What should she say? She couldn’t promise—she had no idea what her injuries were. She didn’t want to give false hope, but she needed to give him hope.
“She was talking there a minute, right?” Kara said. “That’s a good sign. And honestly, we didn’t make it out of that house to have her do anything but make a full recovery.”
“Are you coming with us?”
“I don’t know,” Kara said. She didn’t want to go to the hospital, but she knew that someone would make her, and she also knew she needed to get stitches. Her leg was mostly numb now, with periodic sharp stabs of pain. She hoped she could walk on it soon. “There isn’t enough room in the helicopter, but I’ll see you soon. That I promise.”
Nathan nodded. The paramedics were ready to transport her, and Sloane came over to Nathan. “I’m FBI Special Agent Sloane Wagner, you can call me Sloane. I work with Matt and Kara, and I’m going with you and a deputy to the hospital where we’ll meet your mom, okay? She’ll get there faster and get the medical attention she needs, but it won’t take us long.”
Nathan glanced at Kara as if looking for permission.
“Sloane is the best,” Kara said. “She’ll make sure nothing happens to you or your mom.”
Matt said, “Nathan, you saw the woman. If you see her again, tell Sloane immediately, okay?”
Nathan gave Kara a hug, then hugged Matt. “Thank you both. If I was still in that cage...”
Matt glanced at Kara and she could read a lifetime in his eyes. It had beenwaytoo close, for all of them.
Nathan left with Sloane. The paramedic said, “You definitely need stitches and maybe surgery.”
Kara groaned.
“I can’t say for sure, but it’s a deep cut. The doctor may be able to wash it out and stitch it, but it’ll hurt. You’ll want pain killers. And antibiotics, considering you’ve been walking around with an open wound for who knows how long.”
“About seven or eight hours,” Kara said.
Michael came over and pocketed his phone. “That was Catherine.”
“Good news?” Kara said hopefully.
“Garrett Reid isn’t talking, and he left the hotel.”
“Is he in the wind?” Matt asked.
“No, the deputy following him says it appears he’s heading to his apartment.”
“Why didn’t Catherine arrest him?” Matt demanded.
“She thinks he’ll lead us to Clara Dolan. Now she wants to know if Kara feels up to talking to him.”
“She wants me? She never wants me to talk to suspects.”
Michael showed them a photo of a pretty young blonde. “Who’s that?” Matt asked.
“Becca McCarthy. Garrett’s high school girlfriend. Catherine believes that Garrett and Becca were getting back together seven and a half years ago when Clara killed her. Becca has been missing since then, and Garrett has an ironclad alibi for her disappearance.”
“So that doesn’t tell me why Catherine wants me to take a stab at Reid.”
“Because you look just like her,” Matt said.
Kara didn’t see it. Becca looked... sweet. Innocent. Big smile, bright eyes.
“On the surface, but—”
“You do. And things are beginning to make sense. But you need to be checked out first.”
“We’re going to lose her, aren’t we? She’s nowhere. You,” Kara gestured to Michael, “said she’d gone to her house and was heading up here. When she sees all these cops she’s going to drive on by.”
