Part 32 (2/2)
”Why not?”
Serena pointed to the garage. ”Her car is still here.”
”We tracked her cell phone,” Hunter said.
”Where is it?” Serena asked.
Hunter's eyes s.h.i.+fted to Dominic, then back to Serena. ”Your house.”
Dominic couldn't quell the dread that rose up in him. With a glance at Colton, he said, ”Get someone over there.” He grabbed Serena before she could get back in the Suburban to go racing over to her house. She pulled out of his grasp. ”I have to get to her!”
Dominic saw Serena's father heading for his BMW. There wasn't going to be any stopping him. The man roared off and Dominic motioned for Serena to go ahead and get in. She'd be safer with him than trying to drive in her upset state.
”Hurry!” she urged. Then closed her eyes, her lips moving silently. He joined her in her prayer, pleading for G.o.d to spare Serena's mother.
If the killer had her.
And he suspected he did.
Serena's home finally came into view and she grabbed the handle, ready to throw the door open. Dominic snagged her wrist and held her in place even as he brought the vehicle to a full stop.
Police cruisers arrived, one after the other.
”Mom,” she whispered.
”Stay here,” Dominic ordered.
Tearful, pleading eyes lasered into him. ”I can't.”
Dominic ground his molars. ”You have to. We have to clear the house. I'll let you in as soon as I can.”
He could see Colton and Hunter racing for the front door. Serena climbed back into the vehicle and pressed the b.u.t.ton on the remote to raise the garage door.
Colton kept going for the front door. Hunter changed direction and went for the garage. Serena's father pulled behind the nearest cruiser and headed for the house. An officer grabbed him and pulled him back. The man struggled until the officer said something. The man stopped his attempts to escape and swiveled to turn his attention to the action going on in front of Serena's house.
Once Dominic was certain Serena would stay put, he took off toward the garage to follow Hunter. Hunter was already in the den when Dominic heard him yell, ”Clear!”
Serena's animals were nowhere to be seen.
Colton hollered, ”In here!”
Dominic exchanged a microsecond look with Hunter before they both rushed out onto the gla.s.sed-in porch.
They came to a screeching halt.
Mrs. Hopkins sat tied to a chair, eyes closed.
With a bullet taped to her forehead.
”Mom!” Serena gasped from behind them.
Dominic turned and grasped her by the upper arms. ”I told you to stay outside.”
”I'm a doctor, remember?” She jerked from him to rush to her mother's side. ”Mom,” she whispered.
”She's alive,” Colton said. He held up his phone. ”Ambulance is on the way.”
Serena flashed him a grateful look. She ran her hands over her mother, placing her fingers against the side of her neck, relieved to feel her pulse beating and strong. She lifted an eyelid. ”She's been drugged.”
”But she's alive. Let's get that bullet into a bag and let's get it to Rick,” Dominic said. ”And anything else on her clothing that might lead us to the person that did this to her.”
He leaned over, concern written all over him. He snapped on a pair of gloves that one of the other officers handed him, then pulled the bullet, tape and all, from her mother's forehead. He placed the items in the paper bag that also materialized from one of the officers.
She lifted her eyes to Dominic. ”Will you let my dad know what's going on?”
He turned to the officer behind him and relayed the request.
Serena watched as Hunter cut her mother's arms free, careful not to touch the ropes with his hands. Serena used a now gloved hand to place the rope pieces in another paper bag.
Then Dominic lifted her gently from the chair to carry the woman into the den and place her on the sofa.
Serena dashed into her spare bedroom where she kept her kit from med school. Racing back into the den, she pulled out her stethoscope and slid to a halt next to the couch. Dropping to her knees, she placed the end of the device on her mother's chest, closed her eyes, and listened. ”Lungs sound clear.” She continued with the checkup, then sat back in relief. ”I think she's okay. Whatever he drugged her with hasn't affected her heartbeat or breathing.”
She grabbed the tweezers from her kit and pulled every sc.r.a.p of hair, fiber, and speck of evidence she could see from her mother's clothing. She checked her mother's pulse once more, relieved to find it still unchanged. ”It's like she's in a really deep sleep.”
The wail of the ambulance reached their ears. Serena looked at the note now held in Hunter's gloved hands. ”What does it say?”
She didn't really want to know, but she had to.
Hunter glanced around the room then said, ”It's blank.”
”What?”
He shook the card. ”There's nothing on it.”
Dominic lifted a hand to his aching head. ”Really? So what's that all about?”
”I just photographed it and sent it to Debbie.”
Colton's phone rang. He stepped aside and answered it. His face paled as he listened and Serena wondered what bad news he was receiving now.
A commotion near the door grabbed her attention. ”That's my wife! Let me in! Serena!”
Colton motioned for the officer to let him in. He tucked the phone under his chin. ”She's all right, sir.”
Her father stumbled into the room, saw his wife on the couch, and gave a small cry. Paramedics followed on his tail as he rushed over to drop beside Serena and take his wife's hand in his.
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