Page 57 of Elliot

“Sorry, I’m back. You said the shooter was on top of the building?” Con interrupted his thoughts.

“Yes. From the angle of the shot on my shoulder. If I’d flung myself any further, it would have hit deeper.” He looked at Driscol, who nodded.

“That’s what it looks like to me,” Driscol said as he applied the last bandage.

Con sighed. “Okay, I’m going to get Brando to look for other cameras in the area and see if we can get a visual on the shooter. You’ve got permission to meet with the undercover detective. We processed him like we would any other suspect, and he’s incarcerated. The commissioner wants you to wait a day before you talk to him. At that point, his contemporaries will believe it’s routine questioning about the incident.”

Elliot sighed. “Delaying this won’t help our cause.”

“I know, but hopefully, Maya can fill in some blanks,” Con said.

“Do you know her status?”

“They took her to radiology. I followed her up when I was on the phone, and I have a visual on the door where she’s undergoing diagnostics,” Con said as Elliot heard the keytapping. “The medical record shows the attending physician requested a CT of her head.”

Elliot looked at Driscol. “Why would the physician order a CT?”

Driscol smiled. “To make sure she doesn’t have a skull fracture, that the brain isn’t swelling, bleeding, or any number of reasons. I would recommend one if I were the doctor seeing her.”

Elliot nodded. Alright. He could handle it. He just felt so fucking helpless. Again. But that time, it was different. He was there for her. He’d made a difference in the events that had happened.

A nurse he hadn’t seen before knocked on the wall, turning both his and Driscol’s attention to her. “Dr. Stapleton, two men from Guardian are here saying they need to talk with your patient.”

“Let them back, please,” Driscol said, taking off the gloves Elliot had failed to notice him putting on. “I’ll stop back and check on you and Maya after all the tests are done. At that point, I’ll be able to explain what’s happening and why.”

“Thank you.” Elliot extended his hand again.

Driscol shook it and then squeezed. “Come over for dinner and bring your lady.”

“My lady?” Elliot frowned.

“Oh, I’ve seen that look before. You can’t pull the wool over my eyes. You’re in love with that woman.” Driscol chuckled.

“I haven’t known her long enough to be in love.” Elliot frowned. In love with Maya? Could he be? Fuck yeah, he could be. Probably was cemented in that emotion, but he wasn’t sharing that with anyone but her.

Driscol laughed. “How long does it take to fall in love?”

Rob stood at the curtain with Silas. “For those two? I think maybe a day. Love at first sight or damn close to it.”

“That sounds about right.” Silas's shit-eating grin was on full display. “Hey, Driscol. How’ve you been?”

“I’m good. I won’t complain. Elliot, I’ll leave you in capable hands. Give that time to heal up, and then you can remove those bandages. I’d replace them for the next week or so just so it doesn’t break open and bleed.”

“We got a message from Ross. Please contact Archangel as soon as possible.”

Elliot blinked in surprise. “Why?”

“Dude, I don’t know. Do I look like I have the pull to question my boss, let alone the boss of all bosses?” Rob turned to look at Silas. “Do I look like I have a death wish?”

“Sometimes.” Silas shrugged. “After you finish your call, you need to give us your statement about what happened. We have a couple of bodies in the morgue that require an explanation.”

Elliot nodded. “Give me five.”

“We’ll give you as long as you need.” They moved away from the cubicle but stayed in the emergency department. Elliot pulled out his phone and dialed a number he knew by heart. “Are you okay?” Archangel asked.

“Yes, sir. Just a graze from a bullet.” Elliot wasn’t downplaying the injury. It was what it was.

“Thank God. You realize if you get damaged in any significant fashion, our entire family will fly to whatever hospital you’re at to stand vigil.”

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