Don't Blink
Page 29
“Thank you, officer.”
He raises a hand when his phone rings. His eyes are on me as he listens to the caller, eyes narrowed. “I’m on my way.”
“Is everything all right, officer? What happened?” I ask when he hangs up. The way he’s looking at me, I know the call had something to do with what had happened.
“They found Dr. Collins locked inside the basement of the cottage Tracey has been renting.”
Shock smacks me in the face. “Oh my God, is she okay?” This entire time we were all fooled into believing she was out of town. I’m guessing even the stroke she’d supposedly had was a lie.
Officer Nash rubs his forehead. “I’m afraid she’s not. She’s dead.”
My body stiffens in shock. I want to speak, but I can no longer say a word as I remember Dr. Collins’ lined face, the shock of white, curly hair. If I hadn’t come to Faypine, she would still be alive. She died because of me.
Officer Nash tells me he has to go, but I’m unable to respond as my eyes follow him to the door.
My words are still stuck in my throat when more people show up to visit me. Ralph and Marissa, Georgia, and several other teachers—minus Lilliana—from Silver Oak, bring flowers to my room. The people who once shunned me now treat me like an overnight hero. Even though I still feel the bruises of their rejection, I forgive them and accept their kindness with a bittersweet smile.
“I’m glad you’re all right,” Ralph says to me.
“Thank you, Ralph,” I finally croak. “Thank you for talking to Jared.”
“I just did what any good friend would have done. Now, get some rest.”
“Yes, you should,” Georgia chips in. “Your kids wish you well. They can’t wait for you to return.”
“My kids?” Warmth spreads through my chest.
Georgia’s face breaks into a smile. “Your job isn’t going anywhere.”
“Neither is your life,” Ralph adds, pushing his hands into his pockets. “You belong in this town.”
CHAPTER 49
“Caitlin,” a familiar voice whispers into my ear.
I open my eyes with a low groan. The feeling has returned to my body along with some of the pain, but it can’t compare to the kind I had experienced at home, both physically and emotionally.
If it weren’t for the faint light coming from the hospital machines, the room would be completely dark. It’s way past midnight.
After a day of visits from way too many people, all I want to do is sleep.
“What?” I ask as I focus my eyes on the face in front of me. It’s hard to make it out as the person is too close.
“It’s me, Tracey.” She leans back for me to get a better look.
I become instantly awake. Even in the semi-darkness, I see her well now. She’s wearing a hospital gown, and her long hair is disheveled around her face.
Before I can say anything, she places a hand on my mouth. Her small hand is surprisingly strong. “Hush, we don’t want to wake up the other patients.”
I lift my hand from the bed and push her hand away. I open my mouth to scream for help, but I don’t get a chance.
To shut me up, she shoves the barrel of a gun between my lips.
“Shut up and go quietly. This won’t take long.” My heart freezes at the sound of a click. “We have some unfinished business, you and I. How could you be so stupid to think I’ll let you go that easily?” She gives a low, dry chuckle. “Say goodbye to your useless life.”
Having no other option but to surrender, I close my eyes and wait for her to pull the trigger. What are the chances of me surviving her twice? My only comfort is that Hope is safe, and Jared is back to care for her.
Sudden light floods the room, making my eyelids glow. I open my eyes to see Tracey looking behind her, her gun still pressed into my mouth, my lips around the cool metal. I’m afraid to lift my head to see who’s at the door.
“It’s over, Tracey,” a male voice booms. “Step away from her and drop the weapon.”
“Go to hell. I call the shots around here.”
“Don’t make me shoot you, Tracey. Step away now.”
I’m trembling inside now as I prepare for my death. But to my shock, Tracey withdraws the gun from my mouth and moves away. Air floods out of my lungs.
She points the gun at the person at the door. “What do you plan on doing to me, officer? Are you going to kill me?”
“If I have to. I need you to drop the weapon.”
“I don’t take orders from anyone. Ever.” She turns back to glance at me with a smile. Then before I can take the next breath, she puts the gun to her head and pulls the trigger.
The scream I’d been holding inside me shoots out of my body as drops of blood hit my face moments before Tracey Pikes hits the floor.
Everything happens fast after the gun goes off.
The room is suddenly filled with cops, nurses, and doctors. I hear a doctor announce that Tracey is dead.
I close my eyes as a nurse wheels my bed out of the room while urging me to keep breathing.
When Jared comes to me fifteen minutes later, shock tainting his handsome face, I break down. “She ... she ... oh, Jared.”
“She’s dead.” He holds me tighter. “It’s fine now, my love.”
“Hope?” I whisper.
“Hope is safe.”
For the second time in a few hours, Officer Nash comes to see me again for more questioning. He tells me the officer who’d been guarding Tracey’s room had fallen asleep on the job and Tracey had hit him hard over the head with an intravenous drip stand. While he was out, she took his gun and went looking for me. Luckily, there was another guard in the hospital who had come to check on his colleague and found him on the floor, and Tracey was gone.
“How could that happen?” Jared shoots from his chair, shaking with rage. “How could he sleep on the job? And why wasn’t she handcuffed to the bed? My wife could have been killed. How could you people underestimate how dangerous that woman was?”
“I have no words to tell you how sorry I am, Mr. Lester. I’m just glad my colleague got to your wife in time.”
“I’m glad it’s over,” I whisper, still shaken. “I want to see my baby.”
“I’ll get her,” Jared says and leaves together with the officer.
Five minutes later, Jared steps into the room carrying a bundle of pink. As he places Hope into my arms, my tears hit her face. “Mommy is so happy you’re all right.” I kiss her warm face.
Hope doesn’t wake up the entire time I talk to her, and it’s okay. She’s safe now.
“Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?” Jared asks, perching on the edge of my bed.
“I want to leave this town. I want a fresh start somewhere with no sad memories. All I need is you and Hope.”
“Whatever you want, my love. I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth if I have to.” He lowers his lips to mine and keeps them there. Our baby starts to squirm awake between us.
“Which name do you want to take with you?” he asks, wiping a tear from my cheek.
“Caitlin Lester, the woman you fell in love with.”
“Good,” he says, his voice tainted with tears. “I happen to be crazy about her.”
THE END
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