Change of Harte (Harte, #2) (Harte Series) by Brooke Harris Page B

when they pulled up outside. It seemed greyer, too, like the whole building was ill, if an illusion like that is even possible. There was no hesitating outside or lingering in the corridors like last night. Julian was rushing to the ward. Not noticing that he was just as capable of turning heads in his loose grey jeans and lightly padded back jacket as he was in his suit.
    A different nurse greeted him at the ICU unit, older and less friendly. She didn’t speak.
    ‘I’m here to see Cameron Andrews,’ Julian said.
    The nurse nodded, still not speaking. She turned and walked away and Julian suspected that was his signal to follow. He could find his way to Cameron by himself, but he knew that wasn’t the etiquette.
    Everything seemed exaggerated compared to yesterday. The pungent smell of detergent, the poignant silence, the eerie sense of impending death.
    Another nurse adjusted the drip flowing into Cameron’s arm. She seemed startled by Julian’s sudden presence. ‘Mr. Harte,’ she said, finally.
    ‘I came as soon as I got the call.’
    ‘And Mrs. Harte?’
    Julian shook his head.
    This nurse wasn’t quite as capable of holding her tongue as her colleague the night before. ‘Mr. Andrews is terminal, Mr. Harte. I know the snow might be causing some delays, but if Mrs. Harte intends to fly over from Ireland, now really is the best time.’
    Julian sucked in air through his nostrils until his chest hurt. He looked at Cameron, who was dismally close to a skeleton. Just a paper-thin cover of blotchy greyish skin hinted that he was clinging to life. Hopeful that Cameron could still hear, Julian refrained from replying to the nurse in the manner he would like to.
    The older nurse ushered the younger nurse out the door. ‘We’ll be just outside,’ she said, suddenly very softly spoken.
    Julian didn’t even turn his head to acknowledge their departure.
    ‘Cameron, we had a deal. I was bringing Eva here today, I still am. You need to hold on, okay.’
    Cameron was so still it was hard to tell if he was unconscious or just sleeping.
    ‘You asked me yesterday if I’d found her? I realise now you weren’t talking about Eva.’ Julian thought he saw Cameron’s eyelids flutter. But the more he watched the old man’s stagnant body, the more he resigned that he was mistaken.
    ‘I know now that you meant Melissa.’ Julian dropped his head as he said Eva’s sister’s name. ‘I know where she is, Cameron. And I’m going to help her. You have my word.’
    Julian looked up again to find Cameron’s eyes open. The once crisp blue was faded to a murky grey and they glistened with tears.
    ‘I’m on my way to get her now. You just have to hold on a little while. You have my word, now I need yours.’
    Cameron blinked and Julian could see a hint of a smile form at the sides of his open mouth.
    Julian’s phone pulsed against his groin inside his jeans pocket. He had umpteen missed calls from Eva, Shelly, Pam, and Mia. Julian ran his index finger over the bridge of his nose. He currently had one priority and every time he thought about where she was, vomit churned in the pit of his stomach.
    He returned one of his many missed calls.
    ‘I’m on my way downstairs now. I’ll see you outside in five minutes. We’re not going back to the hotel yet. I need to make a pit stop.’
    ‘Okay, sure Mr. Harte. Where?’ Anthony asked.
    ‘Vertigo. It’s on 44 th Street…’
    Anthony laughed. ‘None of my business, Mr. Harte, but isn’t it a bit early for a strip club? Will the place even be open at this time?’
    ‘It’s a gentleman’s club.’
    ‘Of course,’ Anthony said, struggling to stifle his sniggering now.
    ‘And I certainly hope it’s not open. I’d rather catch the non-gentleman who runs it outside of office hours.’
    Anthony’s laughing ended abruptly. ‘Is everything all right, Mr. Harte?’
    ‘No, Anthony. Everything is most certainly not all right. But it will be. I’m at the doors. I see you. Let’s