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Then Elle catches sight of me, and she immediately bursts into tears.
“Luke!”
I hurry over and wrap her into a hug. She clutches at me, taking handfuls of my shirt as she sobs. I rock her, cradling her close.
“I’m here. It’s okay, I’m here.”
“I’m sorry.” Elle’s voice is barely audible, her face buried in my jacket. “I’m so sorry.”
“What are you sorry about?”
“I was meant to be watching Amy. I took my eyes off her, and she got kidnapped.” Elle looks up at me. “If I’d been watching her, none of this wouldn’t have happened.”
I don’t know what to say to that. Then Mrs Anderson touches my arm.
“Can I talk with you outside?” she asks.
I’m reluctant to leave Elle’s side, but I can tell Mrs Anderson has something to tell me that’s important. I press a kiss to Elle’s head.
“Give me a second.”
“I want to leave, Luke. Can you talk to the doctors about letting me out of here?”
“Only if you go through the tests they want you to do.”
“But…”
I cut her off as she protests.
“I don’t want you collapsing on me. If you want to help find Amy, I need to be sure that you’re in good enough health to do it. Okay?”
Elle looks like she wants to argue, but her shoulders slump and she nods.
“Okay. I’ll do it. But the moment I’m given the all-clear, I’m out of here.”
“I don’t doubt it.” I kiss her. “Don’t go anywhere.”
Stepping out of her cubicle, Mrs Anderson pulls the curtains across and leads me to a corner of the ER, away from Elle’s bed. Her expression is grim as she turns to me.
“She’s mostly bruised and has suspected concussion, but it could have been worse.”
“How so? What could be worse?”
“One of the other mothers tried to stop the kidnapping, and she was sprayed in the face with what turned out to be bear spray.” Mrs Anderson nodded towards a bed in the corner, curtains drawn across. “And Ben was hit by the car as it was getting away.”
“Wait, Ben was there as well?”
“From what I saw, the car was going for Elle. If Ben hadn’t pushed her out of the way…” Mrs Anderson draws a shuddering breath. “He’s in surgery right now. I don’t know the details.”
Shit. I was not expecting this. I rub my hands over my face, trying to fight back the fear and the rage that is building. Amy is still out there. I need to find her.
“Where do you think Amy is? Any ideas?”
“She’s with Kevin and Megan,” Mrs Anderson replies grimly. “There’s nobody else who would take Amy like this.”
“I agree with you there. But where would they be now? Do you know where they would have gone?”
Mrs Anderson shakes her head.
