Page 115 of Love Undecided
I open my mouth to disagree with his trying to dictate what I do but decide now is not the right time. So, instead I open my mouth and lie.
“I promise.”
One of the techs calls Brad over to help check Kendall and Makayla. He wraps me in a blanket and makes me sit in the back of the rig first.
“Don’t move,” he says, pulling me into a hug and kissing me firmly on the lips. He lets me go and steps back to go help the other guys. Public displays of affection are frowned upon when the guys are on duty at active call sites. I’m sure it’s frowned upon at the station when they are on duty too, but for some reason it never feels as inappropriate when we’ve been there.
I watch as he gives Kendall a slight sedative to calm her down and hooks her up to oxygen. I get a little shiver watching him in action; his movements calm and confident.
The ambulances arrive and Brad and Ethan help get the little girls onto gurneys and inside. Both girls will be admitted to the hospital and checked out, in addition, Makayla will also be checked for injury and rape. I shudder at the thought of the poor girl having to endure a rape kit examination.
Gil sits in the back of a squad car and Bauer is standing near it, talking to a man, who I assume is the principal of the school. Both are speaking in hushed tones and nodding their heads gravely.
Stacy approaches them from behind.
Why is she here?
I forgot both girls are in her class, she’s their teacher.
Can this day get any better?
Her eyes widen when she sees me. I keep my face blank.
I hear her tell Bauer and the principal that she has contacted the parents of each girl and they’ll be meeting them at the hospital. Then, loudly, she says, “I can’t believe this happened. And to my students. How do we feel safe again? How do I help them to feel safe again?” She starts to cry. The principal pats her on the back, awkwardly, and motions to Brad.
Brad approaches slowly.
The principal must think they are still dating. He points Stacy toward Brad and nudges her in his direction, she turns into Brad clinging to his shirt and crying. He rubs her back and looks at me from over her head, an apologetic look on his face.
I don’t need to be watching this.
I drop the blanket from my shoulders and jump off the back of the rig. I swear my movements catch Stacy’s eye, and I watch in fascination as she fakes a fainting spell. At least I’m pretty sure it’s fake.
Brad catches her in his arms and carries her toward the same rig I’ve just jumped out of.
“Kat,” he starts to say as we pass one another. But I continue walking past him towards Bauer.
“What’s next, boss? I ask when I reach him.
“You doing okay?” He looks concerned.
“Aw, you don’t need to worry about little ol’ me.”
“You were in a car alone with a psychopath who had a gun to your head. Of course I’m worried about you.”
“I’m good.”
“We are heading back to the precinct in a bit, I’ll get one of the guys to take you home.”
“Why can’t I go to the precinct?” I ask.
“One, I don’t think we need you there. Two, you should probably rest. Three, your little prince charming over there is going to blow a gasket if I let you do anything else on this case.”
As he says it, I realize I’m completely exhausted. An all night sex-a-thon with Brad, combined with waking up so early, and the adrenaline rush I’ve just experienced is causing a crash in a big way.
“I think I will go home if that’s okay.”
Sherman approaches us. “We’ve Mirandized him and he’s willing to talk.”
“That’s great!” Bauer and I both say at the same time.
Sherman runs his hand down his face. “But, he’s only willing to talk to you,” he says to me.
And they say there’s no rest for the wicked.
I turn to Bauer. “You heard the man. Let’s go get this guy to talk.”
