Page 44 of Beck and Call

Time didn't really mean anything. Distantly there were sounds of the city sirens, honking cars, and the chatter of pedestrians as they went to their cars, but they quieted down as the night progressed.

The longer I sat staring out at the dark horizon, the more comfortable I became. For the first time in a long time I felt peace. The growing quiet brought a quiet inside of me I hadn't known my entire life. The sting of the cold started to vanish, and the shivers that shook my body a while ago were slowing to a stop.

A deep feeling of exhaustion overcame me. I tried to remember why I shouldn't lay down. I was in public, but it was late and I was alone. Surely laying down for a few minutes wouldn't be so bad. I didn't feel as cold as before, so a couple of minutes with my eyes closed would help me sort everything out. I'd figure out what I was going to do, as soon as I wasn't as tired.

* * *

Beckett

Ihad Dave pull over in front of the club. Colter was already out there speaking to the most trusted members of both of our security staff. They were all former military and adept at search and rescue.

A little more information was gathered by the crowd while they waited to get in. The crowd had thinned a lot since the first phone call, mostly because it was approaching one in the morning and the crowd was giving up the idea of getting into the club.

The thing that worried me most was how cold I felt in my thick wool coat, leather gloves, and scarf. Evie had only been wearing a thin dress with straps similar to a tank top. The warmest thing she had was her wrap, and Jana was currently wringing it in her hands.

"Dave, give Ms. Easton and Ms. Lake a ride home please," I politely demanded.

He nodded. "I'll stock the car with some warm blankets and grab a coat for Ms. Holmes. She will be found, sir. Let me know where to pick you up."

Jana opened her mouth to argue. I glared at her, but Colter stepped up to handle the situation before my temper exploded. "You aren't any help to her. Either of you. We're going to have one woman with hypothermia on our hands, we don't need three."

Jana hung her head. I didn't doubt she cared about Evie, but what had she been doing that she didn't realize she'd left?

She looked up at me, her blue eyes tinged red from crying. "Find her. Just, please, find her."

I quickly tipped my head once. Standing around waiting to search was making me antsy. I wasn't sure where to go from the club. Where would Evie have gone. Searching from the catalogue of what I knew about her, I honestly couldn't say where she'd have gone.

"I've got my phone," I said to no one and everyone. I couldn’t stand here doing nothing anymore.

I headed in the direction she was last seen going. Looming up ahead was the Ferris wheel. Something about it, seeming so alone in the skyline, so unnaturally still, drew me forward. I kept my eyes open the entire walk, scanning the area around me for any sign of her.

Under a broken streetlamp, a figure lay still on the bench. I moved closer and sucked in a breath when I realized it was her. Instead of feeling relieved I nearly dropped to my knees in fear. Evie's lips were blue, and her skin had a purplish tinge to it. The bottom fell out then, because I realized what I'd been fighting all along was a lost cause. I was falling in love with Evelyn Holmes.

It had only been about two weeks, but I think I'd started falling for her the moment I saw her staring at the newspaper like it would save her. That was the moment I wanted to find the answers for her, slay her dragons, do anything to erase the crease of worry in her brow. Every moment since had sent me further down into the pit of absolute agony of love. I'd been fooling myself to believe I had any control over how I felt about her.

Yet, for the second time in my life I feared I was too late. This wouldn't be the last place she saw though. I scooped her up in my arms and managed to use voice command to send a text to Dave letting him know where to come and get me.

When she was in my arms I felt her breathing against my neck. It gave me hope, but she was too cold for me to relax just yet.

* * *

Dave pulled the car up as close to the pier as he could get. He scrambled around the car to open the rear passenger door so I could lay her down on the back seat. Already, he had a thick blanket laying on the seat for her. I placed her on top of it, and wrapped another around her. He had them in a cooler with hot water bottles to keep the blankets heated.

I took her shoes off and tucked the blanket around her feet. Then I walked around the car and got in next to her, putting her head on my lap. None of this woke her, which sent waves of panic through me like I'd never experienced.

My brain was short circuiting. "We need to get her to the hospital," I told Dave.

"Already heading in that direction, sir. I telephoned ahead and they are expecting us."

There wasn't a private entrance at a public hospital. The only special treatment we received was from my doctor, who had a team meet us at the emergency entrance to speed up her admittance.

Dave pulled up to the bay, and the moment I opened the door flashes started going off. I didn't have the luxury of time to leave her waiting until the reporters could be dealt with, and I tried to ignore them while I lifted her out of the back seat.

My doctor ran out ahead of his staff and helped usher us inside the hospital. "I apologize, but it appears someone in admittance leaked the fact your girlfriend would be coming in."

"My fiancée, actually. I trust the person was rooted out and made an example of?" There could be no half measures when it came to Evie's health and safety. Someone who already proved themselves untrustworthy couldn't be allowed to remain while she was receiving care.

"They were suspended without pay in front of the entire staff. Do you insist on having them fired?" Dr. Holcomb inquired.

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