Chief Johnson’s lips spread into a pinched, grim line. “Do whatever you can to save him.”
The paramedic nodded, and they hurried out of the warehouse to the waiting ambulance.
Ellie cast her eyes to the floor, guilt overwhelming her.
Chief Johnson wrapped her slender hand in both of his, not paying attention to the blood covering her skin. He gave her a reassuring squeeze, just like he had at the hospital thirteen years before.
Despite the comfort his touch brought, Ellie’s heart remained heavy.
His eyes were soft when she met his unwavering gaze, a hint of a tender smile on his lips. “It’s okay for you to be human.” He looked at the paramedics, but they were engrossed in their patients and not paying attention to him and Ellie. “I’m just glad you’re not the one who shot him.”
A clatter of wheels drew their attention back to the scene around them. The paramedics had Jillian and Gabe on stretchers now.
Heart torn, Ellie turned back to Chief Johnson. “Jillian’s unconscious, and she won’t notice I’m not in the ambulance. I want to ride with Gabe so I can question him now, in case he doesn’t make it.”
“You can’t run this case, Kline. You’re a victim.”
“I know, but he has information that we don’t. I need everything he knows so I can piece together the rest of what happened to me that night and find out if there are more victims we haven’t found. I’m afraid if I let someone else investigate—”
“I’ll be handling this case personally.”
“Thank you, sir. But I’d still like to talk to him.”
“He’s in no condition to talk right now.” Johnson shook his head. “In case you didn’t notice, he’s fading in and out as it is.”
“Sir, please.”
“You can’t ride with him in the ambulance.”
“Sir, I—”
“You shot him. Even if I didn’t think letting you question him crossed a line, I can’t let you do that.”
Ellie frowned. “It was a good shoot. He shot Powell, and I didn’t know Powell was involved.”
“Go be with Jillian, Kline. If she wakes up in the hospital and you’re not there, she’s going to be scared. Take care of your friend and let me handle this, please.”
She opened her mouth to argue and thought better of it. “All right.”
“I’ll be by the hospital to take your statement when I’m done here.”
Ellie took one last look around the warehouse before walking through the door and getting into her car. It wasn’t until she was alone that she noticed her hands were caked with blood. Powell’s. Jillian’s. Gabe’s. Maybe even the man’s she only knew as the master.
Gagging at the thought of having the blood on her skin of the men who’d tortured her as a teen and forced her to watch another girl die, she dug in her purse until she found the travel-sized packet of wipes at the bottom. She scrubbed until the first cloth was dirty, tossing it to the side and grabbing another and another until the bag was empty. With shaking hands, she started the engine and put the SUV into gear, leaving the cursed warehouse in her rearview.
29
The paper-thin hospital sheet pulled at his toes, rubbing against the thick, shapeless socks they’d given him to go with his gown. Using the remote to raise the back, Gabe Fisher shifted in the bed in a futile attempt to get comfortable. His wound burned with every movement.
Taking a deep breath, he gritted his teeth to hold back a moan, fingers clenching the sheet that stopped just below his chest. He shook the thin fabric until it pulled loose from the foot of the mattress and moved it up to his chin, nestled back against the flat pillow, and sighed. His accommodations were far from luxurious, but at least his shoulders weren’t cold anymore. He’d take a small victory anywhere he could find one.
The knock on the door was so soft Gabe barely heard it over the constant beeps of the various monitors that were still holding him captive in the stark room. “Come in.” He cleared his throat, repeating himself a little louder when no one entered. “It’s open, come in.”
The door creaked, and a familiar face appeared in the gap. “The nurse told me you were ready for visitors.”
He nodded, gesturing to the chair beside his bed. “Sit down. It’s not like I’m going anywhere today.”
She smiled at his attempt at humor, tucking a coil of bright red hair behind her ear. “Thanks. I’m sure you’re bored out of your mind. Jillian was released yesterday, and she was already climbing the walls before that.” She dropped down into the seat, her green eyes surveying him with concern.
“How is Jillian?”
“A broken arm that required surgery, but she’ll heal in time.”
“And her car?” He grimaced as he asked.
“Her car is a total loss.”
A flash of himself driving the reinforced SUV, connecting with her passenger door, sent fresh waves of guilt through him. “I know it’s probably not the time, but I need to apologize to her.”
“She knows you didn’t have a choice.”
“Why doesn’t that make me feel any better?” He bit his lip, eyes wandering to the open window and the colorful buildings that surrounded the hospital. Inhaling deeply, he dragged his attention away from the promise of freedom and back to Ellie.
“Because you have a conscience. She already said she forgives you.” Ellie cleared her throat. “If it weren’t for you, we would both be dead.”
“I keep replaying everything that happened in my mind. I only went along with him out of fear. He’s…not what I thought he was.” The photos of the man in the cage that he’d found in the doctor’s desk hovered in his mind. “I could’ve stopped him. Jillian could’ve died. Maybe if I had, things would’ve turned out differently.”
“It’s hard not to dwell on the what-ifs, but what’s done is done. If it hadn’t
