“I’m Dr. Kraus. Are you the man who brought in Mr. Dennell?”
Eli stood and offered his hand to Safara and tugged her back up to her feet. “I am, and this is his granddaughter, Safara Dennell.”
“That answers my next question, which would’ve been if you knew if he had any family in the area.” She smiled at Safara. “Sorry, I just started working here this past week, so I’m new in town. I wish we were meeting under better circumstances, but let’s talk about your grandfather.”
“How is he?”
The doctor studied the chart in her hand. “He has multiple lacerations—on his arms, leg, and a really deep one across his abdomen. We’ll be taking him to surgery to repair the damage. Right now we’re giving him fluids while we wait on his lab work.”
When she looked up again, her smile looked a bit tight. “He’s holding his own for now, especially considering his age.”
“Can I see him?”
“Probably not until after he’s out of recovery. Right now, he’s being prepped for surgery. I’m sure someone will be out soon with the usual paperwork for you to fill out.”
She gave Safara’s uniform a pointed look. “I was also going to say that we need to report this to police, but it appears they’re already here.”
“I’m a deputy here in Ridgewick, and my father is the chief of police.” Safara stood taller. “However, from what Mr. Jervain here has told me, the injuries occurred in the county sheriff’s jurisdiction. I’ll give them a call.”
“All right, then. We’ll keep you posted as much as we can.”
“We’ll be right here, Doctor.” Eli threaded his fingers through Safara’s and gave her hand a soft squeeze, hoping the small skin-to-skin contact would be of some comfort. “Unless there’s a cafeteria close by. I could use a sandwich about now, and I’m guessing Safara could, too.”
“It’s to the left down that hall. I’ll let the nurses know that’s where you’ll be.”
When she disappeared back through the double doors to the ER just as abruptly as she’d appeared, Eli said, “Let’s get something to eat, Safara.”
She shook her head. “You go. I need to be here.”
“Nope, I’m not leaving you alone. Besides, you’re going to need all your strength to help your grandfather. While we eat, I’ll tell you what happened.”
Not that she was going to like what he had to say. He tugged her along in his wake into the small cafeteria. She sat down at a table and made several phone calls while he grabbed sandwiches and drinks. Eating would give Safara something else to concentrate on until someone from the sheriff’s office arrived to take his report.
When he put the tray down in front of her, Safara picked up one of the sandwiches and began to unwrap it. But instead of eating it, she set it back down. “So, what happened to my grandfather? What kind of accident was he involved in?”
It was time to play hardball before the sheriff’s deputy arrived. By then it would be too late to come up with an alternative but plausible story that fit the facts. “We both know he wasn’t in an accident, Safara. I found him in a cave up on the ridge where you were attacked. Someone had carved him up pretty good, and I’m guessing it was the same bastard I fought with.”
He let his anger come to a rolling boil. “So do you want to tell me what’s really going on around here, or do I tell the county sheriff that you and your father are covering for a serial killer who’s been active in the state for the past four years?”
7
Safara bit back the urge to curse long and loud. For the moment they had the room to themselves, but that could change at any time. The most she could do was glare at Eli for several seconds before speaking.
Finally, she forced her hands to unclench and laid them flat on the table as she leaned in to meet Eli’s gaze head-on. “I am a sworn officer of the law. I have not and will not ever protect a felon from facing justice. You don’t know my father very well, but he’s the most honorable man I’ve ever met.”
“If you say so.”
“I do.”
When he didn’t immediately respond, she sat back in her chair and reached for her sandwich. Maybe if she pretended the matter was settled, they could concentrate on their meal.
No such luck.
“I take it that when the deputy from the sheriff’s department gets here, you would prefer that I not mention what happened to you when I give my statement about your grandfather. You know, how he stumbled out of a cave all sliced, diced, and dripping blood only a short distance from where you were attacked with a sword just the other night.”
She winced at the graphic description of her grandfather’s injuries. “We don’t know the two incidents are connected.”
Eli, the big jerk, actually snickered and rolled his eyes. “Well, it’s either that or we have multiple crazies running loose up there all armed with swords. And if the deputy searches the department database for any similar cases, what do you think he’ll find? Think Martin’s death might pop up, too?”
