"Semi-conscious," the woman said. "He's been in a coma most of the
afternoon, she said, but they told me he's out of it now. Oh." She
listened for a moment. Then she said to Laura, "The doctor says he's in
very shaky shape, but that any close relatives can be admitted for very
brief spells. Could I have your name, please?"
"Haynes. Miss Laura Haynes."
"We'll have to check, of course," the nurse said. "I mean, all sorts of
people try to get upstairs under false pretenses, and--"
Laura gasped in horror, but it was too late; the nurse at the desk
was saying into the mouthpiece, "Her name is Laura Haynes. She's Mr.
Bittner's fiancee."
There was another moment of hesitation. Then the desk nurse put the
telephone down. When she looked up at Laura her expression was stony,
bleakly hostile.