Then, "What do you mean she's there?"
"A boy brought her. Walked 6 miles through the storm. Collapsed at our door about 4 minutes ago. He's hypothermic. Diesel's got him. But Luther, he had Lily wrapped in your vest. And there was a birthday card in the pocket."
Another pause. Shorter this time.
"Is she hurt?"
"No, she's fine. Warm, no injuries. He kept her safe the whole way."
"Who is he?"
"Don't know yet. 15, maybe 16. Homeless by the look of him. 3 weeks on the street, I'd guess. Split lip, bruising, road rash. But he got her here."
Luther's breathing changed on the other end. Faster. Shallower.
"I'm on my way."
"They releasing you?"
"They will."
The line went dead.
Specter looked at Diesel.
"How long?"
"Hospital's 4 miles. If he walks out right now and drives like Luther drives, 12 minutes."
"We've got 12 minutes to get this boy stable enough to talk."
Diesel nodded once. His hands moved faster.
And Emmett's eyes opened.
Not all the way. Just slits.
Brown eyes trying to focus on a ceiling that wouldn't hold still.
"Easy," Diesel said.
Low voice, steady.
"You're inside. You're safe. Don't try to move yet."
Emmett's head turned anyway. Searching.
His lips shaped a word.
"Lily."
"She's right here," Specter said.
He crouched down, bringing Lily into Emmett's line of sight.
"See? She's okay. You did it."
Emmett stared at her for a long moment. His chest rose and fell twice.
Then his eyes closed again.
"Stay with me," Diesel said. "I need you awake for a few more minutes. Can you do that?"
Emmett's eyes opened again. Slower this time.
"Where am I?"
"Hells Angels clubhouse. End of Coalfield Road. You walked here."
"6 miles," Emmett said.
Quiet. Factual. Like he was reading it off a list.
"In a storm," Diesel added. "Carrying a seven-year-old. That was a hell of a thing you did."
Emmett's gaze drifted back to Lily.
She was still watching him. Her small hand uncurled from Specter's vest and reached toward him again.
This time she didn't pull back.
"Daddy's angels," she said.
Clear as glass.
Emmett's mouth moved into something that might have been a smile if his face had more energy left in it.
"She kept saying that," he whispered. "The whole way. I didn't know what it meant. But when I saw the light, when I saw the vests through the window, I thought maybe..."
He trailed off. His eyes were closing again.
"Maybe what?" Diesel prompted gently.
"Maybe she knew something I didn't."
Specter and Diesel exchanged a look.
"How do you know Lily?" Specter asked.
"I don't."