Finding Her Son(58)

“He’ll be fine,” the doctor said bitterly. “It was a little bubble. I didn’t even have time to hit a vein.”

“Lucky for you.”

“Oh, yeah, I really feel lucky now. Everything I’ve worked for is gone. Because of that nosy do-gooder.”

Emily slammed into the room. “Who was the man with the tattoo? The one with the pink ribbon on it? The one you’re afraid of?”

The doctor’s eyes went wide; his face paled to a grayish-white. “No way I’m talking. They’ll kill me.”

“I knew it.” Emily rushed forward. “Who are they?”

“Emily! Don’t—”

The doctor grabbed her before Mitch could move.

“Stay back or I’ll kill her. I got nothing left to lose.” He held the scalpel to her throat and backed toward the window.

Mitch knew the man was telling the truth. He’d kill Emily. Mitch forced his pounding pulse to slow. He had to be smart. “Doc, we can work something out.”

The guy wasn’t listening. He clutched her tighter, shaking his head. “I shouldn’t have let Ghost talk me into helping the guy. Easy money, Ghost said,” the doctor muttered. “Just a birth certificate that looked legal. I didn’t know who he really was. How could I know?”

“Please. Tell me,” Emily begged. “Who has my son?”

Her eyes had taken on the desperate look Mitch had seen before. She struggled against the doctor, and he cursed. The blade nicked her neck, drawing blood. She gasped. Her eyes turned glassy. Mitch recognized the signs. Flashback. She pulled and jerked within her captor’s arms, unseeing, screaming.

“Get away from me. No! I can’t see your face. Don’t kill me. Don’t take my baby!” Tears streamed down Emily’s face. Her agonized cries broke Mitch’s heart.

“Are you crazy?” the doctor yelled. “Don’t move or I’ll slit your throat open.” Suddenly Emily stilled, almost deadly serene. He took another step back, dragging her with him. Mitch couldn’t tell if she was in shock or had come out of it. The situation could explode any second.

“I want immunity and witness protection.”

“Doc, just let her go and we’ll discuss it.” Mitch lowered his voice to a calm, easy tone.

“I don’t have time to talk. I can’t let you take me in. I won’t last a day in jail. They’ll get to me. They can get to anyone.”

“I believe you. But you have to show good faith. I need to let my bosses know you’re a reasonable man. And that you’re telling the truth. Give me something. A name. Proof.”

“You’re not listening.” The doctor backed closer to the window, Emily plastered against him as a shield. “I’ll jump. I’ll take her with me.”

“No!” Suddenly, Emily wrenched away, but to Mitch’s horror, the doctor held on. Instead of falling into the center of the room, she stumbled closer to the window. The doctor shoved her hard at the opening.

Mitch dove toward her, slamming down on his bad knee but knocking her out of the way. The doctor tripped over their falling bodies, and his momentum carried him over the edge. Mitch twisted and grabbed the man’s coat, ignoring the searing pains shooting through his leg with blinding intensity. He couldn’t pass out. Hell, a full breath would be nice.

Emily gripped the material to help Mitch hang on to the doctor as he dangled from the window.

“Save me,” he screamed. “Don’t let me fall.”

Mitch struggled to adjust his hold on the coat and, grimacing, got on his knees. “Give me a name,” he said, reaching one hand down.

“Frankie,” the doctor panted. “Please, help me up.”

Mitch braced himself, and he and Emily tugged the man up by the coat until their hands almost touched the doctor’s. Suddenly, with a loud tearing sound, the white garment gave way. The fabric split. Frantically, Mitch clutched for the man’s hand, or another part of the coat, but it was no use. The doctor fell to the ground, screaming, until his head slammed against the hard cement below and there was silence.

Mitch leaned through the open window and stared at white, sightless eyes staring back at him.

Emily hugged Mitch from behind. “We did everything we could,” she said softly.

“It wasn’t enough.” He turned into her arms and held her closer.

Shouts from below penetrated their momentary quiet.

“Mitch, you guys okay?” Decker called through the microphone.

“Fine. We’re coming down,” he said.

“Do you think Frankie is the man with the tattoo?” Emily asked.

“I don’t know, but we’re going to find out.” Mitch turned, and his leg collapsed under him, spasms firing up his knee and leg. He clenched his jaw to keep from turning the air a colorful shade of blue, then pulled himself up into a seated position.

She knelt beside him. “What happened?”

He gave her a small smile. “Nothing. Knee popped. Just give me a minute. I’ll be fine.”

He was lying through his gritted teeth, and Emily could see right through him. He had a feeling that this injury might very well nail the coffin shut for returning to SWAT. Strangely, the prospect didn’t devastate him as much as he’d thought it would. The injury was worth it, because Emily was safe.