Truth Avenged (Green Division Series Book 1) (4 page)

“
Sixteen staples.”

“
Just a scratch, huh Johnston?”

“
A big scratch.”   

“
Instruct the ER to notify us if her medical condition declines, or improves and have Mitch take you home. When did your doctor say you can come back to work?”

“
Anytime.”

Kerr huffed.  “
Do you have a follow up appointment?”

“
In a couple days.”

“
You’ll feel those staples when the Novocain wears off.  Check in with me after your follow up.  You’re off until then.”

“
Alright, sir.”  He wasn’t going to argue; a few days off sounded pretty damn good at that point.

“
Not going to argue with me this time?”

“
No.  We’re on the same page.”  Tuck was where he wanted to be.  There was a lynch mob in the woods looking for the perpetrator, but no one at the hospital.

“
Put Mitch on the phone.”

Mitch and Kerr talked for only a minute before the phone was passed back
into his hand, along with his large coffee.

“
Thanks.”

“
Time to call it a night for you.  Let’s go.”

“
Are you going back up the ridge?”

“
Kerr has given me a strict command to drop you off, then head up.”

“
I’m staying until her family gets here.  I don’t care what Mike says.  He’ll get over it.”

“
I figured you’d say that.”  He took another sip.  “That’s why Molly is on her way over here to pick me up.”  Molly was Mitch’s sister.

“
You know me too well.”

“
That I do.  Always doing the right thing, even though you bitch about it the entire time.”  He looked out at the parking lot.  “She made time.”

“
She drives like her brother.”

“
Easy now.  Good thing I called her when we first got here, or your ass would be up a creek.”  He stood up.  “Call me if you need anything.”

“
Thanks for everything tonight.”

“
Anytime.”  Mitch walked out of the ER.  Tuck propped up his feet and made himself comfortable.  He knew it would be a long wait.

A half hour later as he fought off sleep, he remembered Chance
’s editor. 
Shit
.  He got the number from dispatch and dialed.

“
Paul Marston,” the man answered quickly.

Hi, it's Warden Johnston.”

“Did you find her?” 

There was no beating around the bush with her editor. 

“I did. She’s being evaluated at Maine Medical Center.”

“
How—where did she get hurt?”

“
She was injured in a shooting incident.”

“
She was shot, no, who would…”  Paul’s disbelief emanated. “Is she alright?”

“
She’s alive.  I’ll keep you up to date with any information I get.”

“
I, ah, I can’t cancel the meeting I have this morning, they’ll fire my ass for sure.  Shit!”

“
Woah, woah, woah.  Hold on.  Calm down Paul.”

“
I’m trying.  I didn’t expect you to tell me she’d been shot.”

“
Her parents are flying out this morning.  I’m going to stay here until they arrive.  So go to your meeting, I have your number.  When I get an update on her condition I’ll let you know.”

“
I should be there.  It’s my fault this happened to her.” 
Yup, it is
, Tuck thought silently.  “I’ll be there as soon as I can.  Thank you so much.”

“
No problem.”  It was hard for Tuck to be nice to this man.  He wasn’t the one who’d caused her harm, but he was the man that led her directly into it.  He brought his vest and uniform shirt back to the truck and jumped into the driver’s seat.  Even with the blankets, her blood had soaked through the cushion.  He leaned his head back on the headrest and played back the night’s events.  He could have gotten suited up quicker when he got the call and he didn’t have to stop for coffee.  He could have stepped up his response time.  Hopefully those factors would not make a difference between her living and dying.

Hours passed.  Her parents had called, but Tuck regrettably had no information to pass along.  They took it as good news.  No news meant she was alive.
On the contrary, Tuck took little solace because it meant it wasn’t an easy fix.

11
a.m.

Tuck coddled his third cup of coffee from the hospital cafeteria.  Calling the drink coffee was questionable.  It was brown
soup labeled as coffee.  The once empty waiting room was loud and buzzed with people.  A wailing two year old across the room amplified his headache.  The same young doctor who’d kindly stapled Tuck back together entered the waiting room.  He took a seat next to him, his demeanor upbeat. 

“
She’s out of surgery and in recovery.  I won’t go into detail, but they were able to repair the internal damage.  Barring any unseen complications, she should make a full recovery.”  He beamed. 

Tuck looked at the floor, exhaled deeply, and brought his face back to the doctor.  “
Thank you.”  He extended his hand and the doctor took it.

“
If you hadn’t found her when you did, this wouldn’t have a happy ending.”  He let go of Tuck’s hand.  The doctor walked back to the ER doors, but took one fleeting look.  Tuck’s head was against the wall, his eyes closed.  The weight of the world had been lifted off of his shoulders.

“
Mr. Johnston,” the doctor called his attention.  “Are you staying?”

Tuck could leave with a clear conscience.  She was going to pull through and her family was on their way
.  There was no reason for him to stay.

“
Her family won’t be flying in until late this evening.” 

The doctor could read the unspoken words.

“Follow me.”  Tuck obeyed.  They meandered through the hallways until they got to RC140.  “You’re welcome to stay with her.  She’ll be out for a while yet.  It’s quieter in here.  You look like you could pass out yourself.  Take a nap.”

“
Thanks.”  The doctor’s comment obviously meant he looked like shit.

“
I’ll let the attending know you’re with her.  You won’t have any problem.” 

Tuck felt a sudden pang of angst, but ignored it and proceeded into her room.  She looked as though she had barely escaped death.  The machines attached to her b
eeped and chirped.  She had what looked like IVs in both arms and was on oxygen. He felt relief in seeing her, reaffirming that she was alive, but little more.  Tuck called her parents and reached their voicemail.  They were in the air, but would get the message when they landed.  He then called her editor. 

“
Tell me she is okay,” Paul answered in his usual short manner.

“
The doctor said he expects her to make a full recovery.  She’s out of surgery and resting.”

“
Thank God.”  He exhaled.  “I should be able to sneak away within the next hour.  I’m trying to move this meeting along.”

“
There isn’t anything you’ll be able to do.  Don’t kill yourself trying to get here.”

“
I’ll be there.  Thank you.”  He hung the phone up.  Obviously this man didn’t handle stress well.  Tuck sat in one chair, propped his feet up in another, and slid his hat over his eyes.  He wouldn’t sleep, but the light intensified his pounding headache. 

Tuck passed out in a deep sleep
until footsteps at his side woke him. Abruptly he shot up from the chair, his hat plummeting to the floor
.

“
Stand down.”  The nurse was as startled as he.  “I’ll only be a moment.” 

He wiped off his face with his hand.  The pain in his head was debilitating, but he tried to get past it.
  Tuck looked down at his watch. 3 p.m.  He’d slept for nearly four hours.  He had several missed calls on his phone, all from Paul and her parents. 

“
How is she?” he asked the nurse.

“
She’s doing well.  She’s a fighter.”  The nurse flipped a sheet of paper on her clipboard.  “If I ever need help, I hope you’re the one who comes to my rescue, warden.”  She flashed him a flirty smile and winked at him.

“
Part of the job.”  He didn’t return her playfulness.  Under different circumstances he might have been interested in this cute flirty nurse, but on that day his interest could be measured in negative degrees.  She continued to smile and admire him until she got the message that he wasn’t interested.

“
Let me know if you need anything.” 

“
Thank you.” 

She retreated out the door.  Tuck listened to the messages.  Her par
ents had landed in Ohio at 2 p.m.  Paul’s message said he’d been at the hospital, but they would neither give him any information, nor let him see Chance.  Frustration was heavy in his voice.  After an hour of bickering with bitchy nurses, he went back to work.  Paul requested Tuck call when he was available.  Tuck closed the phone.  He had no intention of returning Paul’s call.  His standing in Tuck’s opinion was only slightly above the shooter.  Paul had sent her into those woods alone.  When she didn’t return, he called the wardens to check for her, too lazy to do so himself.  When he was informed of her injury, he didn’t drop everything to be at her side, he was concerned about his meeting.  Hell of a friend.

Chance stirred beside him.  Her head shifted from left to right.  He swung his feet of
f of their perch and pulled the chair so it faced her bed. Her eyes opened and surveyed the room confused.

“
Welcome back,” Tuck greeted.  She pulled the oxygen down from her nose.  “No, no.  Leave that there.”  He leaned over her and positioned it back under her nose.

She lo
cked her eyes with his.  “This—it wasn’t all a bad dream.”  She moved the oxygen again.

He shook his head slightly.  “
I wish I could tell you it was.”  She closed her eyes and furrows formed at her brows. 

“
Then tell me it was, please.”

“
It’s over now.”  He sat on the edge of his chair.  “A few stitches and you’re good as new, just like I told you.”

“
I don’t feel new.”  She opened her eyes and tried to smile, but she couldn’t follow through with the motion. 

“
You’re hurt.”  She spied the large bandage on his head.  “What happened?”

“
Nothing.  It’s a scratch.”

“
Liar.”  She had great difficulty keeping her eyes open.  “I hope it wasn’t my fault.”

“
God, no.  No, it wasn’t your fault.”  He laughed a little at his clumsiness.  “It was all me.”

“
Tuck.”

“
Yeah.”

“
The plane is out there.  I’ll show you.”  She fought to keep her eyes open. 

“
Try to rest.  Your family will be here soon.” 

She closed her eyes and
let out a deep breath.  She fell asleep as quickly as she’d awoken.  She was adamant about the plane, didn’t even ask about the poachers.  Maybe she was trying to protect herself from the trauma of being shot.  The plane story would be unfounded.  There hadn’t been a plane crash in those desolate woods during any era.  Should be an interesting tale none-the-less he thought.  He took a few Tylenol he had in his cargo style pants which he’d stowed away on his trip to his truck earlier.  They didn’t even take a slight edge off the pain.

5
p.m.

The following two hours dragged.  Dragged was a
n understatement.  They crawled.  Every tick of the clock above him a reminder of how slow time passed.  A nurse came in now and again to check on her, but otherwise the clock and the machines were the only noises to break the silence.

Hushed voices exchan
ged words outside her door.  A middle aged woman with a worry laden face walked into the room cautiously.

“
Warden Johnston.”  She forced a smile.

“
She’s been asleep for a few hours,” Tuck whispered. 

Mary Phillips leaned over the bed. 

“You gave us quite a scare Chance.”  She kissed her forehead.  “We’re here honey.”  She stroked the side of her daughter’s face.

“
I’m going to head home.  Don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.”  Tuck moved toward the door.

“
Mr. Johnston.”  Tuck turned.  She closed the few steps that separated them and wrapped her shaking arms around him.