An urgent voice replied. “Yes, but I need you to stay on the line.”
“Make sure they’re ready.” Faith disconnected the call.
Luke appreciated Faith’s decision to ignore the 911 operator, because with the way she was whipping through traffic and around curves, she needed to keep her eyes and mind on the road. Seven minutes after leaving Gil’s house, they screeched to a halt in the emergency department’s circular drive. They were met with scrub-clad, stethoscope-swinging men and women who extricated Gil from the car, settled him onto a gurney, and raced him inside with remarkable efficiency.
And then everything was quiet.
Faith looked at him in the rearview mirror, her eyes wide and manic. “Go inside. Tell them the blood isn’t yours or they will have you on a gurney before you can show them your badge.”
“No.”
Faith blinked a few times. “What?”
“I’m staying with you. Let’s park the car. We’ll go inside together.”
“Luke, I’m fine.”
“I know you are, Faith. Okay. I know it.” Luke heard the edge of hysteria in his voice and took a deep breath. “But if that madman has half the brain I think he has, then he will know this is the closest hospital to Gil’s house. I’m sure we beat him, but if he’s not waiting to pick off Zane and Tessa, then he could be coming here next.”
Faith was breathing heavily, and the sound of it filled the space between them. “Okay.”
“Let’s park in the regular garage, not the law enforcement spaces. We don’t need to make it any easier for him to find your car. He’ll know what you’re driving now.”
“Good idea.” Faith put the car in drive and headed through the parking lot like a ninety-year-old with cataracts until she found a space she could back into.
When she turned off the ignition, she leaned over the steering wheel, her breaths coming in quick gasps. Luke climbed out of the back seat and opened her door.
She didn’t look at him. “I’m okay. I am. I haven’t driven like that in a while. Adrenaline crashing. Give me a second.”
Luke leaned against the car, using the door for protection. After thirty seconds, her breathing slowed. After a minute, he thought it was safe to speak. “Faith?”
She didn’t look up. “Hmm?
“You could give the guys who drive the president a run for their money.”
The faintest of smiles ghosted across her face.
“Ready?”
In answer, she unfastened her seat belt and grabbed a bag from the passenger seat. He held the door open for her, closing it gently after she stood beside him. She drew her weapon and he drew his. “Let’s go.” Her eyes widened in horror when she saw his bloodstained clothes. A soft “oh” escaped before her expression hardened and she took off toward the emergency department entrance.
Now that his own adrenaline had crashed, Luke struggled to keep up with Faith’s quick march, but he couldn’t let her see it. This woman had risked her life for him, for Gil, for Tessa, for Zane. She was still risking her life. This case could get her killed.
And she was all in.
He could see it in the thin line of her lips. The ramrod way she held herself. And in the way her hands trembled and she couldn’t stop them.
He understood.
His were shaking too.
They tucked their weapons back into their holsters when they reached the door. A security guard took a long look at Faith’s FBI badge and let them through.
A nurse who looked like she could play linebacker for the Panthers stopped them as soon as they cleared security. They explained who they were and why they were there, but she didn’t take them to see Gil. Instead, she led them to a private room at the end of the hall. “You can’t help your friend right now. And you’ll scare the patients and their families if they see you looking like you do. It will be all over that social media stuff, and we’ll have reporters here in no time flat.”
She stepped inside, and they followed her. “You have a private bathroom there, and a shower.” She pointed to Luke’s shirt. “I recommend you use it. I’ll find some scrubs for you to change into.”
“Thank you.” Luke and Faith spoke in unison.
