Ashley followed the speeding ambulance to the nearest hospital. She went inside to the emergency room alongside the paramedics toting the injured man on a stretcher. Nurses and Interns were swarming around directing the paramedics where to take him. After they had left, the young man was pushed into a remote room and one of the nurses suggested that Ashley report to the Billing Office to give them some information.

How could she? She knew nothing about the man. All she could tell them was what took place on the parking lot when she came out of the supermarket. As Ashley was explaining it, she glanced out a window overlooking the emergency entrance. A 1987 Mustang with a left dented fender had just parked and two men were walking away and approaching the hospital entrance, one walking with a limp.

She squealed. "There it is! - - the car that hit him - - ."

The Cashier was out of her chair in seconds. "Are you sure? The hit and run driver- - ?"

"Yes," Ashley cried as they raced down the hall.

The two men had just hobbled inside and immediately Ashley recognized the driver. She was surprised she’d recognized him as the driver of the car. He was still wearing the same sneer on his bearded face. There was no mistake.

Hospital personnel acted quickly on Ashley’s accusation. Two police officers seemed to appear out of nowhere and quickly approached the men. Ashley stepped away, and even though she was unable to hear what was being said, she saw red when both men began shaking their heads. Were they denying what happened?

She turned to the admitting clerk. "I’ve told you all I know about the injured man, but I’m positive those are the men who hit him. I’m going to make sure they don’t get away with it."

She bounded toward the four men in conversation just in time to hear the bearded one lie.

"No, I tell you, we didn’t hit nobody. We just had a blowout, and I lost control of the car. My left leg got hurt when the car swerved. I didn‘t hit nobody."

One of the policemen observed Ashley rushing toward them and asked, "You were eye witness to the accident, were you not?"

"I certainly was and it was no accident, he did it deliberately."

The bearded man began to protest, but the officer shushed him by holding up a hand. His eyes remained on Ashley. "Why do you say that?"

She told how the car had raced through the parking lot and how the stranger had been injured. A nurse appeared and tapped Ashley’s shoulder. "Mr. Johnson wants to see you."

Who the heck is Mr. Johnson?

She followed the young woman down the hall who stopped before a curtained door. The nurse smiled and walked away. Ashley peeked inside the small room to see her new friend.

Deceitful Delights -3 (Continue)