“Jas!”
“I’m here,” he says.
“Keep tryin’ to get through to her. And for fuck’s sake, take down every word she says.”
“Will do. We’re pullin’ up now.” The call cuts off.
I burst through the door of my office and into the bullpen. “Parker!”
Whatever she hears in my voice must be enough, because she’s out of her chair in a heartbeat, keys and phone in her hand.
“Grace collapsed. Austin Memorial.”
She shoots Hardison a look across the desk, then turns for the door.
The chief barrels out of his office. “What the hell do you think you’re doing, Lieutenant? You have paperwork. Weeks of it.”
“You want to fire me? Fire me,” she snaps. “Grace is hurt and I’m takin’ AJ to the hospital so he doesn’t drive himself right into the side of a bus. I reckon that’s a mite bit more important than any paperwork.”
“I can drive him.” Marvin steps in front of us, and Parker almost runs right into him. “All of my reports are already on Elmore’s desk. I’m free.”
Anger prickles along the back of my neck. He’s too calm. Too damn polished. Like it don’t even matter that Grace is hurt.
Parker doesn’t miss a beat. Just sidesteps him with a glare that could split concrete. “You want to help? File your own damn reports. Assumin’ you know how.”
Harris grabs her arm before she reaches the door. “If you ain’t at that desk first thing tomorrow, you’re done here. Understand?”
“Oh, I hear you. But if you make me choose between my job and her life, I know which one I’m pickin’. Spoiler alert—it doesn’t come with health insurance.”
The elevator doors whisper open on the fourth floor. Connor leans against the nurses’ station, hands balled into fists at his sides, but straightens the moment he sees us.
“Jasper’s got Belle in Room four forty-four. Grace is with VanHorn gettin’ a CT scan. AJ, go on back. Parker, I need you on with Zephyr. She’s got questions and I think you might be better at answerin’ them.”
I push through the double doors, scanning the bright orange placards until I find the right room. Inside, Jasper holds Belle’s harness with both hands, and I can’t tell who’s growling louder.
“Belle!” I snap my fingers. “Sit.”
She tosses her head at me, defiant, until I repeat the command then drop down to one knee so I’m at her level. “She’ll be okay, girl. She has to be.”
The dog whines, then leans her entire body against me. I wrap my arms around her, and, for a moment, let myself break.
Jasper’s hand comes down on my shoulder. One quick squeeze and I pull myself back together.
“She was mostly coherent by the time we got her upstairs,” he says, his voice rough. “But before…she was goin’ on about a Prophet. I wrote down everythin’ I could remember.”
He shows me his phone.
Prophet, please
Hurts
Can’t do this
Not yet…I’m not ready…
The next moon…
Not…your Nova…
