Page 52 of The Lighthouse on Plum Island
Brad turned to call Daniella as he felt her sway. “Daniella!”
He called as Caroline rocked forward, landing against him. Brad’s arms encircled her. As her body went limp, he managed to grab onto her and swing her into his arms.
“Brad?” Daniella rushed toward him with the rest of the group standing by the kitchen, staring at them.
“It’s Caroline,” Brad turned with an unconscious Caroline in his arms.
“What did you do?” Jennifer hissed as she ran to them.
“We were talking,” Brad mumbled, his eyes scanning Caroline. “She grabbed the bridge of her nose, winced, and collapsed.”
“I told her to stay in the chair!” Tanner said, shaking his head and stepping up to them.
“Quick, get her into the van,” Daniella rushed to the passenger van that had been kitted out as a small ambulance. “Tanner, get the gurney ready.”
Tanner nodded and jumped into the back of the vehicle.
“Caroline!” Finn’s voice broke through to them. “What’s going on?”
Finn skidded to a stop near the van, his eyes glued to where Brad wouldn’t let Caroline go, and carefully stepped into the van to lay her on the gurney.
“I’m going with her!” Finn insisted and was about to climb into the back of the van, but Liam stopped him.
“We should go back to the party and wind it down. Then you need to let Jules know what’s happening,” Liam suggested, looking at Brad. “Jen, go with Brad and Caroline to the emergency room.” He looked at Harriet. “We’ll need you to stay here with the animals.”
“Me?” Harriet choked. “The last time I was near them, they tried to kill me.”
“They’ll be fine,” Liam assured her. “Just lock the house up, and we’ll be back in no more than an hour.”
“I’ll stay with you, Harriet,” Clover offered.
“Okay,” Harriet nodded at Clover.
“I’m sure Caroline won’t mind if you take a shower and wear some of her clothes,” Finn offered Clover.
“I have a bag in my car,” Clover told him. “But a shower would be good.” She looked at her mud-stained clothes and patted her hair.
Before Tanner closed the back door, Harriet popped her head in. “Please let me know how she is.”
Brad couldn’t find his voice and nodded, not wanting to take his eyes off Caroline for too long in case she woke up.
“You don’t need to be here,” Jennifer said through gritted teeth as she put on her seatbelt. “I can stay with Caroline so you can get back to Harriet.”
Before Brad could answer, Daniella looked at them. “Brad, maybe you should stay with Harriet.” She picked up her phone and messaging.
“I’d rather stay with Caroline,” Brad told them.
“But Harriet may need you when the police return,” Daniella told him. “I’m just messaging Office Crowley to let him know that wasn’t a scrape on Clover’s arm. It was a dog bite.”
CHAPTER 13
Caroline slowly opened her eyes, squinting against the unwelcome intrusion of light. Her surroundings appeared blurry and unfamiliar, and her head throbbed painfully, sending waves of discomfort through her entire being. As her vision adjusted, she realized she was lying in a small emergency room bed. The sterile scent of disinfectant lingered in the air.
Confused and disoriented, she groaned softly, bringing a hand to her forehead. A sharp, pulsating pain shot through her temples, causing her to wince. The events leading to her current situation were a foggy puzzle in her mind.
“Caroline?” Brad’s voice called out, full of concern.
Her eyes strained to focus on the figure hastily rising from a nearby chair and hurried to the door.
