Chapter 18 #3
Mia left him briefly to fling the door open for when help showed up, then she resumed trying to stem the bleeding. Within fifteen minutes, the paramedics arrived, followed shortly by the police.
Reggie didn’t wake.
Mia backed against the wall. The paramedics tramped in, boots thudding on the floor in the entryway. One dropped down next to Reggie and reached his hand to the teenager’s neck. “His pulse is strong.” He cut away the pant leg, exposing the wound. “Gunshot wound. He’s lost a lot of blood.”
The second paramedic placed a blood pressure cuff on Reggie’s arm. “Blood pressure is low but not critical.”
Mia’s gaze slid to Gus. Her aunt watched the proceedings, eyes widened, mouth moving in silent prayer.
An officer approached Mia. She didn’t recognize him. He flipped open a notebook. “How did he end up here?”
“He knocked on my door. When I asked him why he was here—he’s never come to my house before—he said he didn’t know where else to go. He said his friend, Dylan, is being kept somewhere in a cage.”
The cop straightened, his eyes tightening. “In a cage? Did he say anything else?”
“No. He passed out before we could talk more.”
The second paramedic glanced up at them. “He’s bruised, but his leg wound is his only obvious external injury. We need to transport. With these bruises, he needs to be checked for internal bleeding.”
The cop looked at the youth. Pity flickered over his face. “I’ll have to wait until the hospital to interview him.”
“Better wait until tomorrow morning,” the first paramedic said. “I doubt he’ll be awake before then.”
“Right. He’ll need to have security on him. I’ll call it in.” The officer walked away, speaking into his radio.
The paramedics lifted Reggie onto a stretcher, covered him with a blanket, and strapped him in. Mia followed them to the door and watched as they lifted him into the waiting ambulance. The second paramedic joined him in the back, while the other one went to the front and got in.
As soon as they left, she called Jackson. It no longer mattered if he was in bed. He’d want to know.
He answered almost immediately. “Mia, are you all right?”
“I thought you’d be asleep. Did you not see my text?”
“Text? Hold on…What! Reggie is there?”
“Not anymore. He’s on the way to the hospital.” She told him what had happened. “The cops are going tomorrow to question him.”
“Visiting hours start at eight. I’ll open the place up,” Jackson said, sounding eager. “He might know where Dylan is.”
“Jackson, he wanted me to come too.”
“Absolutely. Can you find someone to stay with your aunt?”
“I will.” She hung up.
“Mia. I’m fine here for a minute,” Gus said, her gaze pointedly avoiding the couch. “Can you do something about the blood?”
Mia filled a bowl with cold water and blotted the spot with it to keep the blood from setting. Then she added some detergent and went to work on the stain. She wrung the rag frequently, squeezing out the liquid until it finally ran clear.
Luckily, most of the blood was on the dish towels and his clothing. While she worked, she tried to think of who could stay with Gus. Obviously, Jane and Anne Marie were both out. Aunt Susan probably wouldn’t after what had happened this evening.
What about Kay?
Mia shook her head, recalling the neighbor saying she had family staying. Then who?
Her social circle had very few people in it. And Gus, because of her age and her medical state, didn’t have very many people she could count on either. “I’m going to the hospital tomorrow with Jackson, Gus. Who should I ask to come over?”
“Mia, dear. You told me you’d contacted your mother. Call her. See if she’d be willing.”
Mia sucked in a breath. Could she do that? Could she ask her mother for help?
But how could she do it without Blaine getting in the way?
“I’ll have to call in the morning. Blaine goes to the gym every day at six.” Mia bit her lip.
It was a risk. It didn’t give them a lot of time, but it was the only choice.
She needed something more. A few days ago, in the woods, she’d heard Jackson pray, not once but twice. They’d survived, despite all the challenges and the fact that armed killers were coming for them.
In the past few days, the faith she’d abandoned had reawakened. Mia hadn’t been sure God would listen to her. After all, she’d run from Him. But hadn’t he kept them safe? And He’d brought Reggie to her door, which meant they were closer to finding Dylan.
It had taken her a long time, but now she realized she needed God in her life again.
Mia moved to the kitchen so Gus wouldn’t hear her. In the middle of the room, she bowed her head, folded her hands, and prayed with everything in her heart and soul.
“God, I know You hear me and that You care, even after I rejected You. I’m done trying to do this on my own. Please. I could use Your help. And so could Jackson. We need to help Reggie navigate what’s happening, and we need to find Dylan. Amen.”
That wasn’t all, but she didn’t want to ask too much.
Would they find Dylan? Now that Reggie had appeared, did it mean Dylan would be found soon?