Page 145 of Forever Dead
Her right knee felt less stiff after a night with the leg raised. The fall at the station two days earlier still troubled it, but yesterday’s shorter walk had been manageable. Her left wrist ached when she twisted it. At least her right hand, the one she used to shoot, was uninjured.
She had kept her promise to stay away from the station yesterday. This morning, she wanted to hear whether Connor had made any progress.
The reception door stood open. Selena tapped the cane against the threshold as she entered.
Eric sat behind the desk watching the television mounted high in the corner. He had not noticed her.
That alone was unusual.
Selena followed his attention toward the screen. A local reporter stood beside a roadblock somewhere outside town. Patrol cars filled the background, their lights flashing against rows of corn.
“No horror films yet, Eric?” Selena asked. “You’re slipping. And on Halloween, too.”
Eric turned.
The expression on him stopped her.
“Did you hear what happened?”
Selena’s hand tightened around the cane. “What?”
Eric nodded toward the television. “It’s all over the news.”
The report cut back to the studio.
A banner filled the bottom of the screen.
ELMSVIEW SHERIFF CRITICALLY INJURED CHASING MURDER SUSPECT
For a second, Selena did not understand it.
Then Connor’s photograph appeared beside footage of Meekie’s corn maze.
Her heartbeat kicked hard.
The presenter was speaking, but Selena caught only fragments at first.
“...emergency surgery overnight...”
“...attack following the discovery of a third female victim...”
“...suspect remains at large...”
Selena moved closer to the television.
“What happened to him?”
Eric came around the desk. “They’re saying he got stabbed.”
“When?”
“Last night. Late.”
“Where?”
“At the corn maze. Or near it,” Eric said. “I’m not sure.”
The reporter returned to the screen, this time standing near Meekie’s entrance. Yellow tape stretched across the road behind her. The maze had been closed, and the parking area beyond seemed almost empty.
