Running Blind by Shirlee McCoy Page B

girl.” But her father didn’t argue further as the elevator doors opened.
    Jenna stepped out, her gaze drawn to the nurses’ station where two uniformed officers waited. Her heart jumped, and if there hadn’t been five people stepping off the elevator behind her, she would have turned tail and run.
    Instead, she pasted a smile on her face and moved forward.
    â€œMs. Dougherty, it looks like you’re feeling better.” A young female officer stepped toward her, offering a brief smile.
    â€œI am. Thank you.”
    â€œGood. We have a few questions we need to ask if you’re up to it.”
    â€œI am.”
    â€œAre you sure, Jenna?” Nikolai stood beside her, his expression grim.
    â€œI’ve got nothing to hide.”
    â€œHow about we talk in your room, then?” The officer smiled again, but her eyes were hard, and Jenna knew she was already forming an assessment and deciding Jenna’s guilt or innocence.
    â€œThat’s fine. Mom, Dad, why don’t you two go back to the hotel and get packed? I know your flight leaves in a few hours. Yours, too, Kane. I’ll call you all as soon as I’m done here.” She knew they’d protest, but she really didn’t want her folks hanging around while the police gave her the third degree.
    â€œWe’ll wait out here. You’ll need a ride to the hotel when you’re finished,” Kane said, and the female officer shook her head.
    â€œWe’ll be happy to give her a ride. You folks go ahead back to the hotel. It’s best if we question Ms. Dougherty alone.” It was an order. There was no doubt about that. Whether or not her family would obey it remained to be seen.
    Jenna stepped into the room, pulling her IV pole along, her heart pounding way too fast and way too loudly. Could the officers see how nervous she was? She hoped not. The last thing she wanted to do was give them the impression that she had something to be nervous about.
    Her legs were shaking, her mind fuzzy from the pain medicine she’d been given. Maybe answering questions wasn’t a good idea. Before she could say as much, the second officer closed the door, sealing the three of them into the room together. Jenna winced at the sound, her pulse racing with anxiety. Should she send the officers away? Try to answer their questions? Refuse to answer them?
    â€œWould you like to sit down before we begin?” The female officer pulled out a notebook, and Jenna did as she suggested, dropping into a chair.
    â€œI hope this won’t take too long, Officer. It’s been a difficult day, and I’m not up to more than a few questions.”
    â€œA difficult day seems an understatement. You were at your friend’s funeral reception when you were shot at, right?”
    â€œI’m not sure if I was the target, but, yes, I was at Magdalena’s funeral reception.”
    â€œYou and Dr. Romero were close friends, weren’t you?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œHad you known each other long?”
    â€œSince college.”
    â€œSo, it’s safe to say that you two have spent a lot of time together?”
    â€œI wish I could say that was true, but Magdalena and I had only seen each other a handful of times in the past few years. She moved here after college, and I stayed in New York and then moved to Washington.”
    â€œBut you went to Mexico together.”
    â€œI’m a physical therapist specializing in pediatrics. Magdalena asked me to take part in Team Hope.”
    â€œThat’s the group that runs medical clinics down in Mexico?”
    â€œThat’s right.”
    â€œAnd Dr. Romero was the founder of the organization?”
    â€œYes, she coordinated several trips every year.”
    â€œI suppose she told you her reasons for doing so.” The second officer, a tall, dark-eyed man in his twenties, spoke up, his expression bland. He looked bored, and Jenna didn’t blame him.