Daniel trusted his team and was grateful for each and every person in their small department. Anticipating each other’s needs kept their crew bonded and efficient. “Thank you. He’s here. I’m going to drive Emma Lynde back to the camp and poke around a little. I might stay there. Have to figure out what was happening before Owen got in that vehicle.”
“Okay, keep me posted,” Frankie said and ended the call.
Chip pointed to the closed door. “Through here?”
Daniel nodded. “First door on the right. Frankie will relieve you. It’s around the clock for the time being.”
“Got it,” Chip said, brushing past.
Commotion erupted from the other end of the corridor. Daniel raced toward the chaos. With alarm, he realized he stood outside Emma’s room. He burst inside, taking stock of the scene. Emma coughed in the arms of a male nurse. “What happened?”
“She was attacked,” the nurse said.
“What? How?” Daniel asked. He’d passed through the metal detectors and been issued clearance after presenting his badge. No one could simply walk in off the street.
“Choked her with a pillowcase,” the nurse said.
“Did you see who it was?” Daniel asked Emma. He could request surveillance footage and watch for the assailant.
She shook her head. “Their face was covered. They didn’t say a word.”
Daniel ran a hand through his hair. Her use of gender-neutral pronouns stressed how little she felt certain of. He had to assume both Emma and Owen were targets. Double the amount of protection would stress the resources of his department. But Daniel couldn’t take a chance with either life. “Is she okay to leave?”
The nurse shot Daniel a weary look.
“I feel okay,” she replied, her voice scratchy and rough. “I’d like to get some rest.”
He would, too. Although he didn’t think it possible until he learned exactly what he was dealing with.
“She’s free to go,” the nurse said, stepping away.
Emma lifted her head. A red ring around her neck bore witness to what she had suffered.
Daniel fought off a wince.
Emma slid off the bed, her movements slow and steady.
After what she’d been through, she probably ached all over. “Ready?” he asked.
“Yes, please. Were you able to get ahold of the Thomases?” she asked, her tone anxious.
“Yes, I sent someone to get them and offer a ride here,” Daniel replied. “Come on. You need to get some rest.”
“I guess this is serious.”
“Let’s save that discussion for later,” Daniel interjected. “Please follow me.” He led her to his vehicle parked in the front of the building, opening up the shotgun door before getting behind the wheel.
He hadn’t meant to silence her, but clearly she felt it better to bite her tongue. He drove in the quiet without even the sound of rain to offer something to listen to. The storm had stopped. As he neared the scene of the accident, he couldn’t see anything. Night had fallen on the heels of the clouds. Maybe he’d get a sunny day for his investigation tomorrow. “You said you thought the same car that ran you off the road turned around and hit Owen.”
From the corner of his gaze, he spotted her nod.
She opened her mouth and shut it, frowning. “I can’t be sure. I had the wipers on and the fan going full blast. I haven’t driven for a while and forgot how to defrost the glass. The windows were fogged. The car was going so fast both times, I only had a split second to make an impression.”
“Okay. Let’s go back. Why were you on the road?”
“Lucille asked me to pick up a cake from the bakery at the grocery store. She couldn’t find Owen so I agreed to help her out. I didn’t want her driving in these conditions.”
Daniel agreed. Lucille and George Thomas remained very spry in their late seventies. But the physical limitations of time had snuck up on the pair. Lucille had trouble with her eyes. George’s hearing was going. “That was kind of you.”
