Page 108 of Ghost

Ghost

Iopened my eyes and looked around the room. Confused as to what had happened, I glanced at the television. The Samsung screen saver bounced from one corner of the television to the other.

I rolled to the side to wake Abby up. “Abby,” I tapped her on the shoulder. “Abby, wake up. We fell asleep.”

I pressed my hand against her arm and immediately yanked it away.

Her skin was hot to the touch.

Not warm.

Hot.

I leaned over her, gripped her shoulders, and shook her. “Abby, wake up. We need to get you in the bath, you’ve got a fever.”

She didn’t respond.

Fuck.

I shook her again. “Abby!”

She was limp in my hands.

I took her pulse. It was faint, but she was alive. I scrambled to find my phone, found it in my jeans pocket, and then dialed 911.

“Nine-one-one, state your emergency.”

Racing against a clock I couldn’t see, I stumbled across the floor as I tried to get into my jeans. Panic-stricken and afraid, I responded.

“This is Porter Reeves. She’s non-responsive. She’s hot to the touch. She won’t.” I glanced in her direction. Her hair was matted and stuck to her face. “She’s got a horrible fever. I need an ambulance.”

“Slow down,” she said. “Who is she?”

“Abby Northrop. Uptown Abby. My fiancé. She’s. She’s passed out.”

“Has she taken any drugs that you know of?”

I placed my hand on her cheek. If I didn’t do something quickly, she was going to die.

“Listen lady, I don’t have time for this shit. I’m headed to Mercy. Tell whoever you’ve got to tell I’m in a sixty-seven Mustang. Gray. License plate reads ELEANOR. Don’t try and pull me over, because I won’t. I’m taking her in there now.”

I rested the phone between my shoulder and my cheek, picked up her naked body, and lifted her from the bed.

“Tell them to get ready.”

“Sir, I’m sending an ambulance. Will you verify the address? You’re on Mission Boulevard?”

“I’m headed out the door right now.”

“Sir, stay where you are. I’m dispatching an ambulance.”

It would take fifteen minutes for an ambulance to navigate traffic, and an additional fifteen minutes for it to get back to Mercy. I knew alternate routes. I was a better driver than any ambulance attendant.

If things went to hell, I’d have her there in ten minutes, tops.

“No!” I shouted. “There’s no time. I’m headed in your direction. Tell them I’m coming. Have people ready at the emergency room.”

“Sir, please. Stay—”