"What's going on?" Rex echoed. "What's going on is I dragged my sister away from the hospital to get her to relax for a few minutes and don't take this the wrong way, but talking with you isn't going to help with that so-"

"So let's make this quick," she said, "Your little visit to my office today, what was that all about?"

"We told you," Natalie said, "John's cell phone showed that you called him just before-"

"I didn't," she said.

"Okay," Natalie conceded, "well someone did from your number."

Evangeline thought for a moment and shook her head. "That's impossible, it doesn't make any sense."

"None of this does," Natalie said feeling an unexpected surge of sympathy for her.

"So," she said hesitantly, "I'm guessing you guys don't really think this was a suicide attempt."

"How ya figure?" Rex asked.

"The questions you're asking, the way you're asking them. Plus the fact that I really can't see John being suicidal. I mean I think he has a bit of a death wish but it's not the same thing."

"No, it's not," Natalie agreed softly.

"So you think someone set this up?" she asked, "Tried to kill John and make it look like a suicide?"

Rex looked at Natalie, silently letting her know he'd leave it up to her whether to let Evangeline in or not. Natalie sighed. "Looks that way."

"You can't think that I had anything to do with it," she said, "I would never-"

"I know," Natalie said, "we've never gotten along and I doubt we ever will, but I have gotten to know you pretty well. I know you… you cared about John and I can't see you killing anyone much less… When I first saw your number on his phone I thought… it was a knee jerk reaction, but not anymore."

"So who do you think is responsible?"

Rex and Natalie looked at each other, both knowing they couldn't tell her they expected her sister's involvement. Seeing from their look that they were hiding something she said, "Come on, I want to help."

"We don't know much," Natalie said, "I'm sure the police will-"

"The police?" she scoffed, "Don't expect me to believe for one minute that you two are going to wait on the police."

"Who's waitin' on the police?" Roxy asked as she sat down in the last empty chair, a half empty drink in her hand.

"Nothing for you to worry about," Rex said.

"Oh good," she said, "'cause I didn't do it, whatever it was. Hey Nattie, I heard about Johnny—he gonna be okay?"

"He's in a coma," Natalie explained, "but he's stable so-"

"So what are you doing here?" she asked, "I mean if there's anybody who can wake him up it's you, if you know what I mean." She elbowed Natalie suggestively.

"Roxy!" Natalie groaned rubbing one of her temples.

"Roxy try to show a little sensitivity," Rex said.

"Well, it's true," she said. Looking at Natalie she added, "Sorry if I upset you. Tell you what, if you can spot me some cash I'll buy you a drink to make it up to you and then you can tell me what you needed to talk to me about."

"No thanks, Roxy," Natalie said, "I'm not drinking tonight."

"Oh come on!" she said, "I know you're worried about Johnny McHunk and all, but there's no better way to forget your troubles than to drink them away."

"Tell you what, Roxy," Rex said handing her some folded bills, "Why don't you get me another round and leave Nattie alone?"

Taking the money with a grin Roxy slunk back to the bar.

"So," Evangeline said when she was gone, eyeing Natalie curiously, "No alcohol, no processed foods. Are you on some sort of health kick, Natalie?"

"Yes," Natalie said tersely.

"What brought that on?"

"Look, Evangeline," she replied, "I'm willing to let you in on what's going on with John because I know you care about him and we could use all the help we can get, but that doesn't mean you get to go poking around in my personal life, okay?"

"Okay," she said sounding unphased, "I guess I was just wondering how personal it is."

"What do you mean?"

"Are you pregnant?"

Natalie had known she would come to that conclusion eventually, they'd dropped enough hints, but even though she was prepared she felt herself blush a little. "Yes," she said trying to keep her voice even.

"It's John's?"

"Either that or it's the Messiah," she quipped.

"Does he know?" Evangeline asked, struggling to keep her expression neutral just as much as Natalie was.

"He didn't," Natalie explained, "I was going to tell him, but I- I told him today, but I don't know if he heard or-"

"They say patients can hear what's said to them while they're in comas," she said trying to give Natalie a comforting smile. "Talk about motivation to live, John's got all the more reason to come back to us."

"Let's hope," Natalie said softly. She hadn't expected nearly this much sympathy from Evangeline of all people.

"But you really do need to take better care of yourself," she said, "not eating, not sleeping, all this stress… it can't be good for the baby."

"What baby?" Roxy said walking back to the table with fresh drinks in both hands, "You knocked up, Evangeline?"

"Um… no," Evangeline said uncertainly.

"Well then…" Roxy's jaw dropped as she set down one of the drinks and smacked Rex on the back of the head.

"Ow!" Rex protested, "What was that for?"

"Did you get some girl in trouble?" she asked sternly.

He held up his hands, "I swear I had nothing to do with this!"

Natalie held her breath as she waited for Roxy to reach her inevitable next conclusion. "Nattie?" she asked sounding shocked and then when Natalie didn't deny it she let out a squeal and threw her arms around her, splashing large quantities of the remaining drink on her. "Nattie! Oh my God! My baby's having a baby! No wonder you were so worried about Johnny—he is the baby daddy right? 'Cause no one would blame you if you and Cris… I mean once for old time's sake and everything."

"Yes, it's John's," Natalie croaked, "but could you relax your grip? You're suffocating us."

Roxy released her completely and hurried back to the bar where they could hear her proclaiming the news. Rex flashed Natalie a look that said "Mission accomplished."

There was someone in the corner. Someone he didn't quite know and couldn't quite see. Staying deliberately just out of sight. If he could turn his head he should be able to see… But he couldn't move.

Whoever it was was talking. He could hear the sounds but couldn't make them coalesce into words. He had a feeling they were important, but no amount of straining could decipher them.

There was someone else too. Standing closer. Beside his bed, almost close enough to touch. Her manner was defensive, protective. And yet… there was no reason he should be afraid of her of all people, so why tonight did her presence fill him with dread?

"So do you guys have no suspects or just none you're willing to tell me about?" Evangeline asked as they watched Roxy continue to celebrate at the bar, the actual cause for her celebration long forgotten.

"What about you?" Rex shot back, "Any ideas? Anyone he put away recently? Maybe one of your former clients who just got paroled? Anyone threaten him…?"

Evangeline thought for a moment but shook her head. "No, I can't think of-" She stopped and it was clear she'd thought of something but she kept her mouth shut.

"Evangeline?" Rex pressed. "Did you think of someone?"

"No," she said.

"We were honest with you," Natalie said, "on the grounds that you care about John. If you care about John and you know something or you might know something you need to tell us. You owe it to us and to him."

"It's nothing," she said, "I thought of someone who said something that could be interpreted… but I'm sure he didn't do it."

"Who?" Rex pressed.

"It doesn't matter," she said, "he didn't do it."

"Great," he said, "so tell us so we can rule him out."

"Look," she sighed, "all he said was that he wanted to 'deal' with John. It wasn't even really a threat."

"Just tell us who said it then!" Natalie exploded smacking the table angrily.

Evangeline looked nervously back and forth between the two of them, knowing there was no way out of this situation. "Cristian," she said softly.

To be continued.