Patrick pulled her into his arms, crying along with her. “My mother loved you. I love you. You wouldn’t have done anything to harm her. I don’t want to hear you blame yourself for what someone else did. Do you hear me?”
“Yes, but—”
“No buts! I mean it, Zoey. Not one more time. The officer I talked to said that the paramedics think she died before you were attacked. That he must have silenced her alarm when he knocked the nurses out.”
“She would have been alive if I hadn’t fallen asleep—”
“Or you both could be both dead if you were awake when he came into the room. The police are still looking for him. They don’t know if he’s still inside or if he escaped before they arrived. Did you see who it was?”
“I caught a glimpse of his face. They want me to go to the station to meet with a sketch artist.”
“Why haven’t they taken you yet?”
“I don’t know. That was several minutes ago. The officer said he needed someone to move the car behind his.”
The three of them stood waiting for the officer to return. When several more minutes passed and no one came out, she and the two men grew increasingly nervous.
“I’m going to see what’s taking so long.” Kent moved forward just as several officers came running out with Stump, Ice, Max, and Jackal.
“What’s going on?” Zoey asked as Stump and Ice came running toward her.
“They found an unconscious man in one of the patient’s closets. They want you to identify if he was the man who was chasing you.” Stump pulled her into his side as two police officers hurried them inside.
If Stump hadn’t been with her, she didn’t think she could steel herself to see her attacker again, even if he was unconscious.
Paramedics followed them as they entered a patient’s room on the first floor. An officer standing in the doorway moved away as she grew closer.
“Look long enough to identify him, then let the paramedics inside.”
Nodding at the officer, she didn’t go into the room, just stood in the doorway to stare down at the man. She felt sick at the realization of who it was.
Stepping back, she shook her head. “That’s not him. That’s the night guard.”
“Son of a fucking bitch!” Stump swore, pounding his fist on the wall. “Radio your men and see if anyone remembers seeing a security guard when they searched the building. He pretended to be a fireman when he set the fire alarm off in your building—that’s how he got away that time.”
Escorted back outside, Stump rode with her to the police station and stayed by her side as the composite sketch was drawn. It was mid-morning before they were able to leave.
Jackal was waiting for them in a car outside when they came out.
“I need to go see Patrick. I don’t want him left alone,” Zoey said once she was inside.
“He’s not alone. Penni and Grace are helping him make arrangements.” Jackal put the car in gear, pulling out of the parking lot.
“I asked Ice to take care of it when you were with the sketch artist. I know he’s a friend of yours, so I told them to tell Patrick that I would take you to see him once you got some sleep. You’re too tired to help yourself, much less him. I also told Ice what you said at the police station—that it wasn’t you he was fixated on.”
She laid her head on his shoulder. “All of this because he wanted Ginny to have the stage for herself.”
“You kept whatever fucked-up fantasy he had from coming true in his twisted mind.” Stump started to swear again but stopped at her baleful glare.
“You already owe me over a hundred dollars. Keep it up, and I’m going to start charging you ten dollars a word.”
He was smart enough to snap his mouth closed.
“How are we supposed to catch him?” Zoey asked anxiously when she saw he had gotten her message. “Anyone who comes in contact with Ginny could be in danger, and they wouldn’t know it, like I didn’t.”
“I called and talked to Shade. He came up with an idea,” Jackal said, not taking his eyes off the road.
“What is it?”
“That Ginny performs with Kaden tonight.”
“That’s too dangerous!”
“That’s for her to decide. He’s talking to her, and then he’ll text me when she makes her decision.”
“We’re hoping it will make whoever is stalking her do something since he doesn’t have time to plan. We have your sketch, so anyone who matches his description will be detained and questioned.” Jackal honked at a car when it swerved into his lane.
“I don’t like it.”
“We don’t either, but it’s all we have to work with.” Stump took her hand in his, holding it on his lap. “I’ll be there with you. I won’t let you out of my sight.”