Unbridled

by Diana Palmer

  “Marquez says he’s zeroing in on the rogue cop. He thinks he knows who it is.” He shook his head. “Sad case, the man’s two years away from retirement. He should never have gotten mixed up with Rado.”

  “Neither should my son,” John said heavily. “Well, Banks says he thinks they have enough proof to put Rado away. They’re rechecking samples at the forensics lab this evening. Tomorrow Banks plans to make the arrest. If he’s right, and he can prove it, they may link Rado to Melinda McCarthy’s murder two years ago.”

  “Rado would look good behind bars,” Chet said.

  “My thoughts exactly. Don’t let Tonio out of your sight tomorrow,” he added. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this. Rado’s going to be out for blood.”

  “Tell me about it,” Chet agreed. “I won’t let the boy get hurt. I promise you.”

  John managed a faint smile. “I know you won’t.”

  * * *

  That night, when Sunny got home, she had an odd feeling that she was being watched. She laughed silently at her own thoughts. It had been a long shift, with several emergencies. She was just tired.

  She put up her coat and her purse and went into the bedroom to change clothes. The last thing she remembered was walking through the door...

  * * *

  It was odd that Sunny was late for work. Tonio knew that she was supposed to be on duty today, and she hadn’t seemed sick the day before. He was worried. Rado had made threats. What if he’d done something to her?

  He was concerned enough to go up to the floor where she worked and talk to a nurse that he knew was friendly with her, Merrie York.

  Merrie was talking to another nurse. Her eyes were red. Tonio had a very bad feeling.

  “Have you seen Sunny?” he asked Merrie, watching the supervisor warily, because he wasn’t supposed to be up here.

  Merrie tried to smile. “You’re her friend,” she said. “You’re Tonio.”

  “Yeah,” he said. “She’s not downstairs. She’s always early. She’s supposed to work today, isn’t she?”

  Merrie drew in a breath. “Tonio, they’ve taken her to the trauma center at Marshall Memorial—”

  “What?” he exclaimed, and lowered his voice quickly. He was terrified. “Did Rado do something to her? He threatened her...!”

  “They say it was a suicide attempt. She’s not conscious.”

  “She wouldn’t commit suicide. It was Rado! I know it was! I have to go see her,” he said. His brown eyes were tragic. “Please! Please! I have to see her!”

  Merrie grimaced. “Wait right there.” Merrie spoke to her supervisor and went to get her coat and purse. “Come with me,” she told Tonio. “We’ll both go. Don’t you have a cousin who works in the office?”

  “I ride home with her,” he said.

  “Rosa, right?” Merrie punched in numbers on her cell phone as they got to the elevator. “Rosa, Tonio’s going to Marshall Memorial with me. Sunny’s just been taken there. No, I don’t know how bad it is. I’ll call you when we get back, okay? Sure.”

  She turned to Tonio. “She says she’ll wait downstairs for you when she gets off work.”

  “Will they let me see her?” Tonio asked plaintively, because he knew about hospital rules.

  “I know several nurses at the main hospital,” she said, smiling reassuringly. “I’ll work it out.”

  * * *

  As it turned out, the nurse in charge of ICU, where Sunny was now, was a friend of Merrie’s who’d worked at the children’s hospital for a number of years before transferring over here.

  She sighed as she registered Tonio’s quiet anguish. “This is highly irregular,” she began.

  “She’s like my mother,” Tonio pleaded. “Just let me see her, even just for a minute. Please?” His big brown eyes were poignant.

  The nurse grimaced. “Okay, but if anybody finds out they’ll hang me with a bedsheet.”

  “Thanks!” Tonio said huskily.

  “From me, too,” Merrie added. “How is she?”

  “Not good,” the nurse said quietly as she led the way down the hall to a cubicle. “They’re running blood work, but it looks very much like an overdose.”

  “A suicide attempt?” Merrie asked, horrified. “But she’s the least suicidal person I’ve ever known!”

  “Sunny would never kill herself. She’s religious. It was Rado,” Tonio said solemnly. “He threatened her. He said he could make it look like suicide if he killed her. She told a detective what he’d done,” he added. “She wouldn’t kill herself,” Tonio said firmly. “I know she wouldn’t.”

  “You should talk to the police,” the supervisor said.

  “I’ll call them right now,” Merrie assured her. “Tonio can talk to them later. I’ll be in the waiting room. Thanks, Mildred,” she added, smiling at the supervisor.

  “You owe me,” Mildred teased.

  Merrie just grinned.

  Tonio went inside the cubicle. Sunny was unconscious, hooked up to several machines. There was a drip going in her arm. He went next to the bed, and put his book bag in a chair. He brushed back her tangled blond hair and stifled tears.

  “Oh, Sunny,” he said, his voice breaking. “I’m so sorry!”

  * * *

  John Ruiz had gone by Hollister’s office after he finished tracking down the man who’d assaulted the woman in the restaurant. He wanted answers.

  “Why are you dating Sunny?” he asked bluntly.

  Hollister just stared at him, surprised. “I’m not.”

  “You were dancing with her at Fernando’s,” John said belligerently.

  Hollister sighed. “She has a friend, a young boy,” he said. “He told her that Rado has someone in my department, a mole, who works for him. She didn’t dare meet me at the hospital, because Rado has people watching her. So we danced and she gave me what information she had.”

  John relaxed. “I see.” Now he understood where Banks had gotten his information. And he felt worse than ever.

  “You idiot,” Hollister said. “She’s crazy about you. She and I are friends. That’s all it ever was.”

  John ground his teeth together. He’d really messed up. He drew in a harsh breath. “Banks got a warrant yesterday to get biological samples from Rado. He said the man threatened vengeance on everybody, especially the boy who told.”

  “A very brave young man,” Hollister said. “I don’t even know who he is, but Sunny does. She says he’s like family to her.”

  “Any luck on finding the mole?” he asked.

  “Marquez fingered him about an hour ago, through a CI,” he added, indicating a Confidential Informant.

  “That’s one good thing,” he said. “How about the Lopez family?”

  Hollister’s eyes twinkled. “Don’t you know Tom Smart, over at the Marshals’ office?”

  “I know him.”

  “He might tell you,” he said. “I’m not allowed to. Privileged info, and I gave my word.”

  John’s heart lifted. He’d been concerned about the boy and his sister. This indicated that the US Marshals had them hidden, safe from Rado. “State’s evidence?”

  Hollister chuckled. “I can’t say.”

  John smiled. “Okay.”

  “I’ll see if—” His phone rang. He picked it up. “Yes?” Hollister stood up. “When?” He listened, wincing. “Is your CI sure? That little punk!” he exclaimed. “I’ll have him picked up right now. I’ll send someone to her apartment to check on her. Yes. Yes. Okay.” He hung up. “Rado threatened Sunny’s life,” he said. “We’ve got a witness who heard Rado bragging about offing a nurse. He’s being picked up and I’m going to send someone over to check on Sunny right now!”

  “I’ll go,” John said at once. He was out the door before Hollister got another word out.

  * * *


  Rado. John was furious. Sunny and her young friend had stirred up a hornet’s nest with what they knew. Rado wouldn’t hesitate to kill her. He hoped she had her doors locked and her phone handy.

  She might not let him in, but he wanted to know that she was all right. He’d see if Hollister could spare someone to watch her. Alternatively, John could get one of his people to do it. He couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to her. Sunny was the most important person in his life, next to Tonio, even if she hated him.

  * * *

  He pulled up at her apartment building and went to knock on the door. Her neighbor was just coming out of his unit.

  “Something going on there,” the old man told John, nodding at Sunny’s door. “Three boys came running out of there about ten minutes ago. I called 911. You the police?”

  “Texas Rangers,” John said. “Is she home?” he asked quickly.

  He nodded. “Heard the television going earlier.”

  “Thanks. I may need a statement from you,” he added, feeling apprehension like a chill.

  “I’m just off to the store. Be back in a few minutes. I’ll help if I can.”

  “Okay.” John was banging at the door, but Sunny didn’t answer. He tried the door. Locked.

  He vaguely remembered her concern about a loose screen on a window in her apartment. On a hunch, he went around back. The screen was torn, the window was wide open.

  His heart raced as he climbed in the window. “Sunny!” he called. “Sunny!”

  But she didn’t answer. As he walked into the living room, he saw why. He whipped out his phone and punched in 911, gave the information and got an ambulance rolling.

  He unlocked the front door and opened it, going at once back to Sunny, to kneel beside her prone body. He phoned for a detective and a forensic team to come with the ambulance. There was a syringe still sticking in her arm and she was unconscious. Her heartbeat was weaker than he’d have liked, but she was breathing normally, if a little slowly.

  He couldn’t rouse her. There was only a trace of liquid in the syringe. He took photos with his cell phone, detailing everything while he waited for help to arrive. It kept him from going crazy as he worried about her condition.

  He was remembering two other victims of Rado’s wrath, Melinda McCarthy and Harry Lopez. Both had been found exactly as Sunny was now, overdosed from apparent suicide. Except this time, Rado had made threats and bragged about killing a nurse, and a neighbor had seen three men running out of Sunny’s apartment. Apparently this had just happened, thank God, which meant Sunny might yet be saved.

  If only the damned ambulance would hurry! John had hung up on the 911 operator because he had to take pix of the crime scene—because it was definitely a crime scene. The needle was in Sunny’s right arm and she was right-handed. Rado had made a second fatal error by not knowing which hand his victim used. With any luck, he could put him away for life, especially with the evidence Banks had already collected.

  But Sunny was in desperate condition. He couldn’t move her. He looked at her face and groaned aloud. If she died, and she could, how would he go on living? The last memory of him she had would be of him raging at her, shouting that she was a two-timing flirt and that he was only playing with her.

  The sound of sirens finally came close. He went to the door to motion to the policeman who accompanied the ambulance and assured him that it was safe for the EMTs to come in. But he cautioned the officer about procedure. Only essential personnel inside, keep a record of who came and went and what time and assist detectives when they arrived with canvassing neighbors. It was a crime scene. He especially wanted the neighbor next door questioned, because he’d seen three men running from Sunny’s apartment and he’d called 911. There would be a record on file of the call.

  An SAPD detective showed up while the EMTs worked on Sunny. They had no idea what drug was used. The detective stood by while the crime unit, quickly responding, collected evidence, including the syringe, which had traces of the drug in it. The detective promised John that it would go to the crime lab at once to be processed, so that they’d know what was used on her.

  By the time they loaded Sunny onto the ambulance, John had called his lieutenant and requested a Ranger to relieve him, because he was going to the hospital with Sunny. He added that this would almost certainly tie Rado to attempted murder. Lieutenant Avery said he’d phone Banks and have him go to the crime lab to wait for test results. He knew about John’s involvement with Sunny through Banks. He added that he hoped she’d be fine. So did John.

  * * *

  They took her into a cubicle where a doctor worked on getting her stabilized. But not knowing what drug was used, they could do very little for the time being. She was sent to ICU to be observed while the crime lab pinpointed the drug. She was still unconscious.

  John went with her to ICU, bypassing staff and security people alike. He was going to make sure that nobody could get to her while they struggled to save her life.

  The truth was that he wasn’t about to leave her, for any reason. They’d have to take him out feet first, he told the supervisor.

  She just sighed and let him into the room.

  * * *

  He sat with her, agonizing over her condition. He held the soft hand that wasn’t being fed fluids through a drip and turned it over in his big one.

  “You have to get well,” he said huskily. “I’ve screwed up everything, but I love you, rubia. You have to get better so I can apologize, on my knees if you want me to. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life alone.” He stared down at her hand. “I’ve been an idiot, Sunny. You have to live, so you can forgive me.” He drew in a long breath. “Mi alma,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “¡Mi vida, mi corazon, sin ti, no tengo nada!”

  He bent over her hand in silent anguish. If only he could go back and unsay the things he’d said. She had to live. She had to!

  It was agonizing to see her like this. Sunny, so happy and bright and alive, smiling up at him as they rode in the SUV, lying so soft and sweet in his arms while he loved her.

  He touched his mouth to her hand and closed his eyes, praying for all he was worth. The cold fear in his stomach boiled up, almost choking him. He fought the dampness in his black eyes as he stared helplessly at her prone body.

  One more chance, he thought silently. I’d give anything for one more chance, rubia, to keep you in my life. Because without you, mi alma, I have no life!

  FOURTEEN

  John left Sunny’s cubicle just long enough to use the restroom and call Banks. He was drained of life, almost of hope. She hadn’t stirred. He knew that, if he lost her, nothing would ever be right again. The color would spin out of the world forever.

  “Anything new?” he asked in a subdued tone.

  “Yes,” Banks said. “The crime lab just identified the drug used on your friend. It was Propofol, the same as Harry Lopez and Melinda McCarthy. We just gave the information to the doctor on her case. They’ll be able to counteract it, hopefully,” he added. “All three were found with syringes in their arms, but if Rado did it and used a drip, he might have put the syringe in to cover what he did. And he has a house. He could have done it there, with Lopez and Melinda, and moved the bodies where they’d be found. He had privacy enough with Sunny, in her own apartment.”

  “Yes, and Melinda McCarthy was found with the needle in the wrong arm. So was Sunny, when they brought her in. Now if we can just connect Rado with a supply of the drug,” John said harshly.

  “We’re working on that. Marquez has a contact at the DEA. He said they’ve identified their high-level mole, and they think he has ties with a pharmaceutical house. A lot of heads are about to roll.”

  “Good.”

  “I hope your friend will be all right,” Banks added gently, because he knew how deadly the drug was.

  “I’m alm
ost positive that Rado did it,” John said. “He threatened her. A witness saw three men running from her apartment and called 911 just before I got there to check on her. I’ll bet money one of those men was Rado. SAPD has officers canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses.”

  “I’ll offer assistance.”

  “Thanks,” John said. He drew in a breath. “I asked the lieutenant for another Ranger to take over my cases today. I won’t leave her, until we know something.”

  “Life is hard,” Banks said.

  “Harder than we’d like it, from time to time. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Sure.”

  * * *

  He started back into the cubicle where they had Sunny when he saw something that stopped him in his tracks at the door.

  Inside the cubicle, a young boy was brushing back Sunny’s long hair and tears were running down his cheeks. The boy was Tonio, John’s son.

  He walked into the room, shock on his face.

  Tonio looked up and grimaced. “Dad?” he asked, surprised.

  “What are you doing in here?” John asked.

  “Sunny’s friend Merrie got me in,” the boy said, dashing away tears. “Rado did this. I know he did this! He threatened her. He was about to punch me and she got between us and called 911 on her phone. He went away, but he said he’d get her. He said he knew how to do it, so it would look like an overdose,” he added, tears even in his voice. “She can’t die, Dad,” he said. His lower lip trembled and tears spilled out. “She’s my best friend. She’s like...Mom was...”

  His voice broke.

  John pulled him into his arms and held him tight, rocking him. “It was you,” he said gruffly. “You told Hollister about Rado, about the Lopez boy and his sister!”

  “It was me,” Tonio said unsteadily. He hugged his dad back. The comfort was new and sweet.

  “You brave kid,” his father said softly. “You brave boy! I’m so proud of you!”

  Tonio forced a smile as he drew away. “I wanted to tell you. But if I had, you’d have known David was in Los Diablos Lobitos, and he was my best friend. I didn’t want to get him killed. Rado threatened him, too. He threatened her.” He looked at Sunny with his heart in his eyes. “She can’t die. She just can’t!”