Page 51 of Girl Long Gone

“I just want to go home.” Her words were thick, as if spoken through tears.

The small voice she spoke in reminded him of how she’d sounded as a little girl and tore his heart in two. “I’ll be there soon. Are you there yet? I don’t want to get off the phone until I know you’re safe.”

“I’m here. I can’t believe it.”

Sobs poured through the phone and knocked the air from Connor’s lungs. He couldn’t believe it, either. Monica had gotten away from Gabriel. She was safe. Tears welled in his eyes, but he blinked them back. “Good. Now call the police. I’ll be right there.”

His mind screamed at him not to disconnect the call, not to sever the connection with his sister. But she needed to call the police, and he had to get to her.

“Was it really Monica? Is she okay?” Wonder laced Evelyn’s words.

Connor grabbed the back of her neck and crushed his mouth on hers. He pulled back and grinned. “Yes, it’s her. She’s in Brooklyn. Gabriel said he had to get out of town. We’ve got to go.”

“We? You want me to go with you?”

“Yes. Gabriel’s still out there, and he’s up to something. No way he’d just let Monica go. I don’t want you out of my sight.”

Red and blue lights slashed against the night sky and bounced around the eclectic mix of buildings dominating the area. Thrill bubbled in Evelyn’s stomach, but just because Monica had escaped Gabriel didn’t mean her nightmares were over. Some scars never fully healed.

Connor swerved past a line of cars at a red light, and his tires bounced onto the sidewalk. A few pedestrians shot them dirty looks as they jumped out of the way. He threw his car in park, turned off the engine, and hurled himself from the car.

Evelyn followed close behind. The familiar entrance of The Flying Pig tied her stomach in knots. Gabriel had brought her to this same restaurant. She slowed her gait as they approached the crowd gathered by the front door.

A paramedic kneeled on the ground, and a pair of dirty white sneakers poked through the cluster of people. She stayed close behind Connor as he pushed his way through the barrier of bodies and dropped to the side of the young woman with closed eyes.

“Monica?” Connor spoke the name as if he couldn’t believe the woman in front of him was his sister. “What the hell happened to her? She sounded fine on the phone.”

“The hostess said she collapsed as soon as she walked in the door. The woman called 911. We need to get her to the hospital. You know her?”

“She’s my sister. Did she talk to the police?”

Evelyn laid a hand on his rigid shoulder. She didn’t want to be in the way but wanted him to know she was here for him.

“No, she didn’t get a word out before she went down. Do you know what happened to her?”

“She escaped a kidnapper. We’ve been looking for her for close to a week. There’s no telling what the sick sonofabitch did to her.”

Monica lay on her back with her eyes closed. Bruises covered her swollen face. Dried blood mixed with dirt caked every inch of uncovered skin, and chunks of hair had been cut from her head. Her clothes had been shredded, leaving pieces of her body exposed to the gawkers behind her.

Connor covered Monica’s hand in his. “Monica, I’m here. You’re safe now.”

Her chest moved up and down, but no indication she was aware of his presence flickered across her beaten face.

Tears gathered at the corners of Evelyn’s eyes. Connor had been so excited to see his sister, and now she didn’t even move at the sound of his voice.

A second paramedic approached, rolling a gurney toward them at a quick trot. “Let’s get her to the truck. She needs fluids. Now.”

The crowd parted, and two police officers approached. They nodded in their direction. “Detective Mitchel. Ma’am,” the female officer said.

Evelyn recognized the female officer from the police station and tipped her lips in a half smile.

“I don’t have time right now, Sanders,” Connor barked, and kept his gaze focused on Monica’s still form as they maneuvered her onto the gurney.

“He’s still out there, Connor. We need to know everything she told you so we can get more men out looking for him.”

Connor locked his eyes with her then glanced back down at Monica.

Evelyn stayed as close to the ambulance as the crowd of people around the vehicle allowed. She didn’t want to get lost in the sea of nosy pedestrians. She needed to be close to Connor.