[Kate Reid 01.0 - 03.0] Unbound

by Robin Mahle

  The paramedic quickly attended to Marshall, pushing Scarborough away. “His pulse is weak; he’s lost a lot of blood,” the man called to his partner at the doorway. “We need to get him out of here now.”

  The EMTs did what they could to stave off further blood loss, but Marshall was in dire shape. They loaded him into the ambulance and headed for the hospital just ten minutes away.

  Scarborough followed behind, insisting Jameson and Gibbons wait for the CSU and secure the scene. Now, he had to tell Katie. He took a breath and prepared for the difficult phone call. “Katie? I need you to meet me at SD Medical Center. It’s Marshall.” He wasted no time in getting to the point.

  “What? What’s happening? What’s wrong with him?” Her voice cracked with panic and confusion.

  “Just get down there, Katie. I’ll explain later.” Nick knew she would need to leave fast and talking on the phone, asking questions, would only delay her. This was bad. He knew it was bad. Shalot might be dead, but they still hadn’t tracked down the whereabouts of the final victim and Nick couldn’t let another one die. Nor could he lose Marshall Avery.

  He quickly placed a call to Agent Myers. “Shalot’s dead. Do we have anything more from Branson?” he said, squeezing the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. Everything seemed to be falling apart and he was losing control. Marshall went off on his own and got himself shot, killing the one man who was pulling the strings. Now they had another woman missing. Number five. And they needed to find her. Pressure was coming at him from all angles. His ASAC, the media, and police departments hounding him for information when he had virtually nothing. He prayed that Richmond police had at least located Hayden Jennings. Maybe he would know where the next murder would be.

  Nick slammed the wheel. The call to Myers was coming through weak; he didn’t have much of a signal along this narrow stretch of road that had been cut through the hill. He couldn’t hear her.

  “Say again? I think I’m losing you, Georgia.”

  “Sherriff’s office said they’re doing all they can, but can’t find the woman.”

  “We gotta find her, damn it.”

  “They’re doing everything they can, Nick. They’ll find her. Where are you?”

  “Pulling into the medical center. Marshall Avery’s been shot. He killed Shalot. The dumb bastard went off on his own.”

  “Oh God. I’m sorry, Nick. Is he gonna be okay?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t know. I gotta go now. Katie’s probably here and I need to tell her what happened. You call me when we find that woman!”

  “Will do.”

  Nick ended the call and cut the engine. On his approach to the emergency entrance, he spotted Katie just inside and she wasn’t alone. Captain Hearn and half a dozen officers waited in the lobby. When a cop went down, everyone rallied.

  He stepped through the sliding glass doors and caught her attention.

  Katie ran toward him. “What happened, Nick? Please, tell me. They said he’s in surgery for a gunshot wound. I need to know. Please.” Her breaths were shallow and her forehead, once smooth, now lined with concern for the love of her life.

  Nick took hold of her arms in a gentle but firm manner. “Katie. You need to calm down. I’m sure they’re doing everything they can for Marshall.”

  She yanked her arms from him. “Don’t you treat me like a goddamn child. That’s Marshall in there. Tell me what happened!”

  Heads began to turn in response to her raised voice. Captain Hearn was now making his way over.

  Nick saw the look in Hearn’s eyes, demanding an explanation. “Marshall went to Shalot’s house to find anything we might have missed that would prove he instructed his followers to kill those victims. He didn’t know Shalot had been released.” He paused, working to find the right words. “I don’t know exactly what happened, Katie. Except that there was a struggle. Shalot reached for Marshall’s gun and, somehow, during the altercation, pulled the trigger and hit Marshall in the stomach.”

  Captain Hearn turned away, rubbing his head in the same manner that Marshall always did when he was trying to process information. He said nothing, only shaking his head. His eyes shut tightly.

  Tears fell from Katie’s face in a thick stream, running down her now pallid cheeks. Her heart was breaking right in front of him. “Marshall took him down, Katie. He took Shalot down because he wanted to protect you. Don’t give up on him now. Not when he needs you the most.”

  Katie buried her head inside Nick’s embrace. “I can’t lose him. I can’t. I’ve lost too much. Please don’t take him from me.”

  Her words were not meant for Nick, but seemingly for God himself.

  “Captain Hearn, can you find someone who knows what the hell is going on?” Nick asked, still comforting Katie. He would do so until she was ready to let go.

  Agonizing minutes had passed before Hearn returned with a doctor. “Katie? Dr. Patel would like to speak to you.”

  She finally raised her head. Her hair was damp with tears and clung to her face. She tried to brush the strands away as she returned her weight to her own two feet.

  Nick still held on, making sure she was steady.

  “Yes?”

  “I’m Dr. Patel. Marshall Avery is your boyfriend?”

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “I’m so sorry, but he lost just too much blood. I’m afraid we did everything we could to help him.”

  The doctor’s words echoed in her ears. Her head grew light and her body faltered. Not again. Please God, not again.

  “Oh, Katie. I’m so sorry.” Captain Hearn tried to rest his hand on her shoulder.

  She pulled away. “No. No. He’s not dead. Tell me he’s not dead!” Her knees buckled and she started to fall.

  Nick quickly reached out for her. “I got you, Katie. It’s all right.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Dr. Patel repeated his distant apology.

  “Thank you, doctor.” Nick continued to support her. “Can you get her some water or something?” he asked Hearn. “Come sit down, Katie.” He had to virtually carry her to the lobby chairs.

  “I can’t breathe.” Katie gasped for air, her eyes flooded with tears, clouding her vision. “Oh God. I can’t do this again. Please, help me.” Her breaths grew shorter and faster. Her cries sounded as though she was standing squarely in front of death itself, begging it for mercy.

  Her pain spread to everyone, gripping them as it had her. The other officers, Captain Hearn; it was too much for them to witness. Most turned away, trying to hide their own emotions.

  “Calm down, now.” Nick smoothed her hair. “Shhhh.” His own voice had wavered. “You have to slow your breathing, Katie. Slow down. I don’t want you to pass out.”

  “He can’t leave me. I’ll be left with no one.” She sat up, reaching for a tissue on the table and began wiping her face. It was red and swollen and full of grief. “I have to see him. I need to see him. Please, Nick.”

  He had known the condition Marshall was in. He knew it was a bad idea to let her see him that way. “I—I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Katie. They need to take care of him first, okay? You’ll be able to see him soon.”

  Nick’s cell phone rang. He wrangled his hand from behind Katie and felt for his phone in his front pocket. It was Myers and he prayed for some good news.

  The officers swarmed the building, a small house tucked away in the hills on the edge of town. It appeared to be abandoned, but a car was parked beneath a makeshift overhang fastened to the side of it.

  “This is the police; open the door,” Officer Nealy shouted. He was the man leading the charge. “Go around the side; check the other exits,” he said to one of his men.

  “We’re coming in.” Nealy pushed hard against the door, but it would not budge.

  Squad cars lined the front of the property, lights flashing. The paved road was narrow and only a few houses occupied either side. It was one of a few older neighborhoods, sparsely populated as people took to
moving closer to town and hopefully jobs. It seemed that it wasn’t the only abandoned house either. Several were boarded up, a result of a continuing failing economy.

  “Step aside, sir. We got this.” Two officers with a battering ram pushed through the door with ease.

  The house reeked of rotting food. The advanced state of disrepair suggested the dwelling was barely inhabitable at all. Gold shag carpeting, grossly stained and worn out in several areas. Dark wood paneling on the walls and heavily curtained windows that allowed for little light to enter. But what was on the walls brought great concern and possible assurance that this had been the right place. Spray painted Vs marked the panels in a dark red paint, meant to look like blood.

  A sound emanated from one of the rooms. Officer Nealy raised his hand to quiet the others. “Sparks Police. If anyone’s here, come out with your hands where I can see them.”

  A young man in a dingy white tank top and baggy jeans appeared from beyond the dining area near the kitchen, his hands held above his head. “Don’t shoot.”

  “Down on the ground! Down on the ground!” the officer shouted.

  As the man lowered himself to the floor, officers hurried to restrain him. His arms were pulled back and placed in cuffs.

  “Where is she?” Nealy demanded.

  The man looked down the hall and Nealy immediately stepped in that direction, aiming his gun along the way, another officer following closely behind.

  Nealy lowered his weapon at sight of the horrific scene. The man behind him turned away, sickened and almost gagging. He rushed to the woman, the plastic lined floor crumpling under his feet.

  She lay on the small bed, her arms hanging over the edge and covered in streams of blood. Officer Nealy had never before seen anything like this and worked hard to contain his own reflexes. He placed two fingers at her neck and checked for a pulse.

  “Scarborough here.”

  “They found the woman, Nick. I’m sorry.” Myers hesitated. “They didn’t get to her in time.”

  Nick looked down at Katie, still huddled in a ball next to him, dabbing her eyes. “For Christ’s sake.” He felt as though he had been beaten. Marshall was gone and now so was the woman. Number five.

  “They got Hayden Jennings, though, and he’s talking,” Myers continued. “Richmond police say he’s spilling everything he’s got.”

  “They’re all dead now. What the hell does it matter?” Nick replied.

  Katie turned her eyes to him. He immediately regretted the comment.

  “Because we got the kid in Virginia and Sparks is holding this new suspect and he might know about others involved too. This thing isn’t over, Nick. We both know that.”

  “Just—just give me a few minutes, okay. I gotta sort through this here at the hospital.”

  “Is Detective Avery all right?” Myers asked.

  Nick didn’t want to answer the question; not in front of Katie. “I’ll call you later. Just talk to Richmond, talk to the Sparks Police, and find out what you can. See if you can brief the Las Vegas field office too. We need some goddam help here.” He ended the call.

  Captain Hearn offered Katie a cup of water. She reluctantly took hold and managed a small sip, placing it onto the side table. “What’s going on?” he asked Nick.

  “They found the woman. We were too late. They caught the suspect, though, so now we’ve got two of them. Myers is working to find the others. That’s all I got. Hell, I don’t even know if this thing is over yet.”

  Hearn looked to Katie and Nick could see the question forming on his face. He wanted to know what to do about her. She couldn’t be alone. Not right now, but Nick still had a case to solve. There were others out there following Shalot’s lead. He didn’t know what the hell to do next.

  “I’ll keep her with me. We’ve got a spare room.” Hearn said.

  “I’m not leaving without seeing Marshall,” Katie said.

  “I know, but I need to take care of some things. The captain’s going to take you to his home, okay?” Nick replied.

  “You know, you haven’t been to the house since we converted Sydney’s room. She left for college this year, remember?” the captain said.

  Katie didn’t reply.

  Nick motioned Hearn away from her for a moment. “Look, don’t let her see him until they’ve got him cleaned up. She doesn’t need to remember him that way. I gotta see Myers, but I’ll be in touch.”

  Hearn shook his head. “I’ll take care of her. She’s one of mine, remember?”

  Nick patted Hearn on the back and walked toward Katie again. “I’ll be back soon. Captain’s gonna see to it that you get to say goodbye.” He gently pressed his lips against the top of her head.

  23

  THE CLOCK IN the waiting room ticked far too loudly, further amplifying the headache that had worked its way from the base of her neck to the top of her forehead. Three hours had passed and Katie still had not been allowed to see him. Thirst and hunger settled in, neither mattering a single bit to her right now. She’d rejected the offer of a mild sedative, instead ensuring that she felt the pain, not wanting to numb it away.

  Saying the words still seemed impossible. Admitting that he was gone; unbearable. This was not her life. What had she done to deserve this? Losing those who meant everything to her.

  Katie placed a hand on her stomach, recalling that a part of him had lived in her, if only for a few short weeks. She’d regretted the relief she felt when it was over. As if it had been too much; the thought of motherhood, the thought of bringing to life a part of Marshall.

  It wasn’t her fault and her head knew that, but her heart didn’t agree. Now she had nothing of him. Material things, yes. An empty apartment that he owned, full of his things. That wasn’t nearly enough. She wanted him back. He came into her life at a time when she needed him. What was she supposed to do now?

  “Katie?” Captain Hearn approached her from the front desk. “They said you could see him now.” He helped her unsteady legs find their ground.

  She leaned on him for support as he led her to say goodbye.

  Marshall wasn’t in the morgue, lying on a cold steel slab. Instead he was in a private room, covered from head to toe with a white sheet. The room was dimly lit, the lowering sun casting a grey light through the thin curtains. Captain Hearn turned on a switch and a florescent light in the ceiling above his body illuminated. The ugly glow threw shadows against the undulations of his sheeted frame. Katie turned to the captain.

  “I’ll be right outside,” he said, closing the door until it rested just against the casing as he stepped out.

  Katie was weak, shattered from the pain, but she moved toward him, unsure if she could pull back the sheet from his face. The tears flowed freely once again, her heart aching at the sight, the kind of ache that felt like her heart might just stop beating.

  She rested her hand on his covered arm. He felt cold through the sheet. The reality started to bear down on her now. He was here, but it wasn’t him. Not anymore. The last time she looked upon a dead body it was her closest friend. Only, he had been there with her. Helped her through it. She was alone now.

  Katie took hold of the sheet and gently, slowly pulled it down to his neck. His eyes were closed; his face was an unsettling shade of ashen and purple. His hair looked as it always had, as it had when she said goodbye to him this morning before work. She leaned in closer, resting her flushed cheek against his cold face, turning it wet with her tears. Her quivering lips touched his. They were cold too. Their last kiss, she recalled, had been warm and soft, his lips moving in sync with hers. Now he was gone.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to stay with us tonight?” Captain Hearn asked for the third time as he drove Katie back home.

  “Thank you, but I think I prefer to be home. I’ll feel closer to him there.”

  “Okay, but we should stop to get you some food. You haven’t eaten all day.”

  “Please, captain. I just want to go home.” Her eyes suggeste
d that while she appreciated his help, he needed to leave her be.

  Hearn continued to drive downtown to the apartment she and Marshall shared. The hour was approaching eleven and the streets were quieter than usual. He pulled into the parking garage and helped Katie upstairs.

  She began searching for her keys and was overtaken once again in a wave of emotion. The waves came without warning and, once they hit, she couldn’t control them. Katie raised a hand to shield her eyes.

  “Here, hand me your bag. I’ll find them.” He searched through the small purse until he found the keys. He held up one that looked as though it was a key to a home. “Is this it?”

  She glanced to him for just a moment, nodding her head.

  The blast of cool air inside felt like a shock to her system, but her body had been overheated all afternoon. She stepped inside the dark apartment and flipped the switch next to the door. The dining room light turned on.

  “Let me help you get settled,” Captain Hearn said.

  “Thank you, sir, but I’ll be okay.” She knew he didn’t want to leave her in this state. He’d been a mentor and very much a father figure to her and she loved him for it, but no one could make this better. Not him, not Nick Scarborough; not anyone. Instead, she reached around his plump mid-section and hugged him.

  “He was a good man, Katie. Know that,” Hearn said.

  “I do. I know. Thank you.” She pulled away and managed a meager smile. “Goodnight, sir.”

  “Goodnight, Katie.”

  She was alone for the first time since Nick called her earlier today. She still hadn’t understood why Marshall had gone to Shalot’s home. Why would he have done that? Unless he knew something. That was the thing about Marshall. Once he got a hunch, no one could convince him otherwise. And that was especially true if he thought it would protect her.

  She dropped to the sofa, curling her legs beneath her, and peered out the window onto the city lights. “I’ll never forgive you for this.” The words were not directed to Marshall. They were directed to a God who she believed had abandoned her.