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He blanched. ‘Shit. Oh shit.’
‘Wait.’ She glanced up at her father. ‘What can we do to ensure the safety of everyone in that hospital? Because even if Marcus doesn’t go—’ She held up her hand to quell Marcus’s protest. ‘I know you’re going, but even if you didn’t, they may expect you to. If luring you to the hospital is the goal, they’ll target it. Dad? What can we do to maximize security for everyone?’
‘We’ll post officers at every entrance,’ her father said, ‘and around the ER and OR. Weapons checks for everyone currently on the floor and anyone who gets off the elevator. The hospital itself has security protocols and we’ll work with them. It will deter any assault through traditional means, at least.’
‘That’ll have to be good enough,’ she said quietly, her eyes locked to Marcus’s. ‘I want to talk to DJ. Maybe he’ll tell me where to find Ke
‘I’ll take Marcus to the hospital, Scarlett,’ her father offered. ‘You do your job here.’
Marcus nodded soberly. ‘Thank you, Jonas. But if you’ll give us a moment first, please?’
‘Of course. I’ll meet you in the lobby by the elevator.’
Scarlett took Marcus’s hand and led him into an unoccupied consultation room, closed the door and gathered him into her arms. He shuddered and held her tighter. ‘What will I do?’ he whispered. ‘Without Stone? And Gayle?’
‘For now you believe that you’ll get them back. Both of them.’
‘And if I don’t? It almost killed me to lose Mikhail. If I lost Stone . . .’
Scarlett pulled his head down for a hard kiss. ‘Stop. You heard Jill. Stone is conscious. He will live. He’s too obstinate not to.’
He nodded, more to convince himself than in agreement. ‘So we just need to find Gayle.’
‘Exactly.’
He rested his cheek on the top of her head. ‘I should have shut the paper down until all this was over,’ he said hoarsely. ‘Why didn’t I do that?’
‘Because it would have put a lot of people out of work. You built that paper up, gave your employees financial security. Would any of them have stayed home if you’d given them a choice?’
‘I don’t know. I’ll never know now.’ He was quiet for a long moment. ‘I’ve known Cal Booker for as long as I can remember. When I visited my grandfather, before we moved from Lexington, Cal was always here. Never treated me like I was in the way.’ He tightened his hold. ‘This is my fault, Scarlett. I never expected any of my people to get hurt.’
She thought about him going to the prison, confronting Woody McCord. ‘You thought the McCords of the world would only come after you. Maybe you even wanted them to?’
‘That’s what Stone said, and now . . .’
‘Look, Marcus, all I know is that every member of your team looked me in the eye and said it was worth the risk. Cal included.’
‘Bridget didn’t. Jerry didn’t.’
‘And for them you hired guards.’
‘You’re not going to let me feel guilty for this, are you?’
‘No. Your family needs you. Your employees need you. They’re going to be in shock and grieving. So if you want to do something for Cal, find a way to keep the paper going.’
‘You’re so calm.’
‘But I won’t always be. When I’m not, you’ll be the calm one. I hear from a reliable source that that’s how it’s supposed to work.’
‘Your dad told you that?’
‘Among other things.’ She lifted on to her toes to kiss him. ‘Now go. I’ll be there soon.’
‘All right.’ Straightening, he blew out a breath. ‘I’ll see you at the hospital.’
Thirty-five
Cinci
Wednesday 5 August, 8.45 P.M.
Scarlett found the OR waiting room full of people, including, to her amazement, both of her parents. Jackie Bishop was sitting next to Della, holding her hand. Marcus sat between his mother and Scarlett’s father.
Deacon’s fiancée, Faith, sat next to her uncle Jeremy, gently holding his hand, which was covered, as always, by the black leather gloves that hid the scars from the burns he’d received years before. Audrey sat on Jeremy’s other side, no expression on her face.
Jill occupied the seat next to Audrey, but it was Keith’s leg on which she rested her head. Her eyes were closed, but tears were seeping out, wetting the knee of Keith’s trousers. Jeremy’s husband had an uncharacteristically gentle expression on his face as he stroked the hair off Jill’s forehead. Once again Scarlett was reminded of how young the girl was. And how prescient. This was exactly what Jill had feared – her aunt getting hurt because of the risks Marcus and his team had taken.
Lisette and Diesel shared a sofa, looking shell-shocked and numb and alone. Everyone, with the exception of Scarlett’s parents, looked shell-shocked.
Everyone, including her parents, wore body armor – heavy vests that looked sadly out of place. Marcus had taken his helmet off once he’d gotten to the safety of the waiting room, but he’d worn it just as he’d promised.
Scarlett went straight to Marcus and kissed his forehead. ‘Nothing,’ she murmured in his ear. ‘I’m sorry. DJ is one of the coolest customers I’ve seen in years. He wouldn’t give me a thing. Even Alice gave us more.’
Marcus’s shoulders sagged. ‘I didn’t think he would, but I’d hoped.’
‘I left Kate with him, hoping she’d have better luck. Any news on Stone?’
‘In surgery. Deacon came with him in the ambulance but left to go back to the . . .’ He swallowed. ‘Back to the crime scene. Stone stayed conscious all the way to the hospital. Long enough for us to see him before they took him to the OR.’ He opened his mouth, then closed it after looking at his mother.
Scarlett nodded, understanding that they’d debrief more privately. She noted Della Yarborough’s curious, yet muted, glance. Marcus’s mother wasn’t blitzed out, but she had definitely taken something. Maybe a lot of somethings.
Scarlett leaned down and kissed her own mother on the cheek. ‘Hi, Mom. I didn’t expect to see you here.’
‘Your father called to say he wouldn’t be home for di
Scarlett’s heart swelled. ‘Thank you.’ She turned to Marcus’s mother, half kneeling so that the older woman didn’t have to look up. ‘Mrs Yarborough. I . . . I wish we weren’t seeing each other again under these circumstances.’
‘Just Della is fine.’ Della’s mouth curved, but she didn’t hold the smile, as if it took too much energy. ‘So you and my Marcus . . . ?’
Scarlett’s cheeks heated. ‘Yes, ma’am. I hope you’re okay with that.’
‘And if I’m not?’
‘I would respectfully keep him anyway.’
Della’s smile lasted a little longer this time before dimming. ‘You came to Mikhail’s funeral. You didn’t have to.’
‘I did have to.’ She hesitated, then shrugged. ‘I go to all the funerals. For all of the victims. It seems like the right thing to do.’
A slow-motion nod. ‘You’ll be perfect for Marcus. So yes, Scarlett, I’m okay with it.’
‘Whew.’ Scarlett smiled up at her. ‘I was worried there for a second or two.’ She looked over at her own mother and saw approval. Jackie gave her a nod and it felt good.
Abruptly Della skewered Scarlett with a look. ‘Do you know where Gayle is yet?’
‘No, ma’am, not yet. But we’re looking.’ A rustling behind Scarlett had her turning to see Jill coming to her feet, her expression grim, her eyes red from crying.
‘Not hard enough,’ Jill said coldly. ‘You have suspects in custody. You’re the super-cop. Make them tell you where that bastard took my aunt.’
Scarlett rose slowly, suddenly bone-tired. ‘I’m no super-cop, Jill, and this is real life. The suspects don’t always talk. A lot of times they don’t. Sometimes – a lot of times – I want to strangle the truth out of them, but I can’t do that.’