Page 115 of Coordinates of Death

“Well, sometimes my gut is wrong.”

He flinched before extracting medical supplies from his bag.

Oops. Simmer down and focus, Rory. She leaned over her friend. “Ginny, who did this to you? Did you see their face?”

“Cold . . . another . . . friend . . . needle . . . hurts . . . you . . . trouble,” she mumbled.

“I don’t think we’re going to get anything else out of her.” Kordell examined her wounds.

Aurora called for emergency services, paramedics, and additional constables, giving them their exact location. “Warn them to proceed with extreme caution upon approach.”

“Deploying now,” Dispatch said. “Stay safe, Corporal.”

“Copy.” Aurora placed her phone into its holder and kneeled beside Kordell. “Is she going to be okay?”

He shone his penlight into her pupils. “I honestly can’t say, but I don’t like the look in her eyes. We need to get her to the hospital. Stat.”

No, Lord. Save her. Please help us not to have been too late.

Aurora extracted her jackknife from her duty belt and cut Ginny’s ties. “We need to get her out of here, then.”

“We can’t, Rory. She’s not only been drugged, but I think the beating may have caused internal damage. Moving her without proper equipment like a neck brace and gurney could threaten her life.”

Tears prickled at the back of Aurora’s eyes. “No!”

Kordell squeezed her arm. “I’m sorry. Let’s pray while we wait for EMS to arrive.”

“Okay.” Aurora dropped to her knees, placing her hands in a prayer position, resting on the cot.

Hours later, paramedics and constables arrived. Aurora updated the situation to her fellow constables while Kordell shared what he discovered in his initial examination of Ginny to paramedics Barry and Olivia.

The constables left to secure the rest of the institution.

Aurora gnawed on her fingernails while Barry and Olivia treated Ginny.

After a few minutes, Olivia stood. “I agree with Kordell’s assessment. Let’s get her in the basket and out to the sled. It will be the easiest way to transport her.”

Barry brought the litter to the side of the bed. “I wish we had a place to take her by chopper. It would be quicker.”

Olivia lifted the neck brace from the basket. “We do this carefully.” She gingerly added the brace.

Aurora watched the pair in action. Even though Barry had a foul bedside manner, he seemed competent.

They lifted her carefully into the basket, and Ginny’s arm flopped out.

Aurora pointed. “Wait, there’s something on her hand I didn’t see earlier.”

Olivia turned Ginny’s hand, palm side up. “Appears to be some type of etching.”

Aurora’s gaze shot to Kordell’s. “The logo again. I’ll take a picture, and we’ll send it to Mic.”

He nodded.

Aurora brought out her phone and snapped several shots. “Okay, she’s ready. Please keep her safe.”

Barry and Olivia lifted the basket, leaving the room with Ginny.

Lord, please help her get to the hospital on time.