Page 28 of Blackstone's Heart
"That I don't know. I arrived just as they drove off with Mr. Summerland. His secretary was talking to my partner over there." Wilson answered pointing to the left.
Ethan turned and headed that way, with Lance right behind him. They found Wilson's partner, Detective Ingram talking to an older lady. "Mrs. Kinley, is there anything else you can tell me?"
"Jerry...Mr. Summerland, seemed surprised, about receiving the package I mean. He said he wasn’t expecting anything. I had just sat back...at my desk when everything went...crazy. the room shook, there…there was this explosion and I was knocked out of my chair."
"Was Ms. James inside with Jerry?" Ethan interrupted.
Patsy and Ingram faced Ethan and Lance. "Y…yes. She was screaming for help. Saying...Jerry was hurt. I…I was in shock and couldn’t seem to move. By the time security got to our floor, Ms. James had somehow managed to pull Mr. Summerland from his office."
"Where is she now ma'am?" Lance asked gently, kneeling beside here.
"They, took her to the hospital. St. David's I think. She seemed okay, scared but...she was walking and had actually dragged poor Jerry out of the office." Patsy explained.
“Thank you ma’am.” Lance said.
"Ethan, what's up man?" Ingram questioned, pulling Ethan and Lance off to the side as the EMT’s took Pasty away.
"Ms. James is our client." Lance spoke when it was obvious Ethan was incapable.
"Ethan!" Tony called out as the rest of Blackout hurried to Ethan and Lance. "Bumped into Martinez. He says Kris was alert and ambulatory. After they loaded Jerry into a bus, they took her to the same hospital to be checked out. Martinez said he looked at her himself. She had some cuts from the windows being blown out, a cut on her shoulder, bumps and bruises, but she was responsive. He suggested she be taken in to check for a concussion."
"She's alive though?" Ethan forced out.
"Yeah boss, she's alive. Come on, I'll get you St. David’s." Lance answered.
Ethan nodded. "Gage, you and the others see what you can do here. I'll...I'll contact Nick."
Grant laid his hand on Ethan's shoulder. "Go to her Ethan. We got this. You take care of your woman. Ooh rah?"
Ethan gave a curt nod and let Lance lead him to the SUV.
***
Krista fidgeted with her hands. She hated hospitals, well, hated when she was the patient. She had spent a month in this very hospital she sat in when she was a kid after being in a bad car wreck with her Aunt Carmen. As hard as she tried, she couldn't get the sight of Jerry out of her mind. When they got her situated into the room, she had asked about him, but no one would answer her.
The door flew open, startling her. The most beautiful sight she had ever seen filled the doorway. Ethan. Her six foot three, big, bad, warrior stood staring at her. She climbed off the hospital bed, wringing her hands, her mouth opening and closing, trying to form a word. Finally, she squeaked out a single word.
"Ethan."
In two large strides, he was across the room and had her wrapped in his arms. The fear, the anger, the worry, she had been holding back for the last half hour erupted from her in harsh sobs. Unable to speak, she clutched his shirt, burying her face in his shirt. His head laid atop hers, stroking her back.
"Sshh. It's okay baby. It's alright." He whispered.
"God...oh God Ethan. Jerry...he...they won't tell me..." She sobbed.
"I'll see if I can find out about him." Lance spoke up quietly from the door.
Krista lifted her head and faced Lance. "T…thank you Lance."
Lance gave her a nod and gentle smile, the first she had ever seen from him, then left them alone. Ethan moved them to the bed, pulling her onto his lap as he sat. Krista once more laid her head against his chest over his heart. "I've got you Krista."
"Christ Ethan, when that package blew..." She shuddered in his arms. "I hit the wall. Took me a second to realize what happened." She shuddered in his arms before continuing. “My ears were ringing for a minute. When they stopped, I started looking for Jerry. I found him but he wouldn’t answer me. Through the smoke I found him at the base of his bookcase. I got to him, started yelling for help. When I didn’t hear anyone coming I just grabbed him and started dragging him toward the door.”
"You did just fine baby. Just let me hold you now." She nodded. "Christ woman, when Gage told me there had been an explosion at Jerry’s office, I think my heart stopped. All I could think was getting to you. Seeing you with my own eyes."
"I was so sure I would never see you again Ethan. I just wanted you there to tell me Jerry would be okay." She sniffled.
Holding her securely, Ethan eased back onto the bed. Slowly he felt her body relax and her breathing even out. Only when he was sure she was asleep, did his own body relax a little. He would relax more he knew once he had a situation report on what happened at that building and on Jerry's condition.
