With all the strength she could muster, Catherine kicked him hard. He yelped before he pressed the pillow down with renewed force.
She could feel the last breaths leaving her body. Then the pressure eased. The sound of equipment being knocked around was followed by thuds and a scuffle. She pulled the pillow off her face.
After coughing and sucking in air, she screamed as loudly as she could, but her voice was nonexistent.
Catherine watched in horror as Sutter struggled with the man who’d attacked her. His face was partially covered by a medical mask and he was dressed in scrubs like a doctor. The man had a gun in his hand. She recognized it. The same one he’d used on her.
“No!” She yelled as forcefully as she could, but it came out as barely a whisper. The man shoved Sutter off him and tried to reach the door. The agent tackled him from behind. Both men hit the floor, momentum sent them sliding. Sutter slugged the man hard several times, but he barely flinched, as if he were indestructible. As the two fought, the attacker swung the gun in his hand. It slammed against Sutter’s temple before the agent had time to react. He collapsed unconscious on the floor.
The masked man heaved himself to his feet and shoved the gun into the waistband of his pants. Then he strode toward her, his rage was as terrifying as ever.
“No, please,” Catherine murmured, and held her arms up in front of her. He yanked them down with one hand while the other circled her neck and choked hard.
Catherine stared into eyes filled with pure evil, and a single tear slipped from her eye to the pillow below. The one thought chasing through her mind was that if she died, they might never be able to catch this man. With darkness closing in, her body urged her to give up. Let it happen. She couldn’t.
The man’s attention suddenly jerked toward the door as if he’d heard something. After one final squeeze, with his teeth bared, he let her go and ran from the room.
Grasping her neck, she drew air into her lungs. Each breath reminded her that he’d almost completed what he’d set out to do.
With her voice gone, she stumbled from the bed and over to Sutter’s side.
“Are you alright?” The words did not exist. Kneeling, she shook him gently. No response. She needed help.
Staggering to her feet and putting one in front of the other took all her concentration. She made it to the door, half expecting the man to appear again and finish the job.
Catherine stepped outside and yelled as loudly as possible. Each cry felt like a knife to her throat, but this time, her voice resonated down the hall to where several medical personnel were gathered.
Dr. Rolland rushed to her aid. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his brows slanted in a worried frown.
She pointed inside. “He needs you.”
A nurse she recognized from earlier along with other emergency personnel came to assist. A man in a deputy’s uniform rushed past her.
Dr. Rolland helped her back into the room. “It’s okay, I’ve got you.”
But she wasn’t worried about herself. All she could think about was Sutter. He’d risked his life for her. “He’s in good hands,” Dr. Rolland assured her, and helped her back to bed while another doctor assisted Sutter as he slowly came to.
Catherine couldn’t stop shaking. Her abductor had managed to find her in the hospital while she was under the protection of an FBI agent. Would she ever be safe again?
“Easy there, Agent Brenneman. Try not to move. That was some blow you took.” The doctor eased him into the closest chair, then bent to examine the injury.
Sutter winced and pushed his hands away. “I’m okay,” he said, though he didn’t appear so.
“What happened?” the deputy standing close by asked.
“The killer was here. We need to close off the hospital right now.” His gaze shot to the officer as he gave the order. “No one goes in or out of the building until we catch this guy.”
“I’ll take care of it,” the deputy said, and hastily left the room.
Sutter struggled to his feet, despite the doctor’s warning, and came to Catherine’s bedside. “Did he hurt you?” he asked.
She fixed her attention on him alone. Sutter was her safe place. As long as he was there, she could keep it together.
“I’m okay,” she managed to answer, as Sutter sat next to her. Her throat ached from the attack, but she was alive. She couldn’t get what Sutter had said out of her head. The killer. Her attacker had killed before.
The deputy came back. “Building’s on lockdown. Security is checking each floor. I’d like to assist, if it’s okay with you.”
Sutter nodded. “Go. But you’ll need more manpower.” He took out his phone and punched in a number. “Sheriff, I need every available person you have at the hospital now.” He explained what had happened, then listened. “Good. I’ll see you soon.”
Shoving the phone into his pocket, he studied Catherine closely, worry clear on his face.
“We’ll need to find someplace safe for you to stay until we can catch this guy. I promise I won’t let him near you again.” The taut set of his jaw convinced her he would do whatever necessary to keep this promise. Would it be enough?
Her gaze swept over his handsome face. Warm brown eyes filled with so much strength calmed the storm raging inside her.
“What happened in the room with the fire?” Sutter asked Dr. Rolland.
Catherine gasped. “There was a fire?”
“Yes. He used it as a distraction,” Sutter said gently. She couldn’t process the depth of rage this man must possess, to go to such extremes to kill her. Why did he want her dead?
“At the time, we had no idea the fire was deliberately set.” Dr. Rolland nodded toward the nurse standing by Catherine’s bed. “Beverly here spotted smoke coming from the room when she was checking on patients. She called for help. Most of the staff hurried to the area, which I suspect was his intent.”
Sutter nodded. “He wanted to draw people away from your room.”
Gathering enough air into her lungs was hard. This man was cunning. He’d risked countless lives to ensure her silence. What was he afraid of? He’d worn a mask. It had been dark and she didn’t get a good look at the house or the neighborhood. She doubted she could pick it out, much less him. Was it possible she somehow knew him?
A man in a sheriff’s uniform came into the room. Glancing around, he spotted Sutter and came over, while Dr. Rolland gently examined her bruised neck.
“I don’t think he did any irreparable damage, though your throat will be sore for a while. You’re safe now. Try and rest, Catherine. This has been a traumatic experience for you. I’ll check back with you soon. If you need anything before then, let Beverly know.” With another kind smile he and the nurse both left her to rest.
Yet peaceful sleep was an impossible wish. Each
