Had a Great Fall (An Olivia Thompson Mystery) by Jullian Scott Page A

insignificant,” Nate said dismissively. “Hurry up, Monroe. I’m driving.”
    No matter how many times Nate walked the halls of a hospital, he never got used to the sterile smell invading his nose and making it hard to breathe. After Olivia was shot, he had practically moved into her hospital room. While it wasn’t his favorite accommodation, he had become friendly with several of the nurses. He was hoping that would come in handy.
    “Loni.” He approached the tough-looking nurse with a big smile.
    She looked at him expectantly, probably assuming he was another family member of a patient planning to yell at her for not bringing the Jell-O fast enough. After a second, she recognized him. “Nate? What are you doing here?”
    “Working a case,” he said, nodding toward Vince. “This is my partner, Detective Monroe.”
    “Good to meet you.” Vince stayed back a step, letting Nate work his charm.
    “We’re here about the girl that was brought in,” Nate said.
    “I figured as much. That poor girl…” Loni shook her head sadly. “To think that she escaped that crazy man only to be hit by a car. It’s just terrible.”
    “We need to speak with her. Jenna might be able to help us find the man responsible.” Nate caught her eyes.
    She frowned. “I’m afraid that’s not possible. Jenna has suffered severe bleeding in her brain and she is in a coma.”
    “Any idea when she might wake up?” Vince asked with his usual optimism.
    “The swelling in her brain won’t go down for days, and even then there is no guarantee. Not to mention that even if she wakes up, we have no way of knowing if she will be able to speak, or if she will even remember anything.” Loni spoke like a woman who had seen her fair share of head injuries.
    “Can you take us to her?” Nate asked. “If we can see her injuries, it may help us.”
    Loni nodded. “Sure thing, darling. Come with me.”
    When she turned her back on them, Vince mouthed the word “darling” at Nate and grinned.
    “How’s that pretty girlfriend of yours doing?” Loni asked, oblivious to the exchange happening behind her back.
    “Olivia is doing well,” Nate said, glaring at Vince. “You all took good care of her.”
    “She’s a sweet girl.” Loni turned to smile at him. “She’s clearly smitten with you.”
    Nate felt his face begin to flush. “The feeling is mutual.”
    “Good.” Loni nodded in satisfaction. “After what she went through, she needs someone to treat her right.”
    Her words made Nate feel guilty for not being with Olivia right then.
    “We won’t take long,” he promised Loni outside the door to Jenna’s room.
    “Good luck.” She smiled grimly and walked away.
    Jenna’s body looked small in the stark white hospital bed. Her red hair looked almost comical in the midst of the breathing tubes and monitors. It peaked out on one side of her head beneath the white bandage.
    “She’s relatively unharmed,” Vince said, surprised.
    Nate had grabbed her chart and started scanning the notes. “Signs of sexual assault, evidence that she fought back. They did a full rape kit so we might get some DNA.”
    “No ligature marks around her neck. Her left wrist is bruised. Maybe he tied her to something?’ Vince guessed.
    “We need her to wake up,” Nate said, staring at her motionless form. His stomach twisted into a knot. “Go make sure the rape kit was sent in. I need to check on something.”
    Before Vince could ask any questions, Nate hurried out of the room. At the end of the hall, he stopped a nurse.
    “Can you tell me which room is Mark Gilliad’s room?” Nate could barely get the words out through his clenched jaw.
    “Last door on the right.”
    Nate took several deep breaths as he approached the door. He was extra conscious of the weight of his gun at his hip. He stepped through the open door and approached the bed. His heart was pounding in his chest.
    Mark looked much the same as Jenna, a breathing tube down his throat