Page 56 of Caretaker

The paramedic shook his head. “Getting harder and harder to tell the supernaturals from the humans.” Then he and his partner trotted away to tend to Shane.

The cop eyed me. “Ms. Sinclair. What happened here?”

“Bomb squad is here,” someone yelled.

“Rhys,” I said, grabbing his arm. “Can you get Clayton to the doctor?” He didn’t need a human paramedic. He needed a supernatural doctor.

“Ms. Sinclair,” the cop insisted. “Have a word?”

Another cop trotted up to us and without hesitation, he brought out his cuffs. He slipped to Clayton’s back as I watched in confused silence, but when he grabbed Clayton’s bloody arm and started to cuff him, I unfroze.

“Get away from him,” I snarled.

The cops looked at each other. “We’re going to have to take him in and question him,” the first cop said. He pointed his chin at Rhys. “You’re not human, either, are you?”

“Rhys.” My voice couldn’t possibly have been any colder.

“Yes, Trinity?”

“Take Clayton to the doctor. Go now.”

He didn’t hesitate. He slid in between the cop and Clayton, put his arm around Clayton’s shoulders, and urged him away. Honestly, I had no idea how Clayton was still standing.

The two cops shifted uncertainly from foot to foot, uncomfortable and silent.

Rhys glanced back at me once, and in his eyes was a soft appreciation. “Just one more reason why we’re thrilled to fucking death that you’re ours,” he said. “Our human.”

“Our woman,” Clayton said, then his legs buckled as he passed out.

“No,” I cried, and started toward them, as though maybe I could catch Clayton before he slammed to the ground. But I needn’t have worried. Rhys simply caught the other man, tossed him over his shoulder, and jogged to his car.

Shane was rushed past me on a gurney, his face pasty white, eyes closed. Head wounds were a son of a bitch.

Miriam appeared at my side. “Go with him, Trinity.” She took my arm, her brow furrowed. “He needs someone to make sure they behave.”

“They’ll take good care of him,” one of the cops told her, giving her an admiring once-over. “He’s human, isn’t he?”

Both Miriam and I glared at him, and I was sure he had absolutely no idea why we were being unfriendly.

The other cop cleared his throat. “Ms. Sinclair, there are car guts all over the highway. We’re going to need you to—”

“I’m going to the hospital,” I interrupted. “I’ll come to the station tomorrow.” If I was still alive tomorrow.

I put my hand to my stomach when I realized I had only a few hours before I had to go to the island, and I was going to have to go there alone. Shane would be in no shape to make the trip.

And I had no car.

Miriam hurried away without so much as a goodbye.

“God,” I said, my voice thick. “Things sure can go to hell in a hurry.”

Then Frank Crawford was striding through the crowd toward me, scowling. “Sinclair,” he called. “If I ever need to find you, all I have to do is go where there’s trouble. You’ll be right smack dab in the middle of it, every damn time.”

My lip trembled—I could feel it. And then, to my embarrassment, I burst into loud, messy sobs. It was funny, really. Maybe someday I’d laugh about it.

Maybe.

“Oh hell,” Frank muttered, then cleared his throat and patted me on the back. “What happened?”

“I’ve been trying to get her to explain since I got here,” one of the cops said. “She won’t cooperate.”

I wiped my eyes and got control of myself. “Another demon. He’s looking for something. Before he left, he blew up my car. Shane…” I had to stop my clipped monotone when tears threatened again. I blew out a short breath, then hurried on. “Shane and Clayton were injured. I don’t know how badly. I need to go to the hospital to see to Shane, and then I have to go to Byrd Island. And I don’t have a car.” I sniffed, then gave a watery laugh. “It’s been a hard day, Captain.”

He sighed. “Come on. I’ll take you the hospital to see Copas and we’ll figure out the rest. I can lend you a car to get to the island.” He took my arm and hurried me away from the scene. “Why are you going to the island tonight?”

“I was told to go. I’ll let you know if anything comes of it.” I didn’t meet his questioning stare. “I can’t say anything more.”

He opened the car door and ushered me inside, then walked around to get behind the wheel. “Time is running out for Madalyn. My people can’t find a trace of her. It’s like she vanished into thin air.”

“That’s what it feels like to me, too.”

“The demon you faced,” he said, changing the subject to one no less grim. “What does he want?”

I hesitated, unsure how much to tell him. Finally, too afraid to trust him with Clayton, I shook my head. “I don’t know.”

We rode the rest of the way in silence. I sank down into my seat and closed my eyes, silently praying that both Shane and Clayton would survive the demon’s wrath.