by Mayer, Dale
For five minutes, she whispered to him. It didn't matter if he heard her or not but she needed to talk. To reach him in some way and hope that he heard her.
"Excuse me."
Kali turned to face the newcomer. A young nurse stood in the doorway, smiling apologetically at her. "I'm sorry, but it's time for you to leave."
Kali sighed. The nurse was right. It was time to go. On the way she smiled at the officer standing guard. Thank heavens for that. She had to find Julie and catch a killer.
She'd almost reached the outside the front exit when her phone rang. "Hi, Grant. Any chance of a ride?"
"Good timing, I'm on my way. We have a face on the camera through the research center. Thomas is working on cleaning it up right now." His voice was sharp and businesslike. "I'm hoping you can identify him. I need you to come back to the station."
Walking out the front entrance, Kali tried to put a face to Thomas. She knew she'd seen him before through this case, and that Grant and he appeared to have a rapport, but things being the way they were, she'd glossed over all those men. And that was wrong. They were working hard and she couldn't even put names to faces.
An oversight she'd have to fix.
Grant pulled up a few minutes later, Shiloh's head hanging out the window. She barked once at the sight of Kali, who laughed. Obviously Shiloh hadn't been upset at staying with Grant. She gave Shiloh an extra cuddle before getting in beside her. Minutes later they were on their way.
"You have a face from the center?"
"Yes, going into your office."
Kali frowned. "You realize it's not my office, right?"
The police station loomed ahead. Letting Shiloh out after her, she waited for Grant to lock up the car before walking toward him and the station. Shiloh danced around her. Kali called her over, bending slightly to put a calming hand on Shiloh's head.
Crack.
Pain burned in a fiery streak along Kali's shoulders and back.
"Ohhh." Kali's knees buckled. What happened? She glanced up, confused. Shiloh whined, her face nudging against Kali's cheeks. She tried to stand only to cry out before collapsing back.
"Stay down," Grant snapped, standing over her. She barely heard him for the agony burning her neck and head. Kali wrapped her arm around Shiloh's neck, huddling close. Her stomach really didn't feel well. Grant shifted, circling her, searching the surrounding area. Why wasn't he helping her? He should be, shouldn't he? What the hell had happened? Unaccountably, tears collected in the corner of her eyes. Whatever it was, he shouldn't have yelled at her.
She burrowed her face in Shiloh's side. Shiloh whined, nudging her cold nose against Kali's hand. Kali scrunched tighter. Somewhere in the background she heard Grant talking on the phone. What a time to socialize. Didn't he see she needed him?
"Kali, talk to me. Don't you faint on me? Buck up girl."
Lifting her head, she gasped with outrage. "I've never fainted in my life." She tried to shift onto her knees, only to fall forward. Her stomach knotted in a sudden fierce movement. "Ohhh, God, it hurts. Make it stop, please, Grant."
Grant bent trying to lift her to her feet. "I will, honey. Let's get you inside. The attacker might still be here."
"Attacker?" Kali shifted upward into a half crouch before making it all the way to a standing position with his help. "Someone attacked me?" Shiloh leaned against her.
Men poured from the building, spreading out to search the surrounding areas. Grant kept her snuggled tight against his chest while he yelled, "He bolted over there." Grant pointed in the direction in the far back of the lot. Guns at the ready, officers spanned outward.
Kali tried to watch, but black spots kept getting in the way. She blinked, trying to see around them, but they moved with her.
"How bad is it?" One officer ran toward her.
Kali turned her face into Grant's chest. Sweat dripped along her side. It tickled and bugged at the same time. Irritated, she swiped at it. And cried out.
"Shhh. Take it easy, Kali. Don't try to move." Grant whispered against her ear, his arms loosely holding her in place. Through the haze of pain, she caught part of the conversation happening, catching the new arrival's last comment.
"I've called for an ambulance."
Kali lifted her head, pulling back to frown at the men. "An ambulance?"
The two men glanced at each other, then at her.
In a soft gentle voice, Grant responded, "Kali, it's for you. You've been shot."
CHAPTER TWENTY
Shot?
Pain blasted through her system tenfold with his words. "You shouldn't have told me," she said peevishly. "Now it really hurts."
Grant hugged her close.
Bile floated up her throat at the movement. Kali closed her eyes and clenched her teeth. A moan escaped and she rested against his chest. A whine first, then the gentle paw on her thigh, caught her attention. Shiloh sat beside her, her huge chocolate eyes focused on Kali. Reaching down, Kali tried to reassure her, but damn, it hurt.
"It's okay, Sweetheart." Grant rested his chin on the top of her head. "You're going to be fine. Appears to be a flesh wound-scraping through the fat on your back."
"Ohhh." Kali reared back and slugged him. "How dare you?"
Grant stared at her in astonishment. "Whoa! What's wrong? What did I say?"
Kali snorted at the glint in his eyes. "I don't have any," she emphasized, "fat on my back."
A telltale rumble ran through his chest as he wrapped his big arms around her, her fists tucked up against his hard chest. His voice thick with mischief, he added, "If you say so."
"I do," she mumbled burrowing deeper in his arms. Why'd she do that? The pain dug in deeper, grabbing on tighter. "I don't need an ambulance."
"No." he whispered, his cheek resting against her hair. "But I might."
"What?" she gasped, pulling free to pat his chest and shoulders. "Where? Did you get shot, too? Where does it hurt?" Damn the stupid male psyche, always having to play the big strong role.
With a tug, he pulled her tighter against him, cuddling her closer. "I'm not hurt. You are."
"But..." Kali stopped fighting to free herself, trying to understand.
"But nothing. I want you in an ambulance."
"Why?" She slugged him once for good measure, then collapsed against his chest.
"Ow. What was that for?" Grant asked.
"For making me worry."
Grant shook his head at her. "You're making me crazy."
Sirens sounded in the distance.
Pulling free, Kali distractedly ran her fingers through her hair. Pain bent her over double. She crumpled to her knees. Shiloh whimpered, nudging her nose against her hands. Gasping for breath, she rocked in place.
"Stay with me Kali. Don't faint. Focus on your breathing."
Kali heard him, only that irritating trickle deluged into a stream of wetness. She slapped her hand over the spot. As she pulled her hand away, blood dripped freely off her fingers. Christ. Her stomach revolted, she wavered. Digging deep, Kali struggled to remain conscious. Lord, she hurt. Grant's face appeared in front of her. His forehead creased with worry.
Kali drew a deep breath. "I'm okay. It's just blood." Attempting to reassure him, she patted his hand while ice trickled along her spine. Pausing her hand mid-air, Kali cast a puzzled gaze at Grant. "Something's wrong."
Ice pooled in her tummy. Kali gazed at her belly. The warmth drained from her face, converting her cheeks to frost. Grant's face blurred. Kali opened her mouth. The words froze inside.
She pitched head-first toward the pavement.
***
"Kali!" Grant caught her before she hit the ground, immediately checking for a heartbeat. It pulsed slow and steady. Several other men joined him. Shiloh twisted between them, getting in the way. Her nose pushing against Kali whenever she could reach her.
"Where's the damn ambulance?" The sirens screamed louder.
"They're here, Grant. Take it easy."
; The ambulance peeled into the parking lot. Two men hopped from the vehicle. One ran toward them, the second one opened the rear doors, withdrawing a gurney.
"Move aside, please. Sir, please stand aside."
"Grant." Thomas placed a heavy hand on Grant's shoulder. "Move, buddy. These guys need to do their job."
As if shaking free of a mental hold, Grant allowed his friend to pull him back. Seeing Shiloh worried and anxious as the men worked, Grant stepped forward and tugged her toward him. "Come on, girl. Sit over here with us." He crouched, stroking her beautiful coat. Finally the overwrought dog calmed enough to lie down. He straightened to speak to Thomas. "There was such an odd look on her face when she collapsed."
"Shock."
"Maybe." The two men watched the EMTs work on Kali. Grant puzzled over the shooting. "It doesn't make any sense. There's no reason to have targeted her."
"How close were you to her at the time? Any chance you were the target?"
Grant closed his eyes, picturing Kali walking toward him with Shiloh at her side. God, he hoped not. He didn't want to live with that for the rest of his life. As he thought on it, he realized the direction had been wrong. With a decisive shake of his head, he said, "No, she was the target."
Thomas shoved his hands in his pockets. "I wonder if the killer is changing the game. Or maybe he wants to end it?"
Grant shook his head. "Doesn't feel right."
"Then what the hell is going on here?"
The EMTs had Kali on the gurney and were loading her into the ambulance. Grant moved forward. Thomas placed a restraining hand on his arm.
Frowning, Grant pointed to the ambulance. "I should go with her."
"No. Two men are going with her to stand guard. We'll check on her in a bit. Give the doctors time to do their thing. The best thing you can do is bring this to an end."
The ambulance peeled away, sirens blazing, leaving a parking lot of law enforcement officers staring after it.
Darkness settled on Grant's face. "Let's go. We've got an asshole to catch."
Grant strode toward the entrance, Shiloh at his side and the rest of the men scrambling behind him.
At the door, Grant turned back to for one last glimpse of the pool of blood drying in the early morning sun. Fury spiked through him. "I want this asshole caught. Today."
"We'll get him. Don't doubt it."
Jaw clenched, Grant gave a clipped nod before heading inside.
***
Kali moaned as she tried to shift her position.
"Damn, we're almost done. Just need another moment."
Metal clattered, weird sucking sounds and soft squishy noises penetrated Kali's conscious. Sharp pins stabbed her repeatedly. Words registered dimly. They didn't make sense. Nothing did. So much pain. What had happened to her? Her back burned. The pain made her twist away. "Hurts."
A hand soothed her shoulder. The movement blended into the confusion of sounds and sensations.
"Easy, sweetie. We're done. It's going to be okay."
Kali moved again, desperate to stop the deep aching pain. Her mind fogged. Why was she here? What were they doing to her?
"Try to stay still."
"Nooo," she moaned in protest as something jabbed her again.
"Let's go, people. We're not quite done. Put her under so we can finish this. We can't let her tear out the stitches before we get this closed."
Bright lights flashed in strobe symmetry as Kali blinked rapidly. Stitches. Injured? Hospital? Kali struggled to make sense of the distorted words and images interspersed with the pain. Then none of it mattered. Clouds and soft white cotton batting closed in. Sighing with relief, she drifted under.
***
Grant parked beside several other vehicles at the front of Second Chance. A couple of people wandered the large lazy verandah and there were fewer dogs than he'd become accustomed to seeing here. Shiloh woofed deep in her throat.
"That's right. This is a second home for you, isn't it, girl?"
"It's a busy place. So how do you want to play this?" Thomas studied the layout of the center and its adjoining fields.
Grant wanted to throw his cover and let everyone know he was FBI and meant business, damn it. But that could cost someone else her life if the wrong person figured they were onto him. "I'd love to go pound heads and get answers, but..."
"But we can't. No one here knows about your FBI connection at this point and we need to keep it that way. I wonder if anyone noticed the cameras?"
Grant opened his door, "And I wonder who's in charge with both Stan and Kali out of commission." Not that anyone here should have heard the news about Kali yet. Hell, this place would erupt when the news of Melanie and Julie trickled through. Another day. That's all they needed.
The two men exited the car and walked toward the fields. Two classes were going on in the yard. Grant recognized Sam working the left side of the field with a group of owners, their dogs at their sides. Sam was putting Colossus, a brindle-colored Great Dane, through the paces. Grant checked the opposite end of the field. There, Caroline, her diminutive stature almost obscured by the attendees, demonstrated obedience training with her Jack Russell terrier. His admiration went up a notch. Anyone who successfully commanded a Jack Russell had skill.
Returning to the white clapboard center, they walked into the general lobby. Shiloh raced over to Maureen. She bent and cuddled the dog. "Grant, any news on Stan? The place has been crawling with cops who aren't talking."
Good. Grant stuck to the question voiced and not the palpable curiosity in her voice. "He's doing better."
Joseph spoke from behind the two men. "That's great. Fresh coffee is dripping if you're wanting a cup."
Turning to watch the younger man approach, Grant said, "Great. I could use one. The day's been a little rough." And that was the truth. He'd caught a power nap earlier, but sheer adrenaline was keeping him going at the moment. Later he'd crash and burn but only after he had answers and knew Kali was safe.
"Were you two here this morning with all the chaos?"
"No. We teach on afternoons, evenings and weekends and drop in the odd time during the week." Joseph answered. Grant glanced over at Maureen, who nodded in agreement.
Walking over to the still dripping coffeepot, Grant thieved a cup for himself. "Thomas here," Grant motioned in Thomas's direction, "is trying to identify a couple of men. Maybe you two could help."
Thomas obligingly held up the first picture they'd recovered from the new cameras installed at Second Chance.
Joseph piped up. "Jarl. Jarl...Blackburn. He's worked here since forever. I heard he just returned yesterday or the day before."
"Any idea from where?" Thomas wrote Jarl's name on the back of the picture.
"Oregon, I think. I heard he moved part of a graveyard or some such thing for a church."
Thomas paused, pen in mid-air, a blank look on his face. "Uh?"
Maureen grinned. "Bizarre, huh? The longer you hang here, the more normal the bizarre becomes. The story I heard was the church lost a parcel of land when the land was surveyed for a new development. The land held old graves. However, some of the markers were gone, so Jarl located the bodies for removal and reburial on the new graveyard."
Grant raised an eyebrow. "He can do that?"
"Jarl specializes in it."
How did that fit into his investigation? They'd have to confirm the dates, but it sounded like the timing, if what Maureen said was true, gave him an alibi for the early kidnappings and murders. So many of these people were experts at digging and burying bodies. Kinda creepy.
Thomas spoke up. "Do you, by any chance, know how we'd be able to reach him?"
Joseph stepped up to answer. "He'll be on the contact list in the office." He motioned toward the hallway heading to the offices. "If you can't find it, contact Kali. She'll know where it is. "
Figures. Neither Stan nor Kali was in a position to help.
Holding up the second image, the sketch Kali had done
at the police station, Thomas asked, "What about this guy?"
Maureen frowned. "I've seen him but don't know his name. I think he's one of Brad's friends."
Thomas adjusted the angle of the sketch so Joseph could get a better look. He studied it for a moment, then shrugged. "No. I'm not sure I've even seen him."