Duveaux opened Angela's door just a crack and peaked in on her. She was sleeping peacefully. The breeze from the open window made the room cooler than Duveaux thought it should have been. He entered her room quietly and very gently closed the window. The effect was instantaneous.
Duveaux pulled the blanket up closer around Angela's chin and brushed his fingertips over his hair. He let out a sigh. Six weeks ago he didn't know what love was until he toured a Santa Barbara hospital on one cool Saturday morning.
SIX WEEKS AGO
Henri matched the chief of staff step for step as they toured the hospital. He had just given a large sum of money for research at the hospital and was invited for a tour of the hospital by his friend, Doctor Hodges.
They were on the third floor touring the ICU when Henri saw her lying in bed, her red hair the only color about her in the white bed.
"What's her name?" Henri asked Doctor Hodges as he stood on the other side of the glass staring at her.
"We don't know her name. She was dropped off here a few nights ago bleeding from the graze of a gunshot wound. She's slowly coming out of her coma, but the only thing she mutters is the word Angel and Wolf."
Henri traced an outline of her face on window. Even the thick white bandage that covered the left side of her head was not enough to distract him from her beauty.
"When she wakes up, how long will she have to be in the hospital?"
"It depends on how she does when she wakes up," The doctor said. "The physical therapist has been working with her arms and legs and Jane Doe is responding to the therapists commands. Why so much interest, Mr. Duveaux?"
"I'd like to sit with her every day, Doctor Hodges. No one should be in the hospital and feel like they are all alone in the world."
"I think Jane would do much better physically if she knew someone was with her. I'll arrange it with the nurse for you to sit with her a few hours each day. Shall we finish our tour?"
Henri had to tear himself away from the window. Yes, he would sit with her every day, read to her, and talk to her until she was fully conscious. Then, if she still wanted him he would take care of her as if she was his own.
"Doctor?" Henri asked as they walked out of ICU. "How much more of a donation could I make to get the complete medical file on our Jane Doe?"
Duveaux slipped out of Angela's room and closed the door behind him. As soon as the door was closed, Rupert appeared out of nowhere.
"Sir, I think you should know Angela left the premises a few hours ago and came back a short time later."
"She's not a prisoner, Rupert." Duveaux said as they walked down the hall to his bedroom. Rupert kept in step with him; Duveaux slowly began to despise his right hand man.
Duveaux stepped in front of his bedroom door and hoped this would be the signal for Rupert to leave. He didn't budge. Duveaux opened his bedroom door. There was still no movement on Rupert's part.
"She left with Kelby in the limo. What would you like me to do?"
Duveaux turned toward Rupert. "I want you to leave, Rupert, and don't say anything to Angela about this." He stuck his finger in Rupert's face. "If you say anything to upset her, I will make you disappear, Rupert. Do you understand me?"
Rupert swallowed and his Adam's apple bobbed slowly. "Yes, sir." He turned on the heel of his hundred dollar shoes and walked away.
Duveaux shook his head and gave a little chuckle as he entered his bedroom. Once he was inside, he did begin to wonder. What was Angela doing out so early in the morning?