“How many cops do you know that invite total strangers to sit in the back of their car while they’re on a stakeout? Especially if that person has a fully loaded weapon.”
That made Ken’s eyebrows go up. “None. You think they were shot from inside the car?”
“No doubt in my mind. The back door was open, by the way. I glanced through it, and saw the wounds. The passenger was probably first, since the shots were to the exact back of his head. The driver was slightly turned as if he was looking at his passenger. Looked like a .22. Probably had a suppresser on the gun.”
“You got all that from just a glance?”
She sighed. “It’s part of my job, Ken, just like yours. I’ve used enough firearms to know what kind of wounds they can cause.”
Ken didn’t say anything to that. Instead he just nodded. “I didn’t think you killed them, Teren, but I thought I’d better ask.”
“Pretty brave of you. David would have hemmed and hawed, and then made sure Alex was between him and me when he asked.”
Ken laughed. “Yeah. That’s him exactly.”
“I’m damn glad he’s gonna make it.”
“Me, too.”
They were each quiet for a moment, then Teren reached out to him.
“I better get moving. Want to get back and make sure Alex hasn’t left without me.”
Ken shook her hand. “You take care. And tell Alex to stop blaming herself. Shit, if anyone’s to blame it’s me and Rick. We knew Brogan was a pressure cooker, and we waited to bring him in.”
“It was nobody’s fault, Ken. Just the guys who ordered the hit.” She lowered her voice. “And Alex and I are going to get them. I promise you that.”
Ken could feel a shiver go up his spine at the ice in Teren’s voice, and he watched as she disappeared from his room. Then he said in a quiet voice, “I believe you will, Teren. I believe you will.”
*******************************************************
Alex was back in the park. The lights were dim, and she could barely see the outline of the buildings. At first she could hear gunfire, and screams. Then it was silent and she turned around to stare into the bloody face of her partner. David questioned her, blood dripping from his lips. Rick appeared behind him,the holes in his head leaking both blood and gray matter. The two bleeding agents circled her, lashing out. They yelled at her, telling her it was her fault they were dead, and it should have been her instead of them. They began steadily pushing her backwards toward an open hole. Her heels had finally caught on the edge and she was falling backwards into a grave —
to find herself sitting straight up on the bed in her hotel room, a scream on her lips.
Everything hurt. Her arm throbbed, and her head was pounding. She was sweating from the intensity of the dream, and yet she felt cold. Alex put her hands over her face for a moment, and tried to get her breathing under control.
Alex realized she didn’t even know if David was alive or dead, and she had the urge to call the hospital. She knew they wouldn’t tell her over the phone, though, and she could hardly go there without clothes on.
It was at that point she remembered that something, or more precisely someone, was missing.
Seeing the door to the adjoining room was still open, she pulled the blanket up around her and called out.
“Teren?”
There was no answer. Alex took the blanket, wrapping it carefully around her, and wandered into the other room. Her nose told her there was food on the table, and she was surprised to find that she was indeed hungry. Last night her stomach had felt like it was filled with lead — this morning it felt as empty as a flat balloon.
On the table in Teren’s room was a covered platter, with a note on top.
Alex,
I’ve gone to get a few things together. Don’t know what time I’ll be back, but it shouldn’t be past eleven or noon.
I’ll check in with the hospital to find our how David is, so please don’t call. And please don’t leave. When I get back we may have to leave town quickly.
I guess we have a lot to talk about.
Eat some breakfast, and get dressed. I’ll be back as soon as I can.
Teren.
Alex glanced at the bedside clock. It was just past ten. She wondered how long Teren had been gone.
Alex lifted the lid off the plate on the table, and sniffed appreciatively. The waffles there had cooled, but not as much as she had feared. They still smelled wonderful, and she sat down for breakfast, her stomach demanding to be fed.
The monster, David had called it. Alex sighed. She missed her partner’s cheerful presence. His light banter had always kept her mood from getting too serious. Besides, he had always remembered caffeine for her in the mornings, which, it appeared, Teren had forgotten. She glanced around the room, and spotted something in the ice bucket. Upon further investigation she found a can of coke sitting on a bed of ice.
Okay, so Teren hadn’t forgotten, though hot chocolate was even better in the morning.
She was halfway dressed when she heard Teren come in. She pulled her shirt over head quickly while walking towards the adjoining door. Her injured arm slapped against it, and she cursed as she grabbed the wounded limb.
“Son-of-a-bitch that hurt!”
Teren came to the doorway to find Alex leaning against the wall with her teeth clenched.
“What did you do?”
“I hit my arm. Nothing major, just painful.”
“Oh. I brought back a bottle of ibuprofen. The good ones, 800 milligrams.”
“Ken been dipping into the hospital supplies again?”
“No. I visited some underground friends of mine. I’ve got ibuprofen, antibiotics, and plenty of bandages. How’s it feeling? Before you smacked it, I mean.”
“Not bad. Stiff, and sore to the touch, but I guess that’s normal the next day, right?”
“Yeah, that’s what I was told.”
Alex finally felt the pain ease back to the dull throb she’d had all morning. “Thanks for breakfast by the way.”
“No problem. I tried to find something that wouldn’t get cold too fast, and that wouldn’t be terrible if it did get cold.” She grinned. “Did I succeed?”
“Pretty much. And you remembered strawberry jelly.”
“Yep.”
“But you forgot the hot chocolate.”
Teren actually looked crestfallen. “Oh. Sorry.”
“S’okay. I found the Coke, so I had my caffeine.”
They stood there awkwardly for a moment.
“So, what have you been up to this morning? Other than the butch cut.”
Teren put a hand to her head self-consciously. “Pretty short, huh?”
Alex nodded. “It looks good on you. Makes you look even taller, though.”
“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
“Just don’t stand right next to me. You’ll make me look short.”
Teren chuckled. “Right. I’ll remember that.”
The two of them moved into Teren’s room.
“So, what else were you doing out and about?”
“I stopped by the hospital.” Teren sat down on the bed, and pointed Alex to the chair at the table.
“David?” Alex asked as she took the seat.
“Is going to be fine. The bullet missed the arteries around his heart. What they were so worried about yesterday was that a piece of bone was stuck very close to the heart wall. But they got it out without a problem.”
“And his lung?”
“There’s damage. But what they’re most concerned about right now is the blood loss. His blood pressure is still really low.”
“Why? Is it just from the bleeding?”
“Yeah, mostly. It took almost a full week after my last operation for my pressure to return to normal. With injuries this severe it can take a while.”
“So he’ll be okay?”
“They’re giving him an excellent chance for a full recovery.”
Alex took in a deep breath, and then let it out. Her head dropped back, and she closed her eyes.
“Thank you. I was worried.”
“I figured.” Teren waited a moment, then rested her hand on Alex’s knee. She waited until the blond woman looked at her. “I spoke to Miri, Alex.”