Finding 4

I'M FINE. WE'RE FINE. IT'S FINE.

   "WE'RE just shopping," Doherty was saying into her phone, talking with Gerard, who had called, wondering if she knew where Lily was. "Well, after yesterday's events, she said she wanted a distraction that wasn't drug-related."

Had to give it to Doherty.

She could lie fucking well.

When she cracked a relieved smile, I knew Gerard believed her. "We're heading back to mine soon, and I'll make sure she charges her phone," she hummed, fidgeting with Lily's phone in her hand. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, we'll be safe. Okay bye, bye, bye." Pulling her phone away from her ear, she hung up with a tired sigh. "I love the lad, but he could talk for hours."

Sipping a coffee, I nodded. "Much like his sister."

"Speaking of sisters," she murmured, looking past me with her brows furrowed. "I think Lily's allowed visitors now."

My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly looked over my shoulder to see Mrs. Biggs talking with a doctor while passing off a chart before looking our way.

And just from seeing the expression on her face, I knew something was wrong.

"She's got that mammy bear look," Doherty whispered, nervously shifting in her chair. "I have a feeling we're in trouble."

"Yeah." So do I.

Placing my cup of coffee down on the table in the waiting room, I stood up with Doherty just as Mrs. Biggs joined us.

Now that she was closer, she looked more concerned than before, especially as she just straight-up stared at me.

Why was she staring at me?

What did Hughie tell her about me?

"Is she okay?" I decided to ask, making her blink hard out of whatever trance she was in. "Can we see her?"

"I haven't called her Mam because she asked me not to, but Gerard thinks she's out shopping with me," Doherty admitted, slipping her phone into the pocket of her skirt. "If she wants, I can call Gerard back."

"No, no," Mrs. Biggs quietly said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I think it's best that her family doesn't know she's here until she's ready."

I knew little about the Gibson/Allen and Biggs families, but what I did know was that they were close as hell, so for Mrs. Biggs to suggest that we don't call Mrs. Allen...well, that told me that something really was wrong.

Taking her attention away from Doherty, the older woman focused on me. "I think it's best you come see Lily, Kieran," she gently said. "Alone, for now."

Furrowing my brows, I glanced at Doherty, who seemed a little hurt but sent me an assuring nod.

Yeah, something was wrong.