Page 115 of Promises to Keep

I dove to the ground.

Fuck, fuck fuck.Go in the building, or get in the truck?

Another shot. I crawled around the truck, shoved open the door, climbed in, slammed the door, and checked my gun —there’s one in the chamber, safety is off, trigger discipline.Keys were in the ignition.

A barrage of shots.

It sounded like it was coming from behind the building and I had been looking up Ryan Reynolds, I was the worst fucking person in the world. People ran from the front of the building.

I climbed down and asked the closest person, “What’s happening?!”

She wouldn’t say, which freaked me out. Was it happening around back with Quentin, with an injured shoulder? Or inside, with… an unconscious Fraoch?

Another gunshot.

I had to help Quentin.

I ran across the parking lot, weaving through cars, to the edge of the building —hold on Hayley, keep your shit together, don’t be scared, just get to the corner.

I peeked around to see what was going on, but was buffeted back by a gale force wind. I put my arm up to block my eyes, and was forced to take a step back. The dumpster was back there, trash filled the air in a tornado of whipping winds, the top of the dumpster crashing up and down, almost as loud as a gunshot, but… I couldn’t convince myself it hadn’t been real — ithadbeen gunshots.

Now there was a storm.

I fought against the wind, but couldn’t get closer to the center of the storm.But maybe Quentin was inside getting Fraoch?

Fraoch had to be done with procedure, he might need help.

I rushed back around the building, and ripped open the front door to find nurses and patients rushing around terrified. I grabbed the sleeve of the closest nurse. “I’m looking for Fraoch MacDonald! Have you seen Fraoch MacDonald?”

The woman’s eyes darted toward the back room. I shoved down the hall toward the examination rooms. A nurse behind me declared, “You can’t be back here, why are you—?”

“Where is Fraoch MacDonald? He was here, where is he?”

Her face went ashen. “He should be there!”

I shoved open a door and looked around.

I spun around. “Is that the back door?” Without waiting for an answer, I plowed against the emergency door, setting off an alarm.

Out back there was nothing, no one, small gusts, a sprinkling rain.

I turned back into the medical center, adding to the scurry, asking everyone, “What happened?! What happened?!” and stumbling toward the front door where people were running and in the distance, police sirens headed this way.

I had to leave before the police arrived.

Ugh.

What if Fraoch and Quentin were kidnapped?

I needed to get away. I needed to look for them. I needed to see Magnus, I needed to...

I hopped in the truck, started it, and drove from the lot, shaking so much it was difficult to keep to the lane. I called Katie’s phone and put it on speaker almost driving into oncoming traffic.

Katie answered, I said, “Hey,” and burst into tears.

Her voice, “What’s going on, talk to me, what do you need...?”

I stuttered and blubbered and sobbed but managed, “Quentin and Fraoch... gone... shooting... backdoor and I tried.... And the police were coming—”

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