Page 16 of Rogue Survivor
“I’m sorry my daughter’s safe?”
“I’m sorry yours isn’t?”
I’m a horrible person.
That single thought helps me choke back the tears. After a few deep breaths, I swipe at my cheeks. I can’t let Veronica see me cry. Not when she’s so weak and raw. Sniffling, I pad back into her room but stop when I see a police officer standing just inside the door.
“Hello?” I say quietly. “Can I help you?”
“Ma’am.” The man nods, his face sober. “I’m Officer Walter Milton with the Austin Police Department. I have some questions for your daughter.”
I motion to the door, but the officer doesn’t move. Really? “My daughter is resting. She’s in no shape to answer questions right now.”
“I’m afraid it can’t wait, Mrs. Lopez.”
“Ms. Lopez. And yes, it can.” Standing between the officer and Veronica’s bed, I set my hands on my hips. “If you have a card, I’ll call you when she’s up to talking.”
“Mom?” My daughter’s whisper has me whirling around and rushing to her side. “Is there water?”
“Yes, baby girl. Here you go.” My hands shake as I angle the straw to her lips. She manages a couple small sips before I sense Officer Milton hovering right behind me.
“Veronica Lopez? I need to talk to you about your car accident.”
Her eyes widen, and she chokes on the last of the water. Her face twists in pain when she coughs, and tears gather at the corners of her eyes.
“Back off,” I snap, glaring at him. “I told you she isn’t ready for this.”
A nurse bursts in to the room and makes a beeline for Veronica. “What in heaven’s name is going on in here?” she asks. “Are you okay, sweetie?”
“Y-yes.” Veronica reaches for my hand, but I had to move out of the nurse’s way, and she starts to cry harder. “Don’t make me talk about the accident…please?”
Skirting the bed, I touch her shoulder, the thin hospital gown scratchy under my fingers. “Of course you don’t have to talk about it. You just rest.”
Officer Milton is still staring at my daughter, and I’m about to threaten to drag him out behind the barn and stick my foot up his ass when he pulls a card from his pocket and drops it on the foot of her bed. “I expect to hear from you in the next twenty-four hours,Ms.Lopez.”
“Oh, your supervisor will hear from me,” I mutter as soon as the door closes with him on the other side. “Coming in here like you own the place…”
The nurse—I think her name is Sheila—clucks her tongue. “He needs to be taught some manners.” Turning her attention to Veronica, she smiles. “How’s your pain level, sweetie? Scale of one to ten?”
“Four? Just tired.” Her eyes flutter closed, and I lean down and press a kiss to her forehead. The scent of antiseptic clings to her, like it does to everything in this place. I wish I could take her home. Put her in her own bed and keep her safe for the rest of her life. But she needs to stay overnight. Just in case she has another reaction to her pain medication.
“Sleep, baby girl. I’ll be here.”
Nurse Sheila promises to check on us in another couple of hours, and I return to the hard plastic chair. After a few minutes, Veronica clears her throat. “I got on the wrong bus. That’s—” she shudders, “—why I was on MLK.”
“Where was Mitzi? She had her car. Y’all were supposed to be together the whole night.” I hate the judgement in my tone. V doesn’t need me berating her right now, no matter how confused—and yes, angry—I am.
The dark red tinge to her cheeks makes my guilt skyrocket, as does her wince when she tries to shift in the bed to get more comfortable. “I don’t know. Couldn’t find her…when the library closed. ”
“Her mom’s so worried, V. She can’t track Mitzi’s phone, the police haven’t found her car. Are yousureyou don’t have any idea where she could have gone?”
A fresh trail of tears seeps onto the pillow, and Veronica shakes her head before she turns away from me. “I’m so sorry…”
“Shhh. It’s all right. Just rest now.”
Connor
Fuck it. Five points short of a passing grade on the Bureau’s physical fitness test. My shoulder gave out after ten pull-ups and my knee buckled with a quarter mile left on my run.
