Page 74 of Stay Baby Stay

“That’s good news,” she says sleepily. “Where was she?”

“On the run from the driver who picked her up from King’s party and tried to strangle her to death.”

“Christ... Where is she now?”

“She’s safe, for the moment. But I’ve gotta get her to the hospital so her injuries can be checked out and we can gather evidence. She identified the reverend as the man who solicited her for sex.”

“All right.” Abby grunts softly, probably dragging herself out of bed. “So, wait, it wasn’t the reverend who tried to strangle her?”

“It was his driver, Hoyt something. I don’t have a last name yet.” I pause to distill my thoughts. “I was wrong, Abs. Clyde isn’t our guy.”

“Hey,” she says. “He’s still a piece of shit. And if this Hoyt guy works for him, it means all the evidence was pointing in the right direction. You can’t suspect a ghost. So, cool it with the self-reproach and tell me what needs to happen.”

I always could count on Abby to cut straight through my bullshit.

“I need you to call Lieutenant Harris, give him the broad strokes of McKenzie’s story, and have him meet us at UT Medical. Just Harris. No one else. I suspect the Davis’ will do everything they can to try to shut McKenzie up.”

“I’ll call him on my way there,” she says.

Holly, McKenzie, and Mary pile into my truck. Austin and Mike insist on following. I can’t say I mind the idea of the two of them standing guard outside McKenzie’s hospital room, after the last vic who was brought here died mysteriously during the night.

Abby and Lieutenant Harris are waiting for us by the entrance when we arrive.

“Hospital staff’s been informed of the situation,” Harris says. “An aide will escort Ms. Sommers to the exam room.”

“I’d like to accompany her,” Mary says, “as her official advocate.”

Lieutenant Harris nods. Mary’s worked with us on a number of cases involving young runaways over the years. Both she and my former partner are considered lifetime friends of the department.

“You brought your buddies,” Abby says, gesturing to Mike and Austin.

“Figured a little extra security couldn’t hurt,” I say.

We step through the electronic doors into the medical center’s main lobby. A curly-haired aide appears and asks for McKenzie.

McKenzie glances around nervously, her gaze landing on Holly.

“It’s okay, Kenzie,” Holly says. “Mary’s going to go with you, and I’ll be out here waiting for you to get back.”

“I’m sending one of my guys with her,” I tell the aide.

Austin steps forward, still dressed in his camo pants and black tee. The aide takes one look at him and her eyes widen.

“I’m sorry,” she says, “but unless he’s an advocate or a police officer, he can’t be in the exam room.”

“I’ll wait outside the door,” Austin says.

She opens her mouth to protest, but Lieutenant Harris steps in.

“This man is an associate of the Knoxville Police Department. Please allow him to accompany Ms. Sommers throughout the building.”

Harris’s request seems to satisfy the aide well enough. Austin and Mary follow McKenzie through a pair of double doors leading out of the waiting room.

“Larkin,” my lieutenant says firmly. “Can you ask your other associates to wait in here while we discuss private police business outside.”

He motions for Abby to follow him out front. I wrap my arm around Holly and point her in the direction of a small waiting area.

“Sweetheart,” I say, “I’m gonna have you hang out here with Mike while I chat with my boss.”

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