“Tying Up Loose Ends”

(***Note to reader: this chapter takes place immediately after "The Road to Coffs", from the last update)

Zack watched quietly as the EMTs loaded Maximus and Alistair into the ambos, Ahnna and Joimus were right there with them, not leaving their sides. The police had arrived on the scene and began questioning everyone and soon made their way over to Zack.

“Deputy Grant?” Officer Rankin asked as he approached. “Mind answering a few questions for us?”

Zack looked up, still in a half-daze from the ordeal he’d just gone through. He’d shot a man, killed him, and that was never easy no matter what the circumstances. He nodded to the officer, shifted on his feet in the mud as the rain continued to drench him.

“I understand you transporting the others to the hospital in Coffs,” Officer Rankin began, “when the assailant came up from behind and ran your vehicle off the road?”

Zack nodded, “Correct.”

“We ran the plates... the vehicle he was driving belongs to a guy by the name of Edmund Stemson from Queensland. Know him?”

“Never heard of him,” Zack replied, flatly.

“We’re not sure, but there’s a report from your sheriff over in the Glen that your assailant... a Dr. Stanley Branagan... was involved in a shootout earlier today with you and several others,.. then escaped police custody in a stolen police cruiser. They found it and the body of an unidentified man (who we now must assume is Mr. Edmund Stemson) on the side of the road just out of town. That must be when he stole Mr. Stemson’s vehicle and followed you here.”

Zack nodded. He’d figured as much when he saw who the gunman was, knew he must have gotten away from Bud and the sheriff somehow, followed them here. He still didn’t understand why the man had taken it out on Zack when it had been Bud that had taken out Campbell. Bud. Shit. He hoped his partner was okay and this fucker hadn’t shot or worse, killed, him when he’d fled the scene. His mind buzzed in a swirl of thoughts, tuning out the rest of what the officer was saying to him. Suddenly, he felt a hand on his arm, “Are you okay to come down to the station with us? Make an official statement?” he heard Officer Rankin ask.

“Umm... yeah, I guess,” Zack replied, watching in the distance as the ambulances sped off down the road. “Maybe swing by the hospital first? Think I may have a busted rib or two. Hurts like hell. Check out my head, while they’re at it. Think I may have a slight concussion.” Zack took his hand and pushed his hair from his forehead, revealing a very large bruised bump.

Officer Rankin pointed his flashlight at Zack’s face, causing him to wince from the bright light in his eyes. “Oh shit! Yeah, sorry, I didn’t realize you’d been injured as well,” he replied, then led Zack over to his car. “Get in, I’ll drive you there. We can get your statement afterwards.”

Zack slid into the back of the police car, buckled his seatbelt, then closed his eyes. It had been one hell of a day, one he wouldn’t soon forget. He nodded off on the way to the hospital, and when he awoke he was being led from the back of the cruiser by an emergency staff member, who ushered him into a wheelchair and wheeled him through the double doors and into an exam room, passing Cort, Robin and Julie on his way in. At least he knew they’d made it there, they were okay. He asked the nurse about the condition of the others, but she couldn’t give him any information at that time. They were alive, that’s all he knew. That would have to do for now. They were alive... there was still hope.