Part 22 (2/2)
”Is Melissa okay? Sebastian?”
The nurse clearly knew Melissa, but Ryder didn't have a clue who the young woman was. Guilt swept over him at the realization that he knew so little about Melissa's life. But he didn't have time to beat himself up about it now, not when Melissa's life might be at risk.
He followed the nurse back to Melissa's office.
She dropped to Sebastian's side. Removing a flashlight from her jacket pocket, she opened his eyelids and shone the light into his pupils. Sebastian moved and the young woman reached for the phone on the table beside the sofa.
”Security. Alert all the guards that Dr. Danvers might be in trouble. I need a gurney in her office stat to take someone to the E.R.
Male. Late twenties. Possible skull fracture. Definite concussion.”
Ryder didn't have time to be impressed by her actions. A second later, Diana and Detective Daly appeared at the door. ”Sebastian.” Diana rushed to her brother's side.
Ryder nodded at Daly, who asked the nurse, ”Did you see who did this?”
”I saw Melissa and Sebastian come in about half an hour ago. But I didn't see you go by,” Sara said, and pointed to Ryder.
”I used the stairwell,” he explained.
”Did you see Dr. Sloan?” Diana asked.
”No. Not for days, actually. Is Melissa okay?”
”We don't know.” Daly grabbed his cell phone. ”I need an APB on an Edward Sloan. Male. Caucasian. Gray hair, about six foot. Late seventies.” He paused. ”He's armed and dangerous. Sloan's wanted for five homicides, a.s.sault and kidnapping. He may have a hostage-white female. Early thirties. Blond hair. About five foot three.”
Ryder stepped away as Daly gave additional details to the dispatcher. He kneeled beside Diana and laid a hand on her shoulder as she tried to comfort her brother. ”He's going to be fine. Melissa's going to be fine.”
She looked at him with determination on her face. From the fire in her eyes, he knew Edward Sloan would be one sorry man when Diana got her hands on him. ”I know,” she said.
The moment was interrupted by the arrival of Security and the E.R. personnel.
Diana and Ryder stepped away. As the staff wheeled Sebastian to the door, Ryder could see Diana was conflicted about what to do. He grabbed her hand and gave it a rea.s.suring squeeze. ”I'll make sure he's fine. You find Melissa.”
With a last touch for her brother, who was lying motionless on the gurney, Diana nodded. ”You make sure he's okay.”
”I will. Take care and hurry.”
Diana watched Ryder follow the gurney, then pulled her ID from her jacket and flashed it at the security guards. ”Special Agent Reyes. Is there surveillance on this floor and if so, where can we view the tapes?”
”Right this way, ma'am,” one tall, overly muscled guard said.
Diana met Peter's gaze. ”It's personal now. You understand, don't you?”
Peter gave a curt nod and followed her out the door.
The tapes had helped in numerous ways. First, they confirmed Sloan had taken Melissa. Second, they got a partial plate off the photo of Sloan's Jeep. The photo also confirmed the existence of an EZ-Pa.s.s on the Jeep's winds.h.i.+eld, an electronic system for the New York area toll booths that would allow the vehicle to be tracked, and a third person behind the wheel. Likely another of Edward's junkie a.s.sociates who would soon end up on the medical examiner's table.
Peter called in the description of the car and partial plate and asked for a trace on the EZ-Pa.s.s activity.
The tapes had also revealed yet one more thing. Something she would keep to herself until Melissa was found. Diana couldn't imagine having to relay that message if what Melissa had obviously feared came to pa.s.s.
With all the information at hand, she and Peter drove to Sloan's brownstone, although she doubted he'd be stupid enough to go to such an obvious place.She only hoped she could figure out where Sloan was taking Melissa before it was too late.
His head felt heavy and large. Sebastian opened his eyes, but the light was painfully harsh. He raised his hand to block the glare, but something pulled it back. He tried to rise to see what was going on, but a firm hand on his shoulder stopped him. ”Take it easy, Sebastian.”
”Ryder?” He turned in the direction of the voice, but could only see a blurry outline. Forcing himself to focus, Ryder's face finally came into view. When it did, memory returned as well. ”Melissa. Is she-”
”Missing.”
”s.h.i.+t. Someone hit me. I don't remember anything else.” It pained him just to talk. Every movement sent shards through his temple and the words bounced around in his skull along with an equally distressing thought-he'd failed Melissa.
He couldn't just lie there, doing nothing. He gripped the rails of the hospital bed and tried to sit up, but again Ryder held him back.
”You need to rest. You've got a severe concussion.”
Like he needed Ryder to tell him. His head was throbbing and his jaw hurt. At the slightest movement, everything around him whirled. The remains of the coffee he'd grabbed on the way to the hospital with Melissa rose up in the back of his throat, but he forced it down. ”Let go, Ryder. Now. Before I have to hurt you.”
The words reverberated in his head, but he suspected they'd been barely more than a whisper. Nevertheless, Ryder not only complied, but helped him to sit up.
Once the room had stopped spinning, he said, ”I can't just do nothing while she's in danger.”
”Diana called a little while ago. Sloan's on his way somewhere, but so far, they haven't been able to track the car.”
There was something lurking in the back of his brain. Addresses that he had seen, but couldn't quite recollect. ”There was something in Sloan's file. A piece I skimmed, but didn't download.”
”What was it?” Ryder asked.
”A list of his safe houses, I think. He may be taking her to one of them.”
”How can we-”
”Help me get me out of here and to my computer,” Sebastian said, swinging his legs to the floor. He nearly crumpled as he tried to stand.
”We need to get you dressed.”
Sebastian glanced down at the blue hospital gown and frowned. ”Please don't tell me they cut off my jeans.”
”'Fraid so.”
”No. They were Melissa's favorites.” He tried not to think that she might not be able to help him pick out another pair.
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