Page 86 of Sting
Before turning to address her question, Joe caught the meaningful look Hick cast him out of the corner of his eye. “Are you referring to Shaw Kinnard, Ms. Bennett?”
She nodded.
Joe had conferred with one of the paramedics before they’d sped away with Kinnard secured in the ambulance. Deputy Morrow had gone with them. “I was told that he’s stable, which is about all they could tell of his condition till a surgeon gets in there and takes a look. A trauma team is standing by.”
“In New Orleans?”
“Houma.” Seeing her doubtful expression, he added, “Nearest one.”
She turned her head aside and looked out the rain-streaked backseat window.
“Did Kinnard mistreat you, Ms. Bennett?”
Her head shake indicated that he hadn’t.
“I noticed the marks on your wrists.”
She rubbed the left one with her right hand. “He kept them bound in those plastic things.”
“Flexcuffs?”
“He kept them on me that whole first night, except to let me go to the bathroom. He gave me more freedom after we got to the garage.”
“When was that?”
“Yesterday. Sometime in the morning. We’d driven all night.”
“You didn’t cover very much ground.”
“I guessed as much. Once he took the blindfold off, and I—”
“He blindfolded you?”
“For a while.”
“Why’d he go to that particular place?”
“He didn’t say.” After a beat, she turned her head away from the window and toward Joe. “Maybe he should be taken by CareFlight to a major hospital in New Orleans.”
“He’s a survivor. Been in a lot of scrapes.”
“Yes. That scar on his chin…”
Hick cut Joe another look, which he pretended not to notice. “Right. That scar helped identify him. He has a history of violence. You’re lucky to be alive, and, frankly, your concern for his welfare is misplaced. If you don’t mind me saying so.”
“Well, I do mind you saying so,” she snapped. “I could have killed him.”
“Wasn’t that what you had in mind when you stabbed him?”
“Yes. No. I…I don’t know.” The starch going out of her, she rubbed her eye sockets then turned back to the window. “I reacted out of fear for my life. But when I attacked him, I didn’t wish him to die, and still don’t.”
Joe stalled by coughing behind his fist. Finally he said, “You’re more forgiving than I’d be in your situation. I’m relieved and grateful he didn’t kill you outright. I was afraid we’d find your remains, not you.”
“I feared that, too. At first. But then he kept putting off killing me, and I began thinking that he couldn’t do it.”
“Even though he’d killed Mickey Bolden directly in front of you.”
“I grant you, that was horrendous.”
