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Hemlock appeared in the hallway, a bloody hand holding onto the wall. “I think… I need an ambulance,” was all he said before dropping to his knees. His hand sliding down the wall, leaving behind a bloody streak as he went down.

“Charlie, take my phone and call 911.” Truck tried handing her his phone, but Charlie was riveted to the spot. “Charlie!”

Startled by Truck shouting, Charlie grabbed the phone and called for help. She kept her eyes on Ashley, who hadn’t moved while Truck went to Hemlock. When the 911 operator answered, she rattled off the details.

Listening to the operator, Charlie tried answering the questions the best she could as she skirted around Ashley’s body. Her main focus now was getting over to where Truck had laid Hemlock on the ground.

It took what felt like forever for the emergency service to arrive. In all actuality it was only minutes. Charlie stood watching as the condo filled with cops and EMTs. People bumped into her, causing her to step back into the kitchen out of the way. She could hear chatter throughout the house as orders were barked out. She tried to get back out to Hemlock but was told to stay put so she wouldn’t be in the way.

Minutes ticked by before she saw Hemlock being carried out of the house. His eyes were closed, an oxygen mask covered his face. She could see blood seeping through the white sheet that covered him.

The first of many sobs slipped past her lips as Charlie crumpled to the ground. She watched Ashley’s body being turned over andwas horrified seeing the girl’s eyes were open. They stared at her as if Ashley was still there somehow. She was so transfixed on Ashley, Charlie barely heard Truck speaking to her.

Pissed and worried about Hemlock, Truck searched for Charlie. He found her on the kitchen floor, staring at the dead girl… Ashley. Squatting down next to Charlie, he grabbed a dishtowel from the counter and wrapped it around her arm. “Where’s Hemlock?”

“Hemlock’s being taken to the hospital. They stabilized him.” Truck could tell Charlie was in shock. Flagging down an EMT, he motioned the woman to come check on Charlie.

When an EMT made their way into the kitchen, Truck unwrapped Charlie’s arm, allowing the woman to see it.

“She needs to be taken to the hospital,” the female EMT said.

Wrapping an arm around Charlie’s shoulders, he somehow managed to get her off the floor and out of the condo and into an ambulance. He wasn’t even sure where the second one had come, or when it showed up. However, when he went to climb in, Truck was told once again he would have to follow them in his own vehicle. “Charlie, I’ll be right behind you.” He saw the empty look she gave him, and he wanted to kill Ashley again.

Chapter Twenty-Six

It would take her hours to wrap her mind around everything Ashley had said inside the apartment. Charlie sat in a small room at the ER staring at the white wall. She had thought Truck or one of the other brothers would have come to check on her. No one had showed up. Not yet, at least.

Her eyes bounced around the room looking for a clock, she had no idea how long she’d been there. She didn’t know if Hemlock was dead or alive. Running a hand over her arm, she noticed the blood. That was when the shakes started from the adrenaline release. Her teeth were even rattling as she shook.

With no one to tell her how Hemlock was doing, Charlie got off the bed and headed for the door. Her arm would heal with or without medical attention. She was done sitting alone freezing. As she reached for the door handle, a nurse entered the room.

“Did you need the restroom?”

Charlie stared at the woman and shook her head no. “I’m leaving. I need to check on my friend that was injured.” She felt the nurse’s hands as they touched her shoulders. Exhaustedfrom the ordeal, she closed her eyes and let out a breath. Then did as the nurse asked and got back on the bed.

“I’ll get you some warm blankets. I just need to get some information first.”

Charlie rattled off answers to all the questions. She wanted to leave, she wanted to find out about Hemlock. “Can you find out about Emile Durand for me? Please.”

“I’ll see what I can find out for you. Now lay back and try to rest. The doctor will be in shortly to take care of your arm.”

Those were the last words Charlie heard for over an hour. When the doctor finally came in, he apologized for the delay. He offhandedly told her they had a knife wound victim come in and they had to stabilize the man. Charlie’s eyes welled up with tears as she stared at the doctor. “Is the man going to live?”

She saw the shocked look on the doctor’s face as his eyes went from the wound on her arm to her face. “I was brought in at the same time.”

“Are you friends with the victim?” the doctor asked cautiously not sure who he was dealing with.

“Yes, he’s my friend. We were attacked in our home.”

“He’s in surgery,” was all the doctor said as he cleaned her wound. Seemed no one wanted to tell her anything substantial. Charlie felt the cold liquid run down her arm and winced when it burned. Every touch the doctor made caused her discomfort. She barely heard what the doctor said, but the pinch from the needle… that she felt.

Her mind kept going back to earlier. Ashley had died laying on that cold floor in front of her. Charlie could still see the poolof blood as it seeped from beneath her. She could still see her lifeless eyes staring back at her. Somewhere in the back of her mind Crispen popped up. Ashley had said he was tied up. Oh crap, what if Crispen was tied up in the apartment? What if he was dying as well?

All done she heard the doctor state. Staring down, she saw a few stitches in two different areas. Most of the wound was taped shut by steri-strips. “Is there an officer still here?”

“Yes. Why? Do you need one?” the doctor asked her.

“I do.”