The Hunted Girls by Jenna Kernan (best book club books for discussion txt) 📕

“He’s in bad shape,” she said. “Internal injuries, a high fever, pneumonia and a collapsed lung. He’s on massive antibiotics.”

“Will he live?”

“His prognosis is good, barring infection.”

“Sedated?”

“Yes. Midazolam, four hours ago. Should be wearing off soon.”

“How soon?”

“Usually lasts one to six hours.”

One of the nurses arrived to change the bandages on Jack’s hands. Demko winced to see Jack’s ruined nail beds and red oozing pulp where his fingernails should have been.

“He was tortured,” said Demko.

Juliette gasped and covered her mouth. As a pathologist, this woman had seen the very worst that could happen to the human body. But all her clients were out of their misery, while Jack was not.

“Why is he sedated?” he asked the nurse.

“Help keep him calm and out of pain.” The nurse finished the dressing and departed.

Demko showed Juliette the image of the ring that Vea had forwarded.

“What’s that?”

“It’s the engagement ring I gave Nadine when I proposed.”

Juliette gasped. “What? She didn’t tell me that!” Juliette’s excitement turned to irritation. “Why didn’t she tell me? It’s beautiful. Such a perfect choice—”

“Juliette. Focus. It’s got blood on it,” said Demko.

Her expression turned somber as he described how and where the ring was found.

“How did the ring get on his hand?”

Demko shook his head. “I assume Nadine was wearing it the night she was taken. So did she give it to Skogen as a message? Or did Decristofaro take it from Nadine and leave it on Skogen?”

“Maybe Jack will tell us,” said Juliette.

Demko met Juliette’s gaze and for an instant he saw the dangerous flicker of her mother in her eyes. Her mom had murdered all Juliette’s siblings, shooting them at close range.

“What did you have in mind?” he asked, steeling himself. He wanted Nadine back, regardless of the risks.

“I could lose my license,” said Juliette.

“Nadine could lose her life.”

Juliette drew a deep breath and straightened. Then she rummaged in her satchel and lifted a nasal spray from her medical kit.

“What’s that?” asked Demko.

“Naloxone. It’s a stimulant.”

“Narcan?”

He knew it, of course. Had used it more than once on addicts who OD’d on heroin.

He stayed her hand. “Will it harm Skogen?”

“No. Should work in less than a minute. He’s going to be in terrible pain.”

He hesitated. Uncertain.

“Nadine is out there,” said Juliette.

“And they’ve got our only witness sedated,” said Demko.

“She’d do it for us. I know her. She’d break rules. She wouldn’t stop. And he’d want this, too. He’ll want us to get the guy who did this to him.”

Juliette removed the oxygen cannula, placed the spray nozzle in Skogen’s nose and pressed. Almost instantly, Skogen’s puffy eyelids began to flutter and he groaned. Juliette replaced the oxygen.

“Get Vea,” Demko ordered. “I need him as witness to anything he says.”

Juliette hurried out.

Demko leaned over Skogen.

“Jack! It’s Clint Demko. Where is he taking Nadine?”

“Nadine?”

“Yes. Nadine.”

“He took us,” muttered Jack.

“Who did?”

“Decristofaro,” he said, confirming the identity of their suspect. “He took us.”

“Yes. Where is he taking Nadine?”

The nurse appeared. “He’s awake? I’ll get something for him.”

Demko ignored him. Concentrating on Skogen.

“Jack! We have to find Nadine.”

He lifted Jack’s hand. Jack moaned, his eyes blinked open to slits.

“Did she give you a gold ring? What did she say?”

Vea arrived, standing by Jack.

“He’s awake?” he asked.

The nurse returned with Juliette and a needle. Vea lifted a hand.

“Wait.”

“Did you see Nadine?” Demko asked.

“Nadine? Yes. Dreaming.” He garbled his words, mumbling as if asleep. “She… dreamed of her… and… we are going to…” Skogen gave a long groan of agony. “It hurts.”

“He needs to be sedated,” said the nurse.

“Step back,” ordered Vea.

The young man did, instantly, and hurried away. “I’m calling my supervisor.”

“And where, Jack? Where are they going?”

“Manatees. Warm water,” said Jack. “River water.”

Vea flicked his gaze to Clint. “He’s hallucinating.”

“Freshwater. Crystal clear water,” murmured Jack.

Vea drew out his phone, placing a call.

Demko leaned over Skogen.

“Is it Clearwater?” he asked.

Jack shook his head. “River. Key. Cuba. Tell Demko. River, Key, Cuba.”

Vea was on the phone with Carter. He could hear the woman’s voice.

“He mentioned Clearwater,” said Vea. “Yes. I’ll alert the Tampa field office. They can begin a search there.” He paused. “Yes. On my way.”

“It’s not Clearwater,” said Clint.

The nurse returned. “I’ve called security. You are all to leave now!”

Clint backed up, allowing the nurse to move in beside Skogen.

“What are you giving him?” asked Juliette.

The nurse replied and Juliette lifted her head, nodding at Clint.

“That should help,” said Juliette.

The nurse withdrew a needle from the fleshy part of Skogen’s hip, but he still moaned in agony.

Vea continued his conversation. “Hold on.” Then he spoke to Demko. “We have roadblocks up on A1A to Key West. Tampa office is checking Clearwater.”

“He said they’re on a river. Clearwater isn’t a river. It’s a city on a barrier island. Beachfront.”

“There is no river that leads to Key West,” said Vea.

“But if they’re on a boat, they’d be on the coast.”

Which coast? Manatees winter in all Florida’s rivers. And then he understood what Jack was saying. Not crystal clear water. Crystal water.

“He said, ‘River. Key. Cuba.’ They’re not in Key West or Clearwater. And he won’t show in Jacksonville. He dropped Skogen in Tallahassee and drove back to Nadine. From there they’d take a boat to Key West.”

“From Clearwater,” said Vea.

“No. Not Clearwater. They’re leaving from Crystal River.” Demko explained to Agent Vea. “It’s famous for manatee spotting. It’s got crystal clear water because of the spring. And Decristofaro had time to drive from there to Tallahassee and back in one night. We need to check all boats leaving from Crystal River.”

Juliette leaned over Jack Skogen, his body already easing into the bed.

“Thank you. We’re going to get Nadine now. You rest and heal.”

Vea and Demko left the ICU together, picking up Tina, who fell in behind them. Vea tucked away his phone and faced them.

“The hospital recorded a conversation from Dr. Finch,” said Special Agent Vea. “She called eight hours ago to ask about Jack.”

Demko frowned. “What? Where?”

“Pinged a cell tower in Citrus Springs.”

“Where?” asked Tina.

“Between Ocala and