Page 44 of Decker

Savannah waved him on, impatient with the need for this but knowing it was quicker to agree than argue with him. Mark went in and cleared the room, while she waited for his go-ahead.

“It’s clear. Stay here for a second. I need to check something with Alex.”

“Fine but be quick. I need to head into surgery.”

Mark nodded and walked away quickly toward the lift. He nodded and she stepped inside her office. Once inside she discovered the room was empty. Savannah frowned. “Where is Mrs Evans?” she asked Percy.

“Sorry. I must have put them in my office.”

Savannah sighed, knowing she’d have to break Mark’s rule but not having time to wait. Pulling open the door, she left her office with a glance to the lift. Percy had the office next door. She pushed open the door and strode in with Percy behind her and stopped dead.

The men who had murdered Andy were there and pointing a gun at Mrs Evans and her father. She spun to Percy in shock at his betrayal. “Percy?”

He looked grey now, sweating, and full of shame. “I’m sorry. They have my family. I had no choice.” He was openly weeping now as a stoic Mrs Evans sat silently with her elderly father beside her.

“It’s okay, Percy.”

“Shut the fuck up.” The man who’d pulled the trigger spoke, and he seemed to be in charge. He was tall, bald, with thickly corded muscles, and pale blue eyes that had haunted her nightmares for weeks. The other man was shorter and lean, with a nervous, wiry edge about him.

Savannah kept her hands up, knowing she needed to keep her head to get them out of this. Her heart was hammering hard and her hands, normally so steady, shook as she tried to get a handle on her emotions and keep a clear head. “Just let them go and we can talk.”

The taller man sneered as he glanced at his friend, waving his gun at her. “Hear that, Tank? She thinks she’s in control here.”

A pop sounded and Percy gasped as he fell forward clutching his chest, red blood blooming across his white shirt and surprised eyes finding hers as he fell into her, grabbing on for life.

“No!” Savannah went to help her friend, falling on her knees.

“Leave him.”

Savannah put her hands over the wound but knew it was helpless. Pain ricocheted through her scalp as a hand grabbed her by her hair and yanked her up, the roots tearing from her head. Covering his hand with her own to ease the burn, she stood and let him throw her across the desk.

“Now, let me explain how this is going to go. You and I are leaving this hospital together. If you come quietly then Mrs Evans and her father here will be back home with little Melissa by dinner time. If not, then Tank will kill them, and it will be your fault.”

“You won’t get away with this, security will stop you.”

“Ah yes, your little guard dogs. You’d better convince them all is well then, or you know what happens. Now let’s go so we can talk about this little recording you have. Most inconvenient of you to poke your nose in, doc.”

A knock on the door had her tensing.

“Savannah?”

She could hear the concern in Mark’s voice as he called her name looking for her. The man was carrying enough guilt without her dying too.

“Tell him everything is fine, and you need him to check the surgical floor.”

“He’ll want to see me.”

“Fine. Crack the door but don’t do anything stupid.” Tank and Mr No Name shoved their guns at Mrs Evans and her father. Mrs Evans glared but remained silent as she gripped her father’s hand.

Savannah took a breath and cracked the door, pasting a smile on her face. “Decker, I’m in Percy’s office.”

“Oh, thank God. You scared me.”

She saw his handsome face come into view and then the relief erode when he noticed the blood on her shirt and the desperate look on her face as she signalled with her eyes.

“Sorry, I was just speaking to Mrs Evans. Can you check the surgical floor for me? I think I have two patients not one, and one has already died.”

He glanced at the door and held up two fingers indicating he’d heard her message. “Yeah, but I really should escort you up.”

Savannah was thankful he was playing along. “It’s fine, Deck. I have two porters that can escort me to the floor.”

“Fine. If you’re sure?”

“I am.”

“Okay, doc. See you there.”

Savannah dipped her head and wondered if this was the last conversation she’d get to have with the man she loved and couldn’t let herself believe it was. Even if it didn’t work out with them, this wasn’t how their story ended.