Shadows in the White City Read Online Free

many dreams she’d lost in the past, but in all of her thoughts and fears and hopes, she never stopped talking to him as if he heard and could talk back, as if their invisible dialogue—as he may well be talking back to her in his head—might be the only lifeline left to Alastair.
    Dr. Christian Fenger placed a hand on Jane’s shoulder. Fenger was one of a handful of people who knew that she was James Phineas Tewes. “One hope Ransom has left.”
    Jane weighed Fenger’s cryptic words. “And what is that, Doctor?”
    â€œThe man’s renown stubbornness, and he has unfinished business.”
    â€œAnd should St. Peter challenge him at the gate?” She attempted humor.
    â€œThen it’s a difficult time for St. Peter, who may want to postpone dealing with Ransom.”
    â€œI hadn’t thought of it, but you’re right. He indeed has unfinished business—much of it with me, so St. Peter’ll just have to get in line.”
    Together they laughed at the image of Ransom deciding who to argue with—her or St. Peter. Christian then hugged her. “Good to see you—the real you again, Jane. If you will end this Tewes charade, I’ll pull every string to get you on at Rush Medical.”
    â€œI can’t think of that now.”
    Dr. Fenger then left her alone with the patient. Gabrielle stepped in with a cup of lukewarm coffee she’d scrounged from someplace in the hospital.
    â€œYou should get some sleep, Mother.”
    â€œThere’ll be time for sleep later. I don’t want him alone when he comes round.”
    â€œThen I’m staying, too.”
    â€œYou should go home…to your own bed.”
    â€œI’ll not be in comfort and leave you alone here.”
    Cook County’s cold institutional walls and bare room reflected Jane’s mood as she watched Gabby curl up in a chair on the other side of Ransom’s bed.
    â€œOk, sweetheart. Whatever you think best.” Jane sensed her daughter simply didn’t want to be alone, and Jane had felt alone until Gabby’s arrival. She now sipped at the coffee, glad for the small offering.
    She replaced one hand on Alastair’s forehead. He’d survived the surgery; however, a high fever had set in, and infection, a killer of the ages held Ransom in its awful grasp.
    Two days later
    Ransom felt a surge of emotion welling up inside when he awoke to a room full of people, his best friends. Jane Francis as herself held his hand, Gabby sat in a chair where she’d fallen asleep. Griffin stood on the other side of thebed, nervously looking at the door as if about to make a break for it. Dr. Christian Fenger smiled down from the foot of his bed.
    â€œAlastair, you’ve come back to us,” Christian said, his normally sad eyes smiling now.
    â€œThank God! You’d slipped into a coma,” Jane said, squeezing his hand.
    Gabby awoke in a start amid the commotion. Tentative about speaking to the man she’d laid low, one eye still shut with sleepiness, she quietly said, “Mother never left your side, and she never gave up.”
    â€œIs-sat righ’, Jane?” Alastair managed to croak, dry-mouthed.
    â€œNothing anyone else wouldn’t do,” Jane replied.
    Gabby spoke for Jane. “She’s talked to you in the last days more than she’s talked to me in a month!”
    â€œWelcome back to Chicago, Rance,” added Griffin.
    Ransom could hardly swallow, let alone speak, as his mouth felt stuffed with a combination of cotton and glue. Jane helped him with a glass of water. Finally, he could swallow, and he said, “Thank you all for…for being here. Either I’m in some sort of purgatory or this is Cook County?”
    â€œYou’re going to take a few days to heal, Alastair,” said a stern Christian Fenger. “Do you understand? No more of these acrobatics of yours.”
    â€œYeah,” agreed Gabby, “and