Hers snapped back and she lost her balance. She stumbled and fell. I heard the door to the center open and Kenny called out.
Help! I screamed as I dove toward Evelyn.
Whoa, whoa, Evelyn kept repeating.
I pulled three patches off her arm.
How much had she absorbed already?
Kenny flew into the room and stopped short, his eyes bulging out of his head.
Poor kid, only seventeen. What did I expect?
Celia let out an ear-piercing scream and attacked me with new fury. Kenny pulled her off me and shoved her to the ground.
Sirens reverberated from down the block. Kenny and I tried to restrain Celia until the EMTs burst through the doors.
In the back! I screamed.
Kenny and I were trying to hold Celia down but she was punching and kicking at us with fury. We scrambled out of the way as one EMT grabbed and restrained her. The other EMT ran to Evelyns side.
I rushed to the EMT by Evelyn. Shes in labor and shes been given fentanyl. This womanI pointed at Celiawas trying to poison her and take her baby.
The EMT frowned, looking at me like I was crazy. He pulled out a stethoscope and placed it on Evelyns chest.
You have to get her to the hospital! I cried.
The EMT continued to evaluate Evelyn.
I felt Kennys hands on my arms. Everything will be okay now, Kate.
They have to pump her stomach! I screamed.
Shes in active labor, the EMT said to his partner.
I glanced over to the EMT holding Celia. Shed composed herself in their presence, her face a cold hard mask.
She pulled away from the EMT. I can deliver the baby.
No! I screamed. Call Inspector McNearny! Shes killed two people! Call Inspector
Evelyn let out a low moan.
Celia rushed to her side.
More sirens sounded from down the street.
The EMT said, Her heart rates too low. Were losing her.
More EMTs rushed in. Soon they had Evelyn on a stretcher and into an ambulance with Celia. Kenny and I were ushered to the other ambulance. When we made our way through the lobby of the center, I spotted my diaper bag strewn across the floor. I gathered up my items, including Lauries purple puppy, which had fallen out.
I remembered that my cell phone was somewhere in the middle of the street. When I asked the EMT if I could go retrieve it, he gave me a look that would freeze over hell.
We were silent on the ride to the hospital. I was examined by a middle-aged physician, who told me my ribs were bruised where Celia had repeatedly kicked me. He taped them up for me and then I was left to wait with Kenny for Inspector McNearny or Jones in the waiting room.
Please, God, let then send Jones. Please send Jones!
My understanding was that Celia was having her nose set, and given my accusations, she would be held in a separate waiting room.
Suddenly my hand flew to Kennys knee. The Opera! Oh my God! What time do you have to be there?
Kenny looked at the giant white clock on the wall and smiled. Half an hour ago.
I grabbed his shoulders. Kenny! Im so sorry.
Its okay, Kate. Helping you catch a murderer is much more exciting than
Dont say it. You should be at the Opera right now.
Im so sorry I dragged you into this.
He waved me off. Nah. This is a much cooler story for my friends.
We waited in silence. Kenny pulled out his phone and started texting. Are you already bragging? I asked.
He laughed.
I thought about Evelyn. We hadnt seen her since theyd rushed her out of the center. When I arrived at the hospital, Id asked a nurse about her, but shed been grim-faced and told me she didnt know the status of the mother or child.
I thought of Evelyns little son, the biter. Where was he tonight? Probably with his nanny. Poor little guy, he needed to have his mommy live.
Please God, let them be okay.
I dug into my diaper purse and pulled out Lauries puppy. Her toothless grin flashed in my mind. I pressed the puppys ear to hear her little coo.
Instead of Lauries coo, my voice came out of the recorder:
The cops are on their way.
My jaw dropped and I glanced at Kenny.
Liar! Youre going to ruin everything! You should have stayed out of it.
Kenny squeezed my arm.
You killed that woman in Miami and took her baby. You sold her baby! You killed her and sold her baby!
Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!
Thats how you got the money for this remodel!
And Im going to kill you! Just like I killed her!
Kenny jumped up. You got her on tape! You got her on tape!
The door to the waiting room swung open slightly and I could see Joness cropped hair.
Yea! It was Jones! No McNearny!
Jones pushed the door open and walked into the room. The door swung closed behind him only to reopen as McNearny followed him into the room, a tired expression on his face. Got who on tape?
My hands were shaking as I replayed the tape for Jones and McNearny.