Pain consumed Kate. She wanted to help Jack, but all she could do was focus on the man laying a few feet away. It registered in her mind that Jack fired off several more shots and then just as suddenly as it started, everything grew quiet.
Seconds seemed to turn to hours. The rational part of Kate’s brain recognized that the ringing in her ears was why she couldn’t hear what Jack had said. It continued until she felt like her head would explode. The pressure penetrated into her eyes. Her vision narrowed. The world spun. She closed her eyes, willing the spinning to stop.
It didn’t help. She opened them again and Jack was leaning over her looking down on her. Why is he standing up. Jack, get back down here. You're going to get hurt. She raised her hand to pull him down and the world went black.
TWENTY-FIVE
“Kate? Kate!” Jack pressed hard on her shoulder. He could feel the bones shift, but he was more worried about her bleeding to death before the ambulance could get to them. “Come on Kate, you gotta talk to me sweetheart. I need to know you're okay.”
Her eyes fluttered open and she stared at him for a minute, but said nothing. Then they closed and she went limp again.
“Hurry up,” he muttered as he moved one hand away from the wound long enough to check the pulse at her neck. It was there, but not as strong as he would have liked for it to be.
He leaned in close, keeping pressure on her shoulder. “Kate you listen to me. You're going to be okay. I know it hurts, but you're going to be okay. I love you. And I'm going to keep loving you. So you hang on, because I want to show you, okay? Just hang on.”
Jack could hear the sirens now. She's going to be okay. She's going to be okay. In that moment, nothing else mattered but that Kate stay alive.
TWENTY-SIX
“I love you. And I'm going to keep loving you,” Jack said.
He finally said it. He loves me!
“I love you, too,” Kate tried to say, but her tongue felt like it was glued to the roof of her mouth. She opened her eyes, but they wouldn’t stay open. I'll just rest. Just for a minute.
Darkness.
I love you, Jack.
Bright lights. Masked faces.
One. Two. Three times she pulled the trigger. Juarez grabbed her arm and wrenched it from her body. Pain consumed her.
I love you, Jack.
Then it was gone. Everything. Nothing existed but dull gray. No pain. No emotion. No Jack.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Jack watched the ambulance pull away. He wanted to be in there with her. He wanted to stay with her until he knew that she was going to be okay, but there was nothing he could do. The rational side of his mind knew that he would just be waiting, going crazy until someone thought to give him some information about her. He needed to stay here and wrap things up, but everything in him screamed for him to go with her.
“Roe,” McKenzie called as he got out his car. “I heard your call for backup and an ambulance. What happened, man?”
“I don't know.” Jack tried running through everything in his brain, but it happened so fast. “We were talking, going in to the church, and then Kate was down and we were being shot at. I don't know where they came from, or who they are.”
More officers arrived and Jack realized that the scene had already been secured. He looked at the body laying mere feet from where he and Kate had been crouched. If she hadn’t seen him, they would be dead.
How did she even hit him, Jack wondered. Her left shoulder was a mess. She was losing a lot of blood. She was shooting one-handed. And she not only hit him, she killed him. “I'm pretty sure that one is John Juarez.” McKenzie said. “I know we haven't got confirmation on the ID yet, but I know the face.”
Jack looked closer. McKenzie was right. That was Juarez. He’d been coming up from behind them. How had he known they were coming? The whole situation seemed wrong. We were ambushed.
McKenzie took Jack's arm and steered him away from the scene. “Jack, you can't be involved in this, buddy. Kate was shot. You were shooting at them. You need to come over here.”
“You're taking lead on this?” Jack let himself be led to McKenzie's car and sat down sideways in the passenger's seat.
“No man. This was an officer involved shooting. You and I both know this is above my pay grade. I'm just here trying to help a friend out.” McKenzie stood in front of Jack, blocking his view of the scene.
Jack leaned around, trying to see everything. He needed to look at the bigger picture.
When McKenzie didn't step out of the way, Jack stood back up. “Thank you, McKenzie, I appreciate your help but I'm fine. I just need to talk to these guys.” He pushed back past McKenzie.
As he started toward one of the uniformed officers on the scene, a pair of paramedics rushed past him toward the side of the church.
Jack followed. If paramedics were in a hurry, there was probably someone alive. Someone Jack could question.
As he rounded the corner of the main brick sanctuary building Jack stopped short. The paramedics were working on a Hispanic kid that looked like he couldn’t be old enough to buy beer. The kid was fighting and cussing, but the paramedics had him under control.
Jack looked for injuries. The paramedics had already placed a small bandage on the kid’s face, but it didn’t look like it could be a bad wound. They were also working on his leg, and Jack could see the ankle bent at a weird angle.
“What happened?” one of the paramedics asked.
“I fell off the roof,” the kid said through clenched teeth.
Anger and instinct propelled Jack forward. He grabbed one of the paramedics by the shoulder and shoved him out of the way. Then, Jack grabbed the kid’s bad ankle and got right in his face. The kid screamed in pain.
“Why?” Jack demanded.
The kid glared back.
Jack squeezed the ankle and felt bones rub against each other under the skin.
The kid screamed and bucked but Jack held firm.
When Jack twisted the ankle, the kid broke.
“Some bum came into the club and told Juarez you was coming for him because you thought he murdered that boat captain, Abernathy.”
Jack released just enough pressure to make the kid gasp in relief.
“Who?” he demanded.
“I don’t know. Just some bum.”
Jack increased the pressure on the ankle again.
“Man, I’m telling you, I don’t know.”
“So you came gunning for us on the word of some bum?”
“You, yeah.” The kid groaned. “Not her. The woman. Juarez knew her. He killed her old partner, but he let her live. He was furious when he found out she was coming after him.”
A strong hand squeezed Jack’s shoulder. He stared at the kid for a long time, then he released the ankle and turned away. McKenzie released Jack’s shoulder and backed up a step.
“Come on, man. You know you shouldn’t be doing this.” McKenzie’s face had gone white when Jack turned around, but he held his ground.
Jack pushed past McKenzie without saying a word. What had he done? He was so wrapped up in finding out more about the kidnapping and trafficking that he’d led Kate straight into an ambush. And she’d almost been killed because of his pigheadedness and stupidity.
TWENTY-EIGHT
Frankie stood at the foot of Kate's bed and watched her sleep. He was furious. He'd specifically told that bum to make sure the Mamoncetes didn't kill Kate. So what had they done? Shot her and missed Jack. Frankie was glad Juarez was dead.
What if I hadn’t been there?
He didn’t want to think about it. He had. He’d seen everything. Even after she was hit, Kate had shot at Juarez three time.
She hit him twice, but he was still coming for her. So Frankie killed him. He told them to leave her alone. Juarez was stupid and paid for it with his life. Another criminal dead.
He moved to the side of the bed, and ran a callused finger down Kate’s cheek bone. “My sweet, Kate,” he said softly
. “If you'd been where you belong, this never would have happened. We'll have to fix that, won't we?”
A nurse bustled into the room and glanced at the machines connected to Kate by wires and tubes running almost down to the floor and then back up again along the bed and to various spots on Kate's body.
“She'll be fine, hun,” The nurse checked Kate's bandages. “She should be waking up any time.”
Frankie didn't say anything. He just stared at Kate's slight form. She looked so vulnerable. This was the way he wanted to see her. At his mercy. And under my protection.
Jack Roe hadn't been able to protect her. Frankie knew that she had feelings for him. She might even think she loved Jack, but he wasn't the right man for her. Frankie was the right man. He intended to show her that when he came back from his next turn in the oil field.
He'd be gone an extended amount of time. Winters were tough in North Dakota. Getting in this time of year wouldn't be too much of a problem, he hoped. Getting out would be another story. As he'd done every year for more than a decade, once he left for the pre-Christmas turn, he stayed until March. The money was good, and the company ran only a skeleton crew during the winter months, so there weren't a lot of people there to bother him. He could pick up a whore at the local bar any night of the week, and the company barracks were cozy. They even had someone to do his laundry and a cleaning crew to come in once a week.
It was almost as good as having a proper wife. Almost.
Kate's breathing grew shallow, faster.
She's waking up. Time to go.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead and then her cheek. “I'll see you soon enough, Cher.”
Frankie turned the corner at the end of the hall where Kate's room was located and saw Jack Roe coming toward him. He lifted his head and walked past Jack, hands clutched in fists at his side. I'd kill you myself, right here. Except I have a better plan. And I have all winter to work it out.
TWENTY-NINE
Jack stopped in the doorway to Kate's room. He felt as if someone had punched him in the gut. She looked so small laying there, hooked up to IVs and monitors. He’d let her down. And almost lost her. Now all he wanted was to take her in his arms and steal her away from this world. He wanted to hide her away in a cabin in the woods, or somewhere that he could always keep her safe.
You know she wouldn't be happy hidden away from the world. She loves her job, even when it's challenging. You can't take that away from her.
Maybe not, but Jack sure would like to try to convince her to give up the law enforcement lifestyle. When you put your life in harm's way every day, eventually you were bound to get hurt. Especially with me as a partner. Guilt gnawed at him. He would make this right.
He pulled an uncomfortable looking armchair to the side of the bed opposite where Kate had been shot. He took her hand in his and held on.
The adrenaline was finally draining from his body. It had been hours since Kate had been taken away in that ambulance. The doctor said her arm would heal eventually, but it was going to be a slow process.
They'd had to put pins in her shoulder. Jack could see them poking through her skin. They were designed to help her collarbone heal. They'd also put a plate along her scapula - her shoulder bone. The bullet had fractured it into several pieces, and he probably hadn’t helped when he was trying to stop the bleeding. Something else he had to feel bad for.
She was a human jigsaw puzzle.
The thought would have amused Jack if he wasn't so eaten up with guilt and remorse. It was his fault she was in this shape.
He was still amazed that she had killed Juarez. She'd shot him three times, the assistant coroner said. Once in his arm, once in his gut, and once in his chest. It was the chest wound that killed him, but even if she hadn't hit him there, the gut shot would have made his chances of surviving slim. If he had, he would never have been the same.
He was dead. By all indications, that meant their investigation into the death of Dale Abernathy would remain technically unsolved. They all suspected that Juarez had killed him, but with him dead, there was little chance they would prove it. They could still question his associates and try to put the pieces together, but the chances of getting an answer were slim. It’s what I wanted. A dead criminal that killed a criminal. There was justice in the world, but Jack didn’t feel any better. Getting what he wanted had cost too much.
Kate stirring in the bed pulled Jack from his thoughts. Her breathing had been erratic since he came into the room. The nurse said she'd be waking up from the surgery any time, and as Jack looked at her pale face, her eyelids slid open.
Her gaze remained unfocused for a long moment. Then Jack said, “Hey beautiful,” and she looked in his direction. He watched as her vision seemed to slowly come into focus.
A weak smile turned the corners of her lips up. “Hi back,” she whispered, then cleared her throat.
“I think I got shot.” Her voice was stronger.
Jack couldn't help himself. He laughed. That was his Kate. She had a way with the obvious.
“You did. And you killed the guy that shot you.” Jack's tone grew serious. Shooting someone - killing someone - was never a light subject. Even when the someone you had to shoot was a poor excuse for a human being.
Kate's eyes reflected the question in her head. She wasn't fast enough to form the words before Jack continued.
“You shot Juarez, Kate. He's dead.”
Understanding bloomed across Kate's face. “I remember.” She took a deep breath. “But I thought I only grazed him.” A long pause as she searched her drug-fogged brain for the memories. “I saw him fall. But I didn't know he was dead.”
“He probably wasn't when he fell, but he didn't last long. You shot him three times, Kate.” Jack shook his head. “I still can't figure out how you hit him with only one hand. It must have hurt each time that gun went off. It had to have rocked your whole body.”
Kate just stared at him. He could tell, she was still processing everything.
“Your shoulder was a mess. The doctors had to add some hardware to put you back together,” he indicated the pins poking out around her collar bone.
She grimaced, and he smiled back at her. “Hey beautiful, don't take it so hard. Doc says you'll heal completely, with little loss of function, but it will take some time and some physical therapy. I'll help.”
Kate looked at Jack through pain filled eyes. He could tell she was still putting all the pieces together. Might as well give her the last one.
“Kate,” when she focused on him, Jack continued. “Remember when we talked about Ryan’s involvement with the Mamoncetes?”
Kate stared hard at him for a beat and then nodded.
“John Juarez was the person that killed Ryan.”
Kate’s eyes grew wide and tears formed. “But. I mean.” She fumbled for words. “Why?”
Jack had asked the same question. He called a friend that had connections and learned that when Ryan was undercover he’d fallen in love with a woman. Someone that he’d wanted to get out of the life. Juarez’s wife. So Ryan infiltrated the gang in the hopes that he could gain enough favor to have the freedom to get her out.
Juarez found out and had her killed and then exposed Ryan. He had to disappear. That was why he’d left Miami, and how he’d ended up as Kate’s partner in Memphis.
When Jack finished telling her everything he knew, Kate remained quiet. The pain – both physical and emotional – flowed off her in waves that Jack could feel. After a while he went and sat beside her on the bed and held her good hand.
He thought of how difficult life was going to be for her for the next few weeks and it occurred to him that he could start to repair the damage he’d done just by being there for her. He would help her. He would be there every step of the way. “I think you should move in with me and Lisa,” he blurted out. He'd been thinking it for a long time, but now it really made sense.
“I'm -,” Kate started and stopped. “But -.” S
he started and stopped again and then shook her head.
“You're telling me no?” Jack's heart fell.
It seemed to take Kate forever to respond. “I want to, Jack. But I don't want you to do this just because you think I can't take care of myself.”
Relief flooded through Jack, and a smile lit his face. “Kate, I've been thinking about asking you to move in with us for a long time. I didn't because I didn't want to set the wrong example for Lisa. But she's leaving in a few months for college and you and I, we have to live our lives the way we want to live them. This,” he indicated the wound on her shoulder, “just showed me how much I really want you in my life every single day, Kate. I thought I was going to lose you. I don't want that.” He squeezed her hand and took in another deep breath.
Say it now, while she's awake and you're not being a coward. “I love you, Kate. That's why I want you to move in with me.” That and I want to know you’re safe. With me.
Kate stared at him through silent tears that slid slowly down her cheeks. She nodded her head vigorously, and pain twisted her face. She gasped and stilled. When her face relaxed, Jack knew the worst of the pain had subsided. He kissed the top of her head.
“Thank you,” he said. “I'll get some of your things for when you come home, and we can handle everything else in time. Nothing has to happen tomorrow.”
“Jack, wait.” She took a deep breath and the tears started again. “If we're going to do this, then you need to know,” she paused. “I love you, too!” the last word came out as a hiccup that twisted her face in pain again, but as Jack looked into her eyes, he knew she was telling him the truth.
“That makes me a happy man. Now, we just need to concentrate on getting you better.” He pulled at her covers, and adjusted a pillow. Then he leaned down and kissed her on the top of her head. “My little Frankenstein,” he whispered. “I love you so much more than you know.”
A Biloxi Christmas: A Novella (The Biloxi Series) Page 9