Joe stood stoic, a tiny smile tugging at his mouth as if he thought she was already dead.
Ellie did compressions, counting and talking to the girl. “Your parents want to see you and so does Kat,” Ellie said softly. “You need to come back to them.”
Seconds later, the girl coughed then spit water, choking on it. Ellie quickly tilted the girl’s head to the side and patted her back to help her purge the pond scum. Carrie Ann’s eyes flew open and she gasped, disoriented, but Ellie cradled her in her arms and rocked her. “You’re okay, sweetie. You’re okay now. I’ve got you.”
Relief filled Derrick and he shoved Joe to a rock, kept his gun aimed on him and called 9-1-1.
ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX
Brambletown General Hospital
Ellie and Derrick left the ERT to search and process the house where Joe had held Carrie Ann and rescue and recovery teams combed the woods beyond for other bodies.
Derrick took Ellie’s Jeep to drive Joe to the police station and she rode in the ambulance with a shaken and traumatized Carrie Ann. “You’re going to be okay, honey,” Ellie assured her. “I know you’re scared but I’m calling your mom to meet you at the hospital.”
Tears rolled down Carrie Ann’s cheeks as the medic started an IV to help with dehydration. Ellie called Mrs. Parker’s number.
“Hello,” the woman answered in a frightened voice.
“Mrs. Parker, this is Detective Reeves calling about your daughter.”
A heartbeat passed, and Ellie heard the woman’s breathing grow loud and raspy. “Did you find her? Is she okay?”
“We did find her and she’s shaken and scared but alive. I’m in the ambulance with her and we’re on the way to the hospital now.”
“Thank God,” she cried. “What happened?”
Ellie didn’t want to go into details with Carrie Ann listening. “We apprehended the man who abducted her and he’s on the way to the police station for booking now. I’ll fill you in on everything later. But Carrie Ann is safe now, and the man will go to prison.”
A choked sound echoed over the line. “Can I talk to my little girl?”
Ellie glanced at Carrie Ann who was trembling beneath the blanket. “Your mom wants to speak to you.”
Carrie Ann nodded and reached for the phone. “Mom?” she whispered.
“Oh, my God, sweetie, I’ve been so worried about you. Are you okay?”
“I’m s… sorry, Mom…”
Another tense second passed and the woman gulped. “Shh… It’s okay, sweetie, as long as you’re all right. I’ll meet you at the hospital.”
Carrie Ann began to sob, and Ellie heard her mother do the same.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Mrs. Parker cried. “Hang in there, sweetie. I’ll see you soon.”
Mrs. Parker ended the call and Carrie Ann handed the phone to Ellie. Then the girl turned on her side and curled into a ball, her body shaking with tears. Ellie patted her back and soothed her, her heart aching for the girl. But relief also filled her.
They had saved her. And Joe was on his way to the police station.
The siren squealed into the night as they raced around the mountain. They careened around a curve, then stopped at a traffic light, sped up and minutes later veered into the hospital ER entrance.
The medic opened the ambulance door, and the EMT joined him at the rear as they moved Carrie Ann from the ambulance. A nurse met them as they wheeled her in.
“Don’t leave,” Carrie Ann screeched to Ellie.
“I won’t, honey. I’ll stay with you until your mom gets here.” Ellie hurried along beside her and held her hand as they rolled her into the ER waiting room, then through a set of double doors to an exam room. Ellie explained to the doctor about the abduction and attempted murder and asked for a psychologist to evaluate Carrie Ann.
Just as they were about to take Kat for a CAT scan and lung X-ray, her mother raced into the room, teary-eyed and terrified.
