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Rachel nodded slowly. “After Abby told me she spoke to you, I figured you might have had something to do with that man’s untimely demise.” She pushed herself into a sitting position. The action seemed to leave her out of breath. “What did he want with Abby?”
“You mind if I sit?” He gestured to the chair beside the bed.
“Be my guest.”
Zep sat, then looked up to find Rachel scrutinising him.
“You got old, Zep.”
“Yeah, well…”
She chuckled. “It happens to us all. I’m pleased to see it happened to you.”
He returned her grin, understanding her meaning. Not many people in his line of work got the chance to get old.
“Can I ask, why are you in hospital?”
She shrugged. “Not sure. The doctor should be in soon to tell me.”
He wondered if anyone could see the decline in her the way he could? Without doubt, she was still beautiful. But whatever was making her sick was taking a far greater toll than the last three decades had.
“You didn’t come here to discuss my health.” She squared her shoulders. “What did that man want with Abby?”
Zep shifted in his seat. There was no easy way to say it other than to come straight out with it. “He was an associate of Brian Isobel, he’s the son of Peter Isobel.” He looked for any acknowledgement that Rachel knew who that was. She didn’t.
“Isobel is the head of Victoria’s biggest crime syndicate,” he clarified.
“What’s that got to do with Abby? Or perhaps the better question is, what’s that got to do with you and The Devils?”
“Hello, Rachel.” The voice interrupting them was overly bright and cheery. “Just popping in to do your obs.”
The woman had neutered from the door that was diagonally behind him. Zep silently cursed himself for being so distracted, for putting himself in a position for someone to walk in without him knowing until they were on top of him.
“No problem.” Rachel smiled at the nurse.
“Are you feeling alright, after all the bother this morning?” The nurse placed a pulse oximeter on Rachel’s finger, then wrapped a cuff around her arm and pressed a button on the portable blood pressure machine.
“Yes, the only inconvenience was that my visitors had to wait.”
The nurse glanced at Zep. “Hello, there.”
Zep gave the nurse a tight smile.
“Everything looks good here. Has the doctor been in to see you?” The nurse was scribbling notes on the chart she took from the end of the bed.
“Not yet,” said Rachel.
“She should be along soon.”
“Great.”
“Right.” She packed up her equipment and wheeled it towards the door. “I’ll be back in an hour.” A moment later, her muffled greeting could be heard in the room next door.
“You were saying?” Rachel prompted.
Zep scratched his ear. “Peter Isobel wants to start a war with The Devils.”
“Why?”
