Lone Star Standoff. Margaret Daley

wrong, Judge Madison?” the deputy sheriff asked.

      “After what happened at the courthouse, I’m anxious. Please make sure that whoever comes in here works here.”

      His forehead wrinkled. “Did that nurse give you any problems?”

      “He was a stranger. That’s the first time I saw him. Something didn’t feel right.”

      “Ma’am, his outfit is similar to others on the floor, and he had a name tag.”

      “Deputy Simpson, after today I’m suspicious of everyone.”

      “I understand. I’ll check into who he is.”

      “Thank you.”

      When the door closed behind the deputy sheriff, Aubrey lifted her shaky right hand and couldn’t stop it from quivering.

      * * *

      Sean finally left the emergency room after being checked out. The test confirmed what he already knew—a concussion. He’d had one before and knew what it felt like. He was more concerned about Aubrey. A nurse told him she’d been taken to a room on the second floor. One reason he headed upstairs was to make sure the deputy sheriff assigned to guard her room was in place. But his main purpose was to see how Aubrey was doing. No one would tell him anything in the ER, even though they’d come into the hospital together.

      Exiting the elevator, Sean immediately spied Deputy Simpson. Sean had requested him since he was one of the deputy sheriffs who worked at the courthouse. Aubrey would be familiar with him. While waiting to be treated, he’d talked with Police Chief Juan Perez and Sheriff Don Bailey to coordinate law enforcement officers guarding the judge during Bento Villa’s trial. It was clear she was in danger, and the dead rat pointed to the Coastal Cartel. Later he would meet with his informant to see what he’d heard about the trial and the judge.

      Sean stopped next to Simpson at the nurses’ station down the hall from Aubrey’s room. Why wasn’t he at her door?

      Simpson glanced at Sean then resumed his conversation with a nurse behind the counter. “Where is your nurse Chris Newton?”

      “Chris called in sick today.”

      “Is there a problem?” Sean asked when he saw the surprised look on Simpson’s face.

      Keeping an eye on a room down the hall, Simpson answered, “He was with Judge Madison a few minutes ago in her room. At least his name tag said Chris Newton.”

      Sean started down the corridor, saying, “Get a picture of Newton and see if it was him or an impostor.”

      Simpson had left Aubrey unguarded in her room when he went to the nurses’ station. When Sean had arrived, the deputy sheriff had his head turned away from her room while talking with the woman. Even if only for a couple of minutes, his action could have put her in jeopardy. Sean drew his gun, approaching 214 as though there was a crime in progress. He burst into her room, his gaze sweeping the area.

      Aubrey’s eyes grew round. “What’s wrong?”

      “Anyone in the bathroom?”

      “No.”

      Sean moved to her bed, standing on the side that gave him a view of the whole room and the door. He told her about the nurse being out sick today. His hand on his weapon tightened. “Simpson is seeing if there’s a photo of him to check if the person in here was Chris Newton.”

      Aubrey closed her eyes for a moment. “I knew something was wrong. That’s why I asked Deputy Simpson to check on the nurse.”

      The red streak moving up her arm caught Sean’s attention. “What did the doctor say?”

      “I need to stay until they make sure the antivenin has taken care of the poison in my body. I want to go home, but the doctor says I’ll probably be here for a couple of days. After what just happened, I don’t want to stay.”

      “You’ll have twenty-four-hour protection from now on. Someone will be outside your door.”

      “Someone I know, like Deputy Simpson?”

      “Yes, and I’ll be here some of the time.” He would make sure Simpson and any guard understood the importance of not moving from the door.

      “What about my mother and children?”

      “I’ve taken care of that. Two people will be guarding them at all times.”

      “Thank you. I won’t be intimidated by anyone behind this, but having my family protected makes me feel better.” She stared at her left arm. “This cartel hasn’t gone after many judges. Why now?”