Vulnerable (Morgans of Nashville 4)

“I was inside buying beer and I walked to get in my car when a guy showed up out of nowhere. He tried to take my purse, but I fought back. He shoved me to the curb.”

“Are you hurt?”

“I’m bruised up. And I’ve a cut on my forehead that’s going to need stitches.”

Georgia blinked the fatigue from her eyes, trying to clear her thoughts. “What do you need?”

“Can you take me to the hospital? I know you don’t know me that well, but I just don’t know who else to call.”

Georgia blinked the fatigue from her eyes. “Yeah, sure. Give me the address.”

Amber rattled off her location. “I’ll come get you. Just sit tight.”

Georgia hurried into her small kitchen and set a K-Cup into the coffeemaker. While it gurgled, she washed her face in the kitchen sink, tucked her shirt into her jeans, and finger-combed her hair before tying it in a ponytail. A few minutes later, coffee in hand, Georgia was backing out of her parking space at her apartment complex. It was two-forty a.m.

The roads were empty except for the occasional delivery truck and marked police car. The drive to the East Nashville address took only twenty minutes. When she pulled up in front of the convenience station, there was no sign of Amber. Parking, with the engine still running, she surveyed the lot, studying the shadows. She thought about Hal stepping out, grabbing her, luring her into a trap.

Her hand on her phone, she unrolled her window. “Amber!”

Seconds later, Amber slowly walked out of the shadows, a fistful of napkins pressed to her bloody forehead. She hurried around to the passenger side of the car.

Georgia unlocked the door long enough for her to get in before relocking it. She turned on the dome light and looked at Amber, blood soaking the napkins and oozing down the side of her cheeks. “Who did this to you?”

“I don’t know. He came out of nowhere.”

“Did you call the cops?”

“No. I don’t want to deal with cops right now. Please. I don’t need an interrogation.”

“They’re here to protect you.”

Amber winced as she pressed the wound harder to staunch the flow. “I can’t deal with them now.”

“Okay. Let’s get you to the emergency room.” Georgia put the car in drive and pulled out of the parking lot.

Amber laid her head back against the seat and drew in a steadying breath. “This is not how I pictured my return to Nashville.”

“Have you received any other texts?”

“A few calls and hang-ups but no texts.”

“Who’s calling?”

“I didn’t recognize the number.”

She pulled the napkin from her head and grimaced at the sight of the blood. “It was stupid of me to go out so late, but I was craving a beer.”

Georgia frowned as the stoplight turned yellow. She punched the gas and slid through the intersection as the light turned red. “Where’s your mother?”

“Working, I think. Or maybe she’s off her shift now and gone out with friends for a drink. That’s her favorite part of the day, or at least it was when I was in high school.” She grimaced as she pressed the napkin back on the wound.

Amber turned a little toward Georgia, her face half shadowed in the darkness. “I heard about that poor girl on the news. I’m guessing that’s why you and the detective had to leave so quickly.”

“We’ve been meaning to get back to you but there’s been no time.” She shoved out a breath. “You’ll hear this soon from someone, but we found Bethany and Mike’s bodies.”

She rolled the window down to get some fresh air. “I heard on the news they found something at the park. How did you find them?”

“The murdered girl was in a cave. Bethany and Mike were behind her in another chamber.”

She pressed a hand to her temple. “I don’t understand. Why would all three bodies be together?”

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out.”

Tears tightened her throat. “My God, after all this time. We finally know where they are. How did they die?”

“We’ve not released that yet. Still doing tests.”

“My God,” she whispered again as she stared out the window at the rushing lights. “Mrs. Reed will be devastated. And Mr. Marlowe was very dedicated to Mike. His son was his world. He’ll not rest until he finds out what happened. I didn’t like the guy, but he doesn’t deserve this. No one does.”

Georgia tightened her grip on the wheel. “We want to talk to you again.”

“Of course.” She shook her head. “God, after all this time and they were right here.”

Amber moaned softly as more pain seemed to course through her head. When it appeared to pass, she was pale and her clear eyes murky.

Georgia, sensing Amber’s condition was worsening, drove faster, even running a red light until she spotted the hospital ahead. Pulling into the parking spot reserved for emergency, she ran around the front of the car and helped Amber stagger to her feet.

The two women made their way across the lot, and by the time they reached the emergency door entrance, Georgia was able to flag down an orderly and get Amber into a wheelchair.

The next half hour centered on getting Amber into an ER room, changed into a gown, and seeing that her paperwork was filled out. Georgia was relieved when Amber removed an insurance card from her wallet.

A nurse examined Amber and determined she would need a dozen stitches. “That’s a nasty gash. How did you get it?”

“I was mugged. As I was running away, I was shoved and hit the curb. Cut my forehead, I think the blood scared the guy away.”

Frowning, the nurse nodded. “Let’s get you numbed up and then sutured. I’m also going to ask the doctor to check in on you because you might have a concussion. Have you ever had a head injury before?”

“I had a bad fall five years ago and suffered a grade-three concussion.”

“Okay, the doctor might order an MRI.”

Amber closed her eyes. “Sure. Fine.”

The nurse returned within a few minutes with a supply tray. She numbed the wound and then stitched up the gash. A doctor appeared and ordered an MRI and she was then wheeled away.

Georgia made her way to a breakroom and poured herself a cup of coffee. She checked her phone and discovered she had a few missed calls. At the top of the list was Jake Bishop. This time, she dialed his number.

“Where are you? You haven’t answered your phone in hours,” he said.

“Amber was mugged. She split her head open and needed stitches. I drove her to the hospital.”

“Why did she call you?”

She shoved a stray curl from her eyes. “She didn’t have anyone else.”

“She’s staying with her mother,” he countered. “Nine-one-one works.”

“Mom is MIA and Amber was afraid the rescue crew would call the cops, and she doesn’t want to deal with more cops.”

“Is that really smart, Georgia? Amber is part of an active investigation.”

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“Shit, Jake. She didn’t have anyone.” She walked down the hallway out of the breakroom toward the sliding glass doors. The sun hovered at the lip of the horizon ready to rise and leaking pinks and reds into the waning night sky. “I couldn’t exactly tell her to take a cab.”

“Why not?”

She sipped her coffee, which tasted bitter. “Because I’m a nice person, remember?”

“You’re a soft touch, Georgia.”

A shiver climbed up her spine. She had the sense someone was watching her, and on reflex, hesitated as she scanned the lot. She saw no one.

“Are you there?”

“Yeah, I’m here.”

“When does Amber leave?”

“They’re talking about admitting her. Once I know, I’ll leave.” Her stomach grumbled, reminding her she’d not eaten a decent meal in a while. “So, why are you in such a rush to talk to me?”

“Just checking in.”

“Why?”

“I’m asking myself that question right now. Mainly, I wanted to make sure Hal didn’t return.”

She turned and moved back into the hospital, taking comfort from the bright lights and the hum of conversation. “Aw, that’s sweet. How did it go with the surveillance tapes?”

Silence and then a frustrated sigh. “I think we spotted our guy on surveillance tape buying rope eight days ago. But he kept his head ducked and his face turned as if he expected cameras.”

“Smart guy.”

“I’m smarter.”

* * *

He stood outside the hospital waiting for the nurse to leave Amber’s room. He thought about the gash in her head and all the blood that had streamed down her face when he’d seen her fall. She’d cried out in pain but had kept her cool. He was glad she only required some stitches. At one point, he feared all the blood loss would kill her.

When he saw the redheaded cop leave just after sunrise, he knew Amber was stable and resting. He reached for his phone, needing to call Amber. He dialed her number, but she didn’t answer.

He shoved the cell in his pocket, debating about whether he could sneak inside and visit her just for a moment. He wouldn’t stay long, he couldn’t.