Page 53 of Beneath The Truth
“My ribs hurt.They kicked me.Fucking assholes.”He pushed on the ground like he was trying to get up, but his legbuckled.
“Hold still a second, sir.We need to get you looked at before you trytomove.”
“Something ain’t right.Think I’m gonnabesick.”
I reached out and laid a hand over his, not wanting to squeeze in case his fingers were jacked up.“Ambulance is on the way.We’ll get you to a hospital so they can checkyouout.”
I expected him to protest, but he just grunted.Shit, they must have worked him over real good for him not to argue about that.The man I knew was stubborn to a fault, just like his son anddaughter.
Otis held the phone away from his ear.“They’re coming.They want me to stay ontheline.”
“Good.Dothat.”
“They made me go with them,” Mr.Sampson mumbled.My instincts told me to ask him what he meant, but his fingers curled around mine as he groaned in pain.“Wanna talk toAriel.”
“Yes, sir.I can make thathappen.”
I yanked my phone from my pocket and called Ari.“I got him.Ambulance is on the way.He wants to talktoyou.”
She broke down in sobs that shredded my heart.“Oh my God.What happened?Is he okay?No, of course he’s not okay if you called an ambulance.Can I talktohim?”
“Hold on.”I extended the phone toward Mr.Sampson, flipping it to speaker.“Mr.Sampson, I have your daughter on thephone.”
“Ari?Heath’s getting pizza for dinner.Youwantsome?”
She choked on her tears.“Yeah, Daddy.I’dlovethat.”
“Good girl.Missedyou.”
“I love you, Dad.Missedyoutoo.”
I took the phone off speaker as Ari’s voice cracked on the last words.“Hold it together.Where’s Carver?Get him to drive you totheER.”
“How bad is it?Tell me thetruth.”
I glanced at the broken old man on the ground beside me.“It’s pretty bad, but he’s gonna be fine.”I prayed I was telling her thetruth.
She hauled in a breath.“I’m getting Carver.We’ll meet you there.Whichhospital?”
I calculated the nearest one from where I was and gave herthename.
“I’m on my way.And, Rhett?Thankyou.”
I hung up the phone as sirens and flashing lights pierced the night.“Mr.Sampson, help is here.We’re gonna get you allfixedup.”
29
Ariel
Irushedinto the emergency room while Carver found a place to park.Police cruisers were pulled up near the ambulance bay, so I hoped Heath was already there.I’d called him as soon as I’d hung up withRhett.
A uniformed officer that had been at the house was in thewaitingroom.
“Is my dad here?”I asked him.“Where is he?Can Iseehim?”
“Yes, ma’am.Your brother asked me to wait for you.I’ll takeyouback.”
“Whathappened?”
