Chapter 45

Randi had just finished dressing for her date with AJ when her phone rang. A chill ran down her spine as she reached for the receiver and she picked up her keys and purse with her other hand. Somehow she just knew that when she left the house she would be heading to the hospital and not out with AJ after all.

Trying to calm a crying Nora, her mother promised she would meet her at the emergency room as soon as possible. She knew that Tom was out of town and even though she did know how to get a hold of him, Miranda thought it would be better to wait until she had something definite to tell him. However she did need to call AJ and let him know that she'd have to cancel their date.

Dialing AJ's cell phone as she headed to the hospital she worried how her son-in-law was doing. "AJ, I'm so sorry, but I'm not going to be able to keep out date tonight."

"Is something wrong, my dear?" he asked in concern as he pulled up in front of her darkened house.

"I'm afraid so. Nora just called to tell me that Josh is in the emergency room. It seems he was beaten up."

"I'm sorry to hear that Miranda! Do you want me to come to the hospital to be with you?"

"Oh thank you, darling, but I know that you have an early flight in the morning, and even though I still don't think you should go, I don't have any idea how long we will be. So why don't you have an early night?"

"I did want to talk to you about those feelings of yours, but this is more important. You take care of your family and call me if you need me. I've gone without sleep before so if you want me there with you just call."

"I will, and thank you for understanding."

"Have you been able to reach Tom to tell him what happened? I know he's out of town."

"I haven't yet, I wanted to get to the hospital and find out how Josh is so I have something real to report to Tom. I'll call him as soon as I know anything," Miranda promised.

"All right, and remember if you need me, call," he told her.

"I love you AJ!" she whispered into the phone as she ended the call as she pulled into the hospital parking lot.

Miranda found her daughter and grandson in the emergency waiting room both were crying and Nora was pacing with Randy in her arms. Going up to Nora, she instinctively reached out to take Randy, "Darling, what have you found out?"

"Nothing mom, they won't let me go back there to see him because I have Randy."

"Well, I'm here now and can watch him. You go and see Josh. Just let me know how he is when you can."

"Thanks mom!" Nora gasped and kissed her on the cheek before hurrying away.

After Nora left, Miranda managed to get her grandson calmed down and by the time Nora came back to the waiting room twenty minutes later he was asleep. Nora apologized for forgetting to come out sooner and ruefully admitted that if Pete and Sam, two of Josh's friends on the force, hadn't come in to question him, she might still have been in there.

"I understand honey. How is Josh?"

"He has two broken ribs, a lot of bruising, a black eye and a mild concussion. He had just come around when I got back there. They want to keep him overnight to monitor the concussion, but it sounds like he'll be fine. Sore for a while, but fine."

"I'm so glad darling. Do they have any idea who did this?"

"Josh is pretty sure they had some connection to the Navakolf case because the two guys said something about Josh being in the wrong place at the wrong time the night before."

"I'll bet it was Navakolf's roommates!"

"We think so too Judge Love," Sam said as the two of them came up to her and Nora in the waiting room.

"We're going to haul them in and have Josh identify them in a line up," Pete added.

To Be Continued….