Gator Bait by Jana DeLeon Page B

with catching whoever shot Carter—at least, not for shooting Carter.”
    “No. They will think whatever they’re working on is far more important than one small-town deputy.”
    “They’re wrong,” Gertie said. “And they suck.”
    Ida Belle raised an eyebrow.
    “Just sayin’,” Gertie grumbled.
    Ida Belle put her hands on her hips. “We’ve worked our way around Feds before. We can do it again.”
    “True,” I said, but we’d gotten lucky the last time. The Feds hadn’t really locked onto the three of us as suspects, so they’d never had any reason to run my background. But with Carter being shot, and us being…close…or whatever, they might take a harder look. I figured my fake identity was good enough for regular law enforcement scrutiny, but I wasn’t so sure it would hold up to a federal check.
    “I have to be really careful with this one,” I said.
    Ida Belle’s eyes widened. “Crap! I hadn’t even thought about that. We’ll play it cool—the concerned friends and new girlfriend. Play the cute ditzy blonde and they won’t take a second look at you.”
    “Ditzy?” I shook my head. “I wouldn’t even know where to begin. I barely manage capable librarian. Ditzy is so far out of my element it’s not even in this universe.” I sighed. “But if it means finding out who tried to kill Carter, then I guess I’ll manage.”
    Gertie smiled. “That’s the spirit. Now, get upstairs and put on something girlie—I’m thinking the yellow sundress. And put your hair in a ponytail. It makes you look younger, which means less experience and knowledge.”
    “And be fast about it,” Ida Belle said. “We’ve got to get to the hospital. Emmaline can’t keep the Feds away from Carter forever. We need to talk to him first.”
    “I’ll fix us some breakfast for the road,” Gertie said, and headed for the kitchen.  
    I dashed upstairs and made a quick change into my girl persona, even slipping bright pink lip gloss into my purse to don after breakfast. I’d thought the color horrid when Gertie selected it, but it was perfect for what I needed to do. I gave myself a final look in the full-length mirror and hurried downstairs, saying a quick prayer as I went.  
    We were going to need all the help we could get.

    ###

    Emmaline jumped up from her chair when we entered the hospital waiting room and gave Ida Belle a hug.  
    “They’re sitting in the corner by the plant,” she whispered.  
    I appreciated the effort, but didn’t need her to point them out. In a rural area hospital, black suits and sunglasses looked completely out of place. Clearly, they’d been watching too many movies.  
    Two of them. First one six feet even, 185 pounds. Second one six feet two, 200 pounds. Needed to lose a few pounds, but both in decent shape. Bummer.
    Emmaline gave Gertie and me quick hugs, then motioned us to the side. “The nurse said Dr. Stewart is in with Carter now. I’m praying we get to see him.”
    “Is he awake?” I asked.
    Emmaline nodded. “The nurse said he was awake for fairly long spurts during the night. I slipped back there once to take a peek, but he was sleeping then. I didn’t want to wake him.”
    “Of course not,” Ida Belle said. “He needs his rest, and besides, Dr. Stewart will let you see Carter before he turns a couple of Feds loose on him.”
    “Do you think so?” Emmaline asked.
    “Definitely,” Gertie said. “Otherwise, he’d be giving up his official Southerner card.”
    The waiting room door opened and Dr. Stewart stepped into the room. The two Feds jumped up from their chairs and flashed their badges at him. I hurried over to see the badge, but they closed their wallets quickly and shoved them back in their pockets.
    “We need to speak to Mr. LeBlanc immediately,” the first Fed said.
    Dr. Stewart glanced over at Emmaline, then looked back at the Feds. “He’s my patient. I’ll say who speaks to him and who doesn’t. He’s asking for his family and