Chapter Sixty-Eight

Feeling guilty, Leah stepped onto the elevator and pushed the down button. She held out little hope that it would be as easy as Mark just going away. At least she hadn't lied to Trapper. But if Mark was still down in the basement, she had to know the specifics of his resignation. If it was immediate, he'd have to leave. If it wasn't immediate, she had to dismiss him. Either way, if he was there, she had to escort him out of the hospital.

Trapper was one step ahead of her. The minute she stepped out of his room, he called Arnold and advised him to have security see that Mark was no longer in the building, starting with the basement.

When she entered her old cube, Mark was waiting. She halted abruptly, took a deep breath and continued to the desk. Sitting down, leaning forward and clasping her hands in front of her, she said, "Mark, as I understand it, you have tendered a letter of resignation to Manning Consulting."

"Yes, I did."

"And how much notice did you give?"

"None. I quit. But you have my application. There's really no need to go through an interview."

"I'm not hiring you," she said coldly.

Shooting up out of his chair, he shouted, "Why the hell not?"

"Because," she said gazing indifferently at him, "My attorney hired a detective to find out who was passing private information about me to Doug Manning. They followed me, and while they were following me, guess who else they found following me."

"I didn't follow you. That's ridiculous."

"Then would you like to explain why you were in every surveillance photo they took?"

Arnold stepped into Leah's cube with a security officer. "Mr. Hansen, you need to come with us."

Straightening his tie and adjusting his jacket, he said without taking his eyes off Leah, "Ms. Haverty and I aren't finished."

She smiled. "Yes, we are."

Turning to the security officer, Arnold said, "Escort him out of the building. He is not to enter these premises again."

The officer moved behind Mark, who stood glaring at Leah. "You haven't seen the last of me."

"Mark, if you come near me again, I'll get a restraining order," she said calmly. "Now leave."

The security officer put a hand on his shoulder which he shrugged off before he stomped out of the cube.

"Are you all right?" asked Arnold, looking worriedly at Leah.

"Mr. Slocum," she began as the corner of her mouth turned up in a half smile. "I'm better that I've been in a long while. I just need to collect some manuals and some personal items, and this cubicle will be ready for a new project manager. And I'm going to go ahead with the hiring process for David Stern, one of the programmers. I'd like to use him as a temporary project manager until I find a permanent one, but I need to discuss salaries with you."

"Why don't we go up to my office and do that now? I don't want to delay the turnover any more than we have to."

After spending the better part of her afternoon wrangling money out of Arnold for higher salaries for her people, arguing that she considered all of them senior programmers with years of experience, Leah finally got Arnold to agree on her technical salary bands. She had to assure him that less experienced programmers would be sought as she had to add more staff for the growing hospital and computer system.

Her next order of business was to call a woman she had known at Purdue, one whom she had worked with on occasion and one who was as fierce as she when it came to her system and her standard of work. This was a woman who had also competed for some of the jobs that Leah had managed to win. She knew Frieda Christopher would be after the CIO job from her first day. Even so, Leah called her and asked her to interview for the project manager position, knowing that the job would be done accurately and efficiently. A little job competition didn't scare her. Rather she looked forward to it as it kept her from getting lazy.

She wandered tiredly into her hospital room, but stopped at the door, surprised that Trapper was sitting up in bed with patient charts and folders strewn over his over bed table, his glasses on and his nose buried in one of the charts. He jotted something down on a notepad before he looked up and smiled. "You look tired."

"You look better; a lot better," she said, returning a weary smile as she walked to her bed and set her paperwork down. "I am tired. I really didn't do that much today, but I feel worn out."

"You should let Gonzo check you out. With that foot and now your arm, you could be inviting problems if you don't keep your strength up."

She grunted before she asked, "What are you doing?"

"Hm? Oh, just catching up. I review the charts for all the surgical patients, and I've gotten behind."

"Well, I'm not quite finished. I have to go home and pick up some clothes, and I'm going by your place to get some of your clothes, too. There isn't much left in your office closet. I'll drop the dirty stuff off at the cleaners. Can I get anything else for you while I'm there?"

Trapper looked over the top of his glasses at her. "I don't know if I like the idea of you going out alone."

Stroking her forehead with her fingers, she responded testily, "Trapper, I can't live like that…afraid to go out or do anything. All I want is for things to get back to normal, and the best way to do that…is to just do it," she said, gesturing with her hands waving out beside her.

"If I could, I'd go with you." She shot him a defiant glance and looked the other way. "Arnold came by this afternoon. He told me Mark had been in your office in the basement, and he said he was angry when he left. What if he's just waiting for you to leave the hospital?" She loosely crossed her arms and refused to look at him. "What are you going to do with a cast on your foot and your arm in a sling? Where is your sling, by the way?"

She sighed and puckered her mouth. "Okay. What if I got someone to go with me? I can't just send someone. They won't be able to get into the pool house without alerting the Murphy's." She paused and thought for a moment. "What if I take your car? I can't drive the Jeep anyway. I can't push the clutch with this cast. I'll let Gonzo use the Jeep until you're released, and then you and I can trade. You drive the Jeep, and I'll drive your car. And for the use of the Jeep, all Gonzo has to do is go with me to get it at the pool house, and then make a stop by your house on the way back. Will that satisfy you?"

Raising his chin, he twisted his mouth into a thoughtful scowl. "For now."

"Is there anything else you need me to get while I'm at your house?"

He still didn't like the possibilities or probabilities that presented themselves with her leaving the hospital so soon after Doug's angry flight and Mark's confrontation. Continuing his displeased gaze and his scowl, he added, "The mail," and left it alone.

"Gonzo, thanks for coming with me. I think Trapper would have risked tearing his incision open again if you didn't."

"Well, I do get the Jeep for a few days in return." He had been keeping a close eye on the rearview mirror, but glanced at her quickly and smiled. "I'd have done it without the bribe."

"I know," she said, grinning. "But this way, the Jeep doesn't just sit until Trapper can drive it, I get a car I can drive with this cast, and Trapper and I will both have some clean clothes for the next few days. When do you think you'll release him?"

"Is this the turn?"

"Yes. Just pull up next to the keypad. The code is 23857."

As Gonzo pulled past the gate into the driveway, he answered, "If he'll stay still, I think he can go home in a few days. But I don't want him by himself." He stopped the car and turned the key, then looked back at her. "Would you…uh?"

She laughed. "He can stay here. That way, he won't have to go up and down those stairs. All we have to do is convince him."

"I don't think that will take much," said Gonzo, chuckling.

When Leah had her garment bag packed, Gonzo took it outside to Trapper's car. Once he had it loaded, he walked back to the gate and peered over, looking up the street, and when he saw what he had hoped he wouldn't, he stepped backward away from the gate and shook his head. Leah followed minutes later with the keys to the Jeep and her mail. "Leah, I'm going to follow you. Try not to lose me, okay? If anything happens, I want you to just stop, wherever you are."

His last words gave her a chill. "What's wrong?"

"I think we've been followed." Watching her tense, he tried to calm her. "Just go slow so I can stay on your bumper. And don't use any side streets. Stay to the main thoroughfares."

Stepping closer, she said, "Let's not go by his house. I can take the clothes I have to the cleaners and have them delivered to the hospital tomorrow. I'll ask Ernie or Gloria to swing by and pick up his mail."

"That's a good idea. If this is Mark, he'd know the house isn't occupied, and this way, we won't lead him there. In fact, I want you to drive straight to the hospital. I'll drop the clothes off at the cleaners."

Trapper was still looking at charts when Gonzo and Leah entered the hospital room with her garment bag, her overnight bag and mail. He watched, taking note of everything they were carrying. "What happened?"

Setting her things down on her bed, she limped over to him and gave him a kiss. "Why would you think anything happened?

He smiled perspicaciously with raised eyebrows. "Aren't you missing a few things?" Leah gave Gonzo an uneasy glance, and then busied herself with unpacking.

Rolling his eyes, Trapper focused his attention on Gonzo, raising his eyebrows again and slightly shaking his head.

After scratching his nose, Gonzo leaned back against a wall. "We were followed."

"By whom?"

"Not sure. But Leah's place is protected, and we didn't want whoever to follow us back to your place. If it was Mark, he'd know your house is empty at the moment. So I'm going to drop your laundry off at the cleaners tonight and have them delivered here tomorrow, and Leah asked Ernie to drive by your house tomorrow morning and pick up your mail."

"Good. This should all settle down in a few days, and I should be going home. Right, doctor?"

Nodding innocently, Gonzo mumbled, "Mm hm."

"Out with it," snapped Trapper.

After hanging her clothes in the closet, Leah turned back to the conversation. "We thought it would be better if you stayed at my place for a little while. That way you won't have to deal with your stairs."

"There are steps at your place."

"Yes, but only to get in, and two to get up to the bed…but nothing like your stairs. And that way, I won't be alone, and you'll feel better," she said, ending with a sweet smile.

They were interrupted by a knock on the door. "Come in," Trapper said, eyeing Leah severely.

A young man in a dress shirt, tie and jeans stepped in. "I'm looking for Leah Haverty."

"I'm Leah Haverty," she answered as she began to step around the bed, but Trapper put an arm across her, blocking her way.

Trapper didn't smile, but rather barked as he looked at the young man with an irritated scowl. "What do you want?"

The man stepped to the side of the bed, and slightly leaning, he passed an envelope to Leah, who took it and looked at the front. "It's blank. Who's this from?"

"You've been served, Ma'am. Have a nice day," said the young man, turning and hurrying out of the room.