“Mind if I ride with you?” Pete asked, knowing Baronick was on his way to Jenna’s house.
“No problem. But, sir, you need to step aside right now.”
Pete hated to release Zoe’s hand. Hated to break the connection. As if he was the one keeping her anchored in this world. “I’m right here,” he whispered to her. Letting go, he stood and moved out of their way. As they maneuvered the gurney next to Zoe, Pete crossed to Harry’s side and draped an arm around his old man’s shoulders. “You sure you’re okay, Pop?”
He nodded, tears brimming. “I couldn’t do anything to help her. I’m sorry.”
Pete hugged his father closer. “You were here with her. That means a lot to me.”
“She’s a good girl.” Harry pushed away and pointed. “You go take care of her. You hear me?”
One of the paramedics suggested Pete sit up front with the driver, but Pete gave him one long, withering glare and claimed a seat on the jump bench. He leaned forward, gripping the rail on the gurney to keep from being thrown to the floor—or worse, on top of Zoe—as the swaying vehicle careened along the streets of Brunswick. During the entire trip, he kept up a heartfelt but senseless patter of encouragement, assuring her he’d be at her side no matter what.
By the time they backed into the ambulance entrance at Brunswick Hospital’s Emergency Department, Zoe’s coloring had improved. Or Pete was seeing what he wanted to see, willing her to come back to him.
He trailed after them as they wheeled her through the automatic doors and shot a look at the security guard, daring the guy to stop him. But no one did.
Dr. Fuller met them as the medics steered the gurney into one of the cubicles, a mixture of anger and concern on his face. He held an arm out, blocking Pete. “Not again,” the doctor said. “Hypoglycemia?”
“I’d bet my life on it.”
“So would I.”
“I’m not waiting out here.”
“Of course not. Just stay out of our way while we’re working on her. I know you love Zoe, but let us do our thing to save her.”
The thought of them failing choked him.
Dr. Fuller barreled into the cubicle. Pete started to follow but his phone rang. Caller ID showed Baronick’s name. With a glance at the medical staff circling Zoe, Fuller barking orders, paramedics and orderlies sliding her from the gurney to the bed, Pete stepped back and swiped the green button.
“Pete.” Baronick’s voice sounded triumphant. “We got her. Jenna Haggerty is in custody.”
Thirty-Four
Zoe awoke to distant muffled voices, beeps, and bells, as if swimming up through Jell-O. Surfacing, she opened her eyes, blinking against the harsh light. The noises around her cleared, and Pete’s handsome but worried face came into view.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said.
“Hey, yourself.” Her voice didn’t sound like her own and her throat felt raw. “What happened?”
“We thought you were gonna miss your wedding.” Zoe shifted her eyes to find the source of the words. Seth.
“Where am I?” She looked around. “The hospital?” The fog blanketing her brain cleared. Golden Oaks. The milkshake with the weird aftertaste. She brought her gaze back to Pete. “Harry. You have to make sure he’s okay.”
Pete gave her a relieved smile. “He’s fine. She only poisoned you.”
She? Loretta? No. “Jenna.” Zoe tried to push herself up in bed but the IV in her arm pinched. “You have to find her. Stop her.”
Pete squeezed Zoe’s hand. “Baronick has her under arrest. He called a while ago to tell me they caught up to her at her house. She was packing her baby’s things and getting ready to take off with the kid, but they got her.”
Zoe squinted against a headache. “Is her baby all right?”
Pete lifted her hand—the one free of IV tubing—and kissed the back of it. “Relax. Everyone is okay. Jenna’s in custody. Her son is with her husband, who apparently knew nothing about his wife’s past or present crimes. Harry wasn’t a target. The milkshakes she gave both of you are at the lab.”
“I should’ve known. The milkshake tasted funny. It had an aftertaste like sugar substitute.”
“That’s probably right. Real sugar would’ve counteracted the insulin.”
Another realization struck her. “Franklin. When I was in his room after he died, there was an empty diet pop can. Dorian, the nurse, mentioned giving what was left of it to him when his blood sugar was low.”
“Loretta told us an aide brought it into his room.”
“Jenna.”
Pete nodded. “The description Loretta gave matches.”
“Has Jenna confessed to that part of it? Killing Franklin?”
“Baronick didn’t say.”
“Why aren’t you over there finding out for yourself?”
Pete smiled. “Because I have more pressing concerns on my hands right now.”
Zoe looked around the room, taking it in fully for the first time. An Emergency Department cubicle, not a regular room. Abby in her own hospital gown and Seth stood across the bed from Pete. A heart monitor showed normal sinus rhythm, heart rate, respiration, and BP. The IV bag of dextrose and the oxygen had done the trick. “I’m fine. You should go,” she told Pete.
“My place is here.”
She wiggled her hand free from his grasp and tapped the badge on his uniform shirt. “You’re still on duty. Your place is in interrogation, building a case against Jenna. Go.” When he still didn’t move, Zoe pointed at Seth and Abby. “I have them to keep watch over me. Go.”
Pete exchanged a silent conversation with his officers. Zoe didn’t need a translator.
“We’ll stay with her until you get back,” Abby said.
Pete cocked an eyebrow at Zoe. “Are you sure?”
“What part of go don’t you understand?”
He bent down and pressed a kiss to her lips…a kiss that was sweeter than any milkshake.
Although she might have lost her taste for Harry’s favorite treat forever.
Pete straightened and looked across the bed at Seth. “Can I borrow your car?”
Pete had dealt with Zoe as a patient in the ER
