He let her go.
Debra pushed away from the desk. Took one step. “My town. My people. I—” She toppled.
Preston caught her before she could hit the floor. His arms locked tightly around her. “Call an ambulance!”
Sloane grabbed for the phone on the desk.
“I’m fine,” Debra told him. “Fine, fine, fine…”
“You are not. Your breathing is erratic, your pupils don’t match, and your whole body is shaking.”
Her lips pulled down—as they trembled. “I…didn’t know.”
“You’re going to be fine.” He could hear Sloane talking on the phone. Saying that the sheriff needed an ambulance, ASAP. “We’ll get you taken care of.”
“It was so dark, wasn’t it?” Tears slid from the corners of her eyes. They fell back into her hair. “Everywhere it’s dark, and it’s swallowing you up.”
Swallowingyouup.
“You had to be so scared,” she told him. “But you never acted scared. Not even as a kid.” Her eyes rolled back in her head.
“Debra!”
She blinked. Tried to focus. “I…would have killed him, too.” Low. Hoarse.
Then her whole body began to jerk in his hands.
“Ride in the ambulance with her,” Sloane said.
Debra had been loaded into the back of an ambulance. Deputies and the FBI agents who’d come to town all watched in silence. The light on top of the ambulance flashed in sickening circles.
“She needs someone to watch over her.” Sloane was adamant. “I’ll be right behind you. I’ve got Frankie.” She jerked a thumb over her shoulder.
Yes, Frankie was right there. Standing near the sheriff’s station.
And Noble was edging toward the side of the building.
Both of his guards were there.
“I’m safe. Go take care of her.”
He didn’t want to leave Sloane. There was so much that Preston needed to say to her, but…
“We’re leaving!” A shout from inside the ambulance.
His hand brushed across Sloane’s cheek. Preston jumped into the back of the ambulance. Debra had been secured on a gurney, but her head turned restlessly, and she twisted her hands as the EMT tried to examine her.
“I…don’t want to be in the dark.” Debra’s fretful voice.
“You’re not.” Preston edged as close to her as he could.
She pushed away the EMT. “Get me out!” Angry now. Afraid. “Get me out of the dark!”
The back doors of the ambulance slammed shut.
Debra let out a terrified cry.
“Sir, sir, please, try to get your friend to calm down.” A frantic request from the EMT. A man with short, curly hair and a Texas accent.
