As Danny was about ready to scream at any nurse who passed by, he heard a muffled sound --- like water being flushed down the toilet.
He looked back into the room and felt like 20,000 Christmases in his heart, as he saw Lindsay coming out of the bathroom.
He almost jumped towards her to kiss her, hug her, pat her head ---- anything. Just to let her know how happy he was to see her. He settled for a light touch on her elbow.
"You scared me!" Danny said, sweat pouring down his forehead. He almost sounded high-pitched.
Lindsay only laughed at him. "I was just in the bathroom, getting ready to leave. Did you run here?" Lindsay said as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
Like dousing a hot steel pan with water, Danny felt his insides warm with Lindsay's touch. Boy, was he happy to see her.
Danny closed his eyes. "We think you're in danger, Lindsay" Danny said.
"What's going on?" Lindsay asked.
"Your friend, Abby Gelman? She also had a brand on her back. How she got it, same M.O. as yours --- gas cloud knocks you unconscious, kidnapper leaves the mark, takes your friend." Danny said.
"Who was taken when she got branded?" Lindsay said.
"Gwen DiCarlo." Danny said.
"Omigod" Lindsay said. She sat down. "She's um….a friend of ours." Lindsay shook her head. "What the hell is happening?"
"How did you know them?" Danny asked.
"We all went to highschool together, in Montana" Lindsay said. "We were the main staff of the school paper. Abby was Editor-in-Chief, Gwen handled graphics, I was the news editor."
"We're afraid that you might be next" Danny said. "So I think it's best that you stay in your home for a while. I'll have a uniform sent there to guard your door."
Danny's phone rings. "Messer?"
Danny listens intently to the person on the other line. Danny just nodded his head, saying "uh-uh" or "okay" once in a while. He looked at Lindsay, hesitant perhaps to let her hear his conversation, which made Lindsay even more nervous.
Danny's phone call ended and he tucked his phone in his pocket.
"I'll be escorting you to your apartment" Danny said in a serious voice.
"Danny, what happened? Who called you?" Lindsay said, tugging his shirt gently.
Danny looked at her and sighed. "It was Mac. He's more convinced now that you need police protection 24/7." Danny took her bag with his left hand and her hand with his right as they walked out the door.
Lindsay stopped him. She had a determined look on her face. She didn't say anything. She was about to cry but she didn't know why she should.
Danny looked at the floor, avoiding the pain and fear in her eyes.
"A woman's body was found floating in the Hudson five minutes ago" Danny started. "It's Gwen DiCarlo."