Chapter 8
EIGHT
As she lay on the floor dying, Della could’ve sworn she heard a laugh.
A familiar, evil laugh. She was close enough she kicked at the door.
But with everything swirling in and out of focus, maybe it was only a horrible nightmare.
The pain sure felt real. Each pound on the door sent a shockwave through her skull.
They needed to get out. She couldn’t breathe.
Anthony’s eyes rolled back into his head as he leaned against the thick metal door.
Lord, help. And please don’t let him get away with this.
Because no doubt Jason Vaynes was behind all this.
Footsteps on the other side of the door stopped. The knob jiggled. Anthony fell into the hall. Della tried to move but couldn’t. Strong hands dragged her out of the room.
“What happened?” Penny Mitchell’s face blurred.
“CO2,” was all Della could get out.
“We need oxygen!” Penny called down the hallway before dragging Della farther away from the storage room. More footsteps sounded as Della closed her eyes and concentrated on pulling in each breath. The cold from the linoleum floor seeped through her shirt, chilling her back and legs.
Someone shoved a plastic oxygen mask in her hand and held it over her nose and mouth. “Try to breathe slow and deep.”
Della looked up to see Kianna yet again shoving an oxygen mask in her face.
Penny held one out to Anthony, who’d also made it farther out into the hall and away from the storage room.
Trace propped him against the wall next to her.
After a few minutes of fresh air, they moved to the back of the ambulance, where they both rested and stayed hooked up to the oxygen monitors and tanks.
Eventually, the nausea and dizziness faded.
Voices and sounds from the cargo bay came in through the open back doors of the ambulance. The rest of the crew must be back from the call.
Penny came up to the rig, wearing gloves and carrying a fire extinguisher.
“Is that what I think it is?” Anthony sat up on the cot.
“If you think it’s a carbon dioxide extinguisher that was fixed in the ventilation system, filling the room with poisonous gas and trying to kill you both, then yes.”
A chill ran down Della’s spine. Vaynes.
“I went back to the women’s locker room and looked at the vents in there. There’s one big enough a man can fit in it.”
“You think that’s how our killer got in the building?” Anthony asked.
Penny nodded. “I tracked the system through the building and found where it was probably accessed. Found some threads of fabric caught on a sharp corner.”
“Okay then.” Anthony blew out a short breath and looked at Della.
“You were right. Someone is trying to kill you. And with that missing photo, I think you’re also right in assuming it’s Vaynes.
” He shook his head a little. “I just don’t get why the guy would go through all these elaborate plans if he simply wants revenge.
There’s a lot of easier ways to kill someone. ”
Penny set the extinguisher on the ground and sat on the bumper of the ambulance.
“Vaynes has a sick mind. Insane. He would rather mess with his victims and torment them. It’s worth the risk of getting caught to him because it’s all about the game.
And I spoke with the warden at the prison.
His cell is one big creep-fest all about his obsession to torture and kill a firefighter.
I think it’s safe to assume it’s Della.”
A sheepish look crossed Anthony’s face. “Sorry I didn’t believe it at first.”
Della sat up and let the words sink in.
He believed her.
Relief rushed in, easing some of the burden she’d become so accustomed to that she didn’t realize the weight of it until it was lifted. For a moment it was almost euphoric.
But the voice she couldn’t escape was right there too, and everything crashed in even harder.
You lied. In a court of law. You lied after swearing on the Bible that you would only tell the truth.
And the desperate urge to defend herself rose up.
But I had to. I had no other choice. I couldn’t let him get away with it.
And now, if she told the truth, she could lose everything Lily had fought so hard for.
Because it was Lily’s dream to go into social work, to become a foster parent and help kids that had no one else. A dream Della shared and wanted to fulfill on Lily’s behalf. But it would be hard enough to qualify as a single woman. If she had a felony on her record…
Nothing she did drowned out the incessant conversation in her head. Over and over again, like some horrific carousel ride.
Chief Macon James marched up to the ambulance. “What’s this I hear about a serial killer trying to take you out?”
Della straightened. “I’m sorry, Chief. I—”
“You don’t need to apologize. I’m just worried. Are you okay?”
Why did it feel like she should apologize, like it was her fault? The weight of the lie grew, pressing on her chest. “I’m much better now. I’ll get back to work, sir.”
“No way. You and Officer Thomas need to get checked out at the hospital. I won’t make a bad situation worse.”
This time Anthony shook his head. “I’m goo—”
“You will both report to the hospital and get a doctor’s all clear before returning to work. Understood? And I’m not beyond calling Chief Barnes, just in case you think of going around me.” His look was one of concern but also unrelenting firmness.
“Yes, sir,” Della said.
Anthony nodded and slumped back on the cot as soon as Chief James walked away.
“Come on, you two. I’ll give you a ride over there.” Penny removed her gloves and pulled out her phone. “I think Andi is working. I’ll see if she can get you in and out quickly.”
“Who’s Andi?” Della whispered over to Anthony.
“Bryce’s little sister. She used to be a paramedic, but now she’s working as a nurse and applying to med school.” He hopped out of the back of the truck and helped her down.
The nausea was almost gone, but the pounding in her head and weakness in her muscles couldn’t be ignored.
Three hours and three ibuprofen later, Della had her medical clearance. Andi walked her down the hall. “I hope next time I see you it will be under better circumstances. Tony said he’s waiting for you in the lobby. Right through those double doors there.” She left her with a friendly wave.
It took more effort than normal to push open the door into the lobby, but at least she was on her own two feet. Two feet that felt clunky, but still, she was upright.
“Doing okay?” Anthony stood up from the blue padded chair in the lobby. His light touch on her arm seared through the fabric of her uniform.
Crazy how a simple touch and empathetic blue eyes could almost turn her into a blubbering mess.
But Vaynes had been close. Too close to taking her out.
Della couldn’t shake the chill from the time she’d spent lying on the cold cement floor in the firehouse.
Surely that was the only reason Anthony’s touch warmed her, affected her so deeply.
She swallowed past the lump in her throat and pasted on an attempt at a smile. “Blood work came back fine. You?”
“Same.” He pushed his hair back. “Bryce brought my vehicle, so I’m at your disposal. What now?”
“The only thing I want is a slice of deep-dish olive and sausage pizza, and bed.” She rubbed her arms, trying to generate some heat.
Maybe she didn’t even need to eat. Not with the huge pit in her midsection growing by the second.
But there was no way she could actually sleep. Not with Vaynes out there.
“The captain assigned another cop to watch over your place tonight, but—” Anthony’s thumbs hooked on his vest, but he didn’t finish. He might’ve been grinding his teeth together the way his jaw flexed.
“What?”
He looked at her, all sense of playfulness gone, his gaze intense. “It’s personal now. I don’t want you out of my sight until Vaynes is back behind bars. And don’t you live with your grandmother?”
“She’s spending the winter with friends in Arizona. I’ll be fine.”
“Maybe it would be better if we both stayed at the firehouse tonight. Night shift will be there, and whichever officer they assign to us can stick around too. I know I’ll sleep better if you’re protected by more than one person.”
She hated how the weaker part of her melted at his words. Someone looking out for her? Someone believing her?
But he was just trying to do his job. She should remember that. He was a better cop than she’d given him credit for. She couldn’t read anything more into it.
“I can sleep at the station. There’s more I can do for the event next week, but you should go home, Anthony. You’re off duty now.”
“I’m not gonna sleep well at my apartment, wondering if you’re safe. You’re stuck with me, Della. At least until we catch this guy.” His handsome smile—and yeah, it was a true Anthony Thomas smolder—only made her feel worse.
She turned away from him and stared at the poster promoting proper handwashing techniques. “Well, maybe you shouldn’t be stuck with me. You don’t deserve to be targeted by a serial killer. You were hurt because you were with me. Go home.”
“Hey.” His voice was gentle. A warm hand cupped her elbow as he moved to face her. “You don’t deserve it either. I know this move. Probably even invented it.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You think if you push others away, you’re protecting them.
But it’s not true. Isolating yourself makes you more vulnerable because you have to face whatever it is alone.
Together, we’ll have a better chance of protecting others and capturing Vaynes.
So let those of us who care help.” He gave her a teasing smirk. “All right?”
She rolled her eyes but chuckled. “You don’t have to be so nice.”
Anthony sighed. “If I had done my job night before last, we might not even be in this situation. I have a lot to make up for.”
“You mean Sosa?”
“Yeah. It’s the second time that guy’s gotten the upper hand on me. He hurt people I care about.” He looked at her, his gaze earnest and sincere. “I’m not gonna let it happen again.”
Della nodded and tucked those words around her heart as they drove back to the firehouse. The words wandered around her head as she went through her nightly routine and washed her face.
He hurt people I care about. I’m not gonna let it happen again.
Did that mean he cared about her?
For a fleeting second, she was tempted. Tempted to lean on someone else for a change. Tempted to relax her guard. Tempted to see if there was anything more to Anthony Thomas than a handsome face and gallant words.
What-ifs rolled through her mind as she brushed her teeth and her hair. She lay in bed and stared at the tiny green light shining on the smoke detector on the ceiling.
Okay, yeah, she could see Anthony might be someone she could care about too.
But if he knew what she had done, he might not feel so inclined to help her. He upheld the law, tracked down criminals.
He should take her in and lock her up too.
She sat up and punched her pillow into shape.
If only she could fix her life as easily.
Being locked up and behind bars might even be an improvement with the way fear had a chokehold on her.
Maybe if she could unload the burden, tell the truth, she’d finally find some peace in the quiet of the night.
She’d told herself she’d lied for Lily’s sake.
That any price to pay was worth it. But she hadn’t known back then the heavy burden and inner turmoil she’d shackled herself to.
Now, if the truth came out, she could kiss the opportunity of doing foster care goodbye.
She needed to take this secret to the grave.
But she couldn’t get Anthony out of her head as she lay back down.
He hurt people I care about. I’m not gonna let it happen again.
She pictured Amelia helping her wrap presents.
I mean it, Nixon. We’re here for you. If you’re having a problem, I want to help.
Penny and Bryce were tenacious. She hadn’t known them long, but she had no doubt they weren’t going to let this matter with Vaynes drop, no matter what.
So maybe the whole world didn’t need to know her secret. But maybe she could trust a very select few. People who would understand why she’d lied. People who would keep the truth to themselves.
They’d have to, or she could lose her job, her chance at being a foster parent. But if they could be trusted, maybe sharing the burden would release the building pressure inside enough that she could sleep again.