The Departed

but he knew her heart wasn’t in it. Her shoulders slumped and she edged around him, likely following some unseen trail of misery, whatever it was that had put that heartbreak in her eyes.
    She wouldn’t ever get over not saving that girl from everything. That the girl lived wasn’t enough—hell, it wasn’t enough for Taylor, either, but he’d take what he could get. Dez, though, she’d torture herself over this.
    She could send off one of the lost, those who had already left this world, and do it with a smile, but a girl she’d saved, one who was alive, she couldn’t find something good in that.
    As they approached the small knot of people gathered by the girl’s door, voices hushed and then went abruptly silent. As gazes cut their way and then shifted to the side, Taylor moved closer to Dez and rested a hand on her shoulder.
    One of the cops, his face vaguely familiar, came away from the door. “Hey, there, Taylor. Long time, no see.”
    Taylor tried to place the face—the guy was familiar, there was no denying that. The smile…yeah, Taylor had seen that smile before. But it was the eyes that gave him away. Hazel, flecked with gold. The last time Taylor had seen those eyes, they had been bright with amusement. Not so much now, but still, he recognized one of his old friends from high school. “Blake…Blake Hensley.”
    “Yeah.” He gave him a tired smile. “Can’t say it’s a pleasure seeing you under such circumstances.” He glanced at Dez, and Taylor saw understanding, recognition flare in those eyes.
    Taylor tensed, prepared to step in. Whether she still worked for him or not, he still considered her as his…no, one of his people, and he wasn’t going to let her get hassled for doing her job.
    But apparently, small-town cop or not, Blake understood something about professionalism, because he didn’t lay into her right there, didn’t start with the questions or anything. Although that might have more to do with Taylor’s presence than anything else. Or perhaps the hospital.
    She would have to answer the questions, would have to give a statement, but not here. Not now. She’d have some rest first and if Taylor had anything to do with it, it would also be at some place other than the police department. And he’d be there, too, if he could manage that.
    “Is she awake?” he asked as the silence threatened to grow heavy and strained once more. Silence never bothered him, but he wanted this over and done so he could get Dez out of here.
    The doctor glanced from Blake to Taylor and then at Dez. “Well…yes. But she’s restless, scared. I…”
    Taylor reached into his pocket with one hand, nudging Dez into the room with the other. Flashing the FBI credentials always distracted people. Whether he was here officially or not, he could run interference for five minutes. His gut told him that Dez could help the girl. As one of the cops moved as if to stop Dez, Blake subtly stepped in next to him. Taylor caught his gaze and smiled.
    * * *
     
    EVEN before the girl turned her head, even before their gazes locked, the scream of pain hit Dez’s shields. It was a discordant, cacophonous wave, one that made her gut ache, her head pound, and her heart bleed.
    But she didn’t let it show. She showed nothing but a reassuring smile, knowing anything else would only make it worse. Although, hell, how much worse could it get? The pain…it shrieked and screamed, worse than any demon from hell, it seemed.
    As the girl sensed her presence, she jolted, a half sob catching in her throat. She cowered in the bed, as though she expected Dez to jump her and drag her back to that watery hellhole and finish the job. She trembled so hard, the bed started to rattle.
    Dez stopped in her tracks. “It’s okay, sweetie. I’m not going to hurt you.” She held out her hands, showed they were empty, even though that didn’t mean much. The boys who’d hurt her, Dez didn’t think they’d used weapons either—just their hands and their words and their minds. So evil. So vile. So wrong. “You’re safe here, sweetheart. Nobody can get to you in here. Nobody will hurt you now.”
    Big, pale eyes locked on Dez’s face and the crack in Dez’s heart widened even more. Fuck. This…this was killing her.
    And Taylor said she’d saved this kid. Had she saved her or just helped break her even more?
    “You want me to leave?” she asked softly. She glanced over her shoulder at the door. She knew Taylor thought she