Read Online Red-Line: The Shift (Volume One) by J. T. Bishop - Free Book Online

sealable plastic bag. He grabbed some ice, put it in the bag, and wrapped a towel around it. He wet the other towel in the sink and wrung out the excess water. He brought both over and wiped her face to cool her, then placed the ice on the bump on her head. He rested the wet towel on her forehead.
    “Sarah, can you hear me?” He tried to get her to focus. He needed her to be able to respond to him, but she continued with that glazed look and the occasional moan. He didn’t know why she remained dazed and semi-conscious. The bump on her head appeared minor. She should be pissed, scared, upset, something more communicative than this. Despite being grabbed and almost thrown into a car, she had escaped relatively unscathed. What else could cause this? Was she in shock?
    He went to grab his phone, but stopped. He thought for a moment, reviewing the incident in his mind. Stupid that he hadn’t considered it. He looked over her exposed skin and saw nothing on her arms or legs. He lifted her shirt and saw nothing on her stomach. He gently rolled her over so that he could lift her shirt from behind, and that was when his suspicions were confirmed. Angry red lines flared out from a center point on her back.
    “Damn,” he said. Apparently, Grandpa had hit her with a good jolt in order to subdue her. As a result, she couldn’t stay conscious and her other symptoms were escalating as well. He couldn’t keep her here. The danger was evident. He couldn’t be sure, either, if the Good Samaritan on the street wouldn’t change her mind and call the cops anyway. Plus, Grandpa wouldn’t be out of it for much longer.
    He picked up the phone and dialed Leroy’s number.
    “Sherlock? How’s it going? Having fun yet?” said the voice that picked up the line.
    “You have no idea how much. You at the house?”
    “No, why?” asked Leroy.
    “I’ve got a patient, and I need to bring her in. Now.”
    There was a brief pause and Ramsey imagined all the questions likely running through Leroy’s head. “I’m on my way,” said Leroy, apparently opting to wait for answers until later. The line went dead.
    Ramsey put the phone back in his pocket and went to the bed and grabbed a blanket. He wrapped Sarah in it as best he could. Then he inspected the apartment for the items he would need. He found a bag and threw some essentials into it. Anything he thought she would take if she left on a short trip. He went to the bathroom and grabbed some toiletries. He made her bed and took out the trash, being careful not to be noticed in case there were any nosy neighbors. Finding her phone, he turned it off and grabbed her charger. He packed her laptop and the book by the side of her bed. He threw all the dishes in the dishwasher and turned it on.
    Finally, he looked around the place and examined everything he had done. Not bad, especially since he had accomplished it all in about fifteen minutes. He grabbed her bag, ran downstairs, and put it in the car, then got in and drove around to the back alley. It wasn’t perfect, but he was going to try and get her out without being seen. He went back upstairs, grabbed her keys, did a double-check of her place and determined it was as good as it was going to get, picked her up, and started out the door. He looked down the hall and saw no one. Closing the door behind him, he turned and locked it with one hand, then headed down the back stairs that were used primarily as a secondary exit in case of fire. He stayed alert to any presence on the stairwell, but no one appeared. He went down the two flights and down the back hall, passing the quiet laundry rooms and maintenance closets. He headed out the back door marked with an exit sign and made it to the alleyway. Luckily, he saw no one there either. He opened the car door and slid her into the front seat, dropping the seat back and fastening her seat belt, getting her as comfortable as possible. He closed the passenger door and headed around to the driver side.