Page 38

CHAPTER 38

Maddie stayed with me in the ambulance as we made our way to the hospital, where they checked me over and bandaged me up good. I refused to spend the night, reassuring the staff that I was in capable hands with my medical-examiner friend. We also gave our statements to the police, but as always, there would be more questions to answer and revelations to share in the coming days.

On the way back to the Marshall House, I asked Maddie the burning question that had been swirling in my brain.

“I didn’t get to hear your entire statement,” I said. “How did you know?”

One side of her mouth quirked up in a lopsided smile. “How did I know where you were? That you were in danger?”

“Yeah, that.”

“I never hung up,” she said and withdrew my phone from her pocket.

I hadn’t even realized I didn’t have my phone on me.

“And neither did you,” she continued. “Your phone was on the whole time. Look.”

She showed me the length of our last phone call.

“I knew something was wrong when I heard all the scuffling and then his voice. It was enough to know you needed help. I called the police, told them you were in danger somewhere on the beach.”

“They found me just in time.”

“They sure did. And I caught a ride with my motorcycle friend?—”

“Wait. You have a motorcycle friend in Savannah?”

She winked. “I do now.”

“Your timing was perfect.”

“It was sheer luck. I wanted to make sure you were okay, you know … after the cops showed up. Then I saw Terrence with a gun approaching from the parking lot, right in the middle of the cop cars and everything. I knew I had to do something, and fast.”

“You sure did. I mean, I knew you were savage, but … wow.”

We laughed, and I brought her in for a hug as we walked through the lobby. “Thanks, Maddie, for everything.”

“Don’t ever run off on me like that in a situation like this again.”

“I’ll try to behave,” I said. “Suppose we should give Dr. Beetle her cane back?”

Before Maddie could respond, someone behind us cleared their throat loud enough for us to hear.

We turned.

“Doc … Dr. Beetle?” Maddie exclaimed.

The root doctor’s grin was wide as she cackled, holding her beloved cane high in the air. “Good fo mo dan walking, ain’t it now?”