Page 69 of Among the Innocent

Where was Sugar? Justine?

A low-sounding moan answered his question. He eased toward the sound. Sugar lay on the floor, holding her head.

Dalton dropped down beside the dispatcher. “Don’t try to move. You’re hurt.”

Sugar ignored him and tried to sit up. “Where’s Justine?”

“Stay here, Sugar, and don’t move.” He looked to Leah, who informed him that an ambulance was on the way. He motioned for her to follow him, and they headed down the hall with their weapons drawn.

Near the conference room something moved.

Dalton couldn’t get there fast enough. Blood splatter spread out around the young woman. Justine’s frightened eyes latched onto his. She tried to speak but couldn’t. Her throat had been cut.

He holstered his weapon and knelt. “I need something to stop the bleeding.”

Leah sprang into action.

Dalton placed his hand over the wound and did his best to stem the blood flow. “Help is on the way. Try to stay calm.”

“Here.” Leah handed him a towel to cover the wound.

Through the chaos going around in his head, Dalton registered sirens approaching. Within minutes, the paramedics arrived and began working on Justine. Sugar and Sam hovered nearby, having waved off medical attention.

By the paramedics’ skillful hands, Justine was quickly readied for transport.

“I’m going with her,” Sugar insisted in a tone that dared anyone to protest.

“Go with them, Sam,” Dalton told his officer.

Sam shook his head. “I should never have opened that door. This is my fault.”

Dalton clasped Sam’s arm. “This isn’t on you,” he assured the man. “Get yourself looked at and then stay with Justine. Leah and I will secure the crime scene until CSI arrives.”

A single set of bloody footprints headed back toward the rear entrance. He indicated the tracks to Leah.

“The perp inadvertently stepped in Justine’s blood,” she said. “He left in a hurry.”

Dalton nodded. “When we showed up, he had to vanish. He got sloppy and it probably saved Justine’s life. We need to follow the footprints.” Dalton locked the front door. “Let’s see if we can catch him before he gets away.” They carefully avoided contaminating the footprints as they left out the back. The footprints led to some trash bins. The killer had discarded his shoes inside.

“He could be anywhere,” Leah said, her voice laced with frustration.

“I’m guessing he’ll find another car to steal soon enough. Let’s check the shops and then go back and wait for CSI to arrive. We’ll turn the investigation here over to them.”

No one at the shops remembered seeing anything unusual. Dalton and Leah gave each shop a thorough search, but there was no sign the killer had been at any of them.

They returned to the station as the CSI technicians arrived.

Leah appeared shell-shocked as they drove in silence to the hospital. Once they arrived, Dalton parked and faced her. “How are you holding up?”

She rubbed her hands across her arms. “I don’t even know anymore.”

More than anything, he wished he could end this for her, but Dalton had a feeling the killer had his own plans, and the game wouldn’t end until he was ready for it to be done.

“Let’s see how Justine is doing.” He climbed out and went over to her side, opening the door. Together, they crossed the parking lot to the entrance and rode the elevator up to Justine’s floor.

Sam stood guard outside Justine’s room. His injuries had been treated.

“How are you feeling?” Dalton asked his officer.

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