Page 109 of His Last Shot
She claps her hands together. “Yay! I can’t wait to meet her!”
Seriously! My patience is hanging on by a thread, and these two are going about their family business like it’s nothing.
And would someone please warn Penny to stay away from this guy?
With their dinner plans firmly in place, she steps around us, out into the chaos.
Jason and I walk into the typical office, dread coursing through me with each step. A messy desk, filing cabinets, a chair on wheels, a coat rack with a purse and jacket hanging off of it. It’s all here, closing in on me. Jason shuts the door and blocks it.
I’m trapped.
He turns, a slow, deliberate movement, while crossing his arms over his chest. “Dexter warned you.”
Rage shoots up my body as I step forward, invading his personal space, my eyes locking on his, the tension in the air palpable. “Was it you? Did you mess with her brakes?” Spit flies from my mouth as his hand rests on his gun. Ready.
We are nose-to-nose now, his breath ghosting against my skin. But I need to remind myself.
He’s a cop.
We are in a hospital.
Dexter is still in control.
I’m royally screwed.
Jason chuckles under his breath. “Laura was lucky. It could have been significantly worse. Dexter thought you needed another warning. I guess destroying your truck wasn’t enough.”
I hold up my bandaged hand. “We didn’t plan it!” My words are strained, strangled with fear. “I came to get care. She just so happened to be working. I didn’t even know she worked here. She was doing her job!”
It’s pretty obvious sweet Aunt Helen is indeed the charge nurse here. Her little pumpkin is a dirty cop, more than likely on Dexter’s payroll, and he uses her for information on patients and also keeps an eye on Rachel.
The whole thing makes me sick.
More than likely, Helen saw her treat me when I was a patient in the ER that day and reported back to Jason. He then told Dexter. They probably sliced the break line while Laura was working.
Laura’s fortunate.
It could have been somuch worse.
The thought of Mallory and Jake losing their mom or Scott losing his wife is sending me into an internal tale spin. My dinner churns in my stomach as my sight blurs, but my reality is still front and center.
When will this end?
Jason reaches behind him, holding onto the door handle. “Dexter won’t be so kind next time. Instead of coming to see your family in the ER, you will be called to the morgue to ID them. It’s your choice.”
The door swings open, and I’m all alone in Aunt Helen’s office.
Laura could have died because I got hurt and Rachel had to do her job and stitch me up. How does this whole situation keep getting worse? But more importantly, who has to die for it to stop?
Taking a moment to steady my breathing, I return to the ER, just as Scott appears, his eyes quickly searching the waiting room for me.
“Scott!” I call out.
He turns, a determined look on his face, and heads in my direction. “I couldn’t find you. I thought you left.”
“Sorry, I went to the restroom, and then I tried to find that cop but lost him.” More lies. “How’s Laura?”
“The doctor said that she will have to be admitted for observation, but it just looks like a bad concussion with some bruised ribs and a broken collarbone from the seatbelt and airbag. She’s shaken up and worried about the kids, of course. I’m going to stay overnight with her.” He glances at me; tears brim his eyes as the shock slowly wears off. “Can you take Jake and Mallory for the night?”
