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“What the fuck do you mean, ‘She’s gone?’” I jump out of bed and start running toward the door, only stopping when I realize that I’m in my boxer briefs. Shit.
Clothes would probably keep you out of the tabloids, Drew.
“She ran. Nurses went to check on her, and she was gone,” he huffs through the phone.
“Well, are they looking for her?” I place him on speaker and jump into my jeans before throwing a T-shirt over my head.
“No. They’re saying she left against medical advice, and they are moving on with life.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? She was naked in a room! In a house that was burning down around her. Something bigger was at play, and they are just letting her go?! What the fuck?” I run a hand through my hair, my heart beating out of my chest.
I’m well versed on people not giving a shit about someone. Phoenix needed help back in the day at Darkwood, and adults—hell, even other students—turned a blind eye to her torment. Someone who was in that bad of condition should be protected. She needed help. And the hospital let her down.
“They apparently don’t care enough or just don’t want the trouble. Who the fuck knows?” Kayce sighs, running a hand through his hair.
“I need to call John. He’ll know what to do.” I hang up the phone and dial the man who saved Phoenix and me all those years ago. A man who has become family to us.
“Agent Steele,” John says as he picks up the phone, obviously not looking at the caller ID and seeing that it’s me.
“John, it’s Drew.”
His tone perks up. “Drew, how are you feeling? Phoenix gave me a rundown of what happened. Are you okay?”
I let out a sigh. “Yeah, I’m alright. A little smoke inhalation, but I’m fine. Hey, that woman I found?—”
“What the hell were you thinking of running into a burning building?” John scolds.
“Really?” I throw up my free arm in exasperation, even though he can’t see. “I was making sure someone wasn’t in there, and what do you know? Someonewas!”
“Son, you could have been seriously hurt. There’s a reason firefighters have gear they put on. To protect themselves.”
“Yeah, I get that John, but… I just had to.”
“I know, I know. You have a good heart, Drew. You’re a good man. Don’t ever change.” He blows out a breath. “Now that I got that out of the way, to what do I owe the pleasure of this phone call?” he asks.
“The woman I found. Do we know who she is? She took off from the hospital.” I run downstairs and find my keys to my Mustang sitting on the counter, swiping them and heading toward the garage.
“She left? AMA?”
“Kayce said the nurses went in there for something and found the room empty. She ran. Or at least, I hope she did. Do we have any information on her that would tell me where I can find her?” I jump in my car and slam the door.
“No. I have nothing. I can call local PD and see if they got anything from her, but this isn’t a federal case. I don’t really have jurisdiction. Last I knew, all we had was her first name. Raelyn. And I’m not sure if that’s even her actual name. Outside of that, Idon’t think there is much we will be able to do,” he sighs into the phone. “Sorry, Drew.”
“Well, I can’t just do nothing.” I lean my head back against the headrest.
“You may have to, kid. Sometimes, there is nothing we can do. In this situation, you have to accept that. Accept that you saved someone’s life and move on.”
“Sure. Thanks, John.” I click end on the screen and sit there defeated.
I throw the phone down into the seat next to me and run my hands over my face.
Fuck it.
Like John said, I saved someone’s life and need to move on. But something in the back of my mind won’t let me just be happy with that. I need to find her. I need to make sure she’s safe. Above all, I always need to trust my gut. It’s gotten me this far. And it’s screaming at me to listen to it.
She’s not out of danger yet.
Chapter Seven