Read Online Last Breath by Brandilyn Collins, Amberly Collins - Free Book Online Page A

the police found him?
    â€œAll right.” The nurse looked up from the computer, where she’d entered Mom’s data. “All set. Just push the button if you need anything.”
    â€œThanks,” Mom said.
    Helen slipped from the room.
    Mom picked up her fork and eyed her breakfast. “I can’t believe I’m about to eat eggs and bacon.”
    â€œDo it, Mom, you need it.”
    Something in my tone made her look at me closer. “What’s wrong?”
    â€œCat’s around here. I saw him out the window.”
    Mom put down the fork. I told her what I’d seen and that I’d talked to Officer Hanston. I left out the part about trying to run down the hall and go after Cat myself.
    â€œThey’ll get him,” I said. I had to believe that. “They should be calling me soon.” I gestured toward the tray. “Eat.”
    Mom managed to eat half her breakfast while I paced. Where was Cat?
    The door opened and a white-coated doctor stepped inside. He was tall and narrow-shouldered, with a round, almost boyish face.
    â€œKnock, knock.” He strode across the room to Mom’s bed. “I’m Doctor Gedding. How are you doing this morning?”
    Mom pushed the tray away. “Okay.”
    He made an empathetic sound. “I’m sure you’re plenty sore. Let me just take a look at that wrapping around your ribs.”
    â€œYou done with this, Mom?” I pointed to her tray and she nodded. “I’ll take it outside.”
    Wendell sat on his chair, legs spread, arms folded. Staring at the wall. He looked up at the sound of my footsteps. “Hey again.”
    â€œHey.” I glanced around. “Am I supposed to leave this on the floor for pick up, like at a hotel?”
    â€œDon’t think so. A nurse should come get it.”
    â€œMaybe the doctor will take it.”
    â€œDoctors don’t remove trays. That’s beneath them.”
    Everything in this hospital was frustrating me. “Oh, well excuse me.” I set the tray firmly on the opposite side of the door. “There. They don’t like it, they can take it away.”
    The doctor appeared behind me. I stepped from his path. “Everything okay?” I asked.
    â€œAs well as can be expected.” He patted his coat pocket. His gaze fell to the tray on the floor, then bounced away. “I’ll be back to check on her tonight.” His shoes squeaked as he hurried down the hall.
    Wendell and I exchanged a knowing look.
    Back in the room, I hurried over to Mom. “You okay?”
    She nodded.
    â€œHe hurt you?”
    â€œEverything hurts me.”
    I stared at the wooden chair, sudden rage shooting through me. For a crazy minute I wanted to yank up the chair and hurl it through the window. This wasn’t right , having to stay here, Mom being in so much pain.
    â€œShaley.” Mom tugged on my shirt. “Chill. They’ll get Cat.”
    My eyes burned. “I hate this for you.”
    â€œI know.”
    Mom gestured toward the chair. “Sit down. I’ll tell you about going to the party with Gary.”
    Hope glimmered inside me. If I couldn’t fix the present, at least I could learn more about the past. “Sure you’re up to it?”
    â€œYeah.”
    I sat. Half of my mind still fixed on Cat, imagining him slinking the halls. But then Mom gazed beyond me, a wistful expression settling on her face as if she peered into a time she wished had never gone. I felt myself being pulled back into the past I so longed to know.
    â€œI remember pacing my room that December night,” Mom began. “Waiting for Gary to pick me up. Thinking the time would never come …”

14
    F inally—the sound of a car outside. Gary Donovon had arrived.
    I edged back my bedroom curtain to see a black truck pull up to the curb outside our house. The door opened and Gary got out. He was wearing beige pants and a tucked-in