Page 160 of 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Forty-Two

His words broke off as he collapsed. Angela caught him,easing him to the ground as best she could. “Medics. We need help now!” sheshouted.

The woods came alive with police. They allowed the Krewe totake the lead, but offered backup if necessary.

Jackson holstered his weapon and hurried over to Angela tocheck the man’s vitals.

“Not sure what he was on, but our country has been sufferingfrom the huge supplies of fentanyl circulating through the drug trade. It’sbeen mixed with just about everything: heroin, meth, cocaine, marijuana—youname it. Angela, rip up the sheet. We can use it to slow the bleeding.”

“Got it,” she said.

Jackson helped Angela rip enough fabric to make a propertourniquet.

“Honestly, I don’t think this young man is behind anything.I think he was simply drugged up and told to get outhere and take out the agents and police. They probably threatened to withholdhis drug. But he seemed to know what happens to those who go against whoever isin power,” Jackson said.

“Right. It’s amazing he could even hold a gun, much lesstwo. Much less hope to hit anything,” Patrick said. “I amwilling to bet he’s on fentanyl, though I don’t know mixed with what. He’slucky he’s still alive.”

“He was expendable. Maybe they expected him todie,” Angela said.

“Probably,” Jackson agreed. “Which means we need to keep himalive. The EMTs are here. Hallelujah. They can at least get him to a hospital.”

The EMTs carefully wound through the trees and foliage,carrying a stretcher, nodding as they arrived. Patrick rattled off the man’sstatus and vitals and told them that he believed the man’s collapse had beencaused by fentanyl-laced drugs.

“The curse of the day,” one of the medics said. “Greattourniquet. You likely kept him alive.”

“Thanks. He needs oxygen, probably a transfusion—”

“Yes, sir. We’ll be on the line with the ER doc.”

“And I’ll be with you,” Patrick said.

“No one is—”

“You can take one person. Especially one who has gonethrough medical school,” Angela said softly.

“Great, fine. One person. And a doctor. Good,” the EMT said.

They all nodded, and Patrick turned to Jackson and Angela.

“I’ll be at the hospital, hoping he wakes up. Won’t do anygood for all of us to sit around. Besides, Angela has something to show you.”

Jackson looked at Angela. “It could be something or it mightbe nothing, I don’t know,” she said. “Still, Patrick is right. We won’t doanyone any good just waiting. And Patrick and Kat are our medical specialists.”

The EMTs were already moving with their patient,so Patrick hurried after them. One of the police officers who had hoverednearby came over to Jackson and said, “We’re ninety-nine percent certain he wasa lone shooter. We’ve been through the woods, too.”

“I’m pretty sure you’re right,” Jackson said. “Someone putthat young man up to this. Someone who hoped that one of us would shoot him.Thank you for clearing the area.”

“No, thank you. That was a loose-cannon situation. Someonecould have died. Anyway, we’ll get back to our posts. Or rather, I’ll fill outthe paperwork while the others get back to their posts.” He chuckled. “I’lleventually need someone from your office to sign off on the paperwork, too, butI’ll at least get it started.”

“Thanks.”

The officer shook his head. “My officers will also make surethat no kids have snuck in, given it’s Halloweentime, and they think they have to be cool.”

Jackson nodded. “Yeah, go figure. Running around in acemetery. Great fun for Halloween.”

The officer nodded grimly and moved on.

“Back to the Robertson tomb,” Angela said. “Or at least nearit.”

He followed her. On the way, they saw the ghost of ColonelGeorge Clayborn hurrying toward them.