Page 97 of Never Leave Me
Of course Drake wouldn’t. Sybil had assured them that they were entering under cover of darkness and would phone once they had the lab and Ellen secured.
What was taking so long?
He wanted to drive up, race into Reider Castle, and confront Dr. Lionel for his illicit practices. But doing so would only cause more trouble.
As much as he needed to do something, he had to let Sybil handle Ellen’s rescue in her way without any interference. If only the waiting wasn’t killing him.
“If God gives you a second chance with her, you can’t let it go this time, eh?” Drake’s voice held a gentle rebuke.
If God gave him a second chance.
Had he ever really had a first chance? Not when she’d been so determined to keep him at arm’s length. Or perhaps after her healing, he’d expected too much to change too soon. She might have been healed physically, but she’d still needed time to heal emotionally.
He could have been more patient. Maybe he could have even continued to pursue her. Instead, he’d let his own fears of the future make a coward of him. If he wanted her to face her fears, then shouldn’t he be willing to do the same?
“Perhaps you’re right, Drake. Perhaps I need to learn to fight a little harder for what I want.” Was it possible he and Ellen could somehow still find a way to make a life together in spite of all the obstacles?
At the sudden buzzing of his mobile, his pulse picked up speed. The screen lit up with Sybil’s name and number.
With a flick of his finger, he answered it. “Yes?”
“We found Ellen.” Sybil’s voice was grave amidst the chaos and noises in the background.
The air squeezed from his lungs. “And?”
“Her pulse just flatlined.”
25
ELLENCOULDN’TDIE.Harrison’s heart thudded louder than his footsteps as he sprinted down a passageway into the underground level of Reider Castle.
Drake’s pounding steps echoed behind him. “Out of the way!” Drake shouted at an AFO coming out of an arched doorway.
Harrison didn’t care that he nearly plowed the man over. All he wanted was to get to Ellen as quickly as possible. The couple of minutes since Sybil’s call had taken an eternity even though Bojing had raced the car to the castle entrance, and then he and Drake had bolted as fast as they could through the castle to the dungeon stairway.
Had Lionel killed Ellen? Perhaps injected something lethal into her system the moment they’d known they were under attack? Or had Ellen died in the past? If she’d attempted to rescue her dad, it was likely she’d been captured and killed.
As he pushed into the laboratory, the fluorescent lights, monitors, security screens, and assortment of other equipment obscured his view. But at the sight of Sybil and several officers surroundinga body on a hospital-style bed and attempting to perform CPR, he darted forward.
Sybil glanced up and waved him forward. “They gave her epinephrine. But she’s still asystole.”
Harrison’s long stride didn’t waver. He elbowed aside those in his way until he stood over her. Ellen. Her face was deathly pale, almost pasty. The veins in her neck and arms seemed bluer. Her arms were bruised in multiple places—likely from all the needle pricks.
He shoved his hand into his suit coat pocket and retrieved the glass bottle—one of the two Ellen had placed in the vault. She’d intended for him to take it. And he needed the second dose if he hoped to live.
But at this moment, all that mattered was saving her.
He popped the plastic lid he’d already substituted for the disintegrating cork stopper and lifted the bottle to her lips.
One of the officers shot out a hand to stop him. “Hold on, now.”
“Let him.” Sybil’s command was sharp. “The medicine will help her.”
Harrison had a fleeting moment of wondering whether he should clear everyone out of the lab while he administered the holy water. After all, how would he explain what kind of medicine it was? Especially since Ellen was practically dead.
The fact was, he didn’t know if the holy water could bring Ellen back. But he had to try.
Drake was already lifting Ellen. Harrison opened her lips and pressed the mouth of the bottle there. Injecting the holy water into a muscle or even into her IV port would probably be easier. But he couldn’t waste the time preparing a syringe.
