"What do you want?" She sounds strangled.
"Well, you see, I’ve been waiting for this day for a very long time, but unfortunately, I need you to fill in some blanks for me. Unless, of course, you would like Human Resources to get an anonymous email about your whereabouts after your shift on December second."
Oh yes, I know exactly when she stocked up last. I did my homework.
"No!" She is fully awake now.
"Very well, then. So why don’t you tell me about your visitor, my dear?" I smile to myself.
"Why can’t you just leave that poor girl alone?" Her question is no more than a whisper. She knows who I am and is afraid. Rightfully so. I may not harm anyone physically, but with today’s technology, you don’t need physical harm to destroy someone.
"That is not your concern." I struggle to keep my voice calm. "Just tell me what happened."
"The boy was talking to one of my nurses. He was asking about Maddie. He said she took care of his sister a long time ago. Beth is new. She never met Maddie and told him that."
Sister? That’s interesting; but why did they race out of the hospital if that was all?
"Margery," I chastise, "you are not telling me everything."
"Really! That’s all they talked about." She is almost pleading.
"Margery, you and I both know that you are holding something back. Do I have to remind you again what’s at stake?"
I can hear her take slow breaths which I assume are to calm herself.
"I gave them Maddie’s information. I didn’t talk to them, but I gave them a note with her new hospital."
"Ahhh. Now, was that so difficult, my dear? Now, one last thing, did they mention any names? Besides Madeline Cross."
I have searched for Lilly for years, but her name hasn’t popped up anywhere.
"He only said his sister; he didn’t mention her name." Listening closely to the way she rushes it out tells me there is more.
"Margery, dear, are you certain this is all he said?" I make sure to lace my tone with a warning undertone.
"Yes," she croaks. She doesn’t want to tell me but knows she has no choice. However, she is trying, which is commendable since she’s seen what I could do ten years ago.
"I’m growing impatient, Margery. Nathalie is working tonight, and I’m sure she’ll check her emails at some point." Nathalie Rehn is the charge nurse who’s on duty tonight and also a strict rule follower. She would have Margery reported within the hour.
"He said his name was McGuire. Rhys McGuire." There we go.
"Well, thank you, Margery. That wasn’t so difficult, now was it?"
"Will you tell anyone?" She is terrified of losing her job.
"No, not at this point. Your little problem has not harmed anyone, but the day it does, I will happily take action."
I don’t wait for a reply and hang up.
Rhys McGuire, who are you and what do you have to do with my Lilly?
I’m about to start my search when my phone rings, and Margot’s name and picture lights up the screen. She chose the picture. Margot doesn’t leave anything to chance. It was taken at a gala we attended a few months into dating. She wore a strapless black gown which emphasized every curve of her body. Her normally curly blonde hair was impeccably styled in one of those fifties-style up-dos, no doubt by her personal stylist. She looked truly stunning that night.
If she calls me at this hour, it means something has happened, and not answering is out of the question.
"Margot? What’s wrong?"
"Oh, darling, Marco quit and left me stranded at The Club. He just left; can you believe it? How am I going to get home now?" she wails into the phone. Oh boy, Marco was her most recent driver, and I don’t even bother questioning why this one quit.