Jagger was on the phone to Shatley, who said he would be here in minutes. Everyone was to vacate the crime scene, so when Jagger got off the phone, he led me to the porch.

“Could be the break that we need.”

We needed to get the case solved soon, before someone else was stabbed, I thought-

Make that before I was stabbed, since I’d already been threatened. Then I had another thought: Since Pansy had been stabbed, too, then she wasn’t involved in Payne’s death. Being a sibling of five kids, two sisters, two brothers, I was relieved to think that a sister hadn’t killed her brother.

I nodded at Jagger. “Hopefully she can tell us who did this to her.”

Before Jagger could answer, sirens filled the air as ER Dano and Buzz drove off with Pansy in an ambulance, and the police showed up simultaneously. Sky went with Dano and Buzz, even though he was a pilot. I figured he was doing his part.

Never a dull moment in this business, I thought.

Out in the parking lot, I said to Jagger, “Hope we make it to the hospital before she…you know.”

He merely looked at me, and I guessed he was thinking the same thing that I was. Pansy might have “dodged a bullet”-but would it ricochet back and get her? She really didn’t look all that good when they shipped her off.

I jumped into Jagger’s Suburban and slammed the door. He took off before I could even fasten my seat belt. I said a silent prayer that Pansy lived. And not just because I needed her.

Jagger drove faster than usual, and for some reason-maybe because he was Jagger-I wasn’t worried we’d get pulled over by one of Hope Valley’s finest. If we did and they saw Jagger, I’m certain they would have nodded, smiled and let him go.

I just knew it.

When Jagger pulled into the hospital parking lot, I noticed Ambulance #456 still in the driveway of the ER.

We parked and got out, hurried to the emergency-room entrance and went inside.

Staff bustled about, running in and out of Trauma Room #1. Pansy. Had to be. There was a blackboard on the far wall, which listed patients, their conditions, time of arrival and a few other needed tidbits. I was thrilled to see her name there instead of erased off.

“Think they’ll let us talk to her?” I asked, knowing full well Jagger would get us in somehow. I saw several police in the hallway near the room and figured they’d get first crack at questioning, but we wouldn’t be far behind.

Because, of course, Jagger was Jagger.

Nurse Grosch hurried past us with a “hey, Pauline,” and headed into Room #1. The few times I’d been here with ER Dano, I did get to meet several of the staff. Maybe that would help. I noticed one of the EMT women, Jennifer Shelton, who had been on duty during the memorial service. She stood near the main desk, talking to one of the nurses, Kim Gonzalez. I remembered her from when we’d brought in the phone-cord-around-the-neck lady.

“Excuse me,” I said to Jagger, who looked a bit surprised. Good. At least he’d realize I had a brain and could work my cases alone too. I walked over to the two women, who were now talking with the receptionist. Her name badge read Nancy Pringle.

The receptionist looked up. “May I help you?”

She probably didn’t recognize me in my little black dress as part of the TLC ambulance team. “Oh, hey, Nancy. I’m Pauline. A nurse. I was here with ER Dano the other day.”

Kim looked up. “Hi. Sorry to hear about Pansy.”

Hmm. According to that segue; my prayers were answered pretty darn quickly today. “Yes, a real shock. How is she?”

She and Jennifer, the EMT, looked at each other. Wow. What the heck? Was there something going on here, or was Pansy already gone?

“I’m not working that room, but the staff is still in there. So, that’s a good sign,” Kim said.

I nodded and leaned toward her. “Look, is there any chance that I can get in to see her?”

All three looked at me as if I were nuts. Jagger was standing near the desk, and his expression wasn’t far off from theirs. I ignored him and tried to think of a lie. Again, that was not my forte. Nothing. I had nothing. What could I say that wouldn’t cause suspicion of my asking?

“Why?” Nancy asked.

Oh, well. That was not unexpected, I thought. “I…er…ah…just want to see how she is. I mean, I work for her, you know.”

They looked around the bustling ER. No one else from TLC was there other than Jennifer and her partner.

“I know no one else is here to check, but Pansy is a wonderful woman.”

Jagger grabbed my arm and yanked me to the side, managing to shake his head at me while pulling me down the hallway. Over my shoulder I said, “Give her my regards,” and turned to push Jagger’s hand off my arm. “What the hell are you doing?”

He looked at me, and I knew he wanted to ask the same thing of me-and understandably so.

“Okay. Okay. Can’t you give a girl kudos for trying?”

“Trying? How many employees of TLC do you see here? And how many would actually come here, with the reputation of the Sterling bosses? None, Pauline.”

He was correct. I knew it. In all the shocking happenings of today, I wasn’t really thinking clearly, but telling that to Jagger would be a mute point. He didn’t do sympathy very well and that was the last emotion I’d want from him anyway.

“I get it.” I refused to say I was sorry though.

“Let’s go get a coffee,” Jagger said, walking toward the sign for the cafeteria.

“But what if…” I paused. If Pansy died, we would miss our chance, but the cops surely would find out something if Pansy ever came to enough to answer. “Never mind,” I added, even though Jagger wasn’t even paying attention to me.

Glancing out a window in the hallway, I noticed a male figure in the parking lot that looked an awful lot like Sky. Hmm. Could he have remained here only to make sure his boss was all right, or was there more to it?

In the cafeteria, we found Buzz waiting in a short line. “Hey,” I said. “How was she when you brought her in?”

At first he looked at me as if he didn’t know me. Had to be the damn black dress. Why was it that no one knew me unless I was decked out in my hated scrubs? Had they all only related to me as Nurse Pauline? Damn!

Finally recognizing me, he started to answer, but I found myself looking around for Dano. Oh, geez. And with Jagger only feet away. Then again, I shared a few kisses with him, but he’d never made any attempt at asking me out, so no way was I beholden to him.

No way.

Jeremy sighed. “She was in bad shape. Great deal of blood lost. But when they hooked her up, she did have normal sinus rhythm, although also tachycardia.”

“I’d certainly imagine her heart would be pumping faster with a blood loss.” Jeremy knew this, but I figured my simple explanation would help him relax with me and realize that I knew medicine.

“Yeah. Blood loss.” He turned to the girl behind the counter. “Hot-dog platter.”

Suddenly I realized none of us had eaten. There was probably a huge buffet of sorts at Pansy’s house. Maybe the cops would eat it. I smiled to myself and looked around for Jagger…who was gone.

Things like that didn’t even faze me any longer.

After more chitchat, and with the departure of Jagger, I followed Jeremy to his table-where Dano sat.

My hands started to tremble.

My heart started to beat a bit faster, although not in tachycardia.

And my voice came out in a husky tone when I said, “Hey, Dano.” Even I was impressed with it, and by the looks of him, he was too.

Good, since Jagger was gone.

“May I join you?” I asked.

Jeremy said, “Of course,” at the same time Dano said, “No need for an invitation.”

Hmm. Did that mean I was always welcome to sit with him ’cause of our kiss or ’cause I was an employee of TLC?