Chapter 18 #2
“It’s likely, but Louella never gave any indication during the shoots that she was out to get Indigo.
In fact, she was always nice to Indigo when Vincent, the photographer, was being an ass.
” Wilt had some sympathy for her, if she did have a few problems, but she stabbed Indigo with an intent to kill.
She would need to pay for that. “I’m sure it will come out during the investigation, and whatever help Louella needs, she’ll get it.
But she will also have to face what she did to Indigo and the punishment that comes with that. ”
“For sure. I’ll contact Jeffrey again in the morning to follow up. Have you spoken to the police?” Steve asked.
“Yeah, the officer in charge of the case called me. He gave me a phone interview. Not what he wanted, but that was all he was going to get from me. He’ll email my statement to the office. I’ll review it, and if it needs changes, I’ll get back to him and we’ll go from there.”
“Surprised they didn’t want you to do it face to face,” Andy commented.
Wilt smiled wryly. “He came to the hospital, but he took one look at me and said he’d call. It’s not normal, but given what we do, he trusted that nothing I saw would be forgotten anytime soon.”
His friends nodded. As former SAS soldiers, their recall skills hadn’t softened over their time out of service.
Wilt was aware of Steve’s scrutiny. He waited for the inevitable question. “What’s your status with your shoulder?”
He doubted Damon would’ve said anything to his boss, considering they’d been in a fucked-up situation and any communication would’ve been only necessary information, and not gossip of any kind.
There was no way he could fudge his injury with his boss.
“It’s fucked. It wasn’t great before this dislocation, but now I think it’s worse.
Once everything has settled down with Indigo, I’ll get it looked at.
” It pained Wilt to say the next words, but he couldn’t keep it quiet.
“My recovery is going to be long. I’m going to be limited in what I do.
I don’t think I’ll be able to join the others on any missions for the foreseeable future. ”
It pissed him off that that was going to be his life for the next few months, but he had to believe after he completed his recovery, he’d be able to go back to doing what he could with his team.
“Right. Whatever it is, however long it takes, you’ll have our support with anything you need,” Steve stated emphatically.
“Even working remotely?” The idea had been fermenting in his mind while he’d been sitting in the waiting room.
Indigo’s career and life were centered in Sydney.
He would never ask her to give up her career just to accommodate his.
If he had to stop being active in going on missions and only do the computer work for the company, then that’s what he’d do.
Of course, this was all hearsay anyway, because Indigo may not want to be with him after all that had happened and how he’d let her down. But he hoped she would consider this as an alternative for them.
“If that’s what you want, yes.” Steve’s immediate agreement was also what Wilt expected.
“I don’t know what’s happening yet, but it’s great to know that’s an option.”
“While I’d hate to lose you from our active team, you’re still integral to our operations.
We couldn’t do half the shit we do if we didn’t have you on our side.
Not only are you a brilliant sniper, but your computer skills have become more and more valuable to us.
” There was no bullshitting in Steve’s tone. He meant everything he said.
“Thanks.”
“Whatever you need or want, it’s yours,” Steve said.
A man wearing scrubs appeared in the doorway, and Wilt tensed, all pretense of continuing his conversation with Steve gone. “I’m looking for the family of Indigo Elara.”
Indigo didn’t have any blood relatives, but everyone clumped around him was her found family, even if she didn’t know it. She would soon. Wilt stood. “That’s me.”
The doctor looked around at everyone congregated, and nodded.
“I’m Dr. Dampier, the surgical resident here.
Ms. Elara is out of surgery. She’s in recovery and should be in ICU in about an hour.
The stab wound in her arm was superficial and only needed stitching.
The abdominal wound was more serious. Her liver was severely lacerated, but we were able to staunch the bleeding and stitch it up without losing any part of it.
Her gallbladder was damaged and we had to remove it.
She received transfusions because she lost a lot of blood. But the prognosis is promising.”
Wilt latched on to the final sentence and held it close. “When can I see her?”
He glanced around the room. “As I said, I anticipate her transfer from recovery to ICU will be in about an hour. Once there, she’ll only be allowed one person at a time, and only for a period of ten minutes.”
“Understood.” He may want to stay with her for longer than the allotted time, but he would respect it. As it was, he wasn’t truly related to Indigo, but he didn’t need a piece of paper to know that she was his.
“I’ll send a nurse down to let you know when you can see her.”
“Thank you.” The past twelve hours of emotion slammed into Wilt like a wave thundering onto the shore. He plopped down on the chair as the doctor left, and his head dropped forward. He let out one breath. Then another.
His shoulders shook as the tears began to fall. Wilt couldn’t recall the last time he’d cried, but knowing that the woman who owned his heart was alive and breathing, overwhelmed him.
He didn’t care that he was crying in front of his friends, they were family, and family stood by each other like he was going to stand by Indigo’s side for the rest of her life.
If she would have him.