Read Karen Vail 01 - Velocity for Free Online Page B

program. The Justice Department decided that. And based on what Merilynn had told them, Vail doubted she was a candidate.
    While it might comfort Merilynn and support her parental instincts, there did not appear to be a clear threat that would require protection.
    A moment later, Dixon left the conference room and located Vail down the corridor. She sat down beside her but remained quiet.

    Final y Dixon said, “That thing you said about Robby in there. I hadn’t thought of that.”
    “I didn’t either. It just kind of came out. And then it hit me. Hard. When she wouldn’t budge, I had to leave before I said something we’d al regret.”
    “We need to mobilize NSIB,” Dixon said, referring to the Napa Special Investigations Bureau. “We can sketch out the radius on Bing maps and get them canvassing the area ASAP, see if we can locate Mayfield’s hideout.”
    Vail got up suddenly. “Let’s go.”
    “Where?”
    “Mayfield. I want to see him.”

    8
    D ixon tried discouraging Vail from making the hospital visit, but Vail would have nothing of it. En route to the medical center,
    Dixon cal ed Brix and informed him where they were headed—and asked him to map out the area Merilynn Lugo had described and to engage NSIB assistance with the canvass.
    They made their way into the ICU of the Napa Val ey Medical Center. I can’t believe it was only yesterday that Mayfield was brought here after his arrest.
    Yesterday that Robby went missing.
    They pushed through the doors into ICU. An open and spacious nursing station occupied the center of the floor, with individual patient rooms lining the periphery.
    Large sliding glass doors sat sandwiched between translucent wal s that could be curtained off by powder blue ful -length drapes.
    Vail and Dixon showed their credentials to the nurse sitting closest to them. Her name tag read “Helen.”
    “John Mayfield,” Vail said. “How’s he doing?”
    Helen, a fifty-something woman whose chestnut hair was due for a dye session, consulted a chart, flipped a page, and said, “Looks like he’s in pretty grave condition.”
    “Which room’s he in?” Dixon asked.
    Helen chuckled. “I’m afraid he’s not in any condition to talk. They’ve induced a coma to stabilize him and increase his chance of recovery.”
    “Okay,” Vail said. “Which room?”
    Helen’s gaze flicked between Vail and Dixon, clearly confused—her reply should have been adequate to assuage their desires.
    Vail, for one, knew her facial expression was not conveying an air of calm and acceptance.
    “Three.” Helen’s eyes slid left.
    Vail and Dixon thanked her, then moved toward the room. “Shouldn’t there be cops posted?”
    Dixon rubbernecked her head. “There’s supposed to be someone. Don’t see him.”
    “Only one?”
    “I’m guessing they don’t expect a comatose patient to be much of a problem.”
    “He’s huge and he’s kil ed a lot of people,” Vail said. “I think there should be a decent presence, don’t you?”

    Dixon raised a shoulder. “Budget’s always an issue.” She stepped forward and grabbed the door handle. She slid the large panel to the side and they walked in.
    Lying on the bed to their left, hooked up to flexible tubes and lead wires, was John Mayfield.
    Vail moved to his side and had to summon the wil not to reach out and grab him by the gown and shake him, slam his psychopathic head against the bed frame.
    Demand to know what he did with Robby. If he did something to Robby.
    Instead, Vail stood there staring at him. Final y Dixon said, “I don’t mean to be cal ous, but the nurse kind of had a point. What are we doing here?”
    Vail pul ed her gaze from Mayfield and looked at Dixon. “I don’t know, Roxx. I needed to see him, what kind of state he’s in.” She looked down at Mayfield again.
    “Do you know what I feel like doing?”
    “Shooting his brains out?”
    Vail hiked her brow. “That would work, too.” She leaned in close, put her face