Sketch of a Murder

Chapter 36

Chapter 36

The medivac helicopter landed in the meadow, crushing flowers and grasses. The wind from its rotors whipped the EMT's long hair into her face as she lifted one end of the stretcher. Her male counterpart took the other end and they carried Nita's still form to the open bay. Leaving Detective Albert in charge, Michael climbed into the noisy machine. On the flight to the hospital, Nita regained consciousness long enough to ask, "The Avenger...did we..."

He reached over the female EMT's shoulder and folded his warm hand around Nita's cold fingers. "Yes, we stopped her." His voice sounded hoarse.

He jogged next to the stretcher from the helipad to the swinging double doors leading to the surgical unit. When the doors shushed together, blocking him out, he wandered to the beige waiting room. It was as empty as he felt.

The parking lot, six stories below, was dotted with sick puddles of yellowish light. He scrubbed a hand back and forth over his short hair.

He watched the reflection in the window as Irene walked across the quiet room.

"Michael."

He didn't move for the longest time, even after she leaned her cheek against his broad back and hugged his thickening waistline.

"It should be me," he choked out. "McIntire meant that bullet for me."

Irene dropped her arms, placed a firm hand on his shoulder, and tugged until he faced her. "Michael, look at me," she commanded in that soft voice that brooked no argument from him.

He schooled his face into impassivity, yet as soon as his eyes met hers, he felt something breaking inside. Tears streaked his cheeks as he stood with his arms hanging at his sides.

Irene pulled a Kleenex from her handbag and dabbed away the tears. "She saved your life, Michael. If she had not knocked you out of the way, Detective O'Hara said the bullet would've taken you in the head. You would not have survived."

"So now she'll die." His words were sour as bitter apples.

"We don't know that. Not at this time. If the doctors are still working then there's still a chance."

Anguish clamped around his heart. The pain cut the last shackles restraining his emotions. He lowered his head to Irene's shoulder and clasped her desperately to him as sobs racked his body. He could feel the soothing circles she traced over and over on his back. "I never explained to her," he choked out. "I never told her why..."

"Shhh, Michael. Shhh. She knew."

"How?" he asked, his word muffled by her shoulder.

"Daniel said they talked up there in the woods. She knew."