by Diane Burke
He paused outside the room, threw his shoulders back and then pushed the door open.
A black mattress, empty and stripped of its sheets, waited silently for its next occupant.
The air gushed out of Sam’s lungs.
Where was Sarah? Was she...
His mind couldn’t even complete the thought.
He blinked hard and continued to stare at the empty bed. She couldn’t be dead. A sense of failure, mixed with a multitude of other emotions, washed over him.
Oh God, please...
Sam was glad God could read hearts, because at the moment he was totally incapable of completing the prayer.
“May I help you?”
Startled, he spun toward the voice. The nurse’s expression registered suspicion, even a tinge of fear, as she stood in the doorway, poised to run if necessary.
“Can you tell me what happened to Sarah?”
The nurse eyed him skeptically. Of course she’d be wary. The entire hospital was in shutdown mode. They’d been told the killer had been dressed in Amish clothes—and here he stood in Amish clothes. The staff had also been told the killer had stolen a detective’s badge and gun, so showing his identification probably wouldn’t help this frightened nurse feel any better.
“Are you family?” she asked.
Not up to explanations, Sam simply nodded.
The nurse pushed the door wider, but made sure not to enter the room and kept in plain view of people in the hall. Smart lady.
“Sir, I’m sure Dr. Clark will be happy to speak with you. Take the elevator to the seventh floor and ask for him at the nurse’s station.”
“Can you at least tell me if Sarah is alive?” Sam heard the hopeful tone in his voice and realized this case was quickly becoming more personal than he had intended it to be.
“Please, sir. The doctor will answer your...”
Sam sidled past her and bounded toward the elevator before she had a chance to finish her statement. He tapped his foot impatiently and watched the numbers light from floor to floor. A sense of anticipation filled his senses as he got off the elevator and skidded to a stop at the nurse’s desk.
“I’m looking for Sarah Lapp.”
Don’t say she’s in the morgue. Please don’t.
The nurse looked up from her paperwork. “I’m sorry, sir. Mrs. Lapp is not allowed visitors.”
She’s alive. Thank you, God.
A tsunami wave of relief washed over him. Now if he could just get this nurse to give him the information he needed. He pasted on his best smile and tried again. “You don’t understand—”
“Sam.”
He turned his head at the sound of his name. Dr. Clark approached, stretched out his hand and grasped his in a firm handshake.
“Sarah made it? She’s going to be okay?” Sam asked, not paying any attention to Dr. Clark’s quizzical expression at the emotion evident in his voice.
Dr. Clark ushered Sam away from the nurse’s desk and asked him to walk with him. As they moved down the corridor, Sam could see a uniformed guard sitting in front of one of the ICU rooms.
“Sarah’s going to be fine. Thanks to you. The vial you gave the nurse held the remnants of potassium chloride. A large enough dose can stop a heart. We were able to act quickly and bring her back.”
“Will she be all right?”
The doctor nodded. “She’s going to be fine.” He raised his eyes. “Someone up there must be looking out for her. I can’t believe everything this woman has survived over the past two weeks. Unbelievable.”
Sam frowned. He felt awkward asking, but he needed to know. “The baby?”
“As far as we can tell, the baby is as strong as the mother. All is well.”
It felt like one of those old-fashioned leaded vests had just been lifted off his chest. His lips twisted into a smile for the first time that day.
“Thanks, Doc.”
“You’re welcome. Please tell me that you apprehended the man who committed these horrible crimes.” Worry creased the doctor’s forehead into two deep, parallel furrows.
“Not yet.”
Dr. Clark’s frown deepened. “The best thing we can do for all concerned is to make other arrangements for Mrs. Lapp. Under the circumstances, the hospital cannot accept responsibility for her safety...or the safety of our other patients.”
Sam nodded.
Dr. Clark continued, “I believe that with some medical precautions put in place, moving to a safe house or, perhaps, to a more familiar environment will help with her recovery. Her stress level here is off the charts. Understandably, of course.”
They walked the last few feet to her door, but stood outside to finish their conversation. Sam recognized the officer on duty, acknowledged him and turned his attention back to the doctor. “How quickly can we move her?”
“I want to keep her under observation for another twenty-four hours. Barring any unforeseen complications, she will be released then.”
“Does the captain know?”
“Not yet. I haven’t seen him since the hospital shut down.”
“I’ll fill him in. We’ll start making arrangements on our end. Is Sarah awake? I have a few questions.”
“Yes, she’s awake. Her mother-in-law is with her. But please keep your visit short and try not to upset her. She needs her rest.”
Sam nodded, and the doctor walked away.
Sarah’s alive. She’s going to be okay and so is her child.
Despite the nightmare this evening had become, he couldn’t help but smile as he pushed open the door and stepped into the room. He was going to see Sarah.
SIX
Sarah caught movement in her peripheral vision, turned her head and smiled. “Detective King.”
“Samuel.” He gestured at his clothing. “It won’t do me any good to dress like this if you announce me as an undercover cop every time I walk into a room.”
A giggle escaped her lips, seeming to surprise them both. “You’re right. Sorry, Samuel.”
Sam respectfully inclined his head toward the older woman and acknowledged her presence.
“Do you have any information for us?” Rebecca’s face wore lines of concern. “Have they found the man who did this terrible thing to our Sarah?”
“I’m sorry—not yet. But I’m sure we’ll hear something soon. The hospital has been shut down. Every floor and room is being searched as we speak.”
Rebecca seemed satisfied with Samuel’s reply. “My husband went home at dinnertime. I was sleeping in one of those reclining chairs in the family waiting room when Dr. Clark sent a nurse to tell me what had happened.” She squeezed Sarah’s hand, and tears glistened in her eyes. “God is gut, Sarah. He has returned you to us twice, ya?”
Sam leaned a hand on the bed rail. “I hate to have to do this now, but I need to ask you a few questions.”
“It is all right, Samuel. Do what you need to do.” Sarah looked up at him and waited.
“Do you remember anything that happened this evening? You were asleep when I first entered the room. Did you wake up at any time?”
Sarah offered a weak smile. “Of this, I remember, Samuel.” She locked her gaze with his. “I had been sleeping, but I started to wake up when you came into the room. I was—what’s the word?—groggy? My eyes didn’t want to open, but I knew you were there.” Her smile widened. “When I did coax them open, I saw your back as you walked into the bathroom. I closed my eyes again. I think I started to drift back to sleep. I know this is not helping you.”
“You’re doing fine.”
Her heart skipped a beat and fluttered like a symphony of dancing butterflies in her chest when he smiled at her. Before she could ponder the strange feelings she seemed to experience in this man’s presence, he
encouraged her to continue her story.
“The man must have entered the room as soon as I stepped out. Did you see him?”
“Yes.”
Samuel’s eyes widened, and she sensed his anticipation and tension.
“Can you describe him?”
She chewed on her bottom lip as she tried to bring the memory of the man’s face into her mind. “I...I’m not sure. The light in the room was dim. I had been sleeping.”
“Do your best, child.” Rebecca patted her hand. “Anything you can tell Samuel will help him.”
Sarah broke eye contact with both of them and stared at the ceiling as she tried to remember every detail she could. “He had blond hair and a yellow beard that reached the top of his chest. He was dressed in Amish clothes. He looked...ordinary.”
“Did you recognize him, Sarah? Was he one of the men at the school?” Rebecca asked.
“I don’t remember anything that happened at the school.”
“Still nothing?” Rebecca asked. “No one?”
Sarah knew the woman kept hoping that she would someday remember her son, Peter. But today wasn’t that day.
She couldn’t bear to see the disappointment in Rebecca’s eyes or the anticipation in Samuel’s. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried as hard as she could to remember something, anything. When she opened them again, she looked from one to the other and knew she had nothing to offer. Sadness almost overwhelmed her.
“I’m so sorry. I can’t help you.”
“What happened when he approached your bed?” Sam tried to prod her memory. “Did he say anything to you? Think, Sarah. It might be important.”
“Yes. I remember that he did speak to me. I knew from his words that this was the man who had killed my husband and who had shot me.”
Rebecca gasped. Her hand flew to her chest, but she remained silent.
“Take your time, Sarah. No one can hurt you now. Try to remember what he said.” Sam’s calm, warm voice encouraged her.
“He asked me what I did with the diamonds. He said he knew I had the pouch.” An increasing anxiety caused her voice to tremble. “I told him I knew nothing about his diamonds.” Fear slithered up her spine at the memory. “His eyes were so dark, so cold and...and evil.”
Sam reached out and clasped her hand. “Go on. You’re doing fine. What else did he say?”
Sarah found Sam’s touch strangely comforting, and the way her body trembled with fear, she needed all the comfort she could find.
“He grinned at me,” she said. “I remember thinking how perfect his teeth were. Really white and straight and clean. His breath...I remember a cloying, minty scent when he leaned close...almost too minty...my stomach turned. He leaned close to my ear and whispered, ‘I will find where you hid those diamonds. I don’t need you to do it.’”
Her heart galloped inside her chest, but this time it was fear that caused the pace. “That’s when I saw him pull something out of his pocket. He held it against the tube attached to my arm. My chest became tight, like something very heavy was sitting on me. I couldn’t draw a breath. That’s all I remember.” A tear slid down her cheek. “I woke up in this room with Rebecca by my side. She told me what had happened. That is all I know.”
“She has answered your questions. You must leave her now,” Rebecca insisted. “She needs to rest.”
Sam nodded and released Sarah’s hand. He stared into those mesmerizing blue eyes. “Thank you.”
“I have been of no help.”
“That is not true. You have helped quite a bit. Thanks to you, we know that he will stop at nothing to find the diamonds. He was bold enough to walk into enemy camp and risk being recognized as an intruder. In New York, he dressed as an FBI agent, and here, as an Amish man. So our belief that he would return has been proved correct.”
Sam sighed heavily. “You have also proved our theory that he would not leave behind any survivors. He tried to kill you. He did kill the one member of his team we had in custody in New York. He also killed the guard who had been sitting outside your door.” The darkened intensity in his eyes told her that he had more to say, and it was very difficult for him. “He also killed my partner.” His voice broke as he tried to conceal his grief.
Rebecca gasped. “Detective Masterson has been killed?”
Sarah looked into Sam’s eyes and thought her heart would break when she saw nothing but pain staring back at her.
“I am so sorry, Samuel.”
He hung his head in silence.
“You said the man guarding my room was also killed?”
Sam nodded and didn’t seem to be able to meet her eyes. When he did look at her, he reminded her of a little boy in pain who needed cuddling and comfort, but this brief glimpse of vulnerability didn’t last more than an instant before the hard-edged detective reappeared.
“I apologize. I let my guard down. It almost cost you your life. It did cost the life of a good officer, as well as the life of my partner.”
“This was not your doing, Samuel. You must not blame yourself.” Sarah knew from his reaction that her words held little comfort.
“I was standing in the room with you. Just feet away, and I let him slip by. I promise I will not let anything like that happen again.”
“God willing.”
Both of them glanced at Rebecca after she spoke.
“God is in control, Samuel, ya? He will decide what does or does not happen.” Her steady, unflinching gaze caught his.
Sam straightened his shoulders. The tone of his voice was harsher than normal when he replied. “Sometimes God needs a little help to bring the bad guys to justice, Rebecca. That’s my job, and that’s what I intend to do.”
“Justice, Samuel? Or vengeance?”
Sam bristled beneath the censure. “Call it what you want. If I hadn’t been there this evening, if I hadn’t stepped out of the bathroom when I did, Sarah wouldn’t be with us right now.”
Rebecca shot a loving glance Sarah’s way. “It was God’s will that Sarah remain with us. He may have used your presence, Samuel, and for that I am most grateful.”
Ashamed of himself for lashing out at the woman, he lowered his head and apologized. “I’m sorry I spoke harshly. You’re right. God uses many things to bring about His will in this world...and many people.”
Rebecca smiled at him and nodded.
The door opened. Sarah thought Captain Rogers looked even more exhausted than Samuel, if that were possible.
“What are you doing here?” he growled in Sam’s direction. “I thought I told you to go home and get some sleep.”
“I will. I had a few loose ends that I needed to tie up first, sir.”
The captain glowered, but refrained from any further admonishment.
“Have you found the man who did this terrible thing?” Rebecca asked.
The captain’s face wore the strains of exhaustion. “No. I’m sorry. He got away.”
“But how?” Sarah asked. “There were so many of you looking for him.”
Captain Rogers sighed heavily. “He killed one of my detectives and switched clothing with him. When we initially started our search, my men were told to look for someone in Amish garb. They weren’t looking for one of their own. By the time we got the word out about the wardrobe change, we believe he had already escaped.”
“We are so sorry to hear about the death of your men, Captain.” Rebecca folded her hands. “They lost their lives trying to protect us. We will remember them and pray for their families.”
Sarah shot a glance at Sam and was again moved by the pain she saw in his eyes. The loss of his partner cut deeper than he was willing to admit.
“Thank you, ma’am,” Captain Rogers replied.
“Do you think he is gone for good?” Sarah asked. “No ma
n would be foolish enough to come back again when the whole police force is looking for him, would he?”
“That is exactly what he is going to do, Sarah.” The captain’s steely gaze and no-nonsense voice held her attention. “He plans on killing you, the teacher and the children who were in that classroom. We’ve suspected that from the beginning. His actions in the past two days have confirmed it.”
Sarah’s stomach twisted into a tight, painful knot. The anger and determination she saw in both men’s eyes upset her. She didn’t need past memory to recognize the tension and fear in the room now.
She was willing to accept God’s will for her life, and she trusted Him to protect her. But her throat constricted when she thought about the children. She knew in her heart that God would protect them, too. But she had looked into the stranger’s face. Pure evil had stared back.
A chill shivered down her spine when she thought of the stranger’s threats.
She glanced at Samuel, and a sense of peace calmed her.
Maybe Samuel was right. Maybe God used people to help carry out His will, and He could be using Samuel. She certainly hoped so. She would pray about it.
“What happens now?” Rebecca asked, swinging her gaze around to everyone in the room.
“Dr. Clark will be releasing Sarah tomorrow,” Sam said.
Captain Rogers looked surprised. “So soon?”
“Yes, he told me just a few moments ago. He feels Sarah will be safer somewhere else. And, of course, the administration is screaming about liability.”
“I’ll need time to get the wheels in motion.” Rogers looked at Rebecca. “Can we count on your help, Mrs. Lapp? Will Sarah be going home with you? Are you still willing to let Detective King accompany you?”
“Of course we will be taking Sarah home.” Rebecca moved closer to the bed and busied her hands, gently tucking the blanket around Sarah’s body as a mother might when tucking in a child for the night. When she finished, she looked at the two men.
“As for Samuel, my husband has already given his permission, and Jacob is a man of his word. Nothing that has happened here tonight will change that.” She sent a kind, warm glance Sam’s way. “Besides, Samuel has had a great loss of his own. Losing a partner must be a difficult thing, ya? Like losing a member of your family? It will be good for Samuel to be in a quiet place where he can reflect and pray and feel the tender mercy of God’s healing touch.”