Where Angels Fear (Detectives Kane and Alton)

Doug shook his head. “No, what happened?”

“I don’t know but you’re going to be fine.” The man’s dark eyes carried no compassion. “Don’t fight the drugs, it’s better if you sleep right now.” He pushed the needle of the syringe into a tube running into Doug’s arm. “This won’t take long to work. I’ll be back later to set up the machine, then you’ll get regular doses. I won’t allow you to suffer.” He pulled the drapes around the bed, leaving a large space, and hurried away.

The memory of having to have his old cancer-riddled dog euthanized flashed across his consciousness. I won’t allow you to suffer. They were the exact words the vet had said to his dog. Perplexed, Doug peered through the gap in the curtains and met the terrified gaze of a young woman in the next bed. She had a bruise on her forehead and pulled feebly against the restraints attached to her wrists. He blinked. She seemed strangely familiar. Another doctor, or maybe a nurse, dressed in hospital scrubs but larger than the first man, came into view. The man had his back to him as he bent over the young woman.

“Hello, Olivia.” He gave a low chuckle. “You owe me, you know. I found you in a car wreck. We’re gonna have so much fun together.” He pressed the tip of a scalpel under one of her terrified eyes, then removed it and held it before her. “Not now, but I’ll be back soon.”

Doug recognized the man’s voice and, terrified for the young woman’s safety, fought against the drug. It was Jim, Ella’s friend. He wanted to say something but his throat was parched and his words came out in a sigh. Jim straightened and stepped away. What the hell is going on here?

Memories of the car wreck and helping a young woman flooded into his mind. Jim had insisted he helped him to take her to the ER. The moment the injured woman was in his arms, Jim had moved like lightning and plunged a needle into his neck. The next thing he remembered was waking up in the hospital in agony. Had another vehicle slammed into them to injure him or was he involved in some twisted game? He stared at Jim in disbelief. Holy cow, the medical student was threatening a helpless patient. Cold chills ran through his bones but he could not move. His body seemed to be floating away and as the medication took hold, his vision blurred but his hearing was working just fine.

“Do you like the drugs, Olivia? I call them zombie drugs. It means you see and feel everything. Won’t that be fun?” Jim chuckled deep in his chest. “Over the next few days, we’re gonna be seeing a lot of each other.”

Twenty-Eight

A blast of freezing air blasted Kane as he slid from his truck, sending a stab of agony through his temple. He pulled his woolen cap over his ears and tugged up his hoodie, pulling the strings tight around his face. He grabbed the first aid kit, pushed the satellite phone into one pocket and rounded the hood of his truck. Ella Tate was slipping and sliding in his direction, babbling so fast he couldn’t catch a word of what she was saying. He looked at her wild expression. “Are you injured?”

“No, just cold.”

Kane frowned. “What happened? Is Doug inside the truck?”

“No, he’s vanished.” Ella’s teeth chattered like castanets. “I woke up in the truck not long ago.”

He took her by the arm and led her back to Doug’s truck. “Can’t you drive?”

“Yeah but he took the keys.” Ella shivered beside him, hugging her chest.

As Kane crunched his way along the ice-covered blacktop, the smell of salt burned his nostrils. He bent and examined the surface of the road and frowned. The ice wasn’t as thick as he’d imagined which meant the snowplow had cleared this road and spread salt in the last twenty-four hours. He straightened and peered inside Doug Paul’s truck and spotted the shotgun. There was no sign of the owner and nothing to indicate the pair of them had been drinking. He took in Ella’s distraught expression. “Come with me and you can tell the sheriff what happened. There’s coffee and soup in my truck.”

Kane lifted the shotgun from the front seat, unloaded it and carried it back to his truck, securing it in a box in the back. He moved to Ella’s side and patted her down, then, satisfied she carried no weapons, opened the door and waved her inside. “Jump in. Wrap a blanket around you. I’ll be back in a second.”

After giving Duke a pat on the head, he headed back toward Jenna, following the car tracks through the pile of snow. He scanned the carnage then moved his attention back at Jenna. “Any survivors?”

“Nope.” Jenna grimaced. “Let’s get out of the cold and see what she has to say.”

Kane touched her arm. “There was a loaded shotgun in the truck but she’s clean.”

“Okay.” Jenna brushed snow from her coat, then led the way back to his truck and climbed inside.

Kane followed and slid back into the warm. He turned to look at Ella. “Did you witness the accident?”

“I don’t even remember getting here. Last thing I remembered I was talking to Doug around eleven last night. I woke here and Doug went missing.” Ella’s teeth chattered as she spoke. “I don’t know what’s happening to me. I feel like I’m going crazy.”

He took in her wild appearance. “No six-five man chasing you with an ax this time?”

“No, and no one has been by.” Ella snuggled in the blanket. “Where is everyone?”

“The road is closed at Blackwater.” Kane turned to Jenna. “Do you want me to drive her to the hospital and have the paramedics check her out?”

“No, I want to stay on scene. Call the paramedics on the satellite phone and notify Wolfe, then go over the vehicle. Give Rowley a call to run the plate; you won’t have bars on your cellphone out here.” Jenna sniffed and swiped at her nose. “I’ll take her statement.”

Kane glanced at Ella, then back at Jenna. His gut told him something didn’t sit right. “Do you mind if I ask her something first?”

“Go right ahead.” Jenna poured coffee into a cup and handed it to Ella.

Kane turned in his seat and took in Ella’s appearance. She looked small and frightened wrapped in a blanket; but psychopaths came in a variety of types. “Two of your friends are missing and you’re out in the middle of nowhere carrying a weapon. You say you don’t remember how you got here. Do you often suffer blackouts?”

“Not until this morning. Look, I didn’t do anything to Doug or Sky.” Ella glared at him. “You can tell if someone fired the gun recently, can’t you? I haven’t hurt anyone.”