Thanks for the support.
Chapter Two:
"Did you see anything?" one of the two burly detectives asked as they sat in a hospital conference room.
"No," she said numbly as she stared at her hands. She had rubbed them raw to get the blood off but could still see red specks under her nails.
"Have you noticed anyone or anything suspicious around Lila?" the other asked.
"No," she said. "I try to stay vigilant but I have only been working with her for three weeks."
"Can you think of anyone who'd want to harm her?"
"Her political leanings have attracted some nasty comments on social media, but nothing jumps out at the moment."
"Give it time," he said and gave her his card. "Call if you think anything at all however small a detail you might think it is."
"Spencer," she said. "She kept talking about how someone named 'Spencer' would save her."
"That is helpful," he said. "We'll be in touch."
They got up and walked out. Jackie did the same. She turned left where they turned right though and presented her ID to the security guard at the nurse's station. After careful scrutiny, she was waved through.
Jackie entered the Lila's hospital room. Sean was sitting by her side, playing with his phone. Lila's fiancé of four months was playing football on his phone. A wide receiver for the Forty-niners, Lila met him at a charity gala in New York two years ago. She had yet to see what they saw in each other, but it was not Jackie's job to ask questions.
She quietly took a seat on the other side.
"How is she?" she asked.
He didn't look up from his phone.
"Nothing's changed since you last saw her," he said.
This could be Sean's way of coping, by not letting it all sink in. She was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, given the circumstances.
"Have you heard of Spencer?" she asked blankly.
"No," he said. "Who is he?"
"I don't know," she said sitting back. "She kept saying he would save her as she lost consciousness."
"Should I know who he is?" he said suddenly looking up from his phone for the first time. "Like is he an old ex?"
"It's a girl's name too," Jackie said before he got too agitated. "Like Spencer from 'Pretty Little Liars.'"
"Sure," he said sounding relieved. "Why would she date a guy with a lame name like that anyway?"
"OH LILA!" a woman screeched.
They turned to see Kristy Regan dressed in gold with a purse large enough to hold a toddler and her famous red-rimmed sunglasses had appeared.
"You look horrible!" she said approaching the actress. "Didn't you tell your good-for-nothing assistant to apply some makeup in the event of your hospitalization? Any nurse with a phone can capture a picture of that uneven skin tone."
Lila's agent turned to her with a menacing stare. "Well?"
"The nurses said the makeup would interfere with her breathing."
"Not even some BB cream?"
"They said no."
"Well, I'll have a word with the nurses. My word counts for something around here I bet."
Jackie didn't say anything.
Kristy looked around. "This room needs some cheering up. Jackie get flowers. Lots of them. The kind she likes in sets of four because that is her lucky number. Then go home and get her favorite robe, an eye mask, Mr. Fluffy Ears, two paintings for the walls, her bedspread, prayer beads and, and, oh I'll text you if I think of anything else. We need to make this place cozy while she's stuck here."
Nowhere in that line of thought was a question about Lila's condition. But people like Kristy also processed things differently.
"Okay," she said simply and got up. She paused for a second.
"Who is Spencer?" she asked.
"I have no idea," she said impatiently. "Now snap to it."
Jackie merely nodded and walked. Kristy had been Lila's agent for six years. Who could it be?