Page 63 of Riptide

* * *

Kaimana shoved through the crowd of neighbors who’d clogged the tight hallway. Though Seth shouted her name, she pressed forward without thought.

“Get out of the way!” she screamed.

As she turned into the apartment, strong arms wrapped around hers, the chest of a tall agent blocking her access. She struggled to break free. “Get the fuck out of the way! Where’s Marcus?”

“This is a restricted area.”

“Let her go,” Seth demanded, shoving in between them, allowing Kaimana to duck around the officer. She glanced back to him, and he nodded.

Her head whipped around to see the blood-stained crime scene. Her eyes drifted from the overturned sofa to a small group of men who appeared to be performing CPR. “Joli!”

“Kaimana, please. There’s nothing you can do,” Marcus pleaded and blocked her, grabbing her by the wrist.

As Joli’s bloodied body came into view, the sound of sirens whipped into the air. Kaimana tugged her arm out of his grip and ran. She dropped to her knees as Joli’s eyes bulged open, her audible breath on her lips.

“Joli. Oh my God. What happened? You’re going to be all right,” she promised, her pleading eyes on the agents.

“Her pulse is slowing,” one of them called out. Another agent held their hands over a wound in her abdomen. Blood bloomed through his fingers.

“What happened?” Kaimana asked. “No don’t say anything. Adam. Adam did this to you.”

“He recognized you,” Joli whispered, her breath shallow. “The bartender. He’s got cameras. Ahhhh—”

Joli moaned.

“She’s gonna crash. Goddammit, where is the ambulance?” an agent called to Marcus.

“Stay strong, Joli,” Kaimana told her. “They’re taking you to the hospital. Do you hear those sirens? They’re coming for you.”

“Emergency is headed up the stairway now! Get ready, folks!” Marcus called out to everyone.

Kaimana pressed her hand to Joli’s forehead. “Oh God. I’m so sorry. You’re going to be okay.”

“Kai…Kai…take this.” Joli pressed a small, folded paper into her hand. “Evan.”

Kaimana screamed as Joli’s eyes rolled back into her head. “Someone help her now! Oh God no. Please. Help her.”

Paramedics rushed across the room to Joli, and Kaimana scrambled aside to give them access. Seth reached for her, tugging her onto her feet. She held tight to him, watching as the paramedics attended to her.

“Let’s go! Let’s go!” The paramedics lifted Joli onto a stretcher and rolled it out of the apartment.

“Joli!” Kaimana cried. Tears streamed down her face, the guilt tearing her apart.

As Seth’s arms wrapped around her, she clutched the paper tight in her hand, a possible clue to Evan’s location. But the small victory had come at a steep price.

* * *

Kaimana’s hands burned hot as she scrubbed the blood off them. She fought the nausea rising in her stomach. “We should have never let her go by herself.”

“It’s not your fault. Let me get the shower ready for you.”

Steam poured into the bathroom as she continued to rinse her hands. She looked up into the mirror. As the steam fogged over her reflection, she stared until she could no longer see herself.

She and Seth had left the crime scene and driven straight to the private airport. They’d boarded the jet and silently retreated to the bedroom. The pilots weren’t expected for several hours and all she could think of was the violence, Joli.

As Seth came up behind her, she reached to turn off the water. She stood still, frozen with guilt, grief.