One More Time (Red Hook 1)

Drake sighed, visibly trying to hold it together. He was a long-time friend of the Garcia family, and Noah knew this was hard for him, too. Alana had many fans in this town.

Drake had on a black baseball hat with the word “police” written on it in gold letters. He wore a black polo shirt that also said “police.” “She is still in surgery. We should know soon.”

Ray walked up to them with an angry look on his face. His black hair was cut in a short military style. He still wore his white chef’s uniform. It had bloodstains on the front. Noah braced himself for another fight. Ray had already punched him out once, and he’d let it go because he knew he deserved it.

Ray took a deep breath, his hands clenched into fists. “You have to find this asshole. Alana cooperated with him. He held a knife, and she handed him the money. He stepped close to grab the money. I was standing right behind her, keeping my eye on him, but he was fast.”

Ray stopped and swallowed. He closed his eyes then opened them again. They were bright and glossy.

“He grabbed her wrists and stabbed her in the stomach before I could stop him. She fell to the floor. He r

an. I didn’t bother to go after him. I couldn’t leave her lying there.”

Noah felt himself grow angry. He knew almost everyone in town, and he couldn’t think of one person that cruel and cold to stab Alana when she didn’t resist. He couldn’t imagine how scared she had been when confronted with an armed man.

“I will find him, Ray. Did you see anything to help us identify him? How much was taken?”

Ray shook his head. “I gave Drake what I could remember. It happened so fast. It took less than ten minutes. Luckily Dad had put most of the money in the bank. We had less than a hundred in the register.”

Ray looked over Noah’s shoulder. “There’s the doc.”

Dr. Jennings looked grim as he stopped in front of them. His blond hair was messy, as if he had run his fingers through it multiple times. Mr. and Mrs. Garcia stood up and faced him, looking stoic and prepared to hear the news, good or bad.

“It was tough there for a minute. He stabbed her once, but it went in deep,” he warned them.

Noah stood tense and scared of what he would hear next. He couldn’t stand to hear any bad news.

“She was in shock, and she lost a lot of blood. It brought all her vitals down. We have it under control now, but she is going to be here for a few days,” the doctor continued. “Luckily she is young and healthy. That will aid her recovery.”

Mrs. Garcia sobbed while her husband held her. Alicia had come over to where they stood.

“She will live, though, right, Doc?” Her face was red and blotchy. She looked so much like Alana that it was hard for Noah to breathe. Both girls had deep-brown hair. Only Alana’s was straight and long, and Alicia’s was short and cut in a trendy style.

The doctor nodded at Alicia with a patient smile. “The knife wound was deep, and we were worried, but she is a strong girl. She will be weak due to the blood loss. We’ll watch her, make sure she doesn’t get an infection. She is sedated and won’t be awake until tomorrow. I suggest you all go home and rest. She should be more aware of her surroundings by tomorrow.”

The doctor turned to Noah. “Hope you get him, Sheriff. We don’t need this guy running loose in town.”

Noah nodded. His legs were weak with relief. He plopped down onto a chair without an ounce of grace. He put his elbows on his knees and took deep breaths. He wanted to sob like a baby. Alana was going to live. She could keep turning her cute little nose up at him whenever he saw her, but at least she was alive to do it.

Drake sat next to him and patted him on the back. He knew Noah still had feelings for Alana. “You okay, Noah?”

Noah nodded but stayed silent. He needed a moment for his muscles to loosen up. He was just now feeling like he could breathe again.

He could hear Ray telling his parents to go home and rest. “Take Alicia with you. Drake and I are taking turns staying awake with her,” Ray told them.

They reluctantly agreed and left with the promise to be here in the morning.

Drake looked at his watch. “I need to go by my place and change out of my uniform. I am not on duty again until tomorrow morning.”

“I’ll take your shift tomorrow, Drake,” Noah volunteered. Noah was off tomorrow. The last thing he wanted to do was sit at home and worry about Alana. “I’m going to get started on finding this guy. Don’t leave Alana alone, especially with her not awake yet.”

Ray looked down at his own clothes and grimaced. He looked reluctantly at Noah as if he hated to even speak to him. “Can you wait here until I go home and change, too? I don’t want her to wake up and see blood.”

“No problem.” Noah wanted to sit and put his emotions under control again. He had never felt so helpless in his life, even when his parents had died in a car accident years ago.

The two men left, and a nurse showed Noah to Alana’s room. He was glad for the chance to see her. He was still worried that she could catch an infection. He slowly opened the door and went in. Hospitals were scary places.

She lay so still on the bed, eyes closed and not moving. Her room was dim with only a small light on. He could see her chest moving up and down. Otherwise, he would wonder if she was even alive. Her body was covered by a thick white blanket. She was hooked up to an IV and other gadgets he recognized. Memories surfaced to the front of his mind, memories of her laughter and sparkling eyes. She drew him like no other, always cheering him up and making him feel crazy with so many emotions. Why had he thought that was so terrible?