Page 17 of Rescuer
Jackson and Swanny left the cops and firefighters and jumped into the ambulance.
By the time they arrived back at the station, it was lunchtime. Jackson took his lunch from the refrigerator, set his sandwich on a napkin, and stared at it. His stomach revolted at the thought of eating. But he needed to eat, or he might run out of steam by the end of his shift.
He took a bite, then pulled up his phone while he chewed. No word from Dylan.
He gave Cynthia a call. “Any word yet?”
She sighed, her voice tinged with impatience. “Jackson, he’ll be home when he’s ready. Stop worrying.”
“It’s just that he was so upset the last time I saw him.” Because his home should be with me.
“And he’ll bounce back. Kids do.”
Not always. “I don’t mean to bug you, but I want him to know I haven’t given up. That I won’t abandon him.”
Her voice softened. “He knows that.”
“I’d like to believe that.” He stopped himself. He liked Cynthia, but they weren’t really close enough for him to begin confiding private things to her. She didn’t need to know Dylan had been upset when Jackson couldn’t come home after their grandfather died. Dylan had only been twelve at the time.
He took one more bite of his sandwich. It sat like a ball of concrete in his stomach. Sighing, he replaced it in the square sandwich container and shoved his lunch box back on the shelf. Maybe he’d feel like eating later.
He stalked out of the kitchen and went to find Chase for a rematch. He needed to take his mind off the real world. The rain had stopped, and puddles dotted the pavement in low spots, but for the most part, it was a dry court. The game wasn’t much of a challenge.
Chase shrugged and grinned. “I knew my luck wouldn’t hold. Good game.”
“Hey, Doc!” Amber shouted from the door. “The chief wants to see you.”
“Thanks for the game, Chase. Maybe I’ll let you win next time.”
Moses hooted. Chase laughed.
Jackson sauntered back inside, then slowed when he saw Swanny and Trent waiting quietly just inside the door to the ambulance bay.
“Doc.” Trent waved him over. Frown lines cut deep into his face.
Tension bunched in Jackson’s muscles. Something was up. He walked over and stopped next to the two men, his glance bouncing between them.
Swanny’s normal contagious grin was missing. A blank expression replaced it. An expression that said he’d heard bad news.
“Trent? What’s wrong?”
“I just got a call. The man you performed CPR on a couple of hours ago didn’t make it. He died in the air.”
“Oh, man. Trent, he was worrying about his girls. He had kids.”
“Yeah. Two daughters. Both in high school.”
Jackson’s head dropped. Sometimes you gave your all and it wasn’t enough. He shoved his fisted hands into his pockets.
“Something else,” Trent continued.
Jackson lifted his head. “Yes?”
“He died from the crash, but the cops found evidence of drugs in his car. Neurosync.”
His stomach bottomed out. The new drug that had been infiltrating their beautiful city.
Jackson and Swanny stood where they were, not talking for a moment after Trent went back to work. There was nothing to say to express the shock.
