Person of Interest by Debra Webb Page A

night,” he mumbled.
    Taken aback, Elizabeth reminded herself that he probably wouldn’t even remember anything he said. Ignoring the remark was likely the best course.
    “Sorry,” he muttered. “I didn’t mean to let that slip out.”
    She’d suspected as much. Swiping her hands on her thighs she sat back, relaxed her shoulders against the empty shelves behind her. “That’s all right, Agent Hennessey,” she allowed, “most patients say more than they mean to when on heavy-duty painkillers.”
    He licked his lips and groaned. The doctor in her went on immediate alert. “Are you feeling pain now, Agent Hennessey?” Surely not. He’d been dosed half an hour prior to their departure.
    He inhaled a big breath. “No way, Doc, I’m flying over here.” He blinked a few times then turnedhis head slowly to look at her. “God, you’re gorgeous, did you know that?”
    Elizabeth sat a little straighter, tugged at the collar of her blouse to occupy her hands. “You might want to get some more sleep, Hennessey, before you say something you’ll regret.”
    “Too late, right?” He made another of those rumbling sounds that were likely an attempt at chuckling. “No big deal.” He waved a hand dismissively. “You already know how gorgeous you are.”
    Maybe his hands should have been restrained. He’d been secured to ensure he didn’t roll off the gurney, but his arms had been left free.
    “You should lay still, Agent—”
    “Yeah, yeah, I know,” he interrupted. “Don’t move, don’t say anything. That’s what I do best. But at least I’d never lie to you like he did. Never…” His eyes closed reluctantly as if the drugs had belatedly kicked in and he couldn’t keep them open any longer.
    Elizabeth let go a breath of relief. She checked his pulse and relaxed a little more when it appeared he’d drifted back to sleep.
    Lending any credence to anything he’d said was ridiculous under the circumstances. The drugs had him confused and talking out of his head. She knew that, had seen it numerous times.
    But the part about lying wouldn’t let her put his ramblings out of her mind. What did he mean by that remark?
    Nothing, you fool, she scolded.
    She folded her arms over her chest. Then why did it feel familiar? As if he’d said what she’d thought a dozen times over. Because she’d sensed that David had been lying to her for quite some time.
    Elizabeth closed her eyes and chastised herself for going down that road. David was dead. Whatever he’d said to her, lies or not, no longer mattered. He wasn’t coming back. He was gone forever.
    Dead.
    She opened her eyes and stared at the bandaged face of the man lying so still less than two feet from her. Nothing he told her would matter. She’d loved David. He was gone. She wouldn’t be taking that rocky route again anytime soon.
    Nothing that Agent Joe Hennessey said or did would alter her new course.
    As soon as this was over she intended to revive her social life as planned. Start dating again.
    It was past time.

Chapter Five
    Joe studied his reflection for far longer than the bandaged mug warranted. He didn’t know what he expected to see or what it mattered. The deed was done.
    Twenty-four hours had passed since he’d gone under the knife. He pretty much felt like hell. His whole head could be a puffy melon if it weren’t for the pain radiating around his face in ever tightening bands coming to a point at his nose. He’d had his nose broken once, but it hadn’t hurt like this.
    He glanced at the table next to his bed. There was medication for the pain, except he preferred to put off taking it until the pain became intolerable.
    So far this morning, he had avoided spending much time with the doc. He’d been aware of her coming in and out of his room all during the night to check the portable monitors that provided a continuous scorecard on his vitals. He’d felt her looking athim each time but he hadn’t opened his eyes, hadn’t wanted to