Chapter 20
Max
The scene was gruesome, blood and hair everywhere. I meant to aim for her shoulder; I didn’t think that I aimed that high. The bullet went right through the back of Sandra’s skull. I had to relive the details of the scenario over and over. About the call, what happened when Roark and I kicked in the front door, the sounds of struggling from the top floor. It was way too much for me to deal with while worrying about Megan who was taken to the hospital from blood loss. Then there was Sandra, what the fuck was she doing here? Why was she attacking Megan in her home?
“Officer Carter?” Detective Miller drags my attention back to the present. “Did you hear me?”
“I’m sorry Detective. My mind is in a million different places right now. What was the question?” I asked, retraining my attention back to the hard ass in front of me. The man was tall, but not much taller than me. His salt and peppered hair was slicked back, his dark eyes drilled into me, but I wouldn’t cower from him.
“I asked if you are okay? It’s well documented that the deceased officer was in some trouble with the head of the department and that you were a key person she harassed,” he said as he looked over his notepad. It wasn’t a secret that there was a trial the other day with HR about how to handle Sandra and her issues.
“I’m stressed. I aimed for her shoulder. I didn’t mean to kill her,” I studder out, I couldn’t believe that I was the one who took her life. Guilt flooded my brain, but not my heart. You would think whatever love I had for her would make my heart break into a million pieces, but it doesn’t. My thoughts go straight to the woman who has been attacked, again.
“You know the routine when dealing with an officer shooting. Detective Montgomery already has your service weapon, you will be on leave until the investigation is finished. I don’t believe you intended to kill her. She was on the phone with 9-1-1 the entire time of the attack. Everything was recorded,” Detective Miller states, looking over my shoulder to where Roark was pacing by the car.
“Can I be excused sir? I want to go check on Megan,” I say, not caring that I’m not using her formal name.
“What is your relationship with this woman?” I can’t tell if it’s curiosity or just the normal drilling that we have to ask.
“As of earlier tonight, she became my girlfriend,” I force the words out of my mouth. I know hiding it wouldn’t look good for me.
“Did Officer Kane know this?” I look at him a little confused at his question. “No, I didn’t tell her, and I highly doubt the group of officers that was with us would’ve said anything.”
Miller just nods his head, waving me off in dismissal. Roark stops pacing the closer I get to the car, “Get in the car. I have already told Tony and Andy what happened. They are going to meet us at the hospital.”
“Thank you,” I quickly get into the passenger seat, and we peel out of the neighborhood. Roark had no quarrels with speeding in a situation like this. Lucky for us, it was so early in the morning that there wasn’t much traffic. He pulls right up to the emergency room doors, I hop out of the car and run into the intake room. Brutus was waiting for me at the security desk.
“Just go,” he ushers me through security and into a small room. Tony and Andy are already inside waiting for me.
“I’m assuming you two told Brutus?” I ask Andy nods but doesn’t get up from his seat.
“Dumb question, but how are you holding up?” Tony asks, guiding me to a seat closest to the door. Roark barges in a few moments later and props up against the door like he’s about to tear apart anyone that walks in.
“I’m worried about Megan. I’ll handle my shit later. I already have Amelia’s number in my phone and will call her as soon as I know Megan is okay,” I say. Amelia has dealt with me a few times after the loss of my sister, my partner, the bullshit with Sandra cheating on me. It was Amelia who got me through each and every heartache. She was damn good at her job, we’re very lucky to have her.
“Any word on why Sandra was there?” Roark asks through a clenched jaw. I swear if he clenches it any harder, he’s gonna break a tooth or something.
“I called Marcy, she has to go over the audio of the entire thing tonight. She said she’ll call once she knows more,” Tony’s sister Marcy was a blessing to have working at dispatch. She could talk anyone down off a ledge and save lives just from simple conversations.
“Tell her I said thank you. I want to know why Sandra was there and how the fuck she got in,” I snarl. A soft knock came at the door, Roark’s hand reaches for the doorknob to tell whoever was on the other side to fuck off but when he pulls open the door I recognize the blonde-haired female standing on the other side. “Let her in Roark.”
He turns to look at me, but Ally just pushes her way in. “You were supposed to keep her safe!” She screams at me, her fist flying for my face. Tony steps in between us, taking the brunt of the hit to his chest. “Move asshole! If she dies because that asshole got to her again, you will not see daylight!”
The room went eerily silent, all eyes on me. “It wasn’t Ryan,” I choke out. Ally pauses her advances. “Who called you Ally?” I ask her.
“The hospital. I’m her emergency contact. I’m also a matching blood donor just in case they need it. What the fuck do you mean it wasn’t Ryan?” Tony hasn’t moved from in front of me, so I push him to the side so I could look her in the eyes.
“It was officer Sandra Kane. We’re waiting on the recording of the 9-1-1 call to be transcribed. Do you know if Megan knew Sandra other than from her last time in the hospital?” I shouldn’t be questioning Ally. I should let it go and just focus on Megan, but I didn’t know what the hell was going on here.
“You mean the bitch who pissed her off while she was stuck in here? No. Megan said something about the officer giving her a negative vibe. She wasn’t too keen on her,” Ally finally took the seat next to me, I could hear the audible sigh she let out. “You two were supposed to have a good night. She wasn’t supposed to end up in a hospital again.”
“We did have a good night. I had to cut the night shorter than I wanted because of a work call. I can’t just say no because I’m on the date of a lifetime,” I say. Tony finally sat down across from Ally, staring her down. I couldn’t tell if he wanted to yell at her, remove her from the room or wanted to fuck her. Probably all three.
“Would you have stayed with her tonight if you didn’t get that call?” Ally asks and of course the assholes in the room all perk up to hear my answer.
“Yes. I mean, I practically proposed to her a dinner,” I chuckle a little thinking about her quick response at the restaurant.
Ally laughs, “I take it she was the one who pulled that card huh?”
“Yeah, we were having a talk about our past. Exes and all, she wanted us to have the hard honest conversation first, I got a little heated after hearing what Ryan did to her and I lost my shit. I hit the table pretty hard and when I realized what I did, I dropped to my knee in front of her. The manager came over to clearly check on her and out of nowhere she pops out the ‘oh he was just proposing to me’ card,” I explain. Ally starts laughing so hard I swear I see tears.
“Ah so that explains the Mr. Monroe and Mrs. Carter comments at the club,” Roark says now back pressed up against the door.
“That sounds like something she would do. I’m glad you went along with the joke. Ryan would’ve gone along with it until they were alone,” Ally looks down at her hands. “She’s going to be okay. She’s been through so much in her life. She’s strong.”
“She’s told me some of it. I have no doubt that she will make it. I can’t lose my future wife before I have the chance to properly propose,” I tease. Ally smiles once more at me.
“Someone’s coming,” Andy says, he’s been looking out the blinds that lead to the main part of the ER. He was stationing himself to be on lookout. Shit, they all were on guard to make sure I was good and not bothered. A knock came at the other door, this time Tony got up and answered it. He let in Dr. Caden. Great this fucking guy.
“Miss. Strom, I would like to say it’s nice to see you again, but I was hoping I wouldn’t see you both back in here again anytime soon,” he glances over to me. I can see the assessment look on his face. He was eyeing Megan last time she was in here and I didn’t trust this dude as far as I could throw him.
“Dr. Caden, is she okay?” Ally asks him, ignoring the bullshit look he gives me. Yeah, I want to punch this dude in the dick.
“Can we speak alone?” He asks her. I half expect her to get up and walk right out of the room, but she surprises me.
“Max and Megan are dating. I’m sure she would want him to know as well, same for them all. They are her friends,” she just earned major points with me and with the guys.
His sigh was so audible I thought Roark might punch him in the throat. “She is stable, we were able to get her vitals back, but there is something that I wish to discuss in private. I’m certain that Miss. Monroe would prefer a room full of men not hear.” He glances at me then the rest of the room.
“Doc, we will leave, but good luck getting her boyfriend to move from that seat,” Tony pats Arthur on the shoulder and heads for the door, Andy and Roark flanking behind him.
“Mr. Carter, if you must be here, you need to understand the delicacy of this matter. I don’t need you going and fighting the person responsible,” he warns me.
“She’s already dead. I put a bullet in her while she was aiming the gun at Megan’s head. I saved her life and will do so again and again to keep her safe. So, you don’t have to worry about me doing something drastic,” I say flatly. My gaze turning to stone. Let him read the warning there.
“I was unaware the suspect was deceased. Miss. Monroe was assaulted sexually. There is no DNA, but with you saying the assailant was a female, that would make sense. We just don’t know what was used,” he says. Ally gasps and falls back into her seat. Sandra is fucking lucky she is already dead. If she wasn’t I couldn’t guarantee her safety.
“It’s all in your report correct?” I question him, which seems to insult him. “I am going to need a copy seeing as my partner and I were the first on the scene. The lead investigator will appreciate your cooperation.” My blunt words bristle him a little. He seems agitated as I open the door, letting the guys back into the room.
“When will she be awake?” Ally asks, ignoring Arthur scoffing at me some more. Dude is such a fucking prick.
“She will be in and out of consciousness for at least the rest of today. You can visit her two at a time,” he says reluctantly to her. Roark moves up to my side and stares down at the Doctor.
“I assume that you aren’t going to imply anything more against Officer Carter,” Roark growled. What the fuck was he talking about?
“I wasn’t implying anything. I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Arthur backed up against another brick wall of a man, Tony.
“You sure about that doc? You weren’t thinking that he assaulted her. We could read the distaste all over your face the moment you walked in here and saw him sitting there. Are you sure you didn’t make a phone call the moment he walked in?” Tony rattled off question after question, not giving the man a moment to speak.
“I did no such thing! I can have you removed from here,” Arthur threatens, Tony and Roark just smile at him. It was Andy, however, who spoke next.
“I’d like to report an assault from an officer onto one of my patients. He just walked in; he was here last time she was in with injuries from suspected abuse. Her name: Megan Monroe. The officers name is Max Carter. He wouldn’t leave her room last time she was here. He’s currently in the patient waiting room with three other officers. Yes ma’am. Please hurry, I worry for her safety. There are signs of sexual assault and Miss. Monroe isn’t conscious enough for me to ask her what happened,” Andy spews out a one-sided conversation. “You’re accusing an officer of sexually assaulting and beating his new girlfriend. You’re accusing the officer who saved her life, of trying to kill her.”
I stared at this man, how fucking dare he. Before I could speak up, Roark was on the offense, “Did Ally Strom give you consent to check her friend for trauma? Why did you, a male doctor, preform the exam instead of a female doctor? She was unconscious and couldn’t object to your violation.”
“Unfortunately for you, there was someone on the other side of Megan’s room, separated only by a thin curtain. I guess you didn’t know that light casts a shadow. The patient saw the whole thing and recorded it for Megan’s safety. The woman was in the middle of making a report to a nurse when you sent us out. Lucky you, or should I say unlucky you,” Tony says, smirking at Arthur. “You fucked up, doc.”
“What the fuck is he talking about?!” Ally begins to yell at Arthur, but the words are landing like fists to my gut.
“He fucked her while she was unconscious,” I whisper. Red and black flash across my vision. Before I know what I am doing I charge him, landing several blows to his face. I feel the crunching of his bones under my knuckles, his nose, his jaw and his eyes. This fucker raped my girl, like fucking hell I was letting him live.
Rough hands grab me, pulling my attention back to the room. Tony has Ally covered in his arms so she can’t witness my absolute blow up, Roark has the doors locked and is already on the phone with Rick, and Andy is pulling me off. Arthur is laid out on the floor, blood pouring out of his mouth and nose.
Before I could move, Ally shoves past Tony and charges Arthur, slicing his jugular before any of us know what’s happening. Holy. Fuck.
“What the fuck?!” Andy shouts, Ally heavily panting over the doctors limp body. Ally drops a knife pen by the doctors hand and begins wiping it clean of her prints, placing it in the doctors hands.
“He committed suicide, he didn’t want to face possible jail time. Understood?” She was talking like she was commanding a small little army to do as she says.
“Get away from the body,” Tony grabs her arm and pulls her away from the doctor and into himself. Tony didn’t think twice about sitting her down. “Roark, you heard her. Report it as a suicide, Andy check to see if the camera’s are active and if they actually caught anything.”
I was just sitting there like an idiot in shock. Megan’s best friend is a fucking lethal assassin, and I don’t know if I should be worried for her safety or concerned for my own. She looked at me and smiled, “You’re not the only one who has an extracurricular activity, Max.”
We all stopped and looked at her. Did she fucking know about our operation?