Chapter 204
Chapter 204:
“But you suspect.” She watched the doubt move behind his eyes. “You know she did it. Just like you know she jumped off that wheel p>
Hilliard looked away. He couldn’t hold her gaze. He was a man standing on a cracking foundation, too afraid to look down.
“Mr. Holloway p>
A voice cut through the curtain.
Two uniformed police officers stood at the entrance of the ER cubicle. Neither of them looked friendly.
N𝘦𝗐 𝗰𝘩𝘢pt𝖾r𝘴 𝖾v𝗲𝗿𝘺 𝘸𝗲𝘦𝗄 𝗼ո
“Can I help you?” Hilliard asked, rising to his feet and positioning himself between them and Cailin.
“We received a call,” the older officer said, “regarding a disturbance in Room 304. And an assault p>
“The assault was on her,” Hilliard said, gesturing toward Cailin. “The stand fell p>
“We’re not here about the stand,” the officer replied. He produced a pair of handcuffs. “Mr. Holloway — we’re here for you p>
“Me?” Hilliard let out a short, incredulous laugh. “You’re joking p>
“Gregg English has filed a complaint,” the officer said, stepping forward. “He claims you physically assaulted him and his wife during the altercation in the patient’s room. He says you shoved Mrs. English p>
“I stopped her from slapping my wife a second time!” Hilliard roared. “This is ridiculous. It’s a misunderstanding p>
“You can explain that at the station, sir. Right now, we need to bring you in. Assault and battery. Disturbing the peace p>
Hilliard stared at the handcuffs. Then he looked at Cailin, lying pale and vulnerable on the gurney.
It was a trap. A blatant, clumsy trap designed to pull him away from her. Gregg knew that Hilliard was the only thing standing between Cailin and whatever the English family had planned next.
“I’m not leaving her,” Hilliard said, crossing his arms. “My lawyers will meet you here p>
“Sir, if you resist, we will add resisting arrest to the charges,” the officer said, his hand dropping toward his baton. “Don’t make a scene in a hospital p>
Hilliard clenched his jaw and looked at Cailin.
“Go,” Cailin whispered. She knew the game. “If you fight them, they’ll only hurt you. Go p>
Hilliard leaned down close to her. “I’ll call Gavin. He’ll be here in ten minutes to sit with you. Don’t leave this bed. Do you hear me? Don’t go anywhere p>
“I’m not going anywhere,” Cailin lied.
Hilliard straightened and turned to face the officers. “Fine. Let’s go p>
He held out his wrists. They cuffed him and led him away.
The moment the curtain swished shut behind them, Cailin sat up. The room tilted, but she forced herself to focus.
Ten minutes until Gavin arrived. Ten minutes of unguarded time.
She needed to get out. She needed to reach a secure line.
She slid off the gurney. Her legs wobbled beneath her but held. Her left arm was already in the sling the doctor had applied. She grabbed her coat and draped it over her shoulders to conceal the sling and the blood.
She peered through the curtain. The nurses’ station was busy.
She slipped out, keeping close to the wall.
She needed a phone.