Sleeping Beauty Suspect. Dani Sinclair

rasp of oxygen and the hum of all the monitors surrounding her.

      Her features were as delicate and lovely as he’d remembered. Someone had wiped most of the soot from her face, but it still darkened her hair and clung to the hairline. The hair would be a light golden brown, he judged, but he wondered what color her eyes would be. They were closed, with thick, dark lashes lying against her pale skin. She could be anywhere from sixteen to her late twenties.

      The steady pulse of the machines was almost soothing, but he could do without the antiseptic smell that always permeated hospital rooms.

      Flynn sank down in the chair at the foot of the bed with a grateful sigh. “Well, we made it, Beauty. I wasn’t so sure for a while there.”

      Her eyes moved behind closed lids. For a minute he thought she would open those eyes and look up at him, but she didn’t.

      “I’m Flynn O’Shay, by the way. The guy who rescued you. I don’t suppose you want to wake up and tell me who you are?”

      Other than more movement behind her eyes, nothing happened.

      “Sorry about almost dropping you. Things got a little hairy in there. What were you doing in that empty house, anyhow?”

      “Has she regained consciousness, then?”

      Flynn looked up to see a hefty older nurse watching him from the edge of the curtain that separated Beauty’s bed from the one with the elderly woman next to it.

      “Sorry. No. I thought maybe she’d wake if I talked to her. Her eyes keep flickering, but she hasn’t opened them. I’m Flynn O’Shay.”

      “I know. We saw you on the afternoon news telecast. That was quite a fall you took. Glad to see you’re okay. Your sister-in-law said you’d be coming up to check on her. Talking to her is good.”

      She checked the monitors and the patient, frowning as she looked down on the bed.

      “We’re really anxious for her to wake up and answer a few questions,” she continued.

      “Is she in a coma?”

      The nurse hesitated, regarding him. “More like a drugged sleep. She should be coming out of it soon. You’ll have to talk to the doctor if you want more information.”

      Out in the corridor a code blue was called. The nurse excused herself and hurried for the door. Flynn knew that call meant a life-or-death emergency. Time for him to head home. There was nothing more he could do here and no reason, really, for him to be here at all. He’d just wanted another glimpse of her.

      There was something about her that drew him to her side. He found himself brushing back a strand of smoke-coated hair and discovered pierced ears, devoid of ornamentation. No ring and no indentation to show she wore one on a regular basis. That begged the question. Was she married or had they taken off her jewelry downstairs? Possibly she’d been attacked and robbed for it, or someone had wanted to make it harder for her to be identified. Sally and Arlene had both agreed she’d worn an expensive dress. The total absence of jewelry seemed wrong.

      Flynn shrugged. Those were questions for the police, not a battered fireman who was starting to feel every inch of his abused condition. His shoulder ached and so did his leg. He should go. But he couldn’t stop wondering about her. She looked so helpless.

      “I’d better go before they toss me out. If I get a chance, maybe I’ll stop by again later on. If not, good luck, Beauty. I’m glad to know you’re going to be all right.”

      He bent over stiffly and lightly kissed her forehead.

      Her eyes flew open. Flynn took a step back, startled by the intensity and unusual color of the silvery blue eyes. They stared at him without comprehension.

      “Hi there. Welcome back. I’m Flynn O’Shay. You’re okay. You’re safe. You’re in the hospital.”

      With a flash of fear that bordered on terror, the eyes snapped closed again.

      “I’ll get the nurse for you.”

      There was no response, but he felt sure she’d heard him. She wasn’t sleeping now. Flynn moved past the other beds and went to the door to peer down the hall. There wasn’t a nurse or a doctor in sight. A great deal of commotion was coming from a room at the far end of the hall.

      That would be the code blue. He went to the nurse’s station to wait. It was several minutes before a nurse appeared, blinking back tears.

      “Hey, you okay?”

      “Yes.” She wiped at her face quickly. “May I help you?”

      “Your patient didn’t make it, huh?”

      For a minute, he thought her professional persona would keep her from responding, but she finally shook her head. “No. She’s been here for weeks now and she’s such a sweet old lady. How can I help you?”

      “I thought you ought to know your Jane Doe woke up. The one from the fire? She looked pretty spooked so I told her I’d get a nurse.”

      She took in his stained clothing and nodded. “Thank you. I’ll see to her.”

      She hurried away before he could say anything more. Flynn felt surprisingly reluctant to leave, but his muscles were protesting and he desperately needed a shower and something to eat before he fell asleep on his feet.

      Going to the elevator, he pressed Down before he remembered he needed to call Murray to come pick him up. Technically, he wasn’t supposed to use his cell phone inside the hospital, but Flynn placed a quick call to him. Murray didn’t answer. Hesitating, he decided he’d better call his mother and get that over with before he tried Murray again.

      His mother’s relief at hearing his voice told him he’d made the right choice. She offered to come get him, of course, but he assured her he was fine and had arranged a ride. After promising twice to come by and see her later, he was finally able to hang up and step on the elevator that had already come and gone twice while he stood there.

      “Mr. O’Shay! Wait!”

      Surprised, he looked up to see the nurse running toward him. His gut gave a twist at her expression. He found himself limping quickly to meet her halfway.

      “What’s wrong?”

      “Where is she?”

      “Who?”

      “Sleeping Beauty.”

      The twist tightened. “Isn’t she in her bed?”

      “No! She’s gone!”

      Chapter Two

      The doorbell rang. It wasn’t the first time, either. Flynn had heard it several times without waking completely, but this time someone followed the ring with a rapping hard enough to bring him to full consciousness. One eye slit open. The pounding continued. His sleep-drugged mind forced both lids apart. Where was he?

      His living room, bathed in shadows, came blearily into focus. Flynn swore and tried to sit up. Pain shot through his shoulder and down his leg. He’d fallen asleep on the couch when he’d meant only to sit down for a couple of minutes.

      Groaning, he made it to his feet and limped to the door. He remembered turning off his phones after Murray and Arlene dropped him at the house, but things got a little vague after that. He must have grabbed a banana from the kitchen counter, intending to sit for a minute and eat it and then take a shower. The peel and half the banana were now on the floor next to his shoes. He didn’t remember kicking them off, either.

      Flynn muttered under his breath and reached for the door handle. A Channel Three newsvan was parked out front. A reporter and cameraman were walking away.

      He shut the door quickly, hoping they hadn’t seen him. The media was the main reason he’d turned off his phones in the first place. Well, them and his well-meaning family. He’d been too tired to talk with anyone when he finally