by Joy Wild
“When this is over. If I’m not burying my wife,” Mark said and turned to stare out the window.
“She is going to be okay, Mark. Autumn is one of the toughest women I know. She is full of light,” Caleb said quietly as he put his hand on Mark’s shoulder.
“I hope you’re right,” Mark whispered.
“I am. Keep the faith,” Caleb said.
“I’m trying,” Mark said as he watched buildings fly past him. They were coming into an old warehouse district that had been shut down for years.
“Back during wartime, these warehouses were used for many different things. Storing cargo, whorehouses, even prisons. This is not going to be an easy task,” Steve said.
“No, but she is worth it,” Mark said.
“Yes, she is, forever family,” Steve said. Mark peered up and saw Steve watching him in the rearview mirror.
“Forever family,” Mark repeated. Suddenly he felt alive. He didn’t know if it was anger, hatred, fear, or love that drove him, but he knew he was going to find Autumn today. He just hoped she was still alive.
The guys sat in the truck watching for any signs of life in the district, but there was nothing.
Steve’s phone rang.
“Knight,” he answered, hitting the speakerphone.
“All right guys. I know she is in this area, but I don’t know where. I have several teams coming in to do the search. Let them take the lead. Their job is search and rescue and they know how to do it. Enough teams are coming that they should be able to get through all the buildings within a couple of hours.”
“A couple of hours? She could be dead already,” Mark bellowed.
“Mark, if she is dead then a couple of hours isn’t going to matter, and you know that. I truly believe she is okay, and they will find her. Keep your head out of your ass and focus,” Gene said.
Mark stayed silent. He wanted to roar and scream, but he knew Gene was right. They couldn’t go in guns blazing. If Autumn was alive, going in like that would get her killed for sure.
“We’ve got this, Gene. Can you make sure we are notified immediately if they find her? Can we have an ambulance on standby?” Steve asked.
“Already taken care of. Keep me posted.” The phone went dead.
“So we just sit and wait?” Mark asked. “This is so wrong.”
Steve opened his mouth to say something, but Mark shot him a glare, so he shut his mouth. Mark knew what Steve was going to say. He understood exactly what Steve had gone through only a year ago, and Sam only a few months ago. It sucked to not have control over a situation.
Within a few minutes, the guys saw several vehicles pull in. Gene had called in SWAT and probably every law enforcement agency in the state. The guys got out and walked up to the teams.
“Who’s in charge?” Steve asked.
“I am. Who are you?” a woman answered. This woman was no more than five feet tall and couldn’t weigh more than a hundred and ten pounds, when wet.
“Steve Knight, these guys are Sam Saint, Caleb Sparta, and Mark Owens. We are a special service team belonging to Gene.”
“Which one of you is the husband of the missing woman?” she asked.
“I am,” Mark answered.
“My name is Sergeant Jennifer Landers. This is my team and my job. You will stay out of our way. Is that understood?”
“Sergeant, we are not here to get in your way. We only want Autumn back. We are here if you need us. All we ask is to be kept in the loop,” Steve said.
“What about you? Can you stay out of the way?” she asked Mark.
“Yes,” Mark said, gruffly.
“If he doesn’t I will shoot him myself,” Steve said, remembering that Mark had said the same thing about him when they were in Texas. Mark glared at him.
“Fine. You have radios. You can listen in on everything. Do not make a move until I tell you to. Understood?” she asked.
“Understood,” Steve answered. The rest of the guys acknowledged.
“Okay then. I need to get this party started,” she said and walked away.
“Well damn, she’s hot,” Caleb said.
“You better not let Stephanie hear you say that,” Sam said. “Steph is a stick of dynamite. I wouldn’t push her.”
“I’m giving up on her. She won’t give me the time of day,” Caleb said.
“Dude, don’t give up on her. She has obviously been through some shit. She doesn’t trust easily, but when she finally does, she will have been worth the wait,” Sam said.
“All right teams, you have your assignments. Go,” Landers said on the radio. “Let’s find our girl.”
“My wife,” Mark growled.
“Down boy,” Sam said. “It’s their way.”
“Doesn’t help,” Mark said.
“I know. Hang on. We will have her soon,” Caleb said.
It seemed like an eternity to Mark as they sat and listened to radio communication.
“Building one is clear,” Team A called out.
“Building two is clear as well,” Team B called out.
This went on for an hour. Each team calling out a building clear.
“Team A reporting. We had activity in building twelve. There is trash everywhere. Still searching. Appears it was used as an old prison. Each door is locked. This is taking a while. Standby.”
“Team B, we’re coming in for support.”
Ten minutes later a voice sounded on the radio.
“Team A, reporting. Get an ambulance to building twelve now. We also need a coroner.”
Mark lost his mind. He took off running before anyone could stop him. It was about a mile run, but he never slowed down. As he ran up to the building, an ambulance pulled up. One of the team members came out the door carrying Autumn. Mark was relieved that the coroner wasn’t for her.
“Autumn!” Mark cried as he cupped her cheeks. “Autumn!”
“Step back and let us do our jobs,” the paramedic said. Mark reluctantly stepped back.
“Please save her,” he begged.
“Are you family?” the paramedic asked.
“Yes, she’s my wife,” Mark said.
“She is severely dehydrated. We are taking her to Baton Rouge General. You can ride with us, but only up in the front.”
Mark nodded and jumped in the front of the ambulance. He didn’t wait for any explanation about what happened. He knew the guys would handle it. His only concern was his wife. He watched as the paramedic started an IV, took vital signs, and called in the hospital report. The ride to the hospital took fifteen long minutes. When they arrived at the hospital, they rushed her into a room and made Mark go to the waiting room.
He was pacing back and forth in the waiting room. He could still see her. Lifeless and pale. She appeared to be dead when she was carried out. His heart was tearing into shreds.
“Hey. She’s going to be okay,” a voice said. He turned to see everyone there. Spring was holding Lizzie, Summer was holding Abby, Stephanie and Winter were standing with them. Steve, Sam, and Caleb were standing right in front of them, but he hadn’t seen them till Steve spoke. There were two people standing behind them and Mark tensed up.
“It’s alright, Mark. These are the two who found Autumn,” Caleb said.
“Mick Ryder,” the man said, and stuck his hand out. “Retired Navy Seal.”
“Cassie Newman,” the female said. “Retired Air Force.”
“Thank you both,” was all Mark could say. “You called for an ambulance and a coroner. Obviously Autumn needed the ambulance. Who was dead?”
“Blake Daze,” Sam said.
“What?” Mark said, stunned.
“Yep, bullet to the forehead.”
“Well, fuck,” Mark said, then realized there were females present. “Sorry,” he muttered.
“I’ve said worse,” Cassie laughed.
Code Blue, ER 3. Code Blue, ER 3. The announcement blasted over the intercoms.
“No! That’s Autumn!” Mark yelled.
He tried to go back but the guys stopped him.
“You will only be in the way. Let them do their jobs,” Caleb said. “I will go in.” With that Caleb disappeared through the doors. All Mark could see was people running. He sank to the floor, with his friends gathering around him. Now he knew exactly how Steve felt not so long ago. He wanted his heart to stop beating. He would gladly give the last beats to Autumn.
27
Autumn heard noises. Oh God, they’re back. Her mind whirled. She was so tired. As scared as she was, she just wanted to go back to sleep. If she was asleep when they killed her she wouldn’t know it. The noises kept getting louder and louder. The end was coming but she didn’t care anymore. She asked God to take care of Abby and Mark. To let them know she loved them. She closed her eyes as someone burst through the door. Her last thought was of Abby’s green eyes and Mark’s aqua eyes staring into her eyes. It was as if he was willing her to live, but alas it wasn’t to be.
She felt like her body was floating. No. Someone was carrying her. Probably going to dump her body somewhere. She thought she heard Mark calling her name. No, I won’t answer, it’s another nightmare. Let me go, please just let me go. Blackness overtook her and she floated into oblivion.
When Autumn opened her eyes she couldn’t believe what she saw. She was staring down at herself. People were yelling and there were machines. She was in an emergency room somewhere. She tried to tell the people she was right there, that she was fine, but no one heard her. She realized she was dead. Abby. Mark.
She glimpsed over toward the door, and she saw a bright figure. It was blurry but it said, “It is not your time. Fight. Live. Raise your daughter. Love your husband.” Then the figure disappeared.
Suddenly she felt a jolt of electricity shoot through her body. Then it happened again. With the second burst she felt herself reunite with her body.
“Sinus rhythm. We got her back,” a nurse said. Caleb.
Autumn could hear conversations.
“We are getting fluids into her, she will stabilize. I didn’t see any trauma to her, Caleb,” the doctor said. “She is going to be okay.”
“Can her husband come in? He needs to see her,” Caleb said.
“Give us a few minutes and a nurse will come get him,” he said.
“Thank you,” Caleb said. She managed to peek an eye open and saw him head out. Probably to the waiting room to fill everyone in.
She needed to rest. She knew she was okay now.
It felt like hours that Caleb had been gone.
“What the hell is going on back there?” Mark yelled.
“Calm down. He will tell us as soon as he can. Right now, let them save her,” Cassie said. “I realize I’m not one of your friends here, but I have been there and done that. It sucks. But you have to wait and be patient.”
Mark regarded Cassie. “You’re wrong.”
“I’m not wrong about this,” Cassie said.
“No. You’re wrong about being a friend. You saved my wife. That makes you a friend.”
Cassie smiled and patted his shoulder.
“Here’s Caleb,” Sam said.
Mark immediately focused on Caleb.
“She coded in there. Probably her body giving up because of the dehydration. But we managed to get her back. She is resting now. The nurse is going to come and get you in a few minutes and let you sit with her. They are going to be moving her to ICU as soon as a bed is ready for her,” Caleb said.
“Is she going to be okay, Caleb?” Mark asked, not sure if he wanted to know the answer.
“The doctor believes that the worst has passed. She is getting the fluids her body needs and she is fighting to live now. The strangest thing happened though,” Caleb said scratching his head.
“What?” Mark was about to panic.
“I heard a strange voice in the ER. A voice telling her it wasn’t her time. Then as we shocked her a second time, she came back, and she was smiling.”
“That’s crazy,” Mark said.
“Maybe so, but it’s what I heard and saw.”
Mark glanced up as the ER doors opened.
“Mr. Owens?”
“Yes,” Mark answered.
“Let’s go see your wife,” she said.
She didn’t have to tell Mark twice. He would have run through those doors if he could have. Instead he followed her to Autumn. When he walked into the room, nothing could have prepared him for the sight of all the tubes and wires. He’d seen his share of people like this, but it never bothered him, until now.
The cardiac monitor was beeping a slow, steady rhythm and the IV was slowly dripping fluids. She had an intubation tube down her throat, which was hooked to a ventilator breathing for her. His heart shattered even more. He felt like such an ass. He had watched Sam sit by Summer when she was in an explosion and then woke up blind. He didn’t understand the pain until now. He owed all of them an apology.
He sat down in the chair beside Autumn’s bed and took her hand. His thumb caressed her hand and he stared at her, willing her to wake up.
“Please wake up, baby. I know I’m being selfish, but I need you. I love Abby, but I don’t know how to be a dad yet. I need you to teach me. I’m so sorry about Blake. I know he was Abby’s dad and once upon a time you did love him. I can’t imagine how things will change for you now. But one thing that is not going to change is the fact that I love you. I love you and Abby.”
There was no response from Autumn. He didn’t think there would be, but he still hoped.
“We have her sedated right now. She may be able to hear you, but she can’t respond. Her body needs to heal,” a man said. Mark looked up at him.
“I’m Dr. Martin. I will be taking care of this lovely lady in the ICU for the next few days. She is going to be fine,” the doctor smiled at Mark. “Trust me and have faith.”
“We just got married a few days ago. She disappeared the same day. I can’t lose her again.”
“You won’t. God uses these hands for miracles,” the doctor said showing Mark his hands. “I can tell by your face that you are not a believer. It’s okay, God will show you. Now, you are going to have to go home and get some rest. We are moving her up to ICU. No visitors until tomorrow. We will call you if anything happens.”
“No. She is in danger. She will have a bodyguard on duty at all times.”
“A bodyguard is not needed here.”
“Needed or not, she will have one.”
“Have your boss talk to my boss. Once the paperwork is in order, then we go with it. For tonight, she needs rest. There will be a nurse in her room at all times to monitor her.”
Mark didn’t want to argue and make the doctor mad. He controlled everything right now. Mark got up and leaned down and kissed Autumn on the forehead.
“I hold you personally responsible for her,” Mark said to the doctor.
“A responsibility that I gladly accept,” the doctor said and held the door open for Mark to leave.
Mark dialed his cell phone before he made it to the waiting room.
“How is she?” Gene answered.
“She coded. They got her back. They say she will be fine, but she doesn’t appear to be fine.”
“Hang in there. The news is out about Blake. I shut them up about Autumn so it will not be all over the news. Diego will get all of Blake’s money, not that there was much. I did manage to get a nice little nest egg transferred to Abby before Diego got into the account. Autumn’s life insurance policy has been redirected to you, so Diego has no reason to go after her. He disappeared into the wind.”
“Fuck. Can you handle getting us guards at the hospital? The doctor won’t allow us to stay.”
“I’ll handle it. I’ll monitor the cameras in her room as well. Go home. Get some rest. I will let you know if anything changes.” The phone went dead.
Mark filled everyone in on what was going on. They all reluctantly headed home. They had no choice but to pass by the football stadium where Blake Daze w
as a superstar. It was already surrounded by adoring fans. Many leaving flowers and messages. It made Mark sick to think he was getting that kind of attention. He knew the truth about Blake, and he also knew that the world would never know the truth. He didn’t care. All he cared about was his Autumn. And right now, she was fighting for her life. He looked down at the sleeping child next to him. Abby was his now. His daughter.
28
Day after day, Mark went to the hospital and sat by Autumn’s bed. There was never any movement from her. He read her the newspaper and told her all the local stories, except for anything about Blake. He told her about Abby and all that she was doing. Abby loved playing with Bella and was helping to take care of Lizzie.
Mark told her how Steve and Spring put their house up for sale because it was too small. Sam and Summer are moving to town too, he told her.
“Winter is a strange one though. I can’t figure her out. She’s quiet and stays to herself. She came and checked on you several times, but she won’t stay. Says she has to take care of her horses. I didn’t realize that took that much time,” Mark was telling her.
“I guess she loves horses,” Caleb said as he walked in.
“I guess. Caleb, why isn’t she responding? It’s been days.”
“Well, she has been medicated to allow her body to recuperate. Let me check with the doctor to see if she is still medicated.” Caleb left the room.
“Come on, baby, give me a sign that you are okay,” Mark begged. He leaned up to her ear and whispered, “I want to make love to my wife.”
He almost thought he heard the cardiac monitor give a funny beep, but no, it was still beeping the same rhythm. He laughed at himself. Caleb came back in after talking with the doctor.
“The doctor said that he is planning to start bringing her around today,” Caleb said.
“I just hope they can,” Mark said.
“They will. We do this all the time.”
“Not to Autumn.”
“I know, man, hang on a little longer,” Caleb said. “I’m going to go check on Steve. He’s watching the waiting room.”