The nurse came in and handed Emma a paper. While she explained to Emma how to care for her stitched area, Cap leaned out of the doorway and studied the activity in the hallway.
“Can I use the room for a moment to change?” Emma asked the nurse.
The woman ran her gaze over Emma. “Sure.”
Emma rifled through the duffel bag Cap had tossed her belongings into and pulled out a fresh set of clothes. Then, she slipped out of her dirt-smudged pajamas and tossed them, along with her bloodstained slippers, into the garbage. She grimaced when she lifted her arms to slip on her shirt.
“I feel like I got hit by a train,” she said.
Cap imagined she did after all she’d been through. Her description suited him as well. Every breath sent a ripple of pain through his lungs and torso, but he hid his pain from the doctor. He didn’t have time to waste getting an exam or X-rays for himself. They needed to get out of here fast. He’d be fine.
Emma groaned as she bent over to put her tennis shoes on. She widened the right shoe as far as it would allow and grimaced as she slipped her stitched foot into it. Then she tied it loosely, stood, and released a long breath.
“All set.”
Now, all they needed was for the chief to show up with a vehicle for them to use. He was surprised he hadn’t heard from him yet.
“Since we are here, I’d like to see Jonathan,” Emma stated.
The request wasn’t a surprise to him since she’d mentioned it before, but it was too dangerous even though the man was under police protection.
Emma’s pleading gaze tugged at him. He, as well as the police officer, were armed. But, then again, so were the Colombians.
“Okay, but you need to be quick about it. The second Chief Mertz gets here with a vehicle, we’re out.”
“Understood.”
Cap leaned out of the doorway and studied the surroundings.
“All clear.”
Cap rested a hand on her back as he guided her into the hallway.
The air shifted. A presence. It didn’t feel right.
Cap darted his gaze around.
“Stay close to me.”
Emma’s body tensed at his words.
His cell phone buzzed. Without breaking his gaze from his surroundings, he pulled the phone from his hip. It still buzzed. The quandary of looking at it to answer it was real. A quick peek let him know the chief called. He tapped the screen and pressed the phone to his ear.
“Get under cover now. They’re in the hospital.”
Cap grabbed Emma’s upper arm and flung her around so quickly she tripped and fell into him. He steadied her and then hurried her back into the examination room they’d come out of, shutting the door behind them.
“What’s going on? You’re scaring me,” Emma said.
He shushed her and then put the phone back to his ear.
“They’re what?” he asked the chief.
“A nurse just found Milbourne dead. Gunshot wound to his head. Officer Milliman, too.”
The tension in the chief’s voice was alarming. The man was normally rock solid, but speaking of Milliman’s death disturbed him.
Dammit. He knew Milliman. Had worked with him. He was a good young cop.
