“That way.”Selena pointed, then swayed despite herself.
Connor caught her by the arm.“You’re bleeding.”
“She went through here.”
“You’re bleeding, Selena.”
“I can still walk.”
His grip tightened.“We’ve got deputies setting a perimeter.Arnold’s coming from the east road.You’re coming with me.”
“I had her.”
“No, you had a head wound and a gun in your hand.”Connor’s voice shook at the edges.“I’m sorry I didn’t come with you.”
The apology found her through the pain.She looked past him into the trees where Marlene had vanished.
“I need to keep moving.”
“You need a doctor.Besides, there’s no point chasing shadows in these woods.Marlene knows them better than most.”
Selena tried to pull her arm free, then stopped when the world gave a slow lurch.Connor saw it.
“Don’t argue,” he said.
“I’m going to argue.”
“Do it in the car.I’ll radio Arnold to get some deputies out here, start looking for her.”
He helped her back through the trees, one hand steady at her elbow.Pride wanted her to tell him to let go.Her legs argued otherwise.
By the time they reached the yard, two deputies had arrived at the front of the house.Connor shouted orders, voice clipped and clear.One to the road behind the property.One to cover the creek path.Marlene Schmidt’s name went out over the radio, along with a description and warning that she had assaulted a federal agent.
Selena sat in the passenger seat of Connor’s SUV, pressing a folded cloth to the back of her head while he drove.
“You could’ve told me you were nearby,” she said.
“I was on my way before you radioed.”
“Why?”
Connor kept his eyes on the road.“Because I changed my mind.”
“Thanks.”
“I knew I was being an ass.”
She let that stand.
The old house where Connor stopped looked as if it had once belonged to a family with money and no desire to keep up appearances.White paint peeled around the porch posts.Tall weeds pressed against the foundation.A brass plaque by the front door read DR.A.BLETHAN in black letters.
Selena stared at it as Connor came around to help her out.“This is Blethan’s office?”
“Private clinic.Coroner’s office is behind the county building.He likes to make everything complicated.”
“I noticed.”
Connor knocked once and opened the door without waiting.
