It wasn’t a question.
Tears slid down Elaine’s pale face. She seemed to have aged ten years. “I was too…embarrassed…to say anything. His father would sue…for custody. But yes…I think he was.”
“Was he dealing to high school students? His friends?”
Jackson stiffened at the implication. Dylan hadn’t been on drugs. At least, he didn’t think so. But he didn’t spend as much time with him as he’d like, so it was possible he was wrong. He hated to think his kid brother had been lured into dealing.
He shuddered. So many questions swam around in his head.
Swanny jerked his head. “We need to get her to the hospital.”
“If we have more questions, we’ll come to the hospital later.” Mark moved out of the way.
Swanny rolled the stretcher closer.
“On my count,” Jackson said. Together, they lifted her onto the cot, securing the straps. He adjusted the oxygen mask over her nose and mouth. “You’re safe now,” he told her as they wheeled her toward the door, though he wasn’t entirely sure it was true.
They loaded Elaine into the ambulance, and Jackson hopped in the back with her. Swanny slammed the door. A minute later, the ambulance shook to life. Jackson checked her vitals again. So far, so good.
“It’s okay, Elaine. It’s only a few minutes to the hospital.”
“So tired.” She drifted off to sleep. She remained asleep when the back doors swung open at the emergency room entrance. Swanny and Jackson gently lifted the stretcher down. The orderlies and hospital personnel took over.
“Let’s head back,” Swanny said.
Jackson nodded but stood for a moment, staring at where he’d seen Elaine last. “I just talked with her the other day, Swanny. Why would anyone want to hurt her?”
Swanny hesitated. “I hate to say it, but you know Mark was wondering if Reggie had come back for his drugs and shot his mom.”
Jackson had started to walk toward the ambulance, then halted and swung to face his best friend. The urge to yell caught him off guard. He muttered a prayer. “I can’t believe that.”
“I don’t know Reggie or his mom. But I think since she admitted he might be doing drugs, she’s worried about him. She never said Reggie was involved in her shooting.”
Jackson hopped into the ambulance and drove back to the station, his mind full, his spirit shaken. He parked the vehicle in the bay and stalked through the station. He waved at the greetings called to him but didn’t pause. Instead of chatting with his team, he immediately sought out the chief. He found him in the back office and rapped his knuckles twice on the doorframe.
The chief’s office was tidy, almost sparse. The man himself sat at a desk positioned under the solitary window in the room. The desk was clear except for a neatly stacked pile of reports, a computer monitor, and a mug that looked permanently stationed beside the keyboard. Frames with pictures of his wife and children hung on the wall next to him. A snapshot of a tabby cat curled on a sunny windowsill was tucked into the corner of the bulletin board and secured with a pushpin, among training schedules and shift calendars. The air smelled faintly of coffee and spearmint gum.
Trent glanced up. A welcoming smile bloomed on his face, but it didn’t disguise the worried glint in his eyes. “Jackson! Come in. What can I do for you?”
“I have a conflict, Chief. Today we brought a gunshot victim to the hospital. Her son is the boy who is with my brother.” He stopped talking, emotion choking him. He blinked back the sudden tears.
Trent sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“There’s more,” Jackson ground out through his tight throat. He had never lied to this man. As his boss and his friend, Trent deserved the full truth. “They found drugs in his room, and it’s possible he was a dealer.”
“I didn’t expect that.” Trent stood and pushed his chair back. He walked around the desk and stood in front of Jackson. “How are you holding up?”
Jackson shrugged. “I’m angry. I’m sad. Prayer is the only thing keeping me sane right now.”
Trent put his hand on Jackson’s shoulder. “You have some vacation time. Take today. Go for a run. Or find a punching bag. Or take a nap. You know what we tell people. You have to take care of yourself before you can care for others.”
Jackson frowned. Somehow, taking time off seemed wrong.
“Don’t argue, Doc. You need time. Take it. I’ll put in the request.”
“What if I need more?”
The chief shrugged. “You have time accrued. Take it one day at a time. We’ll cover for you. You know that. The team always has your back.”
