“My sweet child, my healer," she murmured, her breath stirring her hair. Even this gentle touch made her knees weak.

“Come with us. You will find your place within our circle, and we will give you the happiness you deserve."

"Mom?" A girl's voice said urgently. "I just got a text from Jeremy. He says that a guy just pulled into the parking lot in a huge-ass SUV and ran into the hospital. He..." she swallowed and her voice was tight with fear.

“Jeremy says he matches your description of Kincaid.”

Yasna found herself loosed from Rachel's arms. "Oh, Christ," she muttered.

“Now we're in deep shit.“ She closed her eyes, her mind obviously sorting possibilities. "All right," she said, opening her eyes and fixing Yasna with a piercing look.

“He'll go to the front desk first to find out what room she's in. It's past visiting hours, so they'll refuse him entry at first, right?"

“Well, they'll try at least," Yasna agreed. Behind them, the young woman held the door open and the men maneuvered the bed out of the room. Walking quickly but unhurriedly, they pushed the bed down the hall towards the bank of elevators. Yasna followed them, picking up her purse and her black medical bag on her way out the door.

“Let's just hope they don't try too hard," Rachel muttered. "I don't want anyone to die on our account." Her eyes lit with black humor.

“Especially us."

“Dr. Marafi?" came a hesitant question. Yasna turned to see one of the nurses looking at them, confusion in her eyes. "What's going on?"

“Keep going," she murmured to Rachel.

“I'll handle this." She peeled away from the group to approach the nurse.

“We finally know a bit more about this case, Theresa," she said, her lips curved in a professional smile. "I was right. She was poisoned.

Very subtly. These people," she waved a hand at the retreating forms,

“are with the Federal Bureau of Investigation."

“The FBI?"

“Right. Ms. Carpenter is a witness in an important court case. They're taking her into protective custody.”

"But..." the nurse's voice faltered, then firmed. "Shouldn't we see some ID? And there are procedures before we release a patient."

“I've already verified their identities," she said, her voice brisk and competent. Inside her head, she was cursing the woman's commitment to her duty, and the hours she had spent drilling that very attitude into her staff.

“And a paper trail would just alert those who wish her harm that we are aware of them."

She caught Theresa's eyes, speaking quickly. In the distance, she heard the chime of an elevator. "Spread the word. If anyone besides a member of the hospital staff comes here to ask about Ms. Carpenter, tell them she has been transferred to another facility for additional tests. Play dumb. And if you can, call the police. Anyone who comes looking for her is going to be very dangerous." She paused, wondering if she should say more, then shook her head.

“I have to go. Be safe, and may Allah protect you."

She turned and walked towards the elevators. By the time she reached them, she was nearly running.

The ride down to the ground floor was quiet and tense, the atmosphere charged with fear. When the doors slid open, Rachel helped them guide the bed out of the elevator, then held up her hand, bidding them to silence and stillness.