Straight Flushed (Hot Pursuit #1)(52)

“Since when did you become a doctor? This doesn’t look fine.”

He looked me in the eye. “I’m not going to die. You need to call the office and get someone over here to get Veronica out. This is bad for business.” He winked.

“Seriously?” I said through a sigh. I stood up and stepped off to the side as I fished my phone out of my pocket. I dialed Cavanaugh’s direct number. “Sir, we had an incident. The client is fine, but Vance got shot in the shoulder. The ambulance is on the way.”

“Christ all mighty! What happened?” he barked.

I gave him the quick rundown of everything. “I need another unit in here to get the client out. She’s not in danger. The ambulance should be here any second, but Vance has lost a lot of blood.”

“Stay with the client until back up arrives. I’ll dispatch them as soon as I’m off with you. Then I want you to get to the hospital and keep me up to date on Vance’s condition. I’ll get to the hospital as soon as I can.” His voice was all business then the call disconnected.

I looked over at Vance and saw him sipping on a bottle of water being held to his lips. He seemed to be doing all right, but I wouldn’t feel better until a doctor told me he was going to be okay.

I went to give Veronica an update. She was dressed and standing in the doorway looking at the scene like a deer in headlights. I escorted her over to an overstuffed chair inside the opening to the dressing room and gathered her bags, leaving them piled next to her feet.

“I’m going to check on my partner,” I said.

“Yes, please, go check on him. I’m fine.”

“I’ve called the office and they’re sending another team to come and get you. After they take Vance away, I’ll stay with you until they arrive.”

“Okay.” She nodded then her eyes moved to something behind me. “I think they’re here.”

Two EMTs loaded down with duffle bags had stepped off the escalator and two others were behind them pushing a stretcher. They squatted down next to Vance and began checking his vitals. I glanced back at Veronica.

“Go,” she said. “Make sure he’s okay.”

“Thank you,” I said and ran over to Vance.

I stood in the background watching the EMTs as they listened, probed, and rotated Vance. One of them said it looked like the bullet went straight through. I hoped it hadn’t rattled around in his chest before it made its exit. A clean shot would be a blessing.

They packed his shoulder with gauze and loaded him onto the stretcher. One EMT held up a bag of clear fluid that was connected to Vance’s arm. When they lifted him, Vance looked around, searching until he found me.

“I’ll meet you there!” I called.

Vance laid his head back down and gave me a thumb’s up.

I went back to Veronica then the police arrived. I gave a quick statement, but unfortunately since the man had come up behind me, I never got a clear look at his face. I assumed it was one of the two men from the café based off the stale smell of cigarettes, black hair, and tan skin, but I couldn’t be certain. Everything had happened so fast.

A few minutes later, the new team from B&B taking over Veronica’s watch arrived. After a quick update, and an all clear from the police, I ran out in of search the car.

Vance had parked it in the garage under the department store, but that was all I knew. Thankfully it was only two floors. I started my search at the bottom and worked my way up. I kept clicking the remote until I heard the horn beep. I found the car on the second level outside the elevator doors.

I barely remembered the drive to the hospital. Cars drove past me in colorful blurs—I was so consumed with worry and “what-ifs.” What might have happened if the bullet had struck Vance three inches higher? If it had hit him in the neck or the head? Then I’d be taking this drive dreading telling Vance’s mother he was gone. Then, I’d help to plan his funeral. I shuddered thinking about it.

At the hospital, I parked in the emergency lot—a lot I’d become all too familiar with it over the past couple of weeks. I trotted up to the nurse’s station, and the woman behind the desk told me they’d taken Vance back to X-ray. I was directed to the waiting room and sat with my head in my hands. So many thoughts were swimming in my head.

Whatever it was Stephen and Avery were mixed up in, they’d dragged me into it. Each second I waited for an update on Vance, the angrier I got. I’d broken a couple of ribs in the car accident where Vance, Avery and I could have been killed. Miss Red had gotten hurt. Now, Vance was in the hospital with a gunshot wound.I needed answers.

A nurse stepped into the waiting room and called my name. I sprang to my feet and met her across the room. Vance was out of X-ray and waiting for me.

“Hey,” I said, pulling up a chair next to his bed. I sat down and grabbed his hand. “I’ve been in this ER three times in the last couple weeks. It’s enough already.”

Vance turned toward me and grinned. “I was feeling left out. You know how I like attention.” His eyes were glazed over and his voice was groggy.

I chuckled and squeezed his hand. “Attention whore. I knew it. Have they said anything?”

“They said the bullet went straight through. Everything sounds good inside my chest. They’ll need to look over the X-rays to be certain then they’ll clean and pack the wound. That sounds fun.” He grimaced.