He placed two fingers over her carotid artery. “Yes, but her pulse is weak. She’d been bound with rope. I had to shoot Internado. Send two ambulances.”
“Sir, did you say you shot someone?”
“Yes.”
“Is he breathing?”
“Yes. I shot him in the leg to stop him from attacking me.”
“What is your name, sir?”
“Ashton Hott.” He gave her the address. “Tell the first responders to enter through the alley behind the building.”
“All right, Mr. Hott, they’ll be there in a few minutes. Stay on the phone with me.”
“Ahhh, my head,” moaned Internado. “My leg.”
Maverick tapped the speaker button before he hog-tied Internado, then checked him for weapons.
He felt Carly’s pulse again. It’s too damn weak. “I’m right here, honey. Carly, you’re doing great. Ambulance is on the way.” He slipped his hands beneath the jacket and clasped her cold fingers. “I love you, Carly. You gotta stay with me.”
Her eyes fluttered open, then closed again.
“I’ve got you.” When she started trembling, his greatest fear consumed him. “Operator, where are they? She’s going into shock.”
“The police have entered the alley.”
“Police,” called an officer.
“We’re in the kitchen,” Maverick replied.
The officers entered the room and flipped on the lights. Seeing Carly in the stark fluorescence was a punch in the gut. Her bruised neck had turned purple and her face was ashen. She hadn’t stopped shaking. The rage that Maverick forced down on a daily basis burst to the surface. He wished he’d killed the son of a bitch.
“Her name is Carly. She’s my girlfriend.” He turned back to her. “Carly, honey, the ambulance is here. You’re going to be okay.”
Internado groaned. “Help me. I’ve been shot.”
Paramedics hurried in.
“The paramedics are here.” Maverick gave her hands a gentle squeeze. “We’re gonna get you to the hospital.” Rising, he moved out of their way so first responders could treat her.
“I’m Officer DeLuca. What’s your name, sir?”
“Ashton Hott.”
“Mr. Hott, I understand you shot this man. I’ll need your weapon as evidence. Do you have a permit to carry?”
“Yes, for my job.” Maverick relinquished his Glock. “Carly has been working a cold case that could link this man to a murder. He found out and tried to kill her.”
Paramedics untied Internado and he tried standing, but couldn’t. “That’s total bullshit. I’m in a lot of pain. He shot me!” he said, grabbing his thigh.
“Please hold still, sir.” The EMT dressed Internado’s wound, then placed him on a gurney.
“What’s your name, sir?” asked the second police officer.
“Internado. Senator George Internado.”
The paramedics fitted Carly with a neck brace and lifted her onto a gurney. Maverick gently stroked her hair before turning back to the officer. “Internado’s hairpiece and facial hair are a disguise,” Maverick said. “He lured her here to kill her. When I got here, he had his gloved hands around her neck. She had no pulse and I had to perform multiple cycles of CPR.”