Chapter 58
FIFTY-EIGHT
Katie awoke with a start as sunshine poured into the hospital room.
She looked over from her chair and saw her uncle was sleeping peacefully.
She smiled. Listening to the heart monitor was soothing to her, it meant he was going to be okay—not just okay but better than before.
It had been touch and go with the rescue until they reached the construction site, where a medivac helicopter was waiting.
Her uncle’s injuries, dehydration, and a strange combination of drugs were manageable by doctors and he was beginning to feel better.
His vitals had improved and settled to normal ranges.
Katie stood over his bed. Even in his condition he still looked like the amazing man who was sheriff of Pine Valley. She leaned over and kissed him on the forehead.
The door opened with John standing there. “Hey,” he said softly. “Just wanted to let you know McGaven and Denise are at your house with Cisco.”
“Thank you.” She looked at her uncle. “He’s going to be all right.” She looked back at John, who still wore his filthy gear from the previous night. “You haven’t gone home?”
“No. I waited until I knew he was okay. There are a lot of people out there waiting. And—”
Katie hugged him and then looked into his eyes. She also still wore her military pants and a T-shirt.
“And I wanted to make sure you were okay.” His voice was soft and soothing. He stroked her hair.
She didn’t want to move from his arms. “I will be.”
The following days were filled with debriefings and the forensic recovery of the remains of Junior and Buck.
The cases were all closed. The four additional bodies recovered on the construction site were still being identified and investigated.
They had been there more than twenty years and it was theorized they were investors of William Collins who had been murdered when they wanted their money back.
The money had never been recovered—at least for now.
The new police and fire training buildings and facilities would resume construction in approximately eight months when the lawyers, city, and county had finished with their inquiries and investigations.