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Designed Intent

Chapter 48

Friday Morning

"Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"

"I do."

"Please state your name for the record."

"Robert Goren."

"Be seated."

And so began Bobby's testimony. He was on the stand the entire morning. At the break for lunch, he called Gleason's room.

"Honey?"

"No, uh, it's Malcolm."

"Where is she? Is she all right?"

"Aye, they took her for an x-ray, she should be back any minute. Have you testified yet?"

"Is she ok?"

"Yes, yes. She slept well after they calmed her down last night and she had a bite to eat at breakfast. We even went for a short walk in the hallway. She's doing well."

Bobby sighed with relief. He had called the nurses' station at five that morning to see how she was. "Good, good. I, uh, I was on the stand all morning and will continue this afternoon. I hope this is it. It's going very slowly.

"I have a ticket for a flight at six that gets into O'Hare at six-thirty your time. I should be at the hospital by seven. I'll stay with her tonight. Any word on when she'll be released?"

"I asked and they said the earliest would be Sunday. Willow Cheswick, a colleague of ours, said she'll take care of Gleason if need be and we've lined up a few grad students who will fill in whilst Willow is at class. How long will you be able to stay?"

"I hope until she is well. I'll need to find out about that."

"Oh, here's our lass! Gleason, it's Robert on the phone."

Bobby did not like his use of 'our lass.' He waited anxiously to speak with her. He heard rustling and voices and then the phone passed to her.

"Bobby?"

"Oh, God is it good to hear your voice. How do you feel, Sweetheart?"

"I'm ok. Actually, I feel better than I have in a long time. I guess I had a leak in that patch. And I have a pacemaker now."

"I know, Honey. You sound so much better."

"When are you coming to see me? I want to see you, Love." She fought tears.

"Tonight, Sweetheart, I'll be there tonight, I'll be there by seven."

"Can you stay with me? Will you stay with me when I'm released?"

He wanted to say yes, he wanted to stay with her forever, he wanted to keep her safe; but, he said, "I, I need to talk with Deakins and Carver about that, Sweetheart. I'll be there tonight. In a few hours, I'll be with you in a few hours."

Gleason was disappointed, but realistic, "Seven o'clock. Ok. You'll be here tonight. That's good. I can't wait to see you, Love."

"Me, too."

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Bobby returned to the stand for the rest of the afternoon. At three o'clock, the judge recessed until nine o'clock Monday morning when Bobby would return to the stand.

He and Carver spoke briefly, Carver reminding him he needed to be available Monday morning.

"I'll be here. Look, I need to get to JFK, there's a Chicago flight at four-thirty I'm going to try and get."

"Good luck, Detective. Give Gleason my best."

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Early Friday Evening

Bobby stepped through the doorway to Gleason's room and stopped as he watched Malcolm stroke his woman's face. Gleason appeared to be asleep. Malcolm bent and kissed her lightly on the lips and she turned her head, opened her eyes and saw Bobby.

"Bobby! You're early!" Her joy was clear.

Malcolm straightened and stepped away from her bed. Bobby kept his eyes on the other man as he entered and Malcolm retreated. He was to her bed in five steps and finally looked at her. "Honey, how are you?"

"Oh, Bobby, I am so glad you are here," she whispered. She reached for his face and he bent to kiss her. He meant to kiss her gently, lightly; but, his hand went to her neck, his thumb on her jaw and his kiss intensified. His mouth opened and his tongue sought hers and he felt himself fill. He forced himself to pull back and took her hand, running his thumb over the back.

"I need to speak with you in the hall, Malcolm." Then, to Gleason, "Honey, I'll be right back."

Malcolm turned from the window where he had retreated after Bobby entered. He crossed to Gleason's bed and moved to touch her when Bobby said harshly, "Now. Let's go."

Malcolm withdrew his hand and nodded to Gleason. "Thank you, Malcolm," she said softly with a smile.

Bobby squeezed her hand, turned and followed Malcolm into the hall. They stood to the side of her door, facing each other; Bobby stood just a bit taller than the other man did.

"I want to thank you for finding her and for staying with her during her surgery. For looking after her while I was stuck in New York. For keeping me posted." Bobby said all of this with deepest sincerity. He stuck out his hand and Malcolm took it with surprise.

His surprise deepened when the handshake intensified into a vise-like grip and Bobby leaned into the other man and whispered darkly, "I swear to God, if I ever – ever – find you sniffing around her again, I will make your life a living hell. Do you understand me?"

Malcolm understood, but the taller man did not intimidate him. "What are you going to do, Detective, all the way from New York? You couldn't even be here when she needed you the most. Gleason is probably alive because I was 'sniffing around,' as you say. I think Gleason can make up her own mind." Malcolm removed his hand from Bobby's grasp and continued, "Enjoy your short stay, Detective." He turned and walked away.

Bobby watched the other man leave and then wiped his face with his hands. His head pounded, his gut burned and his heart ached. He returned to Gleason's bedside. "Sweetheart, how are you?" He kissed her softly and smoothed hair from her face, his hand lingering against her face.

She leaned into his palm and closed her eyes. "I'm ok. How are you, Love? I've missed you so much, Bobby."

He took her hand, raised it, and kissed it. "I am fine. What does your doctor say? When can you go home?"

At that a nurse entered and said, "How are you feeling, Dr. Wintermantle?"

Gleason smiled and said, "Oh, much better, my love is here now." She smiled up at Bobby and he glanced at the nurse and then back at Gleason.

Oh really, thought the nurse, then who is that other fellow who has been here the whole time? The nurse looked from Gleason and then back to Bobby. She could see how much this man loved this woman – he hovered without hovering and he looked into her soul while looking into her eyes,

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Saturday Morning

Bobby stayed with Gleason through the night. After she had breakfast and they took a short walk in the hall, he said, "Honey, I'm going to go to the apartment, get cleaned up and change. Then I'll be back."

"Ok, Love. Get something to eat as well. I'm not sure what I have, but stop and get something."

He did not want to leave her, but he needed to shower and change. Early in their commuting relationship, Gleason had made sure that he had several changes of clothes and toiletries at the Evanston apartment so he could travel without luggage. In the same way, Gleason had things at their apartment in New York.

"I will, I won't be long, though." He kissed her softly, squeezed her hand and left.

Not ten minutes later, in walked Willow Cheswick and Malcolm.

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Bobby let himself into the apartment and went straight to the kitchen. He noticed that the broken glass Malcolm had mentioned had been swept up. He looked in the fridge, found an apple, took a bite, and then headed to the bedroom when there was a knock at the door.

"Hi, how is she?" Gladys, the estate manager asked when Bobby opened the door.

"She'll be ok. She's doing much better already."

Gladys was visibly relieved, "Thank God. What happened anyway?"

Bobby explained everything standing at the door; this woman gave him the creeps. "Did you sweep up the broken glass?" he asked her.

"Yeah, I let myself in and saw the glass and didn't want her to cut herself." Gladys looked like she was going to cry. "If she needs anything, you let me know. I can look after her when she comes home – I mean, unless you are going to be here."

"Uh, yeah, I think we have that covered. Thanks, though."

The two stood for an uncomfortable moment and then Gladys said, "Ok, so, I'm relieved she's gonna be ok. She's a real special lady, you know?"

"Yeah, I know. Thanks for cleaning up the glass and for offering to help."

Gladys nodded and then asked, "When's she coming home, do you know?"

"The doctor isn't real sure yet," he lied. "I, uh, I need to get changed and get back to the hospital. Thanks again." He stepped back and shut the door. Bobby was uneasy knowing the estate manager could let herself in at anytime. He understood the necessity, but still, that woman. . .

Bobby walked into the bedroom and set out a change of clothes, laid his suit trousers and jacket on the bed, stripped and walked into the bathroom. He turned on the shower, waited for it to warm, stepped in and sobbed with relief.

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