Page 55 of Desperate Justice

Allison glanced at Rafe. “I have to drain the blood from the cavity around her left lung. Open her shirt. And try to keep her still. This isn’t going to be fun.”

As Rafe and Sam squatted by the girl, holding her, Allison disinfected her switchblade with the remaining alcohol. Doing a chest tube was dicey under normal circumstances, after an X-ray and official diagnosis, usually, and with a doctor’s orders. Well, no doctor, and certainly no X-ray.

She pierced the skin between the ribs and the pleural sack. Thankfully, the girl was unconscious. But Jenny’s brother turned a shade of green. Allison slid the straw into the wound.

Ignoring everything except her work and her patient, Allison focused with intense concentration. The world faded away. She could hear the sound of her own breathing, the rapid but steady beating of her heart.

Once she began suctioning, blood began pouring out of the straw onto the ground.

As the sounds of sirens echoed, she saw the girl begin to breathe easier. Her eyelids fluttered.

“Wow, you are so chill,” the boy told her.

Saying a silent prayer of thanks, she looked up at the approaching EMTs.

The paramedics began treating Jenny as Allison rattled off the girl’s injuries.

The middle schooler, who seemed ready to faint at the blood, gave her an admiring look. “Man, you have the rizz. You are the GOAT.”

“Charisma. Greatest of all time,” Rafe said, winking at her. “I tend to agree.”

“I speak gen alpha slang,” she muttered.

Rafe gently pulled her aside, leading her away as they loaded the girl into a waiting ambulance.

“I want to follow,” she said, the numbness setting in. “I want to know what happens to her.”

“I know,” he said softly, sliding an arm around her waist. “Sam is finding out what hospital, and we can check in later from the road.”

Diana came forward and gasped. “Ally, your shirt.”

Glancing down she saw the pretty black-and-white embroidered blouse was drenched in crimson.

Jenny’s blood.

Hiding her feelings, she shrugged. “Wouldn’t be the first shirt I’ve ruined. Guess I’ll have to go shopping. I wanted to get a cute dress for your wedding, Di. I’m still your maid of honor, if you wish.”

Pale, but smiling, her sister nodded. “Of course you are. We can go shopping in town when we get to the cabin. But you should get changed before we leave.”

Rafe followed her to the bike. Rummaging through her pack, she found a plain olive green T-shirt. So much for looking good for Rafe.

It was silly anyway, these girlish flirtations with Rafe. They would never go anywhere.

Folding his arms, he watched her. “Are you okay?”

Then he pointed to the green shirt. “You’re going to change here, out in the open, in front of everyone?”

“I’m a nurse. Used to it.”

He scowled. “I’m not.”

Motioning to the others, he instructed them to block Allison from view of the lookie-loos stuck in traffic. With their backs to Allison, they stood guard.

Another shrug and Allison pulled off the ruined blouse. The white lacy bra was also stained red. The sticky warmth nestled against her breasts.

Well, it wasn’t the first time she’d worn a patient’s blood like a shield. The bra could wait. As she unrolled her olive green T-shirt, Rafe spoke over his shoulder.

“Let me know when you’re decent.”