Relief struck for the first time since she’d been woken up by the terrifying call. Boone turned and began walking toward a set of large, double-doors several yards away. With a tip of his chin, he gave a silent order to thenurse working the reception desk, who pressed a button to allow them inside.
The air grew colder as they entered the hospital’s secured emergency department. Room after room lined the wall on their left. The large area in the center was a maze of desks used by the doctors and staff.
Directly in front of them was another set of doors marked Ambulance Bay in bright red letters.
Detective Boone slowed to a stop just outside one of the rooms. The large, glass window was covered by a blue and cream striped curtain hanging from the ceiling inside. The door was shut, but there was a smaller window built in its center.
Janie approached it slowly, her steps small. Cautious. Her hand flew to her mouth when she caught sight of her friend.
Oh, Devon. I’m so sorry.
“Whoever did this worked her over pretty good.”
The detective’s words were unneeded. Janie had eyes that allowed her to see.
Devon’s petite body appeared much smaller than it should have in the bed. She’d been tucked in tight, the white blankets keeping her lower half warm while her body recovered.
“Is she going to be okay?”
The bruises and swelling on her friend’s beautiful face made her wonder. From here, it looked as though the assholes responsible had beaten Devon within an inch of her life.
“The doctor said there’s no internal bleeding, which is good. A couple cracked ribs. Fractured jaw. CT was clear, but he said she could still have a mild concussion.They’ve given her something for the pain and are keeping her comfortable until her body is ready to wake up.”
“Any idea when that will be?” Emmett asked.
“Unfortunately, no.” Boone shook his head. “The doc said it could be a matter of hours, or a couple of days.”
“We have to find them, Emmett.” Janie adjusted the strap of her purse while staring at her injured friend. “We have to find them, and we have to make every single one of the bastards pay for what they’ve done.”
“We will.” He reached down and linked his fingers with hers.
Janie pulled away, not because she didn’t love his touch, but because if he tried comforting her now, she’d break down into a puddle of tears. She looked away, suddenly desperate for a moment to herself.
“Hey.” Emmett’s worried gaze attempted to reach hers. “What’s wrong?”
“Restroom.” It was the first thing that came to mind. “I, um . . . I need to find a restroom.”
A nurse walked by at that very same moment and stopped with a helpful smile. “There’s a private restroom for visitors at the end of that hallway.” She pointed across the nurse’s station. “It’s the last door on your right.”
To Emmett, Janie muttered a low, “I’ll be right back.”
The concern in his gaze made it clear he didn’t want to let her out of his sight.
“Really, Emmett.”I just need a minuteaway from you and everyone else.“I just . . .” Her voice nearly cracked. “I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll be right here.” His eyes searched hers a moment. “Don’t take too long, yeah?”
“I won’t.” She flashed a quick smile before turning and walking away.
When Janie left the department’s main area, she discovered the hallway was longer than she’d expected. The small, one-person restroom was all the way down on the right, as the nurse had described.
Janie glanced back to find she could no longer see Emmett or the detective, which brought her a sense of relief. But it wasn’t until Janie was inside the restroom that she felt she could finally breathe.
Her back came to a rest against the door’s interior the second she turned the lock. Her head fell back, and her eyelids closed. And only then did Janie let the tears fall.
Not a lot, and definitely not enough to wash away her fear. For her friend. Herself. For Emmett and his team.
Amy’s death wasn’t on her. Janie fully understood and accepted that much. But what happened to Devon was her fault. The people behind this mess never would have gone after her if she hadn’t asked her to look into Amy’s disappearance.
