Crystal said, “Actually, we were just talking about you.”

“I hope it was something salacious.” She crossed over to the sofa, bent down, and kissed Crystal on the lips. “Hello, you.”

Chapter 22

Crystal smiled up at Marty. “Hello back. How was your shift?”

As Marty straightened up, she arched her back in a deep stretch. “Long. Depressing. I hate sick people.”

“Great attitude for a nurse to have,” Ledge said.

“When I chose my career path, I didn’t yet know that I had an aversion to the afflicted. Now, I stick with it for balance.” She weighed one hand against the other. “Misery at work. Happiness at home.”

Crystal smiled up at her. “Pour a drink and join us.”

She did so, then slumped in the upholstered chair adjacent to the corner of the sofa in which Crystal sat. She toed off her shoes and propped her stocking feet in Crystal’s lap.

“You were talking about me? What about me? My pink stripe?” She shook her platinum, pixie-cut hair, showing off the neon strip in her bangs.

“Fetching,” Ledge said. “I’ve thought about having Crystal paint one in my hair.”

“Not your color. It would clash with that bloody cut on your face.”

Ledge merely gave her wry smile. Under her breath, Crystal warned her partner that it would be best not to pursue that topic.

Ledge had come to like Marty Camp. She was one of the few people he was comfortable teasing with, but one had to tease back in order to survive her acerbic jibes.

She had moved to Penton after suffering through a contentious divorce. The root of the marital problem had been Marty’s sexual dubiety. With her impeccable credentials, she had been readily hired by the county’s largest and most reputable hospital, but was still living out of a suitcase in a motel when she’d gone into Crystal’s salon for a haircut.

Meeting Crystal had been the end of her sexual incertitude. In a matter of weeks, she’d moved in with Crystal. Marty had made Crystal more content than she’d been in her life, and for that Ledge liked Marty a lot.

She had a repertoire of salty language, a droll sense of humor, and, while she was a more caring individual than she let on, she also took no shit from anybody. She understood the nature of Crystal’s friendship with Ledge and was tolerant of it. But that acceptance could come to a screeching halt with the request he was about to make.

“Marty, I’m going to put you in a very awkward position.”

“Crystal puts me in awkward positions all the time,” she said, giving him a naughty wink. “But I draw the line at threesomes. Even if I were game, you don’t have the right equipment.”

“My equipment is right enough, thank you.”

They all smiled, but Crystal laid her hand on Marty’s arm to let her know that the subject wasn’t conducive to cracking jokes.

“The hospital keeps records. For how long?” Ledge asked.

“Patient records? I’m not sure. Since I’ve been on staff, the ones I’ve had to access were fairly recent.”

“How far back was the oldest?”

“Hmm, two, three years.”

“Could you do some sleuthing in the records department?”

Crystal said, “Without getting into trouble or crossing your personal ethical line.”

“How far back?” Marty asked.

Ledge gave her the month and date. “Easter Sunday of two thousand.”

She raised her eyebrows. In contrast to her hair, they were stark black.

“He would have come in shortly before dawn.” He went on to tell her Rusty’s full name. Crystal gave her a general description of the injuries he had suffered, then Ledge picked back up. “There must be a chart detailing his injuries. Can you get it?”

Marty pursed her lips. “You’re asking me to violate patient privilege?”

“Yeah.”

Marty looked at Crystal. “Is this important to you?” Then she waved her hand. “Strike that. Anything concerning Ledge is important to you.” Going back to him, she said, “I’ll think on it and get back to you.”

“That’s fair.”

“Fair or not, that’s how it’ll be. Right now, I’m beat. I’m taking my whiskey into the shower with me, then I’m going to hit the sack.” She stood and, carrying her shoes and drink with her, headed toward the bedroom hallway. “’Night.”

Crystal called after her that she would be right in.

Ledge stood. “I can take a hint.”

“Stay and finish your drink.”

“Thanks, but no. Earlier tonight, I was on my way to a full-blown binge.”

“You won’t go back to how you were when you first got home.”

“That’s right. I won’t, because I’m taking no chances.” He went to the front door.

She joined him there and said, “The next time you run into Rusty, flip him the bird for me.”

“Don’t make light of this, Crystal. And don’t underestimate him.”

“I don’t.”

“He hasn’t changed his spots since that night he climbed through your window, and I can’t always be around to protect you.”

“You protect me every day.” She looked toward the hallway that led to the bedroom. “As long as everyone thinks that you and I keep the sheets smoking, Marty and I are free to—”

“Why do you care what everyone thinks? Why don’t you two just go public?”

“I’ll have to work up to it. It took me years to go public about Morg.”

“Well, whatever you do, I’ve got your back.” He pecked her on the cheek and reached for the doorknob.

She put out a detaining hand. “Ledge, I’m sorry you had to hear about that night from Rusty. I’m sure he gloated. I know how much you would have hated that.”

“I did. He’s a hyena. But I accept your apology. I can’t stay mad at you for long. In all the time I’ve known you, I’ve only been mad at you once.”

“When was that?”

“When I groped your boob, and you slapped me. Hard.”

She laughed. “I had told you that no man was ever going to touch me that way again.”

“I’d’ve been less than a man not to test you.”