Jo gently lowered Theresa to the floor and checked her pulse at her neck and wrist.
“Whoever kidnapped her was trying to frame you, Sage. That’s why she was in there,” he said as he worked.
“But how did the intruder know about the room?”
Nothing made sense anymore. Theresa wasn’t lucid enough to explain anything, but even if she was, I would’ve felt cruel asking her for answers.
“I don’t know. We can figure it out later. Her pulse is fine, but I think she’s dehydrated and very hungry. We really need to go.”
Hurrying to Theresa’s side, I helped Jo lift her up from the floor. Between the two of us, we led her out of the basement, then to the front door.
Jade followed behind, the hair on her back and tail still standing on end.
“Jade, can you stay here? If something happens, come to the hospital and get us. Don’t try to attack anyone.”
The cat gave one curt nod before turning and walking back up the porch steps. Jo guided Theresa to the car and I opened the door. She seemed to rally and straightened, refusing to get into the car.
“What are you doing? Where are we going?”
“We have to get you to the hospital, Resa.” Jo tried to help her into the car once more, but she stood her ground, setting her lips into a thin line.
“No. We’ve got to get to Tim. We’ve got to check on him.”
Bewildered, I looked over at Jo. He moved his gaze to Theresa, his frown deepening. “Why? What’s wrong with Tim?”
She took a few shuddering breaths. “Seriously, you need to get to him now. His life is in danger. Please!”
A look of intense discomfort and confusion crossed Jo’s face. I turned to Theresea and put a hand on her shoulder.
“I’m sure he can hold his own. You need to get to a hospital. Jo says you’ve got a fever and you’re probably dehydrated.”
Her knees buckled at that moment. Jo caught her, and I helped him ease her onto the backseat. He fastened her seatbelt for her, then closed the door.
“She’s delirious,” he said, his eyes wild. “Who knows what she’s been put through. This is bad. I can’t believe I never thought to check that basement room…”
I’d never seen Jo so scared. It was terrifying, but I put a hand on his arm to comfort him. I felt even worse when I noticed that he was trembling.
“Come on, let’s get to the hospital. It’s going to be all right.”
We climbed in, and I raced to the center of town, making a few illegal turns along the way to cut time. Jo didn’t say a word the entire drive. I noticed his hands were clenched into fists, and his jaw was tight. Theresa’s condition had really gotten to him.
As the thought took hold, an odd sort of sorrow mixed with all my other chaotic emotions. Jo and Theresa were obviously dating. Why else would he be so worried? If she was a stranger to him, he would be calm and professional, not looking like he was about to fall apart.
I felt glad for distraction as I pulled up to the hospital entrance. The ER looked quiet when we parked, much to my relief. Jo threw himself out of the car the minute I stopped and grabbed a wheelchair.
He murmured gentle words as he helped Theresa into the chair. She kept shaking her head, looking between us with wild eyes.
“You’ve got to get to Tim! He’s in danger!”
“Resa, you’re feverish and not thinking straight. Let’s get you inside, okay?”
Jo kept giving her soft reassurances as we went inside. The bored receptionist at the desk took one look at us and jumped, his eyes going wide.
“What’s going on?”
“This is Theresa Farrow,” Jo explained. “She was kidnapped a month and a half ago, and she’s been held in captivity since. I’m pretty sure she’s dehydrated, but there might be other things going on, too.”
I admired the way Jo kept his voice steady, despite his worry. As he and the receptionist talked, Theresa’s head lolled forward, then she jerked it back up again. She was exhausted. What had she been through in all those weeks in the basement? How had I missed the fact that she was literally right under my feet all this time?
Then, it came to me. I remembered the spell I’d come across weeks ago about silencing. Whoever had hidden Theresa in the secret room must have sealed it with a silencing spell, and darkened the windows. My guilt compounded as I imagined Theresa living in the quiet and the dark, only seeing her captor at random intervals for a scant food and water delivery.
I found it odd that Theresa’s captor had been feeding her and giving her water at semi-regular intervals, and had given her the bucket and wipes to provide for her bathroom needs.
Why keep her alive? Just to taunt her? None of it made any sense.
A knot of guilt tightened in my stomach as I remembered all my efforts to keep the intruder out. I was at least in part responsible for Theresa nearly starving to death. I pressed my knuckles to my mouth, trying to force back tears.
“I’m so sorry, but only one person can stay with the patient,” the receptionist said, pulling me away from my thoughts. I looked at Jo and cleared my throat.
“You seem to know Theresa a lot better than I do. You should probably stay.”
He opened his mouth to answer, but we were both interrupted by Theresa.
“NO!”
We jumped and looked down at her. She was more alert, but still struggling to stay awake.
“Tim is in danger! She made it clear that she’s going to kill him. You have to get over there now and save him! It’s my fault, all my fault…”
