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“The other victims?”
“We got them all out safely.”
She pushed at him. “I can walk. Help Cord. He’s been stabbed.”
Derrick hesitated, holding onto her. Saving Ellie was all that mattered to him at the moment.
“Do it!” she shouted as she pushed herself up. She groaned in pain as she staggered forward, and he saw McClain collapsed on the floor.
He ran to the ranger, hauled him up from the floor and draped McClain’s arm around his neck, then dragged him from the room. Ellie stood outside against the wall, heaving for air and coughing.
“Lean on me,” he said, then slid his free arm about her waist. He slowly helped both of them down the hall to the outside where they could breathe.
“What about the perps?” Ellie asked, coughing.
“Pockley’s in custody. Radcliff threw himself off a ridge.”
Lights twirled in the night sky, and another ambulance, the ME and ERT drove up. He spotted the sheriff beside his squad car, guarding the prisoner inside, and Deputies Eastwood and Landrum leading medics to the victims.
“Over here!” he shouted.
Another set of medics rushed to them, one helping McClain to a stretcher, the other assisting Ellie.
Derrick followed them and watched as a medic took her vitals and called it in. Minutes later, they loaded her and McClain in the back of the ambulance.
ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO
BLUFF COUNTY HOSPITAL
Two hours later, Ellie rolled over in the hospital bed, wincing. Bruises covered her body, a headache blurred her vision and her arm and shoulder throbbed like a mother. It had been dislocated but the doctor had reset it.
She looked down at herself in frustration. The stupid sling had to stay on for a while. Dammit, she couldn’t shoot like this. Couldn’t be effective. And crime wouldn’t stop just because she was injured.
She’d tolerate it a week or two, then she’d shed the damn thing and get back to business.
But she was more worried about Cord than herself. She hated this helpless feeling. Hated that she couldn’t wave a magic wand and make him better. Not that Ellie Reeves believed in magic.
Shondra came into the room and handed her a cup of water with a straw in it. “You look like hell.”
“Thanks. I needed that,” Ellie said wryly, then drained the water. Shondra took the cup and Ellie’s gaze caught sight of a sparkling stone on her hand. A single solitary onyx glittered on a gold band.
She jerked her friend’s hand toward her. It was on her ring finger, left hand. “Oh, my God. Is that what I think it is?”
A smile tilted Shondra’s lips. “It is. Julie proposed. Said she was terrified when she heard about this case and what we’ve been working on.”
Ellie admired the stone. “It’s beautiful, Shondra. I’m so happy for you.” She reached out her arms and Shondra gave her a hug.
“I’m happy, too. Julie’s a keeper.”
Tears stung Ellie’s eyes. Good grief, she wasn’t a crier. Her mother once accused her of not having a sentimental bone in her body.
But ever since her friend Mia had gotten married on Memorial Day weekend, she’d had seconds, just tiny flickers, of imagining what it would be like to tie the knot herself.
“Have you set the date?” Ellie asked.
Shondra twirled the ring around her finger with a wide grin. “No, not yet. But we want it to be small and intimate.”
“That sounds lovely, Shondra,” Ellie said and meant it. “Hope I’m invited.”
