“Lynch?”
“You heard me. Stop asking questions. Get someone here for him.” She hung up the cell and immediately used her hand to apply more pressure. “They’re coming, Lynch. Don’t you dare die. I told Zachary how tough you were and you wouldn’t want to make me a liar. He said he’d win, and we can’t let him do that.”
No answer. Of course there was no answer. He was hurt and in shock. That didn’t mean that he was dying. She wouldn’t let him die. “You hold on, Lynch. You wouldn’t let me die, would you? You’re too stubborn to ever let Zachary take anything—” Her voice broke and she had to take a second to steady it. “So you have to do the same for me. Everything’s going to be fine. You just do your part, okay? I think I hear the ambulance. Thank God. Griffin must have done something right…”
*
THE EMT’S WERE PUTTING Lynch in the ambulance when Griffin pulled up behind it. He and Metcalf jumped out of the car and ran toward Kendra.
“Are you hurt?” Griffin asked. “I thought you said Lynch, but you look awful.”
“It was Lynch. What are you talking about? I’m not hurt. He’s the one who’s hurt and bleeding.”
“He’s not the only one,” Metcalf said gently. “You look like you’ve been interning in a slaughterhouse. Look at yourself. You’re drenched in blood. It’s not yours?”
She shook her head. “It’s Lynch’s.” She rubbed her temple trying to think. “And maybe Zachary’s. The EMT’s were making such a fuss and wasting time trying to check on him. I told them he didn’t matter and I’d already killed him.” Him. She probably shouldn’t be referring to Gina as him. She might be confusing them. But it was how she thought of Zachary. It was as if Gina had never really existed.
“Yes, I’d imagine that would cause a fuss,” Griffin said. “How is Lynch?”
“I don’t know. They’re giving him blood. But I’m going with him to the hospital and find out.” She glared at the EMT who had finished hooking up Lynch to the equipment in the ambulance. “He says I can’t go. Take care of it, Griffin. It’s something about what I did to Zachary.”
“She said she killed this Zachary,” the EMT said coldly. “And there’s a dead man in there. But there’s also a woman inside who’s sliced full of holes. Either way we have to wait for the police to come and investigate.”
“Take care of it,” Kendra repeated to Griffin as she got into the ambulance. “I’m going with Lynch.”
“No!” The EMT stepped forward, alarmed.
“It’s perfectly in order.” Griffin stepped in front of him, his tone soothing. He showed him his ID. “FBI. We’ve been hunting for a serial killer. You might have read about him. You don’t want to stand here and argue when you need to get our agent to the hospital. I’ll send Metcalf inside to investigate the crime scene.”
Metcalf. That pierced the fog of panic enveloping Kendra. “No, go with him. It’s going to be a shock for both of you. But it’s Zachary,” she said. “I don’t have time to go into it. Call me later. You’ll think it’s Gina. But I swear it’s Zachary that I killed. Gina was Zachary. I swear.”
“Gina? Zachary?” Griffin was staring at her. “Are you crazy?”
“No, I’m telling the truth.” She glanced at Metcalf. She’d done what she could to prepare him. “I’m sorry.” The EMT slammed the door shut.
Kendra sat down beside Lynch in the ambulance.
Still unconscious. Still pale. But he was hooked up to the IV and maybe he was going to be—
“What the hell—happened to—you.”
Her gaze flew to Lynch’s face. His eyes were only slits but he’d really spoken. She stifled the flash of wild excitement and hope. “You’d better not talk. You’re on the way to the hospital. You’ve got to save your strength because you’ve got to get well. I won’t have it any other way.”
He was frowning. “Happened—to you? Blood all over your face. Tear streaks. What a mess…”
“Hush. I guess I kept pushing back my hair.” She reached out to hold his hand. “And you’re more of a mess than I am. It’s your blood, dammit. Now will you please shut up?”
His eyes were closing. “No choice … Just so it’s—not your—blood.”
He was unconscious again. That was all, she told herself, he’d just passed out. She could see the pulse pounding in his throat.
And he’d spoken to her. Only a few words, but they’d been clear and characteristic Lynch. That was a good sign. A dying man wouldn’t have told her she looked like a mess, would he?
If it was Lynch, he might. But then he would have had a twinkle in his eye.
Her hand tightened on his hand.
Stay with me. Say anything you want to me. I can always get back at you later.
Just stay with me.
CHAPTER
16
Sharp Memorial Hospital
3:30 A.M.
Waiting Room
“I SEE THEY KICKED you out of Lynch’s room.”
Kendra opened her eyes and straightened in her chair as she saw Griffin standing in the doorway. “They sedated him and they wouldn’t let me stay. They said they had a family only rule for overnight visitors.” She stared at him accusingly. “I tried to get hold of you to make you fix it, but no one could reach you. I left a message.”
“Sorry. What a shame.” He came toward her and gave her a cup of coffee. “And I do want to make your world run just the way you want it. It’s harder for me to change hospital rules than protect you from homicide charges. Though that was a nightmare, particularly when the victim was an FBI agent.” He sipped his coffee. “Besides, I thought you might go home if you couldn’t be within hovering distance of Lynch. You needed the rest. And Lynch wasn’t going to expire on you. That stab wound is serious, but he’s had worse.”
“Not since I’ve met him. And he’s never taken a wound like that for me. It makes a fairly vital difference. I have to make sure that he’s okay and stays that way.”
“I thought that was where this was going.” He tilted his head. “At least you look like you’ve managed to shower and change since you got here. By the way, that kangaroo tee shirt is not fetching.”
“Gift shop.” She smiled faintly. “The shower was a definite necessity. Everyone in this hospital kept wanting to give me treatment. And the first thing Lynch had to say to me was that I was a mess. That’s when I had an idea he was really going to live.” Her smile faded. “Though I haven’t been able to talk to him since then. They were sewing him up, x-rays, and then sedating him. But the surgeon told me the same thing he told you. He has to take care of himself for several weeks but there’s nothing that can’t be healed.”
“Then go home, Kendra.”
She shook her head. “Not yet. I have to be sure.” She changed the subject. “What did your dream team say when you told them about Zachary?”