“No. Just you and me. We’re it.”
I know she’s friendly with her coworkers. “What about the ladies she works with?”
“No. They only go out a few times a year. You know, birthdays and holidays.”
“I’m heading straight to her place as soon as I get out of here. If you hear from her, call me.”
“I will, Sam. You do the same. I’m really worried.”
Me too.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
BOBBY IS A DEAD MAN
Pacingin the waiting room of the ER at Rush Medical Center, I’m pretty sure I’ve pulled some of my hair out. I’ve been waiting for word for over an hour, but there’s been nothing. Hank Flynn called, telling me that MacKenzie had been taken to the ER, but he didn’t tell me why. I had no idea what happened to her. I still don’t.
“Sam,” I hear a woman yell. I turned to see Lauren Warner running toward me. “Sam? Is she okay? Where is she? What happened? Oh, my God, Sam. MacKenzie?” Tears are streaming down her face like a waterfall. I wrap my arms around her. I don’t know this woman well, but I can tell she needs comfort. Hell,Ineed it.
As soon as Flynn called me, I called Gill. He said he would finish up at the venue and call Lauren to let her know what was going on. Unfortunately, none of us knows what’s going on. Flynn said she was seriously injured. That’s all we know.
“Detective Flynn called me and told me she’d been injured. He told me where they were taking her. That’s all I know. He’s back there now. I sent him a text; he said he’d be out as soon as he can to talk to us.”
Lauren uses her hands to wipe away tears. “So, that’s it? We know nothing more? How seriously was she injured? What kind of injury?”
“I have no idea. Sit down and take some deep breaths. I’ll get us some coffee.”
“Okay. Sure,” she says in a defeated tone. “I’ll sit here and wait. Hurry back.” As I step away, she adds, “If she needs to be in the hospital, we need to move her up north.” I know what she’s thinking. I watch as Lauren scans the emergency ward. It’s packed with sick people who will probably wait hours to be seen.
“Agreed.” As soon as possible, I want to move her closer to home. Our home. Or what is going to be our home. I grab two black coffees and make my way back to Lauren. We sit and sip coffee and wait. Gill checks in, asking about MacKenzie and letting me know that he’s taken care of everything. He’s also taken over tomorrow night’s show in case I’m not back.I need to make that guy a partner.
I’m not sure how long we wait, but it seems like hours. Lauren is dozing with her head on my shoulder when Hank Flynn says my name. “Sam?”
I must have dozed off, too, because I jerk. Standing instantly, I ask, “Hank. What’s going on?”
“Come this way. I’ve got a private place we can talk.”
Lauren has woken up, and she’s already standing as well. “This is Lauren. MacKenzie’s best friend.”
“And her only family,” she adds quickly.
Not heronly familyfor long, if I have anything to do with it.
We follow Hank into a small room with a desk and three chairs. Lauren and I take two of the chairs, and Hank sits behind the desk. “Before I explain what we’re dealing with here, can either of you tell me why MacKenzie Parker would be walking through Touey-Herbert Park after dark?”
“I invited her to the show at the UC,” I reply.
“She must have been walking to the show,” says Lauren. “She walks all over her side of town. No matter how many times I’ve asked her not to.” Lauren starts to tear up again. “What’s going on? Is she okay?”
Hank clears his throat. “Do you happened to know what time she left for the show?”
Gill watched the footage. “Seven twelve,” I reply. He knows I’ve got eyes on her house.
Lauren looks at me oddly. I wave my hand. I’ll explain later.
“Okay. Well, then, sometime between seven twelve and seven forty-four, MacKenzie was attacked in that park.”
Lauren gasps and I run my hands through my hair. “Attacked?” I ask.
