Never Alone by C. J. Carpenter Page B

well—” Megan swallowed hard. “Combative.”
    â€œI understand. I’m going to help her into bed, since you have basically an hour’s worth of forms to fill out.” She handed Megan a folder with Rose’s full name and birth date printed on the tab. “If you don’t mind starting this while I take down your mother’s vitals?”
    â€œOf course.”
    The nurse shifted the wheelchair closer to the bed. She locked the brakes and hoisted Rose onto the bed. This was familiar territory for the day nurse, but Megan was less than comfortable with tactile maneuvers involving her mother. She was always waiting for the outburst or the aggressive comment that would be forgotten as soon as her broken mind lashed out with it.
    â€œI’m just going to take her blood pressure, temperature, basic vitals. The doctor will be in soon.” The nurse moved Rose’s hair away from her cheek when Rose grabbed her by the wrist. “Rose, it’s alright. This isn’t going to hurt.”
    Rose’s grip was unforgiving. Nappa stepped in before Megan had a chance to react. “Mrs. McGinn, it’s okay.” It took some doing before he was able to free the nurse’s wrist from Rose’s grasp. His cuff became caught on her jewelry.
    â€œIt’s okay, it’s okay. You’re in a new place, sweetheart.” The nurse tried to calm Rose down the best she knew how. “I’m sorry, until the doctor arrives I can’t administer anything unless it’s listed on her chart.”
    Megan hovered over Rose. “Momma? Momma, it’s Meggie, everything’s okay.” She turned toward the nurse. “I’m so sorry.”
    She offered an empathetic nod. “Please understand this is very typical; it’s okay. I’m fine.” She turned toward Nappa. “Thank you.”
    After Rose’s outburst, Megan continued to sign form after form. By the time the doctor arrived, there was little left to be done other than confirm Rose’s medication. With that completed, it was time to say goodbye. The nurse was kind enough to add, “This really is a wonderful facility. She’ll be well taken care of.”
    Megan couldn’t speak without fear of tears forming. She smiled and nodded. Nappa put his hand on her shoulder and told her he’d wait outside.
    Rose was sitting up in bed staring out the window. Megan sat beside her and did the same. “Time for me to go, Momma,” she said and patted her mother’s leg. “I’ll be back soon to check on you.” She leaned in, hugging her mother tightly, wishing she’d hug back. “Love you much, Momma.” She kissed her on the cheek before walking out of the room.

seven
    Lieutenant Pearl Walker flipped a pen back and forth with one hand while the other held her forehead, probably trying to comfort a headache before it transformed into a migraine. Megan spied her boss through the open doorway and knew neither of them was looking forward to this meeting. News of an Upper East Side woman being murdered provoked major concern from Megan’s bosses and, in turn, her bosses. A homeless man being beaten to death or a drug deal gone wrong was merely a sad reflection of the society we lived in today; a young upper-middle-class woman pursuing a degree in social work viciously murdered in her own home, however, held all the ingredients of a public-relations nightmare. Walker needed this case to be solved quickly, and she knew one of the few detectives who could deliver was Megan McGinn. Given the recent death of her father, the lieutenant was undoubtedly worried Megan might not be emotionally equipped to handle the high-pressure case. But, being a frequent visitor to the track, Walker knew where and when to place her bets. This meant she was putting her money down on Megan to win, place, and show.
    The lieutenant had a Newton’s pendulum set on her desk. Five metallic