Lib Novel Page 69
“Name’s Graeme, and I bet we’ll be able to find Del in here.”
As the burst through the doors, the entered a morass of confusion. The small area was filled to capacity with official and unofficial people, not to mention military members and their families. Randy searched the crowd and found Del on the other side of the room near a hallway.
“Have you heard anything?” Randy asked when they reached him.
Jaime walked up beside Randy as Del nodded. “Things look good for both Sean and Royce. Royce will have to stay for a while. He lost some blood, and he’s malnourished. Sean has a broken nose and some broken ribs. But he should be able to come home tonight.”
Randy released a sigh of relief as the doors burst open again. Emma came rushing forward, a Hawaiian man, who must be part of the Task Force, hard on her heels.
“Where is he?” Emma demanded. The terror Randy saw on her face shot straight to his heart. For all her issues, Emma loved Sean. It was easy to see the sibling worry in her pale skin, and the fact that she looked like she was on the verge of crying. This must be one of the meltdowns that Sean had talked about.
Randy took her by her arms. “He has broken ribs, but he should be okay.”
The rather large Hawaiian shook his head. “Sorry, boss, she wouldn’t stay put.”
Emma tossed a look at her escort. “My brother was injured. What would you do if you were in the same situation?”
Her companion acknowledged it with a nod.
The doctor walked out at that point, searching for someone. When she spotted them, she walked over.
“How’s my brother?” Emma asked stepping in front of everyone. He knew she needed Sean, and that he would be able to handle her, but he wasn’t here, so Randy stepped in. He settled his hands on her shoulders, and she drew in a deep breath.
“You have to be related to Mr. Kaheaku. He’s fine. He has three broken ribs, and he’s going to feel like shit tomorrow, but otherwise fine.” She looked at Jaime. “Ms. Alexander?” Jaime nodded. “Mr. Lassiter will have to stay at least a day or two. He’s a bit dehydrated, and he has a few broken bones we had to set. You can see him in just a bit.”
Jaime acknowledged it with a nod, then the doctor left them alone. All of them seemed to sigh with relief. Emma looked at Randy and Jaime. “You two are okay?”
Jaime nodded. “Yes. We got there right at the end.”
Randy knew the tone. She was ready for Emma to yell at her, but instead, Emma stepped closer, hesitated, and wrapped an arm around each one of them. “I am so happy you are all safe. Sean would be lost if something happened to you.”
Emma stepped back and blinked a few times. From what Sean had said, his sister wasn’t good with emotional gestures, so Randy knew just how much that had taken out of her.
“Why don’t we find a place and settle down to wait,” he suggested.
“I’ve got paperwork to do,” Del said. “I’ll want statements from all of you.”
“Tomorrow soon enough?” Randy asked.
“Hell, Monday will work for me,” Del said.
“He’s dead then?” Emma asked him.
Del nodded, his expression still grim but Randy saw the satisfaction in his eyes. “Yeah, he’s dead. Died in the blast.”
Emma said nothing as the lawman left them alone.
“Over there,” Randy said, pointing to three seats. They made their way over, and Randy realized he now had two women who were going to be worried until they saw Sean and Lassiter. He decided to occupy their time.
“I understand you hit Sean the first time you met him?” Randy asked.
She chuckled and started telling the story of how it had all really happened. Randy just hoped it was a long enough story to occupy their time.
About a half hour later, Jaime followed the nurse down the hallway. She wasn’t sure what to say to her father, but he had asked for her. After all he had done to help Sean, she at least owed him that much.
When she stepped into the room, her breath caught. He was even paler than when she had seen him earlier, and he looked ten years older than the last time she saw him.
He must have sensed her presence, because he opened his eyes and looked in her direction. She walked over to him.