Ice Cold: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel

want to look at his leg, but there was enough light now to examine it, and she knew she should. This was her responsibility, a responsibility that she wanted no part of, but she was the doctor. Yet all her medical training had turned out to be useless without modern drugs and clean surgical instruments and the icy determination to do what was necessary: to cut off a screaming man’s leg. Because that was what needed to be done. She knew it even before she exposed the limb, before she smelled the stink of what festered beneath the blanket.
    “Oh God,” Elaine groaned, and stumbled away. Maura heard the front door swing shut as Elaine escaped the fetid room in search of fresh air.
    It has to be done today, thought Maura, staring down at the putrefying leg. But she couldn’t do it alone; she needed Elaine and Grace to hold him down, or she’d never be able to control the bleeding. She glanced at the girl, who was still sound asleep on the sofa. Could she count on Grace? Did Elaine have the fortitude to hold firm despite the screaming and the pitiless rasp of the saw? If they buckled, Maura could end up killing him.
    She pulled on her jacket and gloves and stepped outside. She found Elaine standing on the porch, drawing in deep breaths of cold air, as though to wash the stink of Arlo’s rotting body from her lungs.
    “How long do you think he has?” Elaine asked softly.
    “I don’t want to talk about countdowns, Elaine.”
    “But he’s dying. Isn’t he?”
    “If nothing is done.”
    “You and Doug already
did
something. It didn’t help.”
    “So we have to take the next step.”
    “What?”
    “Amputation.”
    Elaine turned and stared at her. “You can’t be serious.”
    “We’re left with no other choice. We’ve gone through all the antibiotics. If that leg stays on, he’ll die of septic shock.”
    “You were the one who didn’t want to do surgery before! Doug had to talk you into it.”
    “Things have gotten a lot worse. Now it’s not his leg we want to save. It’s his life. I need you to hold him down.”
    “I can’t do it by myself!”
    “Grace will have to help.”
    “Grace?”
Elaine snorted. “You think you can trust that spoiled brat to be useful for anything?”
    “If we explain it to her. If we tell her how important this is.”
    “I know her better than you do, Maura. She’s got Doug completely under her control, and he’ll do anything for his little princess. It’s all about keeping
her
happy, about making up for the fact her mother walked out.”
    “You don’t give her enough credit. She may be just a kid, but she’s smart. She’ll understand what’s at stake here.”
    “She doesn’t care. Don’t you get that about her? She
doesn’t fucking care
about anyone but herself.” Elaine shook her head. “Don’t count on Grace.”
    Maura released a breath. “If you’re the only one who’ll help me, then we’ll need rope. Something to tie him down on the table.”
    “You really plan to go through with it?”
    “What would you have me do? Stand by and watch him die?”
    “They could come for us today. They could be here in just a few hours.”
    “Elaine, we need to be realistic.”
    “Another day won’t make a difference, will it? If they show up tomorrow, it will be soon enough.”
    “Doug’s been gone for two days. Something’s gone wrong.” She paused, reluctant to admit the obvious. “I don’t think he made it,” she said quietly. “I think we’re on our own.”
    Elaine’s eyes suddenly glistened with tears, and she turned and stared at the snow. “And if you do it? If you cut off his leg, what are the chances he’ll die anyway?”
    “Without antibiotics, I’m afraid his chances aren’t good. No matter what we do.”
    “Then why put him through it? If he’s going to die no matter what, why torture him?”
    “Because I don’t have any other tricks in my bag, Elaine. It’s down to this, or just give up.”
    “Doug could still send help—”
    “It should’ve come already.”
    “You need to give him time.”
    “How long do we have to wait before you accept the obvious?
Help isn’t coming.”
    “I don’t care how long it takes! Jesus Christ, do you even hear what you’re saying? Are you serious, cut off his fucking leg?” Elaine suddenly sagged against the porch post, as though too weary to support her own weight. “I won’t help you do it,” she said softly. “I’m sorry.”
    Maura turned and looked at the road leading out