Chapter 45
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
BOBBY IS A DEAD MAN
Pacing in the waiting room of the ER at Rush Medical Center, I’m pretty sure I’ve pulled some of my hair out.
I’ve been waiting for word for over an hour, but there’s been nothing.
Hank Flynn called, telling me that MacKenzie had been taken to the ER, but he didn’t tell me why.
I had no idea what happened to her. I still don’t.
“Sam,” I hear a woman yell. I turned to see Lauren Warner running toward me.
“Sam? Is she okay? Where is she? What happened? Oh, my God, Sam. MacKenzie?” Tears are streaming down her face like a waterfall.
I wrap my arms around her. I don’t know this woman well, but I can tell she needs comfort. Hell, I need it.
As soon as Flynn called me, I called Gill. He said he would finish up at the venue and call Lauren to let her know what was going on. Unfortunately, none of us knows what’s going on. Flynn said she was seriously injured. That’s all we know.
“Detective Flynn called me and told me she’d been injured. He told me where they were taking her. That’s all I know. He’s back there now. I sent him a text; he said he’d be out as soon as he can to talk to us.”
Lauren uses her hands to wipe away tears. “So, that’s it? We know nothing more? How seriously was she injured? What kind of injury?”
“I have no idea. Sit down and take some deep breaths. I’ll get us some coffee.”
“Okay. Sure,” she says in a defeated tone.
“I’ll sit here and wait. Hurry back.” As I step away, she adds, “If she needs to be in the hospital, we need to move her up north.” I know what she’s thinking.
I watch as Lauren scans the emergency ward.
It’s packed with sick people who will probably wait hours to be seen.
“Agreed.” As soon as possible, I want to move her closer to home.
Our home. Or what is going to be our home.
I grab two black coffees and make my way back to Lauren.
We sit and sip coffee and wait. Gill checks in, asking about MacKenzie and letting me know that he’s taken care of everything.
He’s also taken over tomorrow night’s show in case I’m not back. I need to make that guy a partner.
I’m not sure how long we wait, but it seems like hours. Lauren is dozing with her head on my shoulder when Hank Flynn says my name. “Sam?”
I must have dozed off, too, because I jerk. Standing instantly, I ask, “Hank. What’s going on?”
“Come this way. I’ve got a private place we can talk.”
Lauren has woken up, and she’s already standing as well. “This is Lauren. MacKenzie’s best friend.”
“And her only family,” she adds quickly.
Not her only family for long, if I have anything to do with it.
We follow Hank into a small room with a desk and three chairs. Lauren and I take two of the chairs, and Hank sits behind the desk. “Before I explain what we’re dealing with here, can either of you tell me why MacKenzie Parker would be walking through Touey-Herbert Park after dark?”
“I invited her to the show at the UC,” I reply.
“She must have been walking to the show,” says Lauren. “She walks all over her side of town. No matter how many times I’ve asked her not to.” Lauren starts to tear up again. “What’s going on? Is she okay?”
Hank clears his throat. “Do you happened to know what time she left for the show?”
Gill watched the footage. “Seven twelve,” I reply. He knows I’ve got eyes on her house.
Lauren looks at me oddly. I wave my hand. I’ll explain later.
“Okay. Well, then, sometime between seven twelve and seven forty-four, MacKenzie was attacked in that park.”
Lauren gasps and I run my hands through my hair. “Attacked?” I ask.
“Yes. She was attacked by someone wielding a knife.”
“A knife?” screeches Lauren.
“Apparently, he jumped her as she was walking through a dark section of the park. He was able to get some strikes in before another person walking in the park intervened. That person probably, no not probably, they saved her life.”
“Someone else was in the park? Who? Who saved her?” Lauren asks urgently.
Hank takes out his notebook and reads, “Robert Robinson.”
“She could have been….” Lauren begins to sob again. “We need to thank him.”
“Mr. Robinson claims to know MacKenzie,” adds Hank.
“Knows her? How?” I ask confused.
“Says he works with her.”
“There aren’t any men who work at the store,” says Lauren. “You said his name was Robert?”
I interrupt. “Bobby.” I know he’s talking about Bobby.
Hank presses a button on his phone. We watch him speak, asking about the name. He hangs up. “Yeah, he goes by Bobby.”
“Where is he?” I growl. “That guy is dangerous. Are you sure that’s the right story? Bobby’s got a thing for MacKenzie.”
Hank looks at Lauren for confirmation. “He does, but he’s sweet. I can’t see Bobby doing anything to hurt Mac.”
“Jesus,” I mutter. “You two….”
“You two what?” she says too loudly.
“That’s enough. We’ll get it figured out.
You don’t need to argue right here and now.
Mr. Robinson is at the station; he’ll be kept there until I can question him.
If he’s involved, he’s right where he needs to be.
I’m going in there now to ask MacKenzie a few questions and then I’ll head to the station so I can interview Mr. Robinson.
A nurse will be out to get you one at a time when I’m finished talking with her. ”
Lauren nods as I mutter, “Bobby Robinson, you’re a dead man.”