Page 63 of Deathmarch

“No bleeding at all. No bones poking out.” He noted the swelling and discoloration at her ankle. “Might be broken, but at least, it’s not an open break.”

She drew a shuddering breath. “I’m wiggling my toes. Are they wiggling?”

“They are.” He covered her up as best he could to keep her warm. “Looks like everything works. How’s your head?”

“Pounding.”

“You hit it pretty hard.” He brushed a lock of bloodstained hair from her face and made himself smile when what he wanted to do was punch someone.

“What kind of car?” she asked.

“A black SUV.” He rattled off the license plate number as he took her hand. “Familiar? Do you know anyone who drives a black SUV?”

“Zane?” She closed her eyes for a moment. “Ex-boyfriend. But I don’t know his license plate number.”

“Full name?”

“Zane Griffin.”

Harper made a mental note so he could run the guy through the system once he was at the station. “Has he ever stalked you before?”

“Yes.”

Harper’s fingers tightened around Allie’s before he caught himself and relaxed them. “Has he ever hurt you?”

“Not like this. Not physically. Just your basic gaslighting.”

“Where does he live?”

“Harrisburg.”

About eighty or so miles away. Not an insurmountable drive.

“Could have been an accident,” she said. “Somebody not paying attention.”

“Yeah.” But it sure as hell hadn’t looked like it.

She shivered, a common side effect of shock after physical injury.

“Are you cold?” He tugged the buffalo coat closer around her, glad that she’d brought it.

“Just my foot.”

He moved over and sat on the sidewalk with his legs stretched in front of him, then he took her swollen foot onto his lap and laid his hands over it to keep it warm. “How is that?”

“Better. Thanks.”

Jose Gonzales’s pickup rolled down the street. He pulled over when he spotted them and inched down the window. “Everything all right? Can I do anything to help?”

“Ambulance is on the way. Hit-and-run. Black SUV.” Harper rattled off the license plate number.

“I’ll call it in if I see it.”

“Thanks, Jose.”

“All right. If you’re sure I can’t do anything else.” The man looked at Allie. “You take care.” Then he pulled away.

A couple walking on the other side of the road also offered assistance. Harper told them everything was under control.