With Paws at his side, Zach peeked out the bathroom door, dreading what he would see. There was blood on the floor. Police officers and FBI agents were searching through the house for any clues Grandfather might have left. Another police officer stood at the open front door, watching the street, guarding. Zach had heard Grandfather's gun fire, had heard Mom scream. But Dad—he hadn't heard Dad.
Mom touched him gently on the back. "Go ahead, kiddo," she said softly. "It's okay now. They just left in the ambulance. We need to get you to the hospital, too." She had come into the bathroom to get Zach, had lifted him to his feet and just held him against her for a long time. Now she nudged him out the bathroom door.
"Me? Why?"
Mom squatted in front of Zach. "Because you're hurt, too, Zach. You got blood all over my bathroom. I like it better when you only drip water." She had already checked his head, but now she wiped blood delicately from the wound again. He didn't even think to shy away from her touch.
"I don't want Dad to die," Zach said simply, pleading. It sounded to him like the words came from someone else's mouth. "I've never had a dad before."
Mom wrapped him in her arms and pressed him close to her again. "He's going to be okay as long as they can get that bullet out without…" A drop of blood fell from his head onto her shirt, beside a stain from Dad's blood. "Well, you just wait—he'll be playing catch again before you know it, kiddo."
Mom took Zach's shoulders in her hands, which were shaking. She was trying to be brave for Zach, but she was really scared; he could see it in her eyes. He hugged her again and cried, shaking with her.
Officer Garrenton stepped through the door, and Mom slowly released Zach and wiped his tears with a finger. "Oh, you're all right!" the officer exclaimed as she spotted Zach. She embraced him unabashedly and checked him over. "I was so worried."
Mom turned to face Officer Garrenton with a venomous look. "Please tell me they caught him."
"They just arrested one of the Asian men on the next block," Officer Garrenton replied. "The other one I caught myself—tackled him and cuffed him. But as for Dr. Lerwick—they're still searching."
Mom grimaced.
Officer Garrenton placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Let's get you two to the hospital." She walked with Mom and Zach to her cruiser awaiting them on the street.
*****
The Boy Who Appeared from the Rain Page 127