Page 50 of Last Chance Christmas
“What happened?” Penny Mitchell’s face blurred.
“CO2,” was all Della could get out.
“We need oxygen!” Penny called down the hallway before dragging Della farther away from the storage room. More footsteps sounded as Della closed her eyes and concentrated on pulling in each breath. The cold from the linoleum floor seeped through her shirt, chilling her back and legs.
Someone shoved a plastic oxygen mask in her hand and held it over her nose and mouth. “Try to breathe slow and deep.”
Della looked up to see Kianna yet again shoving an oxygen mask in her face. Penny held one out to Anthony, who’d also made it farther out into the hall and away from the storage room. Trace propped him against the wall next to her. After a few minutes of fresh air, they moved to the back of the ambulance, where they both rested and stayed hooked up to the oxygen monitors and tanks. Eventually, the nausea and dizziness faded.
Voices and sounds from the cargo bay came in through the open back doors of the ambulance. The rest of the crew must be back from the call.
Penny came up to the rig, wearing gloves and carrying a fire extinguisher.
“Is that what I think it is?” Anthony sat up on the cot.
“If you think it’s a carbon dioxide extinguisher that was fixed in the ventilation system, filling the room with poisonous gas and trying to kill you both, then yes.”
A chill ran down Della’s spine. Vaynes.
“I went back to the women’s locker room and looked at the vents in there. There’s one big enough a man can fit in it.”
“You think that’s how our killer got in the building?” Anthony asked.
Penny nodded. “I tracked the system through the building and found where it was probably accessed. Found some threads of fabric caught on a sharp corner.”
“Okay then.” Anthony blew out a short breath and looked at Della. “You were right. Someone is trying to kill you. And with that missing photo, I think you’re also right in assuming it’s Vaynes.” He shook his head a little. “I just don’t get why the guy would go through all these elaborate plans if he simply wants revenge. There’s a lot of easier ways to kill someone.”
Penny set the extinguisher on the ground and sat on the bumper of the ambulance. “Vaynes has a sick mind. Insane. He would rather mess with his victims and torment them. It’s worth the risk of getting caught to him because it’s all about the game. And I spoke with the warden at the prison. His cell is one big creep-fest all about his obsession to torture and kill a firefighter. I think it’s safe to assume it’s Della.”
A sheepish look crossed Anthony’s face. “Sorry I didn’t believe it at first.”
Della sat up and let the words sink in.
He believed her.
Relief rushed in, easing some of the burden she’d become so accustomed to that she didn’t realize the weight of it until it was lifted. For a moment it was almost euphoric.
But the voice she couldn’t escape was right there too, and everything crashed in even harder.
You lied. In a court of law. You lied after swearing on the Bible that you would only tell the truth.
And the desperate urge to defend herself rose up.
But I had to. I had no other choice. I couldn’t let him get away with it.
And now, if she told the truth, she could lose everything Lily had fought so hard for.
Because it was Lily’s dream to go into social work, to become a foster parent and help kids that had no one else. A dream Della shared and wanted to fulfill on Lily’s behalf. But it would be hard enough to qualify as a single woman. If she had a felony on her record…
Nothing she did drowned out the incessant conversation in her head. Over and over again, like some horrific carousel ride.
Chief Macon James marched up to the ambulance. “What’s this I hear about a serial killer trying to take you out?”
Della straightened. “I’m sorry, Chief. I?—”
“You don’t need to apologize. I’m just worried. Are you okay?”
Why did it feel like she should apologize, like it was her fault? The weight of the lie grew, pressing on her chest. “I’m much better now. I’ll get back to work, sir.”
