As they struggled to make sense of the scene in front of them, the standing figure removed something from a bag and laid it on the ground. Next he removed something else that looked to Joe to be a gun.

“Is that a gun?”

“I think so.”

The figure on the ground tried to get up but was pinned by the foot of the standing person. They watched as the gun was put to the chest of the pinned person.

Jonathon had been crouching but now he stood up.

“Hey!”

****

Norman held the gun to her chest. He had not heard anyone coming and as he pulled the trigger, a voice reached him.

“Hey!”

As the gun went off, he flinched. The girl slumped over. Norman searched the woods for where the voice had come from. Unable to find the source, he quickly cut the zip tie from her wrists and pulled the tape off her mouth. He didn’t take time to pick up the wine glass, he just ran.

He didn’t hear the girl moan.

****

Jonathon heard the gun go off and dove for the ground. Joe was already there. They stayed low and watched as the man gathered some things and ran for the road.

When it was clear he was gone, the two loggers got up and moved over to where the girl was. It was almost completely dark and the men dropped their saws as they ran.

When they reached the tree, they found a young girl slumped over moaning. Blood poured from near her shoulder. Joe pressed on the wound while Jonathon called 911. He kept looking towards where the man had run, hoping he didn’t come back.

“911. What is your emergency?”

“I’m in Canyon State Park, near Archery road, and a woman has been shot.”

“Is she still alive?”

“I think so but there’s a lot of blood.”

“Where was she shot?”

“Looks like in the chest or near the shoulder. My friend is keeping pressure on it.”

“I’m sending help. Was this an accident?”

“It didn’t look like it. My buddy and I walked up to see this guy shoot her.”

“Alright. Can you get to the road to flag down the EMT’s?”

“Yeah. Okay.”

Jonathon looked down at his friend. Joe looked very pale, almost like his blood was draining as fast as the girls.

“I gotta go to the road.”

“Why?”

“Help is coming, I have to wave ‘em down.”

“Okay. Hurry.”

Jonathon took off at a dead run for the road. He risked running into a tree and knocking himself out, but his adrenaline wouldn’t let him slow down. The ambulance appeared a few minutes later and he stood in the road until it’s headlights were on him. It stopped and a flurry of activity led to Jonathon taking two EMT’s, carrying a stretcher, to where his friend and the girl were.

“I’m back, Joe.”

Joe looked scared.

“I don’t know if she’s still alive. She stopped moaning a few minutes ago.”

“It’s all right, Joe. The EMT’s will take care of her.”

The men moved in and started assessing the girl. Joe got up and walked over by Jonathon. They both stood there, watching silently. Jonathon was praying quietly under his breath. Joe looked at him.

“I was doing the same thing the whole time you were gone.”

Jonathon put his arm around his blood covered friend.

“She’s in God’s hands now.”

****

Jason’s phone rang. He squinted at the clock.

1:00 am.

“Hello.”

“Jason, this is Patton.”

“Yes sir..”

“There’s been a shooting. The victim’s description matches your missing girl.”

“Stephanie Morris?”

“Yeah.”

“You said shooting… is she still alive?”

“Just barely. She’s at SAG”

“I’m on my way.”

Jason hung up. His heart was pounding. A survivor could put a face on this guy, assuming it was the same killer. He called Vanessa. Rob answered.

“Hello?”

“Rob, this is Jason. Sorry to wake you. I need to talk to Vanessa.”

He heard some rustling and his partner came on.

“What’s up, Jason?”

“The lieutenant called. There’s been a shooting and it may be our guy. The victim matches our girl, Stephanie Morris. She’s at SAG”

“I’ll be ready in fifteen.”

“I’ll be there in ten.”

Chapter  10

San Antonio General Hospital, or SAG as locals refer to it, was on the west side of town between Seaworld and Lackland Air Base. They arrived and parked in the main lot.

They showed their badges at the desk and were informed Stephanie Morris was in intensive care on the second floor. They took the elevator up and when the doors opened, Jason was relieved to see two uniformed officers guarding Stephanie Morris’ room. He walked up to them and showed his badge.

“Has she had any visitors?”

“Just one, that girl sitting over there.”

Jason looked over in the direction the officer pointed. Sitting alone was Brooke Donald. Jason turned to Vanessa.

“I’m going to talk to her. Can you see if you can find the doctor?”

“Sure. Be back soon.”

Jason walked towards Brooke and she gave him a half-hearted wave when she recognized him.

“Hello, detective.”

“Hi, Brooke. How you holding up?”

“Okay. She came out of surgery about an hour ago but they said I won’t get to see her until this afternoon at the soonest.”

“Okay. I’ll make sure the officers know that you’re allowed in when the doctor clears it.”

She gave him a slight smile.

“Thank you. I knew something wasn’t right. I kept hoping I was wrong but when the phone rang during the night, I wasn’t surprised.”

“If it helps, Stephanie may be the key to catching this guy. If she’s seen him and can describe him, we’ll get him. I promise.”

“I know you will. Thank you, detective.”

Jason saw Vanessa coming down the hall.

“Will you excuse me, Brooke?”

“Sure.”

Jason patted her on the hand before meeting Vanessa down the hallway.

“Did you find the doctor?”

“Yes. Surgeons name is Mary Nance. She operated for five hours.”

“What’s the prognosis? Is our girl gonna make it?”

“She said that the bullet missed the heart, hit the shoulder blade and bounced around until landing near her spine. She got it out but doesn’t know if she will have any paralysis.”

“Poor girl. When does the doc think we can talk to her?’

“Dr. Nance said the girl lost a lot of blood and will likely be in an induced coma for at least 24 hours, maybe 48.”

“Well, I guess we wait. We need to interview the two guys that found her and go to the scene. Let me tell Brooke what we know and we’ll head out.”

Jason spoke to the officers and then went over to where Brooke was sitting.

“She’s doing okay. They’re going to keep her sedated for at least 24 hours.”

“Okay.”

“Do you need anything? A ride?”

“No. I’m just going to stay near her for a little while longer.”

Jason gave her a smile.

“You do that. Stay as long as you want. I’ll check with the doctor to see if you can sit in the room.”

“That would be great. Thanks.”

****

Jason spoke to the surgeon and got permission for Brooke to sit in the room. He took her in before going downstairs to find Vanessa. She was in the lobby and hung up her phone as Jason approached.

“Lieutenant gave me an address for each of the guys that found her. North part of the city. They’re loggers, cutting for Weyerhauser. They were at the end of their day when they stumbled onto the girl.”

“We need to visit them, but first, you want to take a ride to the woods?”