Overkill(88)

The ponderous silence that followed seemed to have a heartbeat.

When Kate finally spoke, she asked quietly, “Who called 911?”

Theo cleared his throat, but his voice was still a croak. “I did.”

“That pissed Eban off,” Cal said. “He kept saying that she was fine, that she would come around. But anybody could tell that she hadn’t merely passed out. Theo and I tried CPR, but it didn’t do any good. We were so wasted, we probably didn’t do it right. While we were frantically trying to get her to breathe, Eban repeated over and over that she had never said the safe word. How was he to know that he was taking it too far? He kept spewing stuff like that, right up till the EMTs got there. They worked on her. They rushed her out. But too much time had passed. I knew she was as good as dead.”

All four of them started when a voice came from the direction of the kitchen. “That was quite a story.”

There stood Eban, smiling like he’d arrived late to a party.

“And you two told it with such passion,” he said. “Y’all kept me on the edge of my seat. Truly. I’d applaud you, but…” He raised the evil-looking pistol attached to his right arm with a brace. “… my hands are full.”

Zach lurched toward the end table where Cal had set his father-in-law’s gun.

“Don’t!” Eban aimed toward Zach. “I’d really hate having to shoot you first, Bridger. If I did, you’d miss out on all the fun. No, I’m saving you for last.” Then he swung the weapon in the direction of Theo. “But you outlived your usefulness ages ago.”

Three shots pop-pop-popped. Theo opened his mouth but didn’t utter a sound. He slowly crumpled forward off the hearth and onto the floor.

Eban said, “Well, that was easy.”





Chapter 36





Doug Pratt came awake abruptly and righted his head, which had been lolling to one side and giving him a crick in his neck. Dr. Gilbreath had come into Rebecca’s room accompanied by a nurse, who went to the far side of the bed and went about checking her vitals and IV.

Embarrassed for having been caught sleeping, he started to stand, but decided he didn’t have the energy, so he remained seated as he said to Dr. Gilbreath, “I thought you’d left for the day.”

“I only went home for dinner. Have you eaten anything?”

“I will later.”

“That’s what you said hours ago, Mr. Pratt. You really should eat.”

He glanced at Rebecca. “I’m not very hungry.”

The doctor was holding a manila folder against her chest, obviously waiting for the nurse to finish her routine so she could speak to him alone. It was unusual for her to return to the facility after regular hours. She only did so if a patient was in crisis. He braced himself for what was coming.

Discreetly the nurse finished her tasks and left the room. Dr. Gilbreath closed the door behind her. “I have the results of the most recent lab work.”

He’d been afraid of that.

“It’s not what we had hoped for,” Dr. Gilbreath said.

“The antibiotic isn’t working?”

“Indications are that the infection is intensifying, not abating.”

He drew in a breath so deep it made his breastbone hurt. “So, what now? A stronger antibiotic?”

The doctor pulled over the extra chair and sat down facing him. “I was duty-bound to notify Mr. Bridger of any change in her condition.”

“I guess he’s winging his way down here then.”

“Actually, I’ve been unable to reach him. His cell phone is going directly to voice mail. I’ve left two messages, but he hasn’t called back. The alternate number he gave me is for a Mr. Bingham.”

“His old coach. They’re real close.”

“Yes, I spoke with him. He said Mr. Bridger is at home in North Carolina.”

“Cell service may not be that reliable in the mountains.”

“That’s a problem, because, according to Mr. Bingham, Mr. Bridger doesn’t have a land line. I was wondering if you know how I might go about contacting him up there?”

Doug looked at his daughter. He reached out and stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers. He could tell her fever was high, higher than it had been this morning. “Is the infection serious enough that you have to talk to Zach tonight? The antibiotic hasn’t had much time. Maybe by tomorrow morning it will have kicked in.” He pointed to the folder containing the condemning lab report. “You could check things out again and, if called for, up the dosage.”

“That would require Mr. Bridger’s authorization.”

This created a quandary. He could buy time by pleading ignorance and making it difficult for Dr. Gilbreath to reach Zach. But in the meanwhile, Rebecca’s condition could worsen to the point where no amount of antibiotic would save her. If the doctor wasn’t going to increase her medication before getting Zach’s okay, then he was left with only one choice.

He said, “There’s a deputy sheriff up there who’s familiar with Zach. His name is Dave Morris. I have his cell number.”





“Still going to voice mail,” Bing reported to Melinda with disgust. “Zach hates phones. Has a bad habit of ignoring calls. No luck with Kate?”