Off the Grid (23 page)

“Any minute. How are you doing? Caleb?”

No choice but to look in her direction again. “Fine. Don’t worry.”

“The paramedics will be here any second.” Her hands covered Jason’s wound. Even he could see it wasn’t having much effect. She pressed harder and his body jerked. People closed in, hovered. “Anyone who’s not a paramedic or a doctor needs to get the hell out of this room.”

More shuffling and mumbling. Low pitched demands.

“Out.” Other than her brief order she ignored the spray of shock reverberating around the room.

Kristine hunched down on Jason’s other side and grabbed her husband’s hand. “Don’t worry.”

“Bleeding’s not stopping,” warned Sophie.

“I’m…sorry.” It was a whisper in the air.

Kristine leaned in. “Don’t talk.”

“Never…meant…to…leave…you.”

“Damn it.” Sophie yelled at Jason. “Don’t you die on me, you asshole.”

The background babble twisted around them. Confusion. Gasps.

Kristine stifled a cry. “It’s going to be okay.”

“Call…your Dad…contain…things.”

She sniffed back tears. “Don’t worry about that right now.”

“Our…baby.”

“No. No, you don’t.” Sophie grabbed Kristine’s hand and instructed her to press down. She scrambled over to Caleb. “This is going to hurt.”

Pain sliced through his side. His belt buckle was in her hands and sliding through the loops of his pants before he knew what was happening.

“What are you doing?” Kristine held onto Jason, panic thickening her voice. “Sophie?”

Sophie scrambled out of his line of vision. He stretched his neck, pain radiated out from his side. He flinched but caught sight of Sophie on Jason’s other side pushing Kristine back.

“Tourniquet.”

That’s when he knew things were bad. Last result bad. He tried to get to his knees. Pain blurred the edges of his vision. But he needed to help. To do something besides bleed all over the floor.

“Stay right where you are, Caleb. Don’t you dare move. Or faint. I can only deal with one thing at a time.”

His ears weren’t working. He heard his name through a bag of cotton. A sliver of panic ran through him. He shook it off.

“Caleb.”

He heard her. They probably heard her in the hallway.

“Caleb.”

Real loud. Again. He tried to nod and managed a word. “Yeah.”

He sat back down.

“Stay,” she yelled.

And then the cavalry arrived. Someone called out. A hand on his shoulder.

“Two gunshot victims…femoral artery…abdominal…” And things started to fade to black…

****

Sophie assisted the ambulance attendants hoisting Caleb onto a stretcher.

She wanted to smooth a hand over his cheek but hers were smeared with blood. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“We’re ready to go,” said the attendant.

Sophie straightened and watched them wheel him out. Then he was out of sight. She offered up a silent prayer. They wouldn’t know the extent of the damage until they got him to the hospital.

He could have died.

She shivered. Didn’t want to remember. Did not want to look behind her and remember how close she’d come to losing him. One body for the coroner was enough. Despite Jason Drummond’s crimes she hadn’t wished him dead. But dead he was.

She worked to steady her breathing, to control the residuals of panic and adrenaline. Kristine was sitting on a chair off to the side with a paramedic next to her. He leaned down and said something to her. She shook her head and clutched at the blanket someone had laid over her shoulders.

Sophie crossed the room. “Kristine, you need to go get checked out.”

Her eyes never strayed from the body of her husband. “No, I should stay with…”

Sophie urged her up and off the chair. “We’ll take care of him, I promise.”

“You’ll stay? With him?”

She was saved from answering by an older gentleman who rushed to their side. He pulled Kristine into a mammoth hug and pulled her gaze away from the body on the floor. “Oh my God, what the hell happened? Are you okay, sweetie pie?”

“Daddy?”

“It’s me. I’m here.” His worried eyes searched Sophie’s face. “Is she okay?”

“She needs to go to the hospital, get checked out.” Sophie nodded at the white-haired gentleman. “We’re having trouble convincing her to go.”

Kristine’s father gave a gruff nod. “Come on, sweetie. Come with me.”

“Jason?”

He glanced at Sophie and she shook her head. His gaze went to the floor and he quickly averted it. “We’ll talk about it on the way to the hospital. Come away now. And let them take care of him.”

Sophie sighed. Sobs sounded in the hallway. Not Kristine, but new ones followed by a different gentleman’s gruff voice, loud and demanding. She was so tired and all she wanted was to go to Caleb.

“Dr. Monroe? A few questions.” The police officer held out her hand. “Constable Shreve.”

Sophie held up her hands. “As long as I can wash up first.”

“Of course. There’s a bathroom down the hall a ways. I’ll take you. There’s quite the crowd assembled out there.”

She nodded her thanks. Out in the hall an older gentleman clutched onto an older woman bent over with grief. Others huddled around the periphery. He demanded answers. His face red. His words angry.

The policewoman opened the door to washroom and Sophie slipped inside. The door closed behind her and she breathed in the quiet. She stepped up to the sink, turned on the hot water tap. She stared at the ravaged woman in the mirror.

“I did everything I could. There wasn’t anything else I could have done. Nothing,” she whispered.

Was there?

****

Caleb struggled to open his eyes. Windows. They surrounded him. A glass room.

Right.

His lids drifted close against his will. There was movement to his right. Someone covered his hand. Squeezed it.

A whisper.

“I’m here…”

The next time he opened them the images were sharper. More in focus. He noted the whsst of machines. The scrape of a chair. But his eyelids refused to obey his command to stay open. Cool fingers brushed his cheek. Sleep beckoned and he gave over to the seduction.

****

Hospitals were loud. And bright. Caleb lifted a hand to cover his eyes. Pain travelled up his side. He let it drop. Tried to shift position. Abandoned the idea.

“Go back to sleep. It’s the best medicine.”

Sophie.

“You’re here.” He cleared his throat. It didn’t help. He tried again. “Kristine?”

“She’s fine. Don’t worry, she’s in good hands.” She frowned, her gaze on the various machines at the side of his bed. She hummed as she studied them. Then she looked at him, her smile small. Tired. “How are you feeling?”

“What happened?” He struggled to remain awake.

“You had surgery, but everything’s fine. Go to sleep.”

He was afraid to ask the unimaginable. The silence stretched.

She straightened his covers, smoothed them out. Checked the position of his call button. He grabbed for her hand. He knew the answer, but he wanted confirmation. “Jason?”

Her look was stark. “He didn’t make it.”

Not nightmares but the truth. He needed to get out of this bed.

“Kellie and Quinn?” He ignored the pain and struggled to sit up.”

“They’re fine.” She put her hands on his shoulders and with little effort guided him back down. “You’re not going anywhere. You’ve just had surgery, for crap sakes.”

“Great…bedside manner.” But he was embarrassed by his weakness so he shut his eyes and invited the darkness.

When he opened them again he was alone. He had no idea of the time much less the day. A nurse came into the room, a smile on her face.

“Look who’s awake.” She stuck a digital thermometer in his mouth. Popped it out.

“When can I leave?”

She fussed with his IV, her soft laugh floated around the room. “You’ll being enjoying the delights of our stellar accommodations for at least another couple of days.”

“No, seriously?”

She patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry we’ll take good care of you.”

“Great.”

“Cheer up, it could have been much, much worse. The only thing the bullet hit was muscle. Say a prayer of thanks it didn’t enter your abdominal cavity. A couple of weeks and you’ll be feeling much better.”

“A couple of weeks?” He didn’t have the luxury of time. A shit storm was coming with Sophie, Kellie, and Quinn at the center of it. “I need to talk to the doctor.”

“Don’t we all.”

“Can’t you call him? Get him in here?”

“Honey, best thing you can do is relax. He’ll be here when he gets here.” She straightened his covers. He suffered through more of her explanations about what to expect and didn’t hear half of it. It tired him out to think about it. He stared at the ceiling after she left. No cell phone. No computer. No access. Nothing else to do. But sleep.

The silence woke him up. Like a nightmare. He willed his eyes open. A hand closed over his. One he’d recognize anywhere even without the accompanying waft of Chanel No. 5. She bent over to give him a kiss on the cheek.

“Welcome back, honey.”

He smiled at her, thankful to find his mouth worked better, his eyes clearer. “Mom.”

His dad appeared at her side and put a hand on her shoulder. She left it there, offered his father a small smile. Caleb blinked.

“Dad?”

“Yes, son.” Joseph “Joe” Quinn patted his hand.

His parents? Side by side. Touching. That couldn’t mean good things.

“Has something else happened? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing! You’re going to be fine.” His mother gave him her best shocked silly frown.

“But you’d tell me if something was…not right?”

“Of course, son.”

He breathed a sigh of relief. “Okay, just checking.”

“They’re finally letting us stay more than a few minutes.”

“Great.” He glanced around the room. No Sophie. “That’s great.”

His mother turned at the sound of footsteps. “Sophie, there you are.”

His father pulled her forward into their little group, his smile proud. “He’s awake. I think he’s out of the woods. What’s my favorite doctor think?”

“Oh, he’s going to be fine. Don’t worry.” Sophie laughed and the small hoops in her ears danced.

She was in one piece. She was beautiful. She was here. Caleb’s heart stuttered. He hoped it wasn’t obvious on the monitor. He half-expected to hear alarms go off. “Good to know. I’m a little fuzzy on the details.”

“You’re a hero.” His mother squeezed his hand.

Sophie snorted.

“We’ll let Sophie give you the details. We’ve already heard them.” He laughed and looked to his ex-wife. “I’ll buy you a coffee?”

His mother hesitated before giving in and lifting a hand. “Fine. But we’ll be back.”

Caleb stared at their retreating backs. “What kind of drugs am I on?”

She bit her bottom lip. “Why?”

“How…”

She took pity on him. “Apparently, your getting shot has created a truce. But, believe me, it wasn’t pretty at first.”

“I hope it lasts. I don’t plan on repeating the experience.”

Sophie dropped down into the chair beside his bed and glared at him. “You scared the shit out of me.”

“How…what happened with Jason?”

She gave it to him straight. “You were shot in the side. The bullet passed through and hit Jason in the leg. The femoral artery. He bled out.”

“Shit.”

She averted her eyes. “There was nothing I could do.”

He frowned and reached for her hand. “Hey. You did everything you could. More. It’s not your fault.”

She nodded her head, the movement abstract. “The shooter took off. They haven’t found him yet.”

“When can I get out of here?” It had to be soon. She was collapsing under the weight of grief, not enough sleep or food, too much stress. She’d go until she dropped.

“It won’t be too long. With no complications you should be out in a few days.”

“Marnie’s funeral?”

“Is the day after tomorrow.”

He had two days. Either the doctor would release him or he’d check himself out. “Jason’s?”

“No word yet. But I’m pretty sure I’m not listed as need to know. I’m just stopping in before I go home to check on Kellie and Quinn, finish up the arrangements for Marnie’s…funeral, clear things at the clinic so I can take a couple of days.” She avoided his gaze. “I won’t be back to see you before you’re released.”

He didn’t like the sound of her voice. At all. She was slipping away. He was stuck in a hospital bed while she bore the weight of the world.

“Don’t do this.” Frustration swelled. “Don’t shut me out.”

“I need some time to myself.” When her eyes met his he was hypnotized by the pain there. Trapped by it. “I’ll be in touch in a couple of days.”

Her tread was soft. She made no noise. Just drifted through the door without looking back. He let his head fall back on his pillow. Was it madness to think he could make it better for her? To wish he could be everything to her? Defeat was a bitter pill he refused to swallow. He wasn’t giving up. When he was released he was heading in her direction.

****

Sophie held court at the front of the room, her plate of food untouched, her coffee cold. Beside her was the small table holding the urn of ashes, a bouquet of flowers, and two framed pictures of Marnie. It was more of a wake than a funeral, but she figured Marnie would have wanted laughter, people milling about, more mess than stiff and somber. She would have enjoyed the pun too. There was no booze served, but coffee flowed along with the stories.

They came from all over to pay their last respects. The Pacific coast had blessed Vancouver with lovely weather and bits of sunshine. It made travel easier. They walked, bussed, or caught a ride with friends to get here. It was a chance to pay their respects to the best Finder in decades. They milled about, stacked food on plates, gripped cups in their hands.

Many of them were patients of hers, her clinic staff, of course, and the few friends she’d found the time to make were also in attendance. Kellie was there, pretty in the new clothes they finally found the time to shop for, and pushing Quinn in his stroller. Without the two of them, the last couple of days would have driven her mad. Pulled in six different directions, she’d slept little and eaten less.