Page 73 of New Year

“I’ve got you, we’re okay,” became Zack’s whispered mantra on the hike back. He did his best to use the setting sun for guidance. Dusk was settling in, and Nat had fallen silent by the time they finally reached the creek.

And heard voices.

“Here! We’re here!” he shouted. “Please!”

More voices, louder. Zack waded across the creek, which came up to his knees at one point, but he didn’t care. The cold water felt amazing, and it got them a few steps closer to safety and medical attention. But his strength was waning. His head throbbed from multiple blows. Zack stumbled and nearly dropped Nat. “I’m here, please!”

Unwilling to risk hurting Nat further by falling, Zack knelt as carefully as he could and cradled Nat close, while continuing to call for help. Help eventually came. Men and women in uniforms, Zack didn’t care who or what. Someone had a stretcher, and they insisted on taking Nat from him. Nat whined but didn’t protest. Zack tried to tell them what had happened, but his concentration was fraying.

He could have been shot, stabbed, killed any number of ways today.

Things tunneled out briefly, and then he was in the backseat of a car, a thin blanket over his shoulders. Nat wasn’t there. Someone was seated next to him, and a blood pressure cuff was around his upper arm. Paramedic. Said something about shock.

Is that what this is? Shock over the last few hours?

“Nat,” he finally said, as he reclaimed control of his addled brain. “Where’s Nat?”

“On his way to the hospital,” the medic replied. “He was injured pretty badly. Sir, do you have any injuries we can’t see?”

“No.” Other than some punches and scrapes, and that bat to the head, Zack wasn’t hurt. “Did they find Austin?”

“A few minutes ago.”

Zack didn’t ask; he knew the bastard was dead. “There’s a camera down by the creek. Did they find it, too? It’s probably got evidence.” If it had been recording whatever happened on that blanket…fuck. No, he couldn’t think about that right now, or he’d explode with rage.

“The deputies are processing the scene as we speak. How’s your head?”

“It’s fine.” It hurt like hell but was nothing a few ibuprofen and a long nap couldn’t fix. “Can I go to the hospital? I need to see Nat.”

“Soon, I think. They need to get a brief statement from you first.” He tilted his head at the various sheriffs and other uniformed folks outside the car.

Zack stared at them, annoyed but also relieved that this part of the nightmare was drawing to a close. “I’ll answer their questions. First, I need to make a phone call. Please?”

“A lawyer?”

“No.” Zack had nothing to hide. “A friend.”

CHAPTERSEVENTEEN

Nat didn’t remember much about the ambulance ride, or his initial exam in the ER. The haze of physical agony eventually became a haze of moderate numbness, and he stared vacantly while doctors ordered tests, his gurney was taken from place to place for x-rays or whatever, and he eventually landed back in a curtained area that offered no comfort. Only coldness, sterility, and fear.

Fear of dying; fear of being charged with murder; fear of never seeing Zack again, except from behind bars. But deep down below the fear, Nat also reveled in the knowledge that his bogeyman was finally dead. No resurrection like in scary movies. Austin Daniels would never touch him, or anyone else, ever again.

If Nat went to prison for that service, it was a small price to pay.

Voices rose briefly beyond the curtain, and then the face he wanted to see second-most in the world stepped inside. Chase’s expression whiplashed between joy and horror as he walked to the bed, so fast he barely used his cane—which Nat knew from experience, Chase would regret later.

“Jesus Christ, Nathaniel.” Chase sat on the side of the bed and squeezed his forearm. “You look like you got into a fight with a grizzly bear.”

“Near enough. Where’s Zack?”

“He was held back at the scene to answer questions, but he assured me he’ll be on his way soon. He asked me to sit with you until then, but they wouldn’t let me back until you were done with testing.”

“Oh. Thank you.”

“You’re so welcome, but fuck me, I am so sorry this happened. He wouldn’t have gotten you if my goddamn body was functioning properly.”

Nat’s heart ached for the misery in Chase’s voice. He reached out with his right hand, careful of the IV wires, and covered Chase’s with his. “Not your fault. Not your body’s fault. Austin found out where I lived. He’d have done something sooner or later.”

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