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"Brother to one of Cassie’s friends, goes to some university on the east coast. Helped Alex keep… keep you alive." Jakob swallowed, reaching up his free hand to brush an errant spec of — ofsomethingfrom Ethan’s cheek. It was the thinnest of excuses to touch him, Jakob would be the first to admit it; to reassure himself that Ethan was alright, that he had survived.
"Oh, I’ll… I’ll have to track him down. Thank him somehow…" Ethan trailed off, the exhaustion thick in his voice.
"You won’t have to work too hard to find him," Jakob told him. "He’s been playing taxi cab between classes, bringing the kids here and back to see you. Not to mention I think him and Alex… Well, if they aren’t dating yet, it’s probably just a matter of time."
"OurAlex, dating a college boy? Don’t know if I approve of that." Ethan said with an exaggerated sniff.
"Not sure you get much say in it," Jakob informed him with a wry chuckle. "Only a freshman, though. Got a good enough head on his shoulders, kept it during the incident. And Alex likes him, so that’s that. They’ll be glad to hear you woke up. Alex especially. He’s been… He’s been worried about you. We all have," Jakob said, unable to help the rasp creeping into his voice; his throat constricting around the words, threatening to choke them off.
"Hey — s’okay," Ethan said as he gave Jakob’s hand another squeeze again. "‘M right here."
"I know, Iknow. I just… You very nearly weren’t," Jakob tried to swallow past the lump in his voice box, struggling to explain it all. "After everything — I’d finally found you again, had a chance to do things right this time. I spent so many years making the wrong choices, going the wrong way — "
"Didn’t go thewrongway. Just… sometimes you — you gotta go the long way." Ethan’s voice was tender but worn as he rubbed his thumb over the back of Jakob’s knuckles; the warmth of his broad hand in Jakob’s own was a reassuring presence. "We were headed here the whole time. Just didn’t know it, did we? But we made it, in the end."
"Ethan, I thought — thought after everything, that… I almostlostyou." Jakob squeezed his eyes shut as he felt tears pricking hot and sharp at the corners; not even caring as he felt the warmth of one sliding down his cheek.
He blinked, startled when Ethan’s hand left his. Only to feel the light brush of the back of Ethan’s fingers trailing against his jaw; closing his eyes at the sweep of Ethan’s thumb as he wiped away the moisture from Jakob’s cheek.
He opened his eyes again, only to find Ethan’s fond smile directed at him; hardly able to breathe around the thorny knot of emotion churning within his chest.
"Naw," Ethan mumbled. He gripped Jakob’s hand in his own once more, fingers squeezing tight before slackening. "Couldn’t have lost me. Here’s where you are."
"But — "
Ethan’s eyes started to flutter shut. His jaw looked fit to crack around a massive yawn as exhaustion began to sink its claws into him once again, pulling him back into the rest his body needed to heal.
"Just got you back, darlin’," Ethan murmured. His voice was thick with sleep; his hand still solid and warm. "‘M not going anywhere else…"
Chapter 35
Hero Teacher Shot Saving Students From Home Invader
By Zach Strait
SAN MORADO (WP) — A local teacher is being hailed as a hero after reportedly being shot protecting four teenagers from an off-duty police officer operating outside his jurisdiction, San Morado County Sheriff’s Office reported Monday.
Police have identified the shooting suspect as Lou Martin, 37, a Detective Third Grade with the San Morado Police Department. The SMPD has declined to comment at this time.
San Morado County Sheriff Leland Bishop said Monday Martin faces multiple gun and assault charges; including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, six counts of felony aggravated assault, unlawful discharge of a firearm, reckless conduct, criminal negligence, and endangerment of minors.
Authorities report further federal charges are pending a full investigation into the suspect’s activities; including stalking of the victim, forgery of foreign documents, multiple counts of fraud both international as well as domestic, criminal conspiracy, and Martin’s possible misuse of his power and position as a police officer.
Further investigation revealed unlawful tracking devices reportedly placed in the victim’s coat and vehicle. Authorities say Martin is also a suspect in the breaking and entering of the victim’s house, as well as committing several counts of vandalism to the victim’s property that same evening.
A series of hacked e-mails and leaked documents have been released by an anonymous transparency activist group calling themselves ‘Good Trouble’, suggesting that Martin has had illicit dealings or been involved with numerous criminal elements under at least two separate assumed names, including with the notorious organization known only as ‘The Syndicate’.
A witness identified the shooting victim as Ethan Hillsman, 39, a well-respected art teacher at San Morado High School and beloved member of his community. He was later taken to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries.
Witnesses report that Mr. Hillsman was visiting the home of a friend when an agitated Martin identified himself as a police officer before illegally forcing his way into the house where children were present.
A single shot was fired, and the homeowner suffered minor injuries during the scuffle to subdue Martin after Mr. Hillsman was shot. No one else was reported injured at the time of the shooting.
In light of the severity of the case and due to the allegations made against him, Judge Anna Hernandez ordered a $2 million bond for Martin, declaring him a flight risk and that if he pays bond, he will be forced to wear a monitoring device until the conclusion of his trial.
Judge Mewitt has also granted an ex parte order of protection against Martin on behalf of Mr. Hillsman, restricting Martin to stay at least 1000 feet from Mr. Hillsman, as well as from his home, job, and car.
On Wednesday, authorities reported Martin remained jailed in San Morado County, where he has been placed in solitary confinement for his safety.
