Rizzoli & Isles 8-Book Set

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 of the valley. It was another brilliantly clear day, and she squinted at the glare of the morning sunlight on the snow. We have one last option, she thought. If she didn’t take it, Arlo would die. Maybe not today, maybe not even tomorrow, but in that room, she could smell the inevitability of what was to come, unless she acted.
    “You have to keep him hydrated,” she said. “As long as he’s awake enough to drink, keep feeding him sips of sugar water. And food, if he’s able. All we’ve got left for the pain is Tylenol, but we’ve got plenty of that.”
    Elaine frowned at her. “Why are you telling me this?”
    “Because you’re now in charge. Just keep him comfortable; that’s the best you can do.”
    “What about you?”
    “My cross-country skis are still up on the Suburban. I’ll pack some overnight gear in case I don’t make it out before dark.”
    “You’re going to try skiing down the mountain?”
    “Would you rather be the one to do it?”
    “If Doug couldn’t make it—”
    “He may have had an accident. He may be lying somewhere with a broken leg. In which case, it’s even more important that I get started now, while I’ve still got a full day ahead.”
    “What if you don’t come back, either?” Elaine asked, desperation in her voice.
    “You have plenty of food and firewood. You and Grace could hang on here for months.” She turned.
    “Wait. I need to tell you something.”
    Maura paused on the porch and looked back. “Yes?”
    “Doug and I, we were never together.”
    “I heard you tell Arlo.”
    “It’s the truth.”
    “Why does it matter?”
    “I thought you’d want to know.”
    “To be honest, Elaine, what happened or didn’t happen between you and Doug makes absolutely no difference to me.” Maura turned toward the house. “All I care about right now is getting all of us out of