The Devil's Right Hand - J. D. Rhoades [50]
“Holy shit,” Marie said. She sprang to the couch and placed her right index and middle fingers against Crystal’s throat. “I’ve got a pulse, but it’s weak,” she said briskly. “Call 911.”
Keller moved towards the phone, then stopped. 911 would bring paramedics, but it would most likely also bring police. He turned back to Marie. She had belted Crystal’s robe shut and was gently removing the syringe from the girl’s arm. A bright red bead of blood formed, turned to a rivulet that inched its way down the pale flesh.
“We don’t have time to wait for them,” he said. “We’ll take her in your car.” He scooped the pager and cell phone off the table. Each had a plastic clip for fastening to a belt.
“Damn it, Keller,” Marie said, “She needs a doctor.”
Keller clipped the devices onto his belt and bent down to lift the girl. Her body was a sodden dead weight in his arms. He grunted as he lifted her.
“She needs a doctor now,” he said, his voice taut with the strain. “By the time the ambulance makes it here, it might be too late.” He set off down the hall.
“This is crazy,” Marie protested, but she followed him. He burst into the sunlight. Marie jogged ahead, pulling her keys from the pocket of her jeans. She threw the back door of her Honda open. Keller tried to lay the girl gently into the back, but lost his grip and she tumbled onto the back seat. A grunt escaped her as she landed and her robe fell open again.
“You know CPR, right?” he asked Marie.
“Yeah, but--”
“Hop in the back with her, then,” he said. “In case she goes into cardiac arrest. I’ll drive.”
“You are out of your mind,” she said as she got in the back. “I can’t give CPR in the back seat of a WHOA!” Keller had started the car and begun pulling away. Marie barely had time to pull the door shut.
They drove in silence, broken only by the screech of tires and the angry blare of horns as Keller ignored stop lights and yield signs. He stole a glance at Marie in the rear-view mirror. She had her eyes on the girl whose shallow breathing seemed about to cease at any moment. Keller heard a slight chirring noise and felt a vibration against his right hip. He reached down and plucked the pager off his belt. He looked at the number displayed on the pager’s LED screen. He memorized the number and put the pager down on the seat.
“What was that?” Marie said.
“Her pager. Someone’s trying to reach her. Maybe someone who can give us a lead.”
“It’s probably her pimp,” Marie said. “Or her dealer. What would they know about her cousin?”
“I don’t know,” Keller said, “but I’m out of other ideas.”
They had reached the emergency entrance of the hospital. Keller slammed to a stop at the front door and leaped out. Marie opened the back door and Keller reached in for the girl. Marie stopped him with a hand on his chest. “Don’t try to move her again,” she said. “They’ve got gurneys. And doctors.” Keller stepped back as Marie stood up and ran to the entrance. The heavy automatic sliding door was barely open before she bolted inside. She was back in moments with a white-coated man and a pair of nurses wheeling a gurney between them. They elbowed Keller out of the way and descended on the back seat of the Honda. They briskly loaded her onto the gurney and sped back through the front door. Marie followed, spitting out the statistics of Crystal’s condition in abrupt, precise sentences. It was left to Keller to close the car doors and move the vehicle away from the front entrance. He found the ER visitor’s parking lot and parked the car. He was headed back towards the entrance when he saw Marie walking out. He stopped to wait for her. She was shaking her head and putting her sunglasses on as she reached him.
“Get in the car, Jack,” she said. “And I’ll drive, if you don’t mind. It is my car.” He handed her the keys. They walked back