Against the Edge (The Raines of Wind Can - By Kat Martin Page 0,51

entrance and slammed on the brakes, jumped out of the car and burst through the doors, shouting for help.

On the way to the hospital, she’d hit her cell number for Detective Fred Owens of the LAPD, and though he was off duty this late at night, he had answered on the second ring.

“I saw Bridger, Detective,” she’d said. “Sam was with him. I got the license number of his truck.” She had rattled off the plate number, told him about the cockfight, and that she was on the way to the hospital with Sam’s father, Ben Slocum, who had been shot trying to rescue his son.

“I’m on it,” Owens had said. “Good luck with Slocum. I’ll be in touch.” She had called the LAPD detective instead of 911, certain Owens would have a far better chance of getting the cooperation of the El Paso police department than she would. She prayed the local authorities would find the pickup Troy was driving before he could escape with Sam.

The waiting room was a little chilly. A heavyset black woman and her daughter were the only other occupants. They sat quietly at the other end of the room, talking in whispers.

Now that there was nothing more she could do for Ben except wait, she dug out Ben’s iPhone, retrieved from his pockets along with his insurance information. The only person she knew to call was his friend Sol Greenway, whose name was in his contacts.

His voice sounded groggy when he answered. “Greenway.”

“Hello, Sol. My name is Claire Chastain. I’m calling for Ben Slocum. There’s...there’s been a shooting.”

“Jesus. Is Ben all right?”

“He’s in surgery. I’m at the hospital in El Paso.” Her voice broke. “I’m sorry to...sorry to bother you so late. But I didn’t know who else to call.”

“It’s all right...it’s not a bother. Ben’s a friend. Just tell me what’s going on.”

She told him about Sam and the cockfight and the shooting and that Ben was in surgery. She told him she didn’t know much more than that. Then she started crying. “I’m so worried. I just want Ben to be okay.”

“Take it easy, Claire,” Sol said gently. “I know who you are. I know you and Ben have been working together to find his son. Ben doesn’t have any family but he has lots of friends. We’re all here for both of you.”

She took a deep breath and forced herself under control. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall apart.”

“It’s okay. Sounds like it’s been a hard night.”

“Yes...”

“They’re going to call you, Claire. Once they know Ben’s been hurt, there’s no way I can stop them. Odds are some of them are going to show up in El Paso. All you have to do is hold on till they get there.”

She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “The name of the hospital is Desert Hills. As soon as he’s out of surgery, I’ll call you.”

“That’s good. I’ll tell the others. Take care of yourself, Claire. I know that’s what Ben would want.”

She cried for a couple of minutes after she hung up and was glad the waiting room was as large as it was and that the woman and her daughter were far enough away to give her some privacy.

During the next thirty minutes, she heard from the owner of the company Ben worked for, Trace Rawlins, a friend named Jake Cantrell and another named Alex Justice, both investigators in his office. Justice was on his honeymoon in Costa Rica. He offered to cut the trip short if Ben needed him. She’d told him the same thing she had told the others, that there was nothing he could do until Ben was out of surgery and she had spoken to the doctors about his condition.

A woman named Annie Mayberry was the last to call. “Don’t you worry, honey,” she said. “Ben’s too tough to let a little thing like a bullet take him out. Besides, all of us here’ll be prayin’ for him.”

“Thank you, Annie.”

“Ben’s family. Family sticks together. You just let me know if you need anything.”

“I will.” She didn’t know why, but she felt better after she talked to Annie.

Another hour slid past. Claire shoved to her feet as the surgeon, Dr. Garcia, a silver-haired man in a set of green scrubs, older, with a kind face and weary expression, shoved open the waiting room door.

“Doctor...how is he? Is Ben going to be all right?”

Garcia smiled, a good sign. “He’s in amazing physical condition. He came through the