Read Online Tribes of Man: The Beginning [Tribes of Man] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Kiel Nichols - Free Book Online Page B

“She didn’t make it out.”
    Raina began to cry. She couldn’t help it. When the sobs began to overtake her, one of the MTs came back.
    Raina heard Gideon ask the detective, “Can I take her home now? I know you have a lot of questions for her, and I can bring her down to the station in the morning, but right now, I think she’s been through enough.”
    “You know we have to question her, Gid. Something strange is going on here,” Wijinicki answered.
    “It certainly doesn’t sound like a standard school shooting,” Gideon conceded.
    Raina knew it was way more than that. Gideon’s thoughts were coming through clearly. He didn’t want to put her in more danger. If these people were in the government, she could be an easy target. He was worried about what she was going to tell the police. At the same time, part of him was horrified that he told her to lie to them. Raina could feel his internal conflict about lying, his overwhelming urge to protect her, and the comfort he was trying to send her. She figured that he could feel grief pumping off her, but she was unable to control it. This was all her fault.
    The MT interrupted them, “Want that we should give her a sedative? She’s getting really upset.”
    Wijinicki hesitated.
    “It’s up to you, but I don’t think she’s much good to you now for questioning,” Gideon addressed Wijinicki.
    “I can give you a few hours, but I need to see her tonight. There was only one other survivor to interview. The rest that tried to run got tagged as they headed out of the building. It was like they didn’t want anyone escaping.”
    Raina heard that through her tears and started sobbing uncontrollably. They all died because of me. They all died because of me. She kept chanting it.
    Gideon tried to reassure her. No, it wasn’t your fault. When she just kept crying, he said, “Give it to her.”
    “OK, Raina,” the MT said, speaking soothingly. “I’m just going to give you a little something to relax, OK?”
    “I don’t ne-ne-ne-need anything,” Raina answered. All she could do was to hold onto Gideon and cry out her grief.
    “Give it to her,” Gideon reiterated.
    “I can’t without her permission,” the MT answered. “She’s still coherent enough to say she doesn’t want it.”
    Gideon grabbed her arms. “Take it, for God’s sake, Raina.” Then he continued in his head, Please take it, baby. You’re killing me.
    Raina just nodded. There was a pinch in her arm then she began to feel sleepy.
    “We’d like to take her to the hospital for observation,” the MT said.
    “No!” Raina was adamant and started struggling through her languor. “No hospital.” Her words were slurred, and her struggles were weak, but she was clearly getting hysterical again at the thought of it.
    “I’ll stay with her. I was a cop. I know what signs to look for if she becomes agitated. I’ll keep an eye on her tonight.” Gideon’s answer calmed Raina’s struggles immediately.
    The MT sighed. “OK, but she’s going to have to sign a release form.”
    Raina was crying more softly. She heard what was said and nodded her head. A few minutes later the MT came back. She handed the form to Gideon for him to read it before having Raina sign it.
    Wijinicki said to Gideon softly, “We’re going to have a patrol take passes by the house. I don’t think she was the target, but something about this seems off and I’m just not sure.”
    “I’m not sure if she’s the target,” Gideon lied smoothly, “but I know we’ll both feel better having a uniform drive around the house.”
    “Has she always been blind?” Wijinicki asked.
    “No,” Gideon replied, knowing he’d find out quickly once back at the station. “She was attacked in her house a few months ago. Her roommate was tortured and killed.”
    Wijinicki looked at Gideon sharply. “That’s a bit too much of a coincidence, isn’t it?”
    Gideon said, “Yeah, I think so, too.” He knew he’d draw too much