“It’s a bit of a lame name,” she said.
Anna didn’t feel comfortable with him being in her room anymore. He wasn’t just a normal guy. Russell was a billionaire.
“Should you even be here? I bet you’ve got lots to do, Russell.” She handed him back his card, and sat back on the bed.
“You don’t like the fact I’m a billionaire?”
Glancing down at her stomach, she tried to think of the right thing to say to him. “It’s not that.”
“Then what is it?”
“You’re a billionaire!”
“So? A lot of women like it when they find out I’m loaded.”
Anna snorted. “You’re talking about gold-diggers.”
“Yes.”
She wondered where Franny had gone. Being alone with Russell was losing its charm.
“I really appreciate everything you did last night.”
“Are you kicking me out of your room?”
She went to answer, but Franny chose that moment to enter the room. “So, I talked to the nurse, and they believe you should be good to go in a couple of days. I think you should stay with me until you’re all well and better.”
“No. I don’t want to impose on you. You’ve been good to me already.”
Franny finally noticed Russell. “Who are you?”
“I’m one of the men who helped find Anna last night. I was also the guy who called you. Russell Wyatt.” He shook her hand, and Anna wished the world would just swallow her whole.
She and Karen had been looking to make a business for themselves, and she was sitting with a man who had not only had that dream but made it real.
“Your picture is all over the news. You saved all of those women. You’re a hero.”
“I’m not a hero, ma’am.”
“You are.” Franny stroked Anna’s hair, and tears once again filled her eyes. “I’m going to help you get well.”
“Franny, your family needs you. I’ll be fine.”
“I’m already making provisions for when Anna gets out of the hospital.”
“You are? See, you’re a hero.” Franny rounded the bed, grabbed Russell’s cheeks, and slapped a kiss on each. “Well, I’ve got to go, but I will be back with more food for you, Anna. You will stay here, and rest. No fighting now.”
“Franny, my job?”
“Never ended, dear. I told you, I like you. You’re a hard worker, a good girl. During this hard time, you’ve got to learn to lean on someone else.” Franny left the room.
“I’ll be right back.” Russell followed after Franny, leaving Anna to wonder what she had gotten herself into. Lying back on the bed, she grabbed the remote, and turned on the television. She moved to the news channel where there was a picture of Russell and the men who had helped to save her last night. She muted the report.
There was no need to listen to what was actually happening. She’d been there, and knew what was going on.
Chapter Four
“Mrs. Lions,” Russel said, chasing after the small woman.
“The name’s Franny, dear, and there’s no need to be shouting in the hospital.”
“Thank you for stopping by to see Anna,” he said.
Franny looked sad. The flash of pain in her eyes was easy to see. “She didn’t think I liked her. That poor girl. She has worked for me since she was eighteen, and always a hard worker. A strong worker. The only time I ever saw her happy was when she was with Karen, her friend.”
“Anna’s going to need help.”
“Her job is secure. I wouldn’t do that to anyone, least of all Anna.”
“I wanted to ask you some questions.”
“Ask away.”
“Did you notice anyone unusual lurking around Anna’s work? Maybe see them following Karen into the store?”
“Karen didn’t work for me, but she would always come to the store to visit Anna. To be honest, I should have started paying her. Both girls spent a lot of time with me.” Franny looked sad. “I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary, but if you stop by later today, I will have the tapes from the security cameras I keep. I have it in the shop and the parking lot. You may see what I can’t.”
“That would be fantastic.”
Franny looked down the hall. “It is so sad to see what happened to her. Anna wouldn’t hurt anyone, and she cared so much for Karen. They were like sisters.”
He was starting to see that. When he had gone home earlier, he’d gotten a couple of hours’ sleep, showered, and then set about finding out as much information as he could about Anna Little. She didn’t have a criminal record but was known to the system as being difficult. Anna wouldn’t stand to be hurt, and would speak out against any guy who would abuse her.