Glamorous - A Grace Bishop Novel - Chapter 33
© Denise Bossarte
While
Grace was at the hospital looking in on Billy she also wanted to check on DL
and Beth and see how Anthony was holding up. She felt a stab of sympathy for
Anthony having been there this whole time. He hadn’t had the luxury of a trip home for a shower and could use a
break. She was surprised to find Sophie sitting outside the room when she got
to Billy’s floor.
“You must have come straight here after
leaving my house,” Grace said as she approached Sophie who rose to greet her.
“Yes. I couldn’t get Anthony to leave his
watch here outside Billy’s room. I thought I would spell him for a while to
give him time to grab something to eat and get in a quick nap.”
“He told you what we’re up against, and why
he’s staying here?” Grace asked, surprised Anthony would talk about what was
happening with anyone outside Eli, even with his cousin.
Sophie lowered her voice to a whisper.
“I didn’t ask for all the details. But he
shared enough to let me know it involves a Paranorm and that’s why he’s
staying. To keep an eye out for your friend.
He gave
me a description of the man you’ve been trying to
catch. I’d recognize him if he came to the hospital. There are other Paranorms
who work here and they are on alert. Everyone is on the lookout to make sure he
doesn’t cause more harm. Anthony should be back soon if you want to wait to
speak with him.”
“No,” Grace refused the offer, touched her
friend would help out in whatever way she was able to regardless of how much
she understood the details. “I wanted to see that Anthony got a chance for a
break, but it looks like you beat me to it.”
“Sure, Grace. I’m happy to do it. I’ll let
Anthony know you stopped by to see him.”
Grace considered leaving a warning for Anthony
with Sophie about the Glamour’s message. But she decided knowing the Glamour
knew they were at the hospital would change nothing. They all were taking this
seriously enough already. There were more people than she thought looking out
for Billy and keeping him safe.
Grace
gave Sophie a hug and opened the door to Billy’s
room to slip inside. A single member of the family occupied the room, Billy’s
mother. She was sitting by Billy’s side holding his hand in one of hers, using
the other hand to stroke his arm. Grace moved to the opposite side of the bed
to talk to Mrs. Winiarksi face to face.
Mrs. Winiarksi smiled at Grace over Billy’s still form.
“Good to see you, Gracie. I’m glad you
stopped by to see Billy. Your friend Anthony has been attentive and helpful,
but it’s great you’re here.”
“Mrs. W., I’m so sorry for what happened to
Billy,” she began.
But Mrs. Winiarksi interrupted her.
“Gracie, no need to apologize. Billy
wouldn’t be part of something if he didn’t believe in it. He’s always believed
in you. If you had a case which needed his help, I am sure he was happy to do
whatever he could for you. No matter what the danger to himself.
It’s always the risk you take when you’re
working on the side of justice; something might go wrong and people might get
hurt. You can’t let that stop you from trying to do what you know is best.”
“I wish it was me instead of Billy in this
bed, Mrs. W.” Grace admitted, her guilt at everything that happened working to
overwhelm her again.
“Nonsense, child!” Mrs. Winiarksi chastised
her. “Don’t go taking on trouble when it’s not yours to take. There’s a reason
you accepted this case and a reason you are still standing here right now. To
finish it. I don’t need to know what you both were involved in. But if it was
important enough for Billy to get injured trying to settle it, then it is
important enough for you to do your job and finish it.”
Grace
smiled around her tears at Mrs. Winiarksi’s
gentle tongue lashing. Raising a houseful of rambunctious boys gave her skills
on how to manage and motivate them into doing the right thing when it needed
doing. Some tough love was what Grace needed to get at this point.
“Yes, you’re right. That’s what I need to
do. Finish it.” Grace said.
She crossed the room to give Mrs. Winiarksi
a hug. She bent down to catch her while she was still seated where she didn’t
need to let go of Billy’s hand.
“You’ll call me if anything changes with
Billy?” she asked as she stood up and prepared to leave.
“Sure, honey, we’ll let you know as soon as
anything changes.” Mrs. Winiarksi assured her, shooing her out the door before
turning back to watch over Billy.
Grace
left the room, easing the door close behind her. She waved at Sophie who was
still waiting for Anthony to return and went to catch the elevator up to Beth’s room.
When she reached Beth’s floor, she saw
Danny walking up and down the halls. He was watching everyone coming and going
on the floor with intense scrutiny.
“How’s
everyone up here doing?” she asked him once she got his attention.
“Things
have been quiet, thank goodness. I can’t tell you how glad I am I can say that!”
“Let
me pop in to see DL. After that, I will talk with you about the new plans for
the case,” she instructed him.
“Sure
thing. I’ll wait outside the room until you’re done.”
Grace knocked twice on the door then opened
it. DL and Jennifer were sitting together talking with Beth. As she entered,
Beth turned and welcomed her with a painful smile. The bandages were off and
the scars on her face were showing signs of healing.
“Grace!” Beth greeted her. “You came back
to see me!”
“I sure did, Beth,” Grace agreed as she
came next to Beth’s bedside, preferring to stand rather than sit.
“The doctors said she is doing well.” DL
informed Grace. “She’s coming home with us tomorrow until her next surgery is
scheduled.” His smile at sharing the news appearing bitter sweet to Grace, who
realized he was thinking about the Glamour still being out on the loose.
“I will ask some of Anthony’s friends to
come help out at your place for a few days,” Grace told DL. She tried to sound
innocuous in front of Beth and Jennifer.
“Is the extra ‘help’ necessary?” DL asked.
“I’ve heard from our friend recently. He is
looking out for everyone’s health and wellbeing. I want us to take the
necessary steps to keep things quiet for Beth’s recovery.”
DL’s eyes got wide as he digested what
Grace said and implied. He was quick to understand what she did not say and did
not ask for explanations.
“Ok,” he said out loud for Beth’s and
Jennifer’s sake. “I’ll take some time off to spend with Beth. We can work on
studying for her GED while we wait, and we’ll be happy to get whatever help
Anthony’s friends can give.”
Beth groaned in mock despair at the mention
of her GED. But it was obvious she was also pleased she would be spending time
with DL and Jennifer while waiting for her surgery. It would definitely help
take her mind off how things would go on her next trip to the hospital.
Grace said her goodbyes and left the room
to find Danny. At her suggestion, they made their way to the nearby chapel for
a bit of privacy for their discussion. Or at least no one would interrupt Grace
thinking she was free to talk because she was not speaking out loud.
Grace walked Danny through everything that
happened since she left him watching over everyone.
“Oh
my god, Gracie!” Danny said once she finished. “Are you ok? That was horrible for you to go through! I’m sorry I wasn’t
there to help you and make sure he didn’t get inside the house!”
“It’s
ok, Danny. I had a great substitute with my pistol,” she joked with him,
trying to make light of her fears now there was some distance from the
situation. She wanted to eliminate the guilt he might feel from being away
while she dealt with the scare.
“Beth
is going home tomorrow, and I’ll ask for some Paranorms to guard DL’s place
until we‘ve taken care of the Glamour. Anthony and his family are taking care
of Billy. I think we’ve done the best we can to ensure everyone is safe.”
“Ok. What are we going to do? With everyone else out of
commission, what are we going to do next?”
“I
can tell you what I will not do, is
to sit and wait for the Glamour to make his next move. We’ve been chasing after
the Glamour, trying to interrupt him while he’s playing whatever game he’s
playing. Following his rules and letting him lead us along by our collective
noses. We should flip that on its head and to bring things to him instead.”
“What
do you mean, Gracie? What are you planning to do?”
“Convince the Glamour to meet me at a place and time I choose.
And then I plan on taking care of him.”
“You
want to take him on by yourself? Head on?” Danny exclaimed.
“Yes,
that’s what I am saying! He’s fascinated with me. Of all of us, he chose to
send those flowers to me. I say I use that to challenge him to a meeting where
I take care of things once and for all.”
“Well,
you aren’t doing it without me!” Danny insisted, a stubborn look settling
on his face.
“I
wouldn’t dream of it, kiddo. You’ll need to watch my back for me. With the guys
being out I’ll need you on this case full time. Once Beth gets to DL’s place
and a Paranorm is watching them, DL, Beth and Billy will have the best
protection we can provide for them. Then you and I can get to work finishing
this thing.”
“You’ve
got a plan to flush out the Glamour and stop him from killing more girls?”
Danny asked sounding relieved he wouldn’t be on the sidelines while Grace put
herself in danger.
“The
beginnings of one. Once I have time to get some answers from Eli, I’ll have a
full plan ready to put it into action.”
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