Ozzie and Chief Riggs walked toward us, each of them leading a woman in handcuffs.
I let out a delighted laugh that quickly descended into a cough. As it ebbed, I got up.
“Whoa.” My head spun, and I shot a hand out to steady myself on the pillar. There was no way I would sit down, though. I wanted to watch them march past and see their faces—especially Sarah’s—when they realized Claire and Ellis were alive.
Once I felt like I could walk and not fall over, I picked up the small oxygen tank and walked over to the others.
Ozzie and the chief stopped in front of us.
Worry etched lines into Ozzie’s face. “You guys all right?”
Ellis gave him a thumbs-up.
Claire smiled through her mask. “We’re good. Luke”—a wheezy cough overtook her for a moment—“Luke got us out.”
Dark eyes found mine. His quick nod was filled with gratitude.
I returned it, not needing any thanks. It’s what any decent human would have done.
My gaze traveled to the woman in his grasp. Suppressed anger and defeat warred on her expression, if the hard set to her jaw and the defiance shining in her eyes were anything to go by. Dirt marred her clothing, and the high ponytail she’d beensporting was now knocked askew. Ozzie had worked for this arrest.
I was just thankful he caught her.
“You taking them to the hospital?” the chief asked one of the firefighters.
“Yes, sir. They all need to be under observation for a little bit.”
Logically, I knew that, but it didn’t make it any more palatable of an idea. I wanted to go to the staging area for Mina and Walter’s rescue operation, not hang out in a hospital cubicle with wires hanging off me.
I took comfort in the fact, though, that they’d bring her to the same hospital once they found her. Her ribs would need treatment.
“I’ll see you all at the hospital later.” Ozzie gave Sarah a nudge forward. “Let’s go. You’ve got a date with our local jail.”
CHAPTER 40
Mina
“Hey, Mina. How are you feeling?”
My eyes popped open, my mind ripped out of the delicious daydream brought on by the dose of morphine the nurse gave me just minutes ago.
I blinked, bringing Ozzie’s face into focus. “Hey!” What felt like a smile spread over my face. “Morphine is amazing. So is this cloud they’ve put me on.” The pain in my side had faded to a dull roar, and a floaty sensation filled my limbs. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew I was on a cot in the ER, but it felt much lighter and softer than that.
He chuckled. “I’m glad you’re feeling good. You’ve got some decent injuries.”
“Oh yeah?” Again, somewhere, I knew that, but my brain was a little fuzzy. I remembered my ribs hurting, but that was it.
“Yeah. The staff called your parents since you were too out of it once they gave you morphine to really understand what was going on. The nurse let me speak to them. Your mom said you broke your bottom three ribs, one of them in two places. Luckily, they’re not displaced, so no surgery required. You also lacerated your spleen. They’re watching that.”
“Yikes. That sounds bad.”
“Bad enough you’re going to be a guest here for a while. The nurse told me they’re getting a room ready for you upstairs.”
I frowned. “No. I want to sleep in my own bed.” With Luke. Because we wore out the dogs.
Wait. Ozzie was back, so he’d take them. Even better.
My frown deepened as my foggy brain tried to make sense of things. Why was Ozzie here and not Luke? Where was he?
