“She’s unconscious,” the man told her.
Somebody shouted for a backboard, and David started crying again.
“Memorial Hospital,” said the officer, and the phone went dead.
Crystal scrambled for her shoes. Rufus stuck to her like glue, so she loaded him in the passenger seat of the car. She drove as fast as she dared through the pouring rain, tensing up at red lights, then cursing the crowded parking lot at the hospital.
She left Rufus in the car and flew across the parking lot to the emergency entrance. There was an ambulance outside, and she slowed her steps in horror as they unloaded her sister. Amber’s hair was matted, her face was streaked with blood, and three different IVs swung from poles on the stretcher.
Crystal rushed forward, taking her sister’s cold, damp hand. “Amber?”
Amber blinked her glazed eyes.
“I’m here, honey.”
“Crystal,” she breathed. “The kids?”
Crystal had no idea how the kids were doing. She glanced around, but couldn’t see them anywhere. “I talked to Jennifer. They seem okay.”
Amber cracked a very weak smile.
The doors whooshed open, and Crystal paced along inside, unsure how long they’d let her keep talking. Already a nurse was checking the IV, and people were shouting instructions.
“Take care…” Amber whispered. “The kids…Please.”
Crystal’s eyes welled up with fresh tears. “Of course I’ll take care of the kids.”
“Ma’am,” said the nurse, touching Crystal’s arm.
“They can stay with me as long as they need.”
“I love them,” Amber whispered, tears appearing in her green eyes.
“Ma’am,” the nurse said more firmly. She pointed to a set of double doors coming up in the pathway. “You can’t go through there.”
Crystal stopped, taking one last look at her sister as she disappeared in a flurry of white coats and rushing feet.
“Crystal Hayes?” came a deep voice from behind her.
Wiping her eyes with a rain-wet hand, she turned to face a police officer.
“Are you Crystal Hayes?” he repeated.
She nodded, and he motioned to a small alcove in the hallway.
“I’m Officer Davis. Can we talk over here?”
“Is she…” Crystal began, then swallowed. “Do you…” But she couldn’t bring herself to voice the question. “Are the kids okay?”
The policeman nodded and adjusted his cap where it was tucked under his arm. “The children are with a doctor. So far, it looks like bruises only.”
Crystal staggered back with a wave of relief.
Officer Davis quickly grabbed her arm. “Are you okay, ma’am?”
Crystal nodded.
He opened a little notebook. “What can you tell me about a Zane Crandell?”
Other than the fact that he’s about to die by my hand? “He’s my sister’s ex-husband. Jennifer, my niece, said he was driving.”
“When you talked to her on the phone?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know where he lives? The places he hangs out?”
“I think he still lives in Atlanta. I don’t know where he was staying in Charlotte.”
“We’re concerned about some of the things the children told us.”
Crystal raised her eyebrows.
“It sounds like Zane made some threats against both their mother and them.”
Crystal felt her blood pressure rise. “What kind of threats?”
“Does Zane drink?” asked the officer.
“All the time. What were the threats?”
“Regarding their physical safety. Until he’s caught, we think it would be best-”
“Crystal?” came her mother’s voice as her parents appeared in the hallway.
“I saw her for a minute,” said Crystal as they drew close. “I haven’t talked to the doctor yet. She’s hurt.” Her voice broke. “Pretty bad.”
Her mother glanced around, motioning for her father to follow her to the nurses’ station.
Crystal watched them for a moment, then turned back to the officer, gathering her strength from deep inside her. “What do you need?”
“Understand this is an abundance of caution. But do you have somewhere to take the children? Not to your house. Preferably somewhere unknown to Zane Crandell.”
Crystal immediately thought of Larry. “Yes.”
“We’re fairly certain he has bigger things to worry about at the moment, but…”
“I understand. Thank you, Officer.”
The man nodded and flipped his little book closed.
Crystal headed for her parents at the nurses’ station.
Her father looked pale in creased shorts and a rumpled T-shirt, but her mother was her usual, controlled, no-nonsense self. “They’re taking her into surgery,” she told Crystal. “The children are fine, and we should know something more in a few hours.”
She marched to a set of plastic chairs lined up along the wall.
Crystal took a seat beside her mother. “They’ve asked me to take the children.”
Her mother patted her knee. “That’s a good idea. We’ll stay here with Amber. There’ll be paperwork and things to fill out. We can get it done before she wakes up.”
“Mom?” Crystal couldn’t figure out if her mother was the Rock of Gibraltar, or simply in denial.
Her mother looked at her, face composed, no hint of emotion. The same way she’d looked through every crisis Crystal could remember. Maybe it was for the best. Maybe worrying wouldn’t help any.
“I think I’ll take the kids to Larry’s.” Crystal was certain Larry would say yes. “It sounds like Zane’s out of control.”
There was a flicker of something deep in her mother’s eyes. But she didn’t say anything, simply gave a sharp nod of acquiescence.
Crystal stood up and pulled out her phone.
She dialed Larry’s home number. But when there was no answer there, she dialed his cell.
“Larry Grosso,” was his quick response.
“Larry, it’s Crystal.”
The announcement was met with silence.
She heard music in the background.
“I’m sorry to bother you,” she began, hoping he wasn’t on a date or something equally embarrassing.
“No problem,” he said. “Nash and I are having a beer.”
He was at Myrtle Pond. Her heart sank.
“Crystal?”
“There’s…uh…”
A page came over the speaker, and she walked a little ways down the hall, hoping for more quiet.
“Where are you?” Larry asked.
“At the hospital.”
“What-”
“It’s Amber. There was a car accident. Zane.”
Larry swore. Then he mumbled something.
“What did you say?”
“I just told Nash.”
Crystal took a deep breath. “Listen. I thought you’d be in town. Amber’s going into surgery, and the police want me to take the kids someplace Zane doesn’t know.”
Larry’s tone went dark. “Why?”
“He ran from the accident, and he’s made some threats.”
More mumbling, then his tone went crisp. “Are the kids with you?”
“They’re here. They’re scared and bruised, but the policeman thinks they’re okay. They’re being looked at right now by doctors.”
“Hang on a second. Nash wants to talk to you.”
Confused, Crystal waited.
“Crystal?”
“Nash?”
“Here’s what we’re going to do.”
We?
“Take the kids, and drive straight to the airport,” said Nash. “Don’t go anywhere but the passenger drop-off zone. There’ll be a security guard waiting there to meet you.”
“A what?”
“A security guard.”
“But-”
“Go with him. He’ll take you to meet Larry.” There was a clattering sound.
“The police don’t think there’s any real danger.”
“And I’m sure they’re right. Larry and I are on our way to the airstrip right now to get the Cessna.”
“Crystal?” It was Larry’s voice again.
“I don’t understand.” They weren’t running for their lives, simply taking an extra precaution.
“Do what Nash told you,” Larry said. “I’ll be on the ground in Charlotte in half an hour.”