Page 111 of Lion’s Den

“We find and free Sedona first, then you can have your chat with Simpson. My gut says Simpson’s a tough nut to crack. You may have your work cut out for you.”

Although Levi smiled, his eyes remained glacial. “Good.”

Cam wouldn’t want to be on the bad side of the Montgomery brothers. Wise men stayed on their good side.

Thirty minutes later, Levi turned into the hospital parking lot and stopped in front of the emergency-room doors. Cam climbed out of the backseat, scooped Julio into his arms, and rushed into the ER.

The security guard at the entrance leaped up and hurried to scan his card through the reader and open the door for Cam. “They’re holding Exam Room Two for Julio. I’ll let the medical team know you’re here.”

“Thanks.” He kept walking while the guard talked. Cam walked down the corridor to the second security door, where another guard waited for him.

“This way, sir.” The second guard swiped his card through the reader, then rushed ahead of Cam to open the door to exam room 2. “The mother is on her way here under heavy police escort.” His gaze scanned the child. “How is he?”

“No obvious injuries, but we think he’s been drugged. He’s been asleep nearly the whole trip back here.”

Fury burned in the guard’s eyes. “How did you find him, sir?”

Cam laid Julio on the exam table and slowly turned around with his weapon in hand. “Why all the questions?”

The guard’s face lost color as he raised his hands. “Just curious, sir. I didn’t mean nothing by it. Just hate that some outsider kidnapped and hurt one of our kids, you know?”

He sounded sincere, but Cam worried that his judgment meter was off target right now. He wasn’t taking a chance that one of Simpson’s flunkies might have infiltrated the hospital.

Levi walked into the room, saw the weapon in Cam’s hand, and drew his own in a split second. “Sit rep.”

“Mr. Jennings is very curious about Julio and how we found him. Too curious.”

“Hands behind your head, Jennings,” Levi said.

“What? What did I do? This isn’t right. Anyone would be curious. You can’t arrest a guy for curiosity.”

The other deputy shook his head. “You’re protesting too much, you know that, right? I don’t think your boss will appreciate losing another underling to our jail.”

Jennings grew even paler, then said, “I want a lawyer.”

“You’re supposed to wait until we arrest you before you say that.”

“Lawyer, now.”

Levi cinched the handcuffs around Jennings’ wrists and marched him from the room. “I’ll send you backup,” he said to Cam.

The medical team arrived a minute later along with Maria Ramirez, and Cam was told to wait in the hallway. He leaned back against the wall opposite the exam room and prayed Levi’s promised backup arrived soon. He was still getting updates from Zane every couple of minutes. The longer he was stuck here on guard duty, the farther Sedona moved away from him.

Ten minutes later, Levi returned. “Go. I’ve got this. David, Elliot, and Owen are slowly catching up to Simpson, but they’re still an hour behind him and Sedona.”

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” As desperate as he was to reach Sedona, Cam would never leave an officer in danger.

“Fortress help will arrive in a few minutes. I’ll be fine. Just do me one favor.”

“Name it.”

“Get Simpson so he can never do this again to anyone else.”

“You can count on that.” He sprinted from the ER and hopped into the front passenger seat of the waiting SUV.

Dario took off like a shot. “How’s the kid?”

“Getting VIP treatment from the hospital staff, and so is his mom. Levi is on watch for the moment. He has friends from Fortress coming to help with guard duty.”