something she did every day. No one questioned the woman in the white cashmere jacket. Had they been looking closely, they would have noticed the luxe fabric, plus those wild boots. But everyone was in a hurry at the hospital, including Annie.

She pushed the stretcher down the hall, in the opposite direction from Milton’s room. There was a large elevator a few feet away. Someone was coming toward her with a patient attached to an I.V. Annie stepped out of the way and let them take the first car. She hoped the girl hadn’t fled the scene. When the next elevator car arrived, she made sure she was the first to get in, and quickly punched the button to close the door. Then she pushed the button for the second floor. When the doors opened, she wheeled the gurney as quickly as she could without arousing suspicion. She checked in all directions and then pushed it against the wall. She opened the stairwell door, hoping the girl would be there. Annie let out a huge sigh of relief when she saw Vanessa huddled in the corner.

“You doing okay?” she asked the girl.

Vanessa nodded.

“Good.” Annie peeked through the glass. Several people were milling about. “This is going to require some super-fast action. I am going to go back into the hallway. When I knock on the door, you slip out and then climb under the sheet.” She watched Vanessa blink a few times. “Are you up for this?”

Vanessa nodded and repeated, “Knock. Out. Sheet.”

“Good girl.” She looked at Vanessa again for confirmation. Vanessa nodded.

Annie checked the hallway again. Everyone was rushing to their own emergencies. Her caper should escape everyone’s notice. Should they succeed. She took a deep breath. “Okay. Here we go.”

Annie quickly opened the door and slid along the wall. No one was watching. She knocked. The door opened and closed like lightning. Before Annie could even blink, there was a big white lump on the gurney. Annie had no idea where she was going to take the girl, but it had to be far away from the two men.

* * *

About half an hour earlier, Myra had been sitting with Milton while Oliver and Annie were chatting in the hallway about fast cars. An aide came in and said there were two more gentlemen here to see Mr. Spangler. “Mr. Dickie and Bart.”

Oliver excused himself from Annie and approached the men halfway down the hall. He was beginning to have an anxiety attack. And he hadn’t had any blow that day. Yet. He realized he had been going through a lot more than usual over the past month or so. Yep, he was blowing his money. Then it occurred to him, maybe that’s why they call it “blow.”Huh.Dickie and Bart came rambling in his direction. Oliver’s collar began to get hot. He was beginning to sweat. Was he sure he hadn’t had a hit of cocaine yet? “You boys got any news for me?”

Dickie scratched his head. “No sign of the package.”

“And tell me again, how did this happen?”

Dickie shot Bart a look. “You tell ’im.”

“Like I said, I picked up a hitchhiker, the box ripped open.” He looked down at the floor. This was not easy. How do you explain a major disaster to your boss? A disaster that could send all of them to jail.

Oliver was getting impatient. “And then what happened, Bart?” An attendant gave him an annoyed look, obviously about to ask them to be quiet.

Oliver motioned for the three of them to step farther away.

“Then I kinda panicked, I guess.”