by Cade Brogan
Joanna’s neck twisted toward her, her eyes bulging from their sockets. Then, with a satisfied smile, and a “Wh—ooo—t,” she blew the dart.
In that millisecond, Rylee plowed into her with the crushing power of a steamroller, smashing her into the wall, and landing on top of her. She pistol-whipped her face, bloodied her nose, jerked her hands behind her back, and cuffed her to the cast iron radiator. As she settled onto her haunches, she felt nauseous, and vomited to one side of her. She looked up, struggling to focus on Kenzie’s gaze. She’d just stepped out of the shower, dazed and trembling, but okay. “I love you,” Rylee said, gasping for breath. She swallowed, laying her pistol down, and nudging it toward her. “In case you need it,” she added, her breathing increasingly shallow.
“Oh my God,” Kenzie whimpered, coming toward her. “You’ve been hit.”
“Pick it up,” Rylee urged, gulping like a fish on the shore. “Help’s on the way,” she continued, “but ‘till then—” Her words fell away as she struggled to fill her lungs. “But until then,” she gasped, “you gotta be able to protect yourself.” Her arm tingled from her elbow to her shoulder. As she yanked out the needle, she lost the ability to sit erect under her own power. Her eyelids were heavy, but she struggled to keep them open, at least until she could finish her thought. “Tell them—”
***
“Oh my God,” Kenzie sobbed, collecting the cumbersome handgun. She waved it through the air, glancing at the bleeding heap in the corner as she made her way to Rylee. “My sweet baby,” she murmured, dropping to her knees, and cradling her in her arms, “Don’t worry, everything’s gonna be alright.” She brushed their cheeks together, whispering, “I love you so much.” With a jerk, she startled, tucking her leg underneath her body when the toe of Joanna’s shoe touched her ankle. She lifted up, aiming her gun at the bridge of her nose. “Don’t touch me,” she snarled, curling her upper lip. “And you call yourself a Christian woman.” She shook her head in disgust. “You’re the Devil, that’s what you are.” She glared. “You’re nothing but the Devil, walking the Earth.” Joanna had been stretching, reaching for something, but what? She scanned the area, noting that Joanna was securely attached to the radiator. Seeing nothing that could be used as a weapon, she returned her attention to Rylee. Dear Lord, please help her, she prayed silently, kissing her tenderly. When she stroked through her dampened hair, she noticed beads of sweat on her upper lip and forehead. “I know you’ll be okay,” she peeped softly, “you just have to hold on.” She swallowed hard, checking her pulse. She’s alive, she told herself, and help is coming…Oh my God, help’s coming, but it’s the wrong kind of help. She sucked in a breath, reaching into Rylee’s pants pocket to retrieve her phone.
Rylee moaned.
Kenzie kissed her lips, reminding her that everything was going to be okay. She held her close as she dialed.
“9-1-1—what’s your emergency?” a female voice articulated after one ring, the longest of her life.
Kenzie lifted the 9mm, pointing it between Joanna’s eyes as she spoke into the speaker. “Officer down,” she squeaked, providing their names and the address. “I think she has help on the way,” she continued, crying, “but we need an ambulance. We need an ambulance right now!”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Pound—pound.
Pound—pound—pound.
“They’re at the door,” Kenzie said. “Oh God, I’m not sure if she left it unlocked.” As she said the words, she heard footsteps thundering up the stairs. “She did,” she continued, “thank God.” As an afterthought, she added, “and thanks for talking to me until they got here.” She didn’t think to wait for the woman’s response before ending the call.
“I’ll take that,” Rich said, gently lifting the gun from her palm. He stepped away, returning to wrap a bed sheet around her bare shoulders.
“Thanks,” Kenzie said, tears tumbling down her cheeks as she peered into his eyes. “I think she’s pretty bad,” she whimpered. “Her eyes open once in a while, but—” She paused, hiccupping soft sobs. “She’s hardly breathing at all.”
Rich swallowed, his jaw tightening. “She’s strong,” he soothed, squeezing her shoulders, “she’ll be alright.” He nodded to the first paramedic to drop down to his partner’s side. When she pressed her lips together in silent communication to the other paramedic, he took a breath, holding it for the longest time.
Kenzie sniffled, meeting his eye.
“Come on,” he said softly, “let’s get out of their way so they can work on her.”
“I can’t leave her,” Kenzie whimpered, biting her lip. “What if she asks for me?”
“You’re not leaving her,” Rich soothed, “You’re just going right over there.” He nodded toward the bed. “You’ll just be right over there, giving ‘em room to work on her.” He smiled thinly. “Come on,” he said softly, “let’s go.”
Kenzie nodded, standing up. When her knees wobbled, she leaned on him.
“Thata girl,” Rich said, meeting her gaze with a thin smile. He sat with her for a while before calling over a female officer. “Now you stay right here,” he added softly, “right here with Lou while I take care of a couple things.” He brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. “She’ll sit with you, and if you want, she’ll help you get ready to go to the hospital.”
“Okay, thanks,” Kenzie responded, her thoughts becoming fuzzy and unfocused. Minutes took an eternity to pass; time raced and stood still in the same moment.
“There ya go,” Lou said patiently as Kenzie fastened her shorts. “And now your shirt.” She was an African American woman in her early fifties, short and stocky.
Kenzie struggled to regain composure, hearing Rylee moan as the paramedics lifted her onto the gurney. She poked her head in to look. An IV bag dangled above her head and she had wires and tubes attached to various points on her body. “I have to go with her,” she said, pulling on her t-shirt. “I have to go.”
“You’re going,” Lou said kindly, “but before you do, you need to finish getting dressed.”
Kenzie nodded, accepting the first of two shoes. She inadvertently met Joanna’s gaze as she sat back down on the bed. Her pulse elevated, her vision clouded, and she saw red. “Can’t they just get her out of here?” she asked. “I can’t stand that she’s in our bedroom.” She sucked in a breath, releasing it slowly. “And I can’t stand the way she keeps licking her lips when she looks at Rylee.”
“I know,” Lou soothed. “They’ll take her away soon, but the detective has to go first.”
“And I want her to,” Kenzie whimpered. “God, what’s taking ‘em so long?”
“I think they’re about ready to go,” Lou responded, handing her the matching Nike. “Come on now,” she urged, “let’s put on your other shoe.”
***
“You want to ride with me?” Rich asked.
“Can’t I ride in the ambulance,” Kenzie responded, tears burning behind her eyelids.
“No, sorry,” Rich said gently, “but I promise I’ll stay right with ‘em.”
Kenzie held his gaze, unresponsive.
“I’ll stay right with ‘em, I promise,” he repeated with a tilt of his head, “and we’ll monitor their channel to be sure she’s okay.”
Kenzie nodded as she moved to kiss Rylee’s lips. “I love you, baby,” she murmured. “You hang on; you hear me? I’ll be right behind you.”
Rylee moaned, her eyes opening to slits, meeting her gaze. “Tell ‘em—”
“Shhh, don’t try to talk,” Kenzie whispered, stroking through her hair, “you can tell me later.”
“We need to get her en route,” the paramedic said with firm eye contact.
Kenzie’s lower lip began to quiver, touching Rylee’s fingertips before she was loaded onto the emergency vehicle. She got into the unmarked squad car, fastened her seat belt, and looked Rich’s way. “I’m so scared,” she admitted, sniffling. “I’m
so scared that she won’t be okay.”
“She will be,” Rich responded, patting her leg. As he sped off, he switched on his lights and siren. “I’ll have to work the case for a couple, maybe three hours,” he said, accelerating as they exited the ramp onto the expressway. “Do you have anyone you want to call?”
“No, not really,” Kenzie responded. “I’ve got my parents, but…” She shook her head, swallowing, and staring out the window. “Well, let’s just say I wouldn’t feel better having them beside me.”
Rich nodded, biting his lower lip. “How about friends,” he asked quietly.
Kenzie shook her head. “No, they’re all from my church,” she said. “Nice people, but not supportive of…” She pressed her lips together, turning to stare at the city, whizzing by.
“Nice people,” Rich finished, “but they don’t love you for who you are.”
“No,” Kenzie answered softly, “they don’t.” She took a breath, holding it, and letting it go. “But don’t worry,” she said, “as long as Rylee’s okay, I’ll be alright.” She swallowed, meeting his eye. “And once I know what’s going on,” she added, “I’ll call Gladys and Omar and they’ll come over.” She took another breath. “But to be honest,” she continued, her eyes widening, “all I really want to do is sit beside Rylee.”
“I know,” Rich said quietly, “but I don’t think they’ll let you do that, at least not for a little while.”
***
“Pardon me,” Joanna groaned, “but could I trouble you to take me to the restroom.” She moistened her lips, breathing through her mouth.
Lou shook her head slowly, looking over. “When they get back up here,” she said, “you’re headed out.”
“I understand,” Joanna whimpered, a tear trickling down her cheek as she added, “I don’t know how it is for you, but for me, anxiety brings on diarrhea.” She sniffled, biting her lip. “I’m afraid if I don’t go soon, I’ll mess myself.”
Lou moved toward her. “Alright,” she said, frowning, “but you make it quick. Don’t be thinking you’re gonna dilly-dally.”
“Oh, I won’t officer,” Joanna said, her eyes widening. “Thank you so much for showing someone like me a little kindness.”
“It’s alright,” Lou responded, inserting her key, releasing her from the radiator. “When you gotta go, you gotta go.” She ushered her into the bathroom off the hallway. “You go quickly now,” she said, pushing open the door. “Because I want you right back where you were by the time they come back up to get you.”
“I’ll hurry,” Joanna responded, turning to look at her. “But how will I wipe?” she asked. “I can feel a terrible rumble in my belly. I just know when I sit down, it’s gonna explode.”
“Sucker, that’s what you are,” Lou muttered to herself, releasing the cuffs securing one wrist to the other. “There,” she said, making firm eye contact. “Now get your business done, and get it done now.”
“Oh, I will officer,” Joanna responded, smiling to herself as her fingers slid down into the narrow pocket. “Ohhhhh…Ohhhhh… Ohhhhh,” she groaned falling forward.
“What’s the matter with you?” Lou asked, moving toward her.
“I don’t know,” Joanna whimpered. “Please help me.” As Lou bent down, she plunged the lancet into her neck.
Lou’s eyes bulged, she gasped and dropped to the floor.
“Sorry,” Joanna said, stepping over her. “And thanks for your help.”
***
By the time Rylee was wheeled out of the emergency department and onto an elevator, her color was returning, and she was breathing on her own. Her wires, tubes, and Kenzie followed her to her room where she was expected to stay for twenty-four to forty-eight hours. She became more alert as the sun rose, reporting her pain to the floor nurse as a six on a ten-point scale. Everyone was pleased when her blood pressure trended upward toward normal.
“So, have you had a chance to speak with the doctor yet?” Gladys asked, kissing Rylee’s forehead before stepping over to study a digital readout by her bedside. She’d retired long ago, but was still a nurse, heart and soul.
“Just the ER doctor,” Kenzie responded. “He said they tested what was left in the syringe.” She shook her head, pursing her lips. “Thank God Rich thought to bring it along.”
“So, she didn’t get a full dose then,” Gladys commented, exhaling softly.
“No,” Kenzie said, “just part.” Rylee’s life had been saved due to a combination of factors—that the needle had penetrated at an odd angle, hitting bone, and not injecting the entirety of its cargo; that of the four toxins making up the designer poison, three had antidotes, with the fourth, a little brown mushroom, not nearly as deadly as its look-alike cousin; and that emergency treatment had been administered within minutes of the poisoning. She glanced over, smiling thinly at Rylee, and adding, “God was watching out for her.”
“Yes, he was,” Omar responded, gazing at his granddaughter with a hard swallow.
When Kenzie moved to kiss Rylee’s lips, she opened her eyes.
“Hi,” Rylee said softly.
“Hi,” Kenzie murmured, brushing hair off her forehead. “How are you feeling?” she asked softly.
“Like I got run over by a Mack truck,” Rylee mumbled, trying to smile. She glanced to her grandparents, saying, “Hi Grams…Gramps,” before closing her eyes.
“The doctor said she’d be sleeping a lot, today and maybe tomorrow,” Kenzie said quietly, stepping away from her bedside. “He said she’d be off work for a while, but she’ll be alright.” She sat down on the bench, crying. “It’s all my fault,” she added. “If it hadn’t been for me, none of this would’ve happened. If it hadn’t been for me, she wouldn’t have come face-to-face with that monster last night.” The fact that she too had nearly lost her life seemed insignificant at that moment.
“If not last night, some night,” Gladys responded, meeting her gaze kindly. “It’s her job, honey.”
“A job I hate,” Kenzie said. “I hate that she has to risk her life.”
“I know,” Gladys answered softly. “I felt the same way about Omar. It wasn’t until he retired that I truly recognized that that job was the core of who he was.” She shook her head. “Silly, that it took me so long, huh?”
“No, not silly,” Kenzie said. “It’s hard to wrap your mind around someone being their job and their job being them. Most people think of a job as a way to earn money, not as being an identity.” She took a breath. “It’s the same for Rylee, but you already know that, don’t you?”
“I do,” Gladys said, “she’s like her grandpa in that way, can’t imagine a life without a gun and a badge.”
“Something I’ll have to get used to, I guess,” Kenzie said, shaking her head as her eyes misted over. “Because I can no longer imagine my life without her in it.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
“You think one of you would be able to sit with Rye while the other runs me home? Kenzie asked. “I just called to check a little bit ago, and Abby’s bus is due in at noon.” She glanced at Rylee with a tender smile. “She may not wake up before I get back,” she added, “but if she does, I want someone to be here with her.”
“Of course we can, dear,” Gladys answered. “We’re here for whatever you need us to do.”
“I know,” Kenzie said, gently meeting her eye, “and you can’t imagine how much that means to me.”
“Ready when you are,” Omar blurted out, jingling his keys.
“Just let me say bye,” Kenzie said, moving to kiss Rylee’s forehead, “and I’ll be ready.”
Rylee didn’t stir, her sleep unfazed.
“I love you, baby,” Kenzie whispered, collecting her purse off the chair, and pausing to speak to Gladys before she left. “I should be back by two,” she said.
“No hurry,” Gladys responded, “we planned to stay all day anyway. Take as long as you need.”
Kenzie nod
ded, falling into step beside Omar as they turned toward the main elevator. She sucked in a breath at the sound of Rylee’s doctor being paged over the intercom, halted, and looked his way.
“He’s got more than one patient,” Omar said, touching her shoulder. “She’s fine, you don’t need to worry. Her grandma’s right there at her bedside.”
“I know,” Kenzie said softly, “I’m just jumpy today.” She fought back tears, meeting his gaze. “So nervous I can barely stand to be in my own skin.” She swallowed, wondering if she needed medication.
“I’d be surprised if you weren’t, after all that’s happened,” Omar responded. The elevator doors opened, they stepped on, and exited. “Known lots of folks over the years who experienced symptoms of PTSD after a traumatic incident. It’ll get better after a little while,” he promised.
“I hope so,” Kenzie said, inhaling a calming breath. “If I could just stop thinking about what almost happened,” she added, “it’d be a lot better.”
“You will,” Omar answered, unlocking her passenger door. “Just give it a little time.” He glanced at his watch, starting the engine. “It’s almost eleven-thirty,” he added. “You think we should swing by the church to pick her up?”
“Yeah, we’d better,” Kenzie said, pulling down her mirror to add a layer of makeup. “I didn’t realize it was so late.”
“It’s the size of that building,” Omar commented, shaking his head. “Medical facilities sprawl all over the place these days. Seemed like it took us forever to get outta there.”
“Yeah, it did,” Kenzie agreed, staring out her window as her thoughts drifted to Abby. It was going to be hard, telling her what she had to tell her. She released a breath, accepting that she had to do it today.
***
Rylee’s eyes fluttered open as an IV stand squeaked from the bathroom to the hallway. She glanced over to the bed nearest the door, noting that the occupant was gone. “Another walk?” she asked, her eyes widening from slits to normal.