Page 147 of Forever Dead

“Go to the hospital,” Eric said. “Don’t stand here worrying about me.”

She nodded once and turned.

*

The walk back to her room became an exercise in frustration. The cane slowed her. The brace restricted her stride. Each careful step felt obscene when Connor might be dying less than twenty minutes away.

By the time Selena reached the door, she was breathing too quickly.

The phone lay on the bedside table.

Three missed calls.

Two from Arnold.

One from Jessie.

Selena closed her eyes for a second.

Then she called Arnold.

It rang until voicemail picked up.

She ended the call before the tone and tried Jessie.

No answer.

“Come on.”

Selena put the phone in her pocket.

It rang before she reached the dresser.

“Arnold?”

“He’s alive, Selena. They took him into surgery last night. I’m still waiting for a proper update.”

“How did you find him?”

“Cheryl heard his call. Chuck went in with another deputy and one of Meekie’s employees. The employee knew a way through from the ridge side. They found Connor and brought the paramedics in.”

“Were you there?”

“At Nora’s house, where Connor told me to stay. I kept it secured while Chuck dealt with the maze.”

“And the man who stabbed him?”

“Still missing. The unit sent to Miller Road got there after people had started leaving. We’re checking the cars parked along the verge and trying to find anyone who filmed that side of the field.”

“So you don’t know whether he went that way.”

“Not yet. Chuck’s coordinating our people. The State Police investigator arrived overnight and has more help coming.”

“What about the FBI?”

“Cheryl reached the field office. Meg’s arranged a Bureau contact for the case and asked Chuck to send over the requests for records and laboratory support.”

Selena reached for her keys. “I’m going to the hospital.”