Pain tore into his chest throwing him backward against the seat. In slow motion he slid to the ground flat on his back. He stared at the bright blue sky fighting to stay conscious, but oblivion took over.
****
Confused and disoriented, Josh woke to the sun shining in his face. Seconds passed as he lay on the hard pavement not understanding what had happened. Why was he in so much pain? Slowly, his mind cleared and he remembered someone ambushing them. He had no idea how long he had been unconscious. His chest hurt like hell. In the distance he heard sirens. At least the Calvary was coming.
Hesitant to move, he touched his chest but all he felt was his bulletproof vest. It took a lot of effort but he managed to push himself off the ground. It was difficult to breathe as he stumbled to his feet. Placing his head in his hands, he took several deep breaths. Glancing around, he saw that the trucks were gone. Bullet holes covered the whole side of the SUV. Whoever ambushed them had made a hasty retreat. The acrid scent of gunpowder still hung in the air.
He gazed into the front seat and saw the bullet hole in the center of Agent Bailey’s head. Glazed eyes stared at nothing. He was dead. A slight moan had him moving to the backseat. Legs trembling, he jerked on the handle but the door was locked. It hurt like hell when he reached toward the front passenger side door and hit the unlock button. He gritted his teeth through the pain to keep from passing out.
He opened the back passenger door and Agent Thomas Capel fell against him. Blood oozed from his neck so Josh pushed him back into the seat and applied pressure with his hands. Blood spilled out between his fingers. He removed his jacket and put pressure on the wound. Capel’s weapon was still holstered so he didn’t have time to defend himself. Blood covered the back seat. Agent Tad Davis’ shoulder holster was empty. His weapon was on the floor of the car. No reason to check for a pulse. It was obvious he was dead from several bullet wounds, two of them to the head.
He heard Matthew Collins fighting for breath. A shudder writhed through his entire body. He opened his mouth and tried to speak but no words came out. The wheezing continued for several seconds before he drew a gasping breath then his eyes clouded with death. “Damn.”
Two deputy vehicles and three ambulances converged on the site at one time. A deputy moved into his line of vision. “Are you okay?”
Josh was in too much pain to answer. Blood trickled into his eyes from the cut on his forehead and they burned like fire. The moment an EMT stepped to his side he was relieved to relinquish Capel to more capable hands. A fog seemed to cover his eyes as he watched EMTs pull the dead bodies from the SUV and begin CPR. He was in no condition to give medical attention so he moved out of the way. Heart heavy with grief, he felt hot tears fill his eyes. Some good men died today. Men he had known and worked with for the past several months.
Near fainting, Josh stumbled to the front of the SUV and leaned against it for support. A trail of blood led across the road and from there disappeared proving one of the attackers had been shot. God, he felt weird. He got weaker and dizzier with every passing moment. It was as if he had no control of his body as he slowly slid to the ground. The last thing he saw was an EMT standing over him asking him if was okay.
****
For over an hour Beth had sat by Josh’s hospital bed. He was pale and had not moved the whole time she sat watching him. The doctor had been in and promised he was fine and had escaped any internal injuries. X-rays proved a few broken ribs were his only injuries. The doctor tried to relieve her anxieties by telling her the intense pain was what caused him to pass out. The tension in her shoulders increased so she stood and peered into his face wishing he would regain consciousness. She brushed the hair away from his forehead where he had received five stitches. A small scar would always be there to remind him of the horrific day he lost some of his comrades.
It was chaos when she had arrived at the hospital. Besides Josh, two other agents had survived but their injuries were more severe. Both were in critical condition and doctors were doing everything in their power to keep them alive. She shuddered at the thought of how close Josh came to losing his life. If not for his bulletproof vest, he would have died. She picked up the vest which lay in the chair by his bed. Four bullets were lodged in the kelvar inserts. She made sure not to touch the slugs because they would be needed for evidence. She put it back into the chair and circled the room yet again before moving back to the bed and touching Josh’s cheek. A tiny moan escaped and she felt relieved.
Eyes still closed, Josh whispered, “Did I get hit by a Mack Truck?”
She let out a nervous giggle. “No, but you took four bullets to the chest. Thank goodness you had on your vest.”
His eyes fluttered open. “Beth.”
She took his hand and clutched it to her chest. “I’m right here. You’re going to be okay.”
His gaze met hers. “Did anyone else survive?”
“Agent Thomas Capel and Agent Jeffrey Hartman are in surgery.” She hoped he wouldn’t ask about their condition. She didn’t want to be the bearer of more bad news. He had been through a horrific ordeal.
He tried to sit up and moaned in pain. “It feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest.” Eyes closed tight he gritted his teeth.
“You have several broken ribs.” She pushed against his shoulder to make sure he didn’t try to move again. His chest was wrapped with what looked like a huge, white ace-bandage.
Seconds passed before he asked the question she dreaded. “What are Capel and Hartman’s conditions? Are they going to be okay?”
“Let’s hope so. They are in the capable hands of the doctors.” To keep busy, she lifted the cup of water by the bed and pushed the straw against Josh’s lips. He took a small sip.
“Who is outside the door?”
Beth glanced through the window that led out to the hall. “Agent Dawkins. He has been assigned to protect you until your Uncle Tate is sure you were not the intended target.”
“Matthew Collins was the target. Someone wanted him dead. Now we may never know the identity of the man responsible for the meth labs.”
“Too many people were apprehended in the meth labs. One of them will divulge who is in charge.” By his expression she knew it hurt to talk. “Now stop talking and rest.” Again she pushed his hair away from his brow. He closed his eyes and for a moment she thought he had fallen asleep.
“I think I hit one of them.”
“Who?”
His voice was getting weaker. The doctor had given him something for pain and it was taking affect. “The men that attacked us. I think I shot one of them.”
A commotion outside the door caught Beth’s attention. A woman with dark hair was talking to Agent Dawkins. It was Grace Wilson, Josh’s mother. It seemed he was refusing to let Grace into Josh’s hospital room. She had her hands on her hips and by her body language she was demanding to see her son. Despite her diminutive stature, she had spirit and strength. Beth saw the color leave Agent Dawkins face and knew he was receiving a tongue lashing.
She released Josh’s hand and hurried to the door. Stepping into the hall, Beth replied, “It’s okay Agent Dawkins, she is Grace Wilson, Josh’s mother.” He gave a slight nod of his head and let her pass.
Hands that trembled clutched Beth’s. Worry brought a flush to her cheeks. “How is Josh?”
“He’s fine. He has a few broken ribs but other than that he is okay.” Her expression changed from worry to elation. “Come on in and you can talk to him.” Beth tucked her arm into Grace’s and led her into the hospital room. The moment she saw Josh lying in the bed pale and gray her concern returned.
Tears rolled over her cheeks as she hurried to his side. Her gaze filled with such tenderness. With gentle hands she pressed her hands to his face and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Sympathy in her voice, she asked, “Are you okay?”
His eyes blinked open when he heard his mother’s voice. He tried to smile. “Yes, Mom, I’m fine. Just a little sore.”
Panic in her voice, she cried, “Did you get shot in the head?”
“No, Mama. My head hit the window. It’s nothing, just a little cut.” His brows drew together. “How did you get here so fast?”
“Tate sent a chopper to pick me up at the airport in Richmond.” Her fingers lingered on his cheek. “You’re so pale. Can I get you anything? Do anything to make you more comfortable?”
“No, Mama, there is nothing you can do. Just having you here makes me feel better.”
She propped her hip on the edge of the bed as if she was too weak to stand. “When I got the call from Tate that you were injured, I feared the worst. Ever since you joined the FBI I haven’t had a good night’s sleep.”
“May I come in?”
Grace jumped to her feet and crossed the room. She threw her arms around Tate’s neck. Because she was only five foot two inches, her feet came off the floor when he rose to his full height. He planted a kiss on her forehead. “It’s good to see you, Grace.” He placed her back on her feet. “I’m sorry Josh was injured in the line of duty.”
She wiped at a tear. “I know how dangerous the job is.” He draped his arm over her shoulder and together they walked to Josh’s bed.
“Hello, Miss Reynolds.” Instead of speaking, Beth gave him a slight nod.
“How are you feeling?”
“Like hell. Please tell me you have a lead on who attacked us.”
His expression turned serious as he looked at Grace. “Will you please give us a few minutes of privacy?”
Grace touched Tate’s hand. “You work too hard. You look tired.”
“Part of the job.”
She took Beth’s arm. “Let’s go and get something to eat. Now that I know Josh is okay I suddenly have an appetite.”
The moment his mother disappeared down the hall, Josh asked, “What have you found out?”
“Blood from one of the attackers was found at the crime scene. We distracted DNA and got a hit. It belonged to Darrell Falkner. We got an address and when we arrived at his house we found his body. You hit him in the neck and he had bled out. The place was a mess where someone had tried to save him. Bloody bandages were all over the floor and bed. The place had been wiped clean so we didn’t get any fingerprints.”
“How do you know I was the one that shot him? I think Tad Davis got a few rounds off before he was killed.”
“He was shot with a .45, same as your gun. Tad Davis’ weapon of choice was a .38.” His face filled with pain. “We lost some good men today.”
“I’m sorry. I wish I would never have consented to have Collins moved. They were after him. Whoever was in charge of the meth lab must have discovered he was talking to us.” The pain in his chest became almost more than he could bear. Talking only made it worse. He rubbed his hand over his bruises and grimaced. “I feel responsible for what happened.”
“It’s not your fault, Josh. You did your job.” Tate squeezed his hand. “Darrell Falkner has a brother. We’ll start with him. Maybe he’ll be able to tell us who his brother has been working for. If we find out, then we can find the man in charge.”
For some reason Josh doubted the brother would be much help. Whoever ordered the hit on Collins was smart. He would cover his tracks and be sure not to leave any witnesses.
“You look terrible. Get some rest and I’ll call as soon as I know anything.”
Even though he felt anguish over the lives that were lost, Josh gave his uncle a weak smile. “I’d appreciate you keeping me in the loop. Looks like I’m going to be laid up for a while.”
“I’ll get back to see you tomorrow.”
After his uncle left, Josh raked his mind trying to remember anything that would help with the investigation. It all happened so fast he didn’t have time to notice much. But then whoever orchestrated the attack knew exactly what they were doing. They were well armed and prepared. He was so tired, he fought to stay awake.
The door opened and his mother and Beth entered. Beth moved to the side of the bed. “I have to go. I’ll stay at Twelve Oaks tonight and help Juan with the chores.” She clutched her purse as if nervous. “Don’t you worry about a thing. You just get better.”
“Thanks, Beth. It meant a lot to wake up to a friendly face.” His eyes shifted toward his mother. “Mom, why don’t you catch a ride with Beth and stay at Twelve Oaks tonight?”
Grace squared her shoulders. “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be spending the night in that comfortable recliner in the corner. Don’t even try to talk me out of it.”
Of course he knew there was no reason to argue. His mother was one stubborn woman when she set her mind to something.
****
Josh didn’t think he would ever get to the front door. Relying on other people hurt his pride. Beth on one side, his mother on the other, they were trying to help him up the steps. Angry because he couldn’t manage by himself, he felt like snapping at them. He bit his tongue to keep from lashing out. His present circumstances had nothing to do with his mother or Beth.
Leaning against Beth, he took a deep breath when the pain in his chest intensified. Just the simple movement had him feeling ill.
“Almost there.” Beth tightened her grip around his waist. The subtle scent of her perfume had him wishing he could sink his face against her neck. He groaned every time he managed to make a step. At the top he felt like he had climbed a mountain instead of three steps. His breathing was labored.
His mother was also breathing heavily. “Not much farther, Josh. Almost there.” Long, painful seconds passed before Beth moved toward the door and opened it. “Careful, Josh. Don’t rush.” She propped it open with her bottom while she took his arm to lead him through the door. One final step up and he stood in the living room.
“I think I’ll lie on the sofa for a while. I’m too tired to make it to the bedroom.” He walked the last few feet to the white leather sofa without help and slowly sat down. His chest now hurt like a son of a bitch. His skin was drenched with sweat.
Grace yanked a couple of Kleenexes from the box on the coffee table and dabbed at his face and neck. “I’ll go get you a glass of water so you can take your pain pills.” She disappeared around the corner.
Beth grabbed a pillow and placed it behind his back. “Maria has the guest bedroom ready for you. Your mom can stay in the room next to yours in case you need anything during the night.”
Still weak, he took her hand. “Thank you, Beth.”
“Don’t mention it. You’d do the same for me.”
Depression settled in when he thought about his friends that were murdered in the attack. At least Agent Hartman and Agent Capel survived surgery. Even though their condition was critical, they were hanging on.
She placed her hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “The good guys will find out who attacked you, Josh. Like the doctor said, take off a few days and you can go back to work.”
He rolled his eyes. “Yea, desk duty. Do you have any idea how much I hate sitting at a desk?”
“In your condition I doubt you can hit the streets asking questions.”
Of course she was right. He could barely walk. Couldn’t get much done in his present state.
“Here we go. Maria made you some homemade vegetable soup.” Grace placed the tray in his lap and handed him two pills. “Take these.” She handed him a glass of water.
In a whiny voice, Josh said, “The pills make me feel like I’m swimming in molasses.”
Grace spoke to him like a penitent child. “Your choice. Deal with the pain or feel a little weird. It is up to you.” He popped the pills into his mouth and took the glass from her. “Do you need me to feed you?”
“No, Mother. My hands work just fine.”
Maria appeared in the doorway. “How’s the soup?” Her slight Spanish-accented voice sounded pleasant. She wiped her hands on her apron as she waited for Josh’s answer.
He lifted the spoon to his lips and swallowed. “Perfect, Maria. Everything you cook is wond
erful.” His tongue felt like a cotton ball from all the pain killers he had been taking. “Do you have some sweet tea?”
“I just brewed a fresh pitcher.” She hurried from the room.
Amusement in her eyes, Beth hitched her purse on her shoulder. “Since you are in capable hands, I’ll get back to work.”
She turned to Grace. “If you need me, don’t hesitate to call. After work I’ll come back and help with the chores.”
“No need. I can help Juan. It’s too far to drive and a young woman such as yourself shouldn’t be on the road so late at night.”
Again Josh rolled his eyes behind his mother’s back. Beth smiled. “It’s okay, Grace. I’m looking forward to a nice home cooked meal.”
Before she made it to the door, Josh asked, “Will you call me if you hear anything about Hartman and Capel’s conditions?”
“I will. I’ll see you tonight.”
Beth looked about as good going as she did coming. He watched the sway of her curvy bottom through the storm door until she was out of his line of vision. He settled back and closed his eyes. “Mama, I’m not very hungry. I think I’ll try to sleep for a while.”
Grace sat on the coffee table and placed the back of her hand to his forehead being careful not to touch his wound. “You’re not running a fever.” She picked up the spoon and tried to coax him to eat. “You need to eat. You shouldn’t take painkillers on an empty stomach.”
He took the spoon and snapped, “Don’t coddle me. I can feed myself.” Guilt only added to his discomfort. His mother had always been the rock in their family. She had been both mother and father since their dad had been deployed most of their childhood because he had been a career Marine. Then when their father had been killed on a mission, she had been the glue that held them together.
He placed the spoon on the tray and took her hand. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t take my frustration out on you. I love you.” The sense of uselessness had him irritable, jumpy and distracted.
Shadows of the Falls (Twelve Oaks Farm Series Book 2) Page 4