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NINETY-TWO

COAL MOUNTAIN HOSPITAL

Ellie insisted on riding with Rosalyn to the hospital in case she regained consciousness while Derrick remained in Emerald Falls to canvass the remaining crowd and review security cam footage. Hopefully he’d find a clue as to the direction the van had gone.

Rosalyn was so pale and still that Ellie feared she wouldn’t make it. The medic started an IV with fluids then radioed into the hospital. “Patient appears to be dehydrated. BP ninety over fifty-two, breathing shallow. Oxygen low, Temperature 103. En route to the hospital. ETA ten minutes.”

Ellie glanced at her watch, every second that ticked by intensifying her worry for Mazie.

The ambulance bounced over a pothole, swerving around a stalled vehicle and skidding. But the driver managed to steer it back on track and made it to the hospital in just under the ten-minute mark.

Staff members rushed to them and quickly wheeled Rosalyn to the ER.

A nurse indicated for Ellie to stop. “I’m sorry but you need to wait out here.”

Ellie gritted her teeth and flashed her badge. “I believe her daughter was kidnapped,” she said. “We need to talk to her as soon as she regains consciousness.”

Alarm flashed in the nurse’s eyes. “Kidnapped?”

“Yes, we’ve issued an Amber Alert. Do not let anyone inside to visit this woman until I give you the all clear.”

“Yes, Detective. I’ll inform security.”

Ellie nodded, her heart in her throat as she went to the waiting room. She grabbed coffee from a vending machine, wrinkling her nose at the bitter taste. It had already been a long damn day, and it wasn’t over yet.

Exhausted, she sank onto the loveseat and closed her eyes, praying Rosalyn survived and that they found Mazie before it was too late.