I found the pilot, bandages still covering his eyes. I had one of the cops uncuff him, telling him I needed to run a test, then led him off to a quiet spot. When I whispered Colt’s plan in his ear, he went pale: God, he was as scared of Colt as I was. But he grimly nodded.
Seth was next. I sidled closer to the group of volunteers, trying to attract his attention without—
“There you are!”
My heart nearly stopped. Corrigan came up behind me, his warm chest against my back, and pressed a cup of coffee into my numb hand. “Drink that, you’ll feel better.”
I nodded silently and sipped some, not even tasting it. God, this was even harder than I’d thought. My whole body was screaming at me to tell him Colt was there. I didn’t even have to say anything. All I had to do was turn around: as soon as he saw my face, he’d know something was wrong.
But then what? Rebecca would be dead. And if Corrigan ran in to try and save her, very probably he’d die, too.
Corrigan put his hands on my shoulders, trying to turn me around so he could kiss me….
I stepped away, stumbling out of his grip. “Got to go,” I muttered. “Some stuff I need to take care of.”
I could hear the confusion and hurt in his voice. “What…? Beckett?”
But at that second, the beep of a heart monitor stuttered and fell into a continuous tone. Shit! It was Earl: his heart had stopped. Corrigan and the other doctors rushed to help. Maggie gave a moan of horror and ran to Earl’s side. I took a step forward to join them, then hung back. He had plenty of help... and this was my chance. No one was watching me.
I grabbed Seth. His eyes went wide as I whispered in his ear. I saw the emotions play over his face: shock, guilt, hurt. He glanced at Taylor, but she was occupied with Earl. He nodded and went to wait by the pilot.
I quickly ran to the supply closet and filled a bag. The floor was still red with Krista’s blood and my stomach twisted: I was going off with the man who’d done this. But I had no choice.
I ran back through the ER. I’d almost made it to the safety of the darkness when Corrigan’s voice brought me up short. “Beckett!”
I slowly turned around. I couldn’t let him know.
Corrigan was in the middle of a flurry of activity. They were desperately trying to get Earl’s heart going again and it killed me that I couldn’t be in there with them, helping. From what I could see, Corrigan was putting pressure on a bleeder: he couldn’t move. One of our repairs from earlier must have given way. “What’s going on?” he demanded.
My mouth opened, but nothing came out. This is the last time I’m ever going to see him. The very last time. As soon as that thought hit, there was no chance of brazening my way through. I saw his face change: he could see something was horribly wrong. All I could do now was run, and get Colt out of there before he hurt Rebecca. But my feet wouldn’t move.
“Beckett,” he said again. Then. “Amy?”
I silently shook my head. I didn’t dare get close enough to kiss him because he might grab me and not let go. I mouthed I love you.
And then I ran. I grabbed the pilot and Seth as I passed them and we raced to Rebecca’s bed. Colt put his knife away as we approached and nodded for us to follow him. In seconds, we were at the rear door. Outside, a pickup was waiting.
“I’m not coming,” said Seth. “I want out.”
Colt spun and stared at his son disbelievingly. Then he grabbed the front of his shirt and slammed him up against the wall, speaking in a low, dangerous voice I couldn’t hear. At first, Seth twisted away, not wanting to listen. But then his face went pale and he stopped struggling. What? What’s he told him?
Colt finally stepped back. Seth stared at him for a few seconds more, still aghast, then nodded. “I’ve got to get someone,” he told his dad.
“Get in the damn pickup!” snapped Colt, pointing at the door.
But Seth squared his shoulders and lifted his chin. “No!”
Colt moved closer and the two of them faced off. But for the first time, Seth looked just as determined as his dad. “I’m not leaving without her,” Seth said quietly. “I’ll meet you at the camp.”
They stared at each other. Seconds passed...and it was Colt who finally looked away. “Be quick,” he told his son. Then he grabbed me and pulled me towards the door.
53
Dominic
“PRESSURE’S dropping,” said Adele, her voice tight with panic.
We had Taylor doing chest compressions to try to get Earl’s heart going again. Maggie was frantically trying to wire up the defibrillator to Beckett’s car so that it would charge. Lina was giving him a dose of epinephrine. And I’d got my fingers tight around the artery that had torn open. “Hang another two units,” I ordered.