“I saw your man on the television,” Jane continued.
“You did?”
“Yep. He was carrying an old woman out of the building. Total hero-style.”
“Did they say who the old woman was?”
“No,” Jane said.
“I need to call and check on Sharon,” I said.
“Okay, honey. Do you need me to take over your class this morning?”
“You have a job.”
“I can call out sick,” she offered.
“You’re the best friend in the world, but no. You need to keep your job.”
I didn’t point out her husband was a loser who refused to get one, but I’m pretty sure I was too tired to hide my tone of inference.
She sighed. “If you change your mind, let me know.”
“I will, honey, thanks.”
We rang off and I tried to call Sharon. Her phone was out of service, no surprise there, considering the building was on fire. She didn’t own a cell phone, so I was stuck. I didn’t want to text Shadow because he was obviously in the thick of something really serious, so I tried to distract myself by making coffee, making my bed, cleaning the bathroom, and generally just pacing my little house.
Eight a.m. rolled around, and I couldn’t wait any longer to see if Shadow would walk in. I had to get to the studio, so I locked up and took off. I was forcing myself not to panic as I went through the motions of my class. Luckily, I’d done it often enough, I was able to rely on muscle memory.
I pasted on a smile, did my best not to rush through the instruction, and the whole time worrying myself to death about Sharon and Shadow.
Were they okay? Did Sharon get out? What or who started the fire?
I was driving myself crazy asking all the questions in my head, but I had to get through this class, then I could make a million phone calls and break down. At least until my first massage client in an hour.
I wrapped up the class and ushered my students out, just as Dylan walked in. I frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he said. “Shadow was trying your cell and you weren’t answering, so he texted me to check in on you.”
I rushed back to my office and snagged my phone off my desk.
Shadow: I’m safe. Sharon safe. Text later
Shadow: Got a few minutes, call me.
Shadow: I know you have a class, but call me.
Shadow: Sending search party.
I settled my hand to my chest, then texted him back.
Me: Sorry! All good. Class is done, call me.
My phone buzzed almost immediately.
“Hi,” I breathed out.
“Hey, baby. Only got a few seconds but wanted to hear your voice.”
“You’re sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah. All good. We got Sharon. She hurt her ankle trying to get out.”
“Where is she?”
“They took her to Memorial, but I’m not sure if she’s still there,” he said. “Baby, I gotta go. Dylan’s your shadow today, pun intended.”
I smiled. “Okay, I’ll see you later.”
I hung up and went looking for Dylan. He was chatting up one of my students, so I gave them a little space and called the hospital.
I went through a series of button pressing before getting through to a live person. “Memorial Hospital, how may I direct your call?”
“I’m looking for a patient,” I said. “Sharon Warman?”
“I’ll put you through.”
The phone rang several times before being rerouted back to the main system. My first massage client of the day walked in, so I had to hang up and greet him.
“Hi, Bill,” I said with a smile. “You can head on back.”
“Thanks,” he said, and walked away.
“Do you need me to do anything?” Dylan asked.
“Like…?”
“Anything, Posey. I can clean, run errands, whatever.”
“Really?”
“Yeah,” he said. “I’m here as long as you’re here, so put me to work.”
“I would love it if you would call Memorial and get Sharon Warman’s information. Specifically, which room she’s in so I can swing by after work. And if you wouldn’t mind spraying down the mats and props, then doing a quick mop of the yoga floor, that would be amazing. Everything’s in the cabinet in the back.”
“I can do that.”
I smiled. “Thanks, Dylan. I really appreciate it.”
“No problem.”
I headed into my massage feeling a little lighter than I had all morning and Bill wasn’t his normal chatty self, so I got to decompress, which was rare for me.
I had two more clients after lunch, then I was free for the day. Jane had arrived at three to do some prep work before her evening classes, and I had a feeling she was avoiding her husband, but I kept my opinions to myself as we chatted briefly before my final massage client.
“Who’s the hotty doing domestic shit?” Jane asked, following me into my office.
I faced her with a smile. “That’s Dylan. Shadow asked him to come and help us out.”
“I need to meet this guy.”
I chuckled. “Yes, yes, you do.”
“I want to see your new place as well.”
“Why don’t you swing by tomorrow after your final class? We can order in.”
“Perfect.” She beamed. “But I’d also like to nail down a girls’ night.”
“Oh, yeah, we’re really lagging on that front,” I said.
“Next weekend?” Jane suggested.
“That sounds perfect,” I said. “Friday?”
She pulled out her phone. “Friday works.”
“It’s a date,” I said. “If I don’t see you before I leave, walk out with someone, okay?”
“Yes, Mom.”
I grinned and headed into my final massage of the day.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Posey
I PACED THE hallway of the hospital waiting for Sharon to come back from radiology… for the second time. Dylan was my ever-faithful companion, and I’d discovered he was exceptionally good at following instructions. He’d made the studio look cleaner and more organized than it had in a while, and it meant I had more time to breathe.
Shadow was still working, so I had no idea when I’d see him tonight, but at least I knew he was safe and no longer dealing with a four-alarm fire.
“You never stop moving, do you?” Dylan said.
I sighed. “Not when I’m worried, no.”
“Take a load off.” He patted the seat next to him. “Sharon’ll be back before you know it.”
Before I could flop down, the elevator doors opened and an orderly wheeled Sharon back to her room.
“What did they say?” I asked.
“Gotta wear a damn boot,” she complained.
“It’s broken?” I asked, following her into the room.
“Hairline fracture.”
The orderly lifted her into bed, and I helped smooth her blankets as I asked, “Are you in a lot of pain?”
“They gave me morphine,” she said.
“A nurse will be in to check on you soon, Ms. Warman.”
“Thanks, Sonny,” Sharon said, and the orderly left the room. “You don’t need to fuss, honey.”