Page 75 of Unbearable
“Wait until he starts doing it just to jack with you,” Knox grumbled.
“Dover?” she heard from somewhere in the main part of the warehouse. She gave a sigh of relief as Dex stepped inside the outer room. He took one look at the situation and turned around to start barking orders. A perimeter was set up outside the room which limited the number of people rushing inside.
“You. We need bolt cutters. Let’s go,” he barked. Two firemen rushed into the room carrying their gear. Two more EMTs followed behind.
“We need to be careful,” Knox snarled. “Every time he moves, it tightens.”
“We need a ladder,” one of the men shouted. Soon a large one appeared through the door. “We’ll get above it and sever the cable. I need to make sure we can cut it with one go just to make sure.” They set up the extension ladder against the wall and climbed up to survey the cable.
“Go get Moose.” A few minutes later a man easily as big as Knox walked through the door. “We need that cable cut in one go. Can you do it?” Moose climbed up and studied it.
“If he can’t, I will,” Knox responded.
“I’ve got it,” Moose said. He took the cutters and eased them toward the cable. Knox positioned himself next to Fox. Dover wondered if the man would really lift her brother higher with his bare hands if he had to. “I’m going to count to three. Are you ready.”
Dover’s gaze met Fox’s gaze once more. His nose was still bleeding, but he looked calm.“Ready?”
“I love you.”
“Shut up and tell me that when this is over.”She nodded at him. “He’s ready.”
“Here we go. One. Two. Three.” On three, the fireman gave a huge grunt and cut through the cable. Fox fell from the top of the chair, but Knox was there to catch him. The cable whipped across the ceiling as it unspooled on the other side of the room. “Watch out!”
Knox somehow managed to block both Dover and her brother from the cable until the firemen could get it under control.
“Sir,” one of the EMTs said, stepping into the room. “We need to get in there.”
“Where’s the ambulance?” Knox followed them out of the room with Fox cradled in his arms. Dover debated between following and making sure the room was processed.
“Go,” Dex said, ushering her out. “I’ve got this, and Danny is on his way.” With a grateful nod, she hurried to the ambulance. She found it to be crowded with Fox stretched out on one of the gurneys. An IV was already taped to his hand, and Knox was arguing about the gash that had reopened on his head.
“We’re heading to Mass Gen,” the EMT said.
“I’ll meet you there. I need to talk to him as soon as possible.” She turned and snapped at one of the patrolmen. He immediately jogged over to her. “I need a ride. And I need lights and siren.”
CHAPTER 29
Dover madeit halfway to the hospital before remembering she had left her phone in the front seat of her car. “After you drop me at the front door,” she said to the patrol officer. “Go back and get my phone off the front seat and bring it to me wherever I am in the hospital. Can you do that?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he answered. They rode the rest of the way in silence. Finally, he pulled up to the emergency entrance of the hospital.
“Thank you,” she said, jumping out. She swung the car door closed and jogged through the automatic door of the emergency lobby.
“Fox Addams,” she barked at the harried-looking receptionist. The woman opened her mouth to say something only to find a gold shield waved in her face. With a scowl she picked up a phone and paged someone behind the swinging doors.
“You’re asking about Foxworth Addams,” a young doctor said, stepping through the doors. “Ms. —?”
“Detective Addams,” she corrected.
“Detective. Let’s step over here.” He led her to the side of the room that wasn’t as crowded. “He’s being evaluated. As you canimagine, his throat is badly abraded. He needs to rest before he’s interrogated.”
“There is a serial killer out there, and I’m losing time finding him because I’m dealing with you. I will be talking to him, so you can either take me, or I’ll find him myself. Your choice.” She cocked a hip as she stared at him. His face morphed through several emotions before it finally settled on one.
“Follow me.” Turning, he quickly walked through the doors. She followed him down a hallway to a triage room. There, she found Fox dozing on a bed covered in blankets. “The less he speaks, the better,” the doctor said before disappearing.
“Thank you, I’ll keep that in mind.” Her gaze moved back to her brother. He was paler than normal, and his throat was a deep purple from where the strap had been. An IV line ran to the back of the hand that lay across his stomach. She watched as his chest rose with each breath he took. She had come so close to losing him.
Her attention shifted as the door to the room slowly opened. The gun on her hip was in her hands before she had time to even think. She felt her shoulders relax when Knox slid inside. His hands immediately flew up when he saw her.