Overkill(97)

Kate took his place next to Melinda and began talking to her in soothing tones.

Zach asked Bing, “Anything new?”

“He’s still in recovery ICU. Surgeon said he had to stitch a lot of gut back together.”

“How’d he keep from bleeding out?”

“One of two ways. It was either a miracle or a God thing.”

“That’s the same thing.”

Bing shrugged. “You asked.”

“What are his chances?”

Bing flipped his hand back and forth. “The surgeon served two tours in Afghanistan. Said he’d seen men die of less and others survive with worse.”

Zach looked over to where Melinda was crying softly on Kate’s shoulder. “How’s she holding up?”

“Poor little thing is completely tuckered out, but she’s as stubborn as a damn mule. Refused to let me get her a motel room. No rest, no food. Says she won’t leave until she’s seen her husband. Her folks are on their way here. Maybe she’ll listen to them.” He paused and gave Zach a once-over. “When’s the last time you had a meal or looked in a mirror?”

He and Kate were wearing the same clothing they’d had on during their chase down the mountain and back up. Her bandaged knee could be seen through the tear in her slacks. Their boots were caked with mud. Exposed skin bore scratches and scrapes.

“As soon as the sheriff finished with us, we came straight here,” Zach said. “We didn’t even want to take the time to clean up. Besides, there was no privacy to be had. The house was full of personnel. Our bags are still packed. We brought them with us.”

He watched Kate and Melinda for a moment, then remembered something Bing had told him earlier. “You said Sid Clarke showed up at their house?”

“From out of nowhere. He was looking for Eban. Admitted he’d been hoodwinked and had a bad feeling that his nutcase son was up to something.”

“He called it right.” Zach rubbed his forehead. “Eban shot those men in cold blood, Bing. Right in front of Kate and me. He would have killed us, too, if we hadn’t managed to get away.”

Bing laid his hand on Zach’s shoulder and squeezed it hard. He didn’t get sloppily emotional, but there were tears in his eyes that attested to how relieved he was to see Zach intact and unharmed. Gruffly, he said, “The one time I wasn’t there to cover your ass, and look what happened.”

“Thanks for being here now.”

“Where else would I be?”

Zach pulled him forward and gave him a man hug, then walked over to where Kate sat with Melinda. He crouched down to be on eye level with them. Kate’s solacing had helped Melinda collect herself, but she still appeared on the verge of collapse.

He said, “Listen, you’re going to make yourself sick, and that’s going to piss off your husband. Kate knows of a nice bed-and-breakfast here in town. Why don’t you let us take you there and get you a room, get you fed—”

“No thank you,” she said before he’d even finished.

He pressed. “Kate will stay with you till your folks arrive. I’ve got to head to New Orleans, but—”

“New Orleans?” Bing said. “What for?”

Zach ignored him. “Melinda, you need to rest.”

She gave a firm shake of her head. “I’m not leaving until I at least see Cal, even if I can’t talk to him.”

“When will that be?” Zach asked.

“They’re gonna let her know.” Bing cast a sour look down the hallway toward the nurses’ station.

Zach looked at Kate, then at Melinda, then without a word stood up and headed down the corridor. Within minutes, he returned with a nurse, who said to Melinda, “I’ll escort you to Mr. Parsons’s unit, but you’ll have to put on a sterile gown and mask.”

“Gladly.” Melinda tearfully thanked Zach and Kate, gave Bing an extra-tight hug, then hastened down the hallway with the nurse.

As the three watched them go, the elevator doors behind them opened. They turned just as Sid Clarke stepped out.

He didn’t look like the man always featured in photographs, standing tall, emanating self-confidence and arrogance. As he came toward them, he looked vanquished, his bearing drained of all pride and hauteur.

He made fleeting eye contact with Bing but didn’t acknowledge his scowl. He addressed Zach and Kate. “I’m Sid Clarke.”

Neither said anything, but Zach bobbed his chin.

“The morgue is in the hospital basement. I accompanied my son’s body here.” He stated it quietly and without rancor. “Theo had been brought earlier. I confirmed his identity. I asked the staff about Cal’s condition and was told he was undergoing surgery. So…” He raised his hand in a gesture of helplessness. “I came to inquire.”

After a lengthy and solemn silence, Zach said, “Cal has made it so far, but he’s not out of the woods. It could go either way.”

Looking pained, Sid gave a slow nod. “His wife?”

“She’s with him now.”

Clarke’s gaze moved to Kate. “Kathryn Lennon?”

“Yes.”

He looked her over, noticed the tear in her pants leg, the bandage, her dishevelment. “Are you all right?”