Page 48 of Finding English

Chapter 19

The bandage was barely on his shoulder when the fire alarm went off. Henry glanced at Calder, who was already moving, his head out of the cubicle.

“There’s smoke in the hallway.”

Henry was on his feet, moving toward the exit with Calder, ignoring the calls from the doctor behind him. His only thought to get to Cassie. As people began to panic and head for the exit the space quickly filled, and tension and panic took over as shoving patients wared with doctors and nurses trying to keep them safe and calm.

Henry’s heart almost stopped when he saw Jack moving toward them through the smoke, Cassie nowhere in sight. A bubble of terror ate up his chest at the look on his friend’s face.

“I lost her.” The guilt in his words had Henry’s harsh reprimand dying on his lips.

“Where?” Henry demanded feeling a calm flood his veins as he coughed from the acrid smell of smoke in the air. He needed to be focused and stay on task, or he’d lose it.

“Just before the exit. We got separated, and she went around the corner before me. When I got past the people, she was gone. I’ve alerted Will and he’s accessing all the cameras now.”

“He must have had a car close. Let’s get out of here before the fucking place burns.”

Henry ignored the ache in his shoulder, the burning pain nothing but an inconvenience as adrenaline surged through him. Making it outside to the clear hallway, all three men took long breaths of fresh air, fighting the smoke inhalation.

“I’m sorry, Henry.”

Henry shook his head. “Forget about that for now. We need to find her.”

Henry paced as he tried to gather his thoughts. Calder was already on the phone to Cruz, and Jack was now talking with Will. Henry was trying not to let the fear take hold and make rash decisions. He closed his eyes and prayed silently she could hold on long enough for him to find her. His fist clenched in his hand as he thought of the crime scenes he’d seen first-hand. Knowing that awaited the woman he loved if he didn’t find her in time.

Calder hung up and looked at him. “Cruz is on the scene where you got shot. It’s Bunce’s bolt hole. They have a team there gathering evidence now, but there’s enough to put him away with just what they have now.”

“So shooting me was a ruse to get to Cassie.”

“That’s my guess.”

“He intends to finish what he started.”

Jack looked at them as he connected his phone to the comm, handing each of them a comm unit from the pocket on his pants. “Tell Henry what you found.”

Henry popped the comm into his ear, handing the other to Calder who did the same. Instantly they were in contact with Will and each other.

“Okay, I followed the car, and it was at the hospital, in fact, it’s still in the car park. Bunce either found another vehicle, or she’s somewhere within walking distance.” Will’s voice was clear as he spoke.

“Have we got him taking another car or exiting the building?” Henry dipped his head to listen, hearing the clack of Will rapidly typing.

“Yes! I have him moving west on Union Street.”

“Stay on him, we’ll follow on foot,” Jack said.

“Calder you’re the only one with a badge, but I’m not waiting.” Henry looked at his friend, seeing the indecision on his face before he nodded.

“But if I get fired you can tell Hope.”

Henry knew Calder was joking. He loved his job, but he wouldn’t put it above a life. “Whatever. Let’s go.”

“Let me radio this into Cruz first. We may need the back-up.”

Henry was itching to get going, needing Cassie away from the sicko as soon as possible.

Calder passed the information on to his friend, and Jack told him to call Aubrey and she would keep them up to date in real-time as she sat with Will.

“Can we go now?” Henry asked impatiently, and Calder nodded.