Page 46 of The Encounter
Officer Taylor jogged up to them and put a hand on Jace’s arm. “Let me take over from here.” He pulled out a pair of handcuffs, and Jace reluctantly released him. Officer Taylor spun the man around and cuffed his wrists while he read him his rights.
Jace stood back and watched as the officer led the man away from them.
Reggie clapped him on the back. “You okay, boss?”
Jace nodded. “Can you check on those two women and wait with them until the paramedics arrive?”
“Of course.”
Reggie left him and jogged to catch up with Officer Taylor, who headed back up the alley toward the club.
Jace pulled out his phone and immediately called the hospital. He clicked through the automated service menu until he reached the reception desk.
“Hi, my girlfriend Madelyn Carter was brought there about an hour ago. Can you please tell me if she’s awake?”
“One moment, please.” The sound of keys being clicked on a keyboard came through as he waited. “Sir, the only information I can give you is to confirm that she is here.”
“Can you tell me if she’s conscious?”
“I’m sorry, sir, I can’t.”
“If I come down there, can I see her?”
“I’m sorry, sir, without her consent you cannot.”
“If she’s conscious, she’ll consent.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but visiting hours are over.”
Jace clenched his jaw and stared up at the sky. Despite it being November, the sky was crystal clear without a single cloud in sight.
“When do visiting hours start tomorrow?”
“Nine a.m.”
“Thank you for your time,” he said before ending the call. He let out a breath and pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes.
His chest constricted at the thought of Maddie being alone. She told him herself that she didn’t have any family. Kayla was there with her, but they were likely in separate rooms.
He opened up a text message to her. When she wakes up, they would let her use her cell phone.
Maddie, please text me as soon as you see this. The hospital won’t let me see you until tomorrow morning. Day or night, please contact me.
He turned back toward the club and slowly walked, taking in deep breaths of the cool air. Now that the adrenaline had worn off, he felt the cold nipping at his exposed arms.
The ambulances had already arrived and were loading the now unconscious women into the backs of them. Jace shook his head. Several people stood around with cell phones pointed at the scene in the back alley. He had no doubt that it would be splashed all over the tabloids by morning.
“What a fucking mess,” he muttered.
Officer Taylor had already loaded the suspect into the back of his vehicle, but made his way over to Jace when he spotted him.
“I need to get your statement.”
Jace nodded. This night was not turning out the way he had hoped it would.
15
Maddie blinked her eyes open, immediately seeing a paneled, gray ceiling. A beeping off to the right had her looking to the side to see a heart monitor screen and an IV bag on a stand near it. She scanned herself, noting the IV in her arm and the monitor on her finger. She no longer wore her red dress, but a hospital gown.
