Page 40 of Condor’s Vow

Clay looked at Sandstorm. “You don’t know that. This fucker wants her, and we stopped him. This is the perfect storm to grab her.”

“I know but keep your head or you won’t be any good to anyone.”

As they pulled up outside the cordon for the hospital, he could see four fire trucks and police vehicles everywhere. Ducking under the tape, he approached a familiar face who seemed to be coordinating ten things at once.

“Sledge, I need to get in there, my woman’s inside.”

Sledge was a firefighter from Station 7 who he’d met at one of the charity softball games over the summer. He and his friends were cheating beggars, but he’d had so much fun and a beer afterward, and cemented the friendship with the whole group.

“No way, man. In any case, we cleared it. Nobody is inside.”

“Where are all the nurses and doctors from the ER?”

“They were moved to the outpatient wing on the opposite side of the hospital.” Sledge pointed in the general direction. “Squirrel is round there with Tiger and Moose helping out. What’s your girl’s name?”

“Hattie Pollard.”

Sledge turned from the noise and used his radio to speak with his team. “Moose, this is Sledge. Is Hattie Pollard over with you guys?”

“Yeah, she’s helping triage the patients with burns and some guy covered in tattoos won’t leave her side.”

Sledge looked at Clay who sagged in relief. “I’m sending Condor over. Looks like she’s his.”

“Thank you, Sledge.”

“No problem.”

“I’ll need to talk to the Chief later.”

“I’ll let him know.”

Clay was walking before he remembered Sandstorm was there. “Do you want to call Cruz and Dax and bring them up to speed?”

“Sure.”

Sandstorm peeled off and walked to the side where it was quieter while Clay carried on toward where he could see the outpatient’s entrance. Clay slipped inside and saw Hattie out of uniform, with Reid hovering close by. He didn’t stop when she lifted her head and saw him but kept going until she was in his arms.

“Scared the crap out of me, gorgeous.”

She smelled of smoke and her face was covered in smudges of grease and smoke and she had never been more beautiful.

“I’m sorry I switched it up without talking to you. I tried to call and it went to voicemail. Callie called me and I mentioned it to her, so she sent Reid over. I hope that was okay?”

Clay stroked her hair from her face. “Other than myself, there’s nobody I trust to keep you safe more than Reid. Can I ask why you came in?” The killer wanted her here and he wondered if this had been luck or if he’d somehow orchestrated it.

“Doctor Rawley called me and said he was short-staffed but when I got here, they seemed fine. I was about to leave when the fire alarms went off.”

“Hmm.”

Sandstorm joined them and Clay took Hattie’s hand and towed her off to the side as Reid followed. His friend knew him well enough to know he was worried.

“Hattie, the killer set this fire. He’s been all over the news taking responsibility and saying we have to hand over the nurse.”

Clay heard Reid curse, but he was watching Hattie, who went so pale he thought she was about to pass out. “Get her some water.”

He pushed her into a chair and in the next instant a firefighter was by his side squatting down in his full burnout suit.

“Hey, Hattie, it’s Squirrel. You doing okay?” Squirrel had his fingers on her pulse as Sandstorm handed him a bottle of water.