The Final Tap Read Online Free Page B

If we do it here, he might bleed to death.”
    Benji’s face grew a shade grayer.
    â€œHe was trying to tell me something,” I said. “I think he was trying to tell me what happened.”
    â€œThere’s no time to find out now,” Chase said. “We have to get him to the hospital.”
    I swallowed. “Just tell us what we need to do.”
    He smiled. “You’ve done well so far. He’s still alive.”
    That was small comfort. Even I could tell the maple sugar expert was in serious trouble.
    The EMT who’d run for the ambulance appeared in the woods. “We’re ready to move.”
    â€œGood.” Chase raised his voice. “Sonders, we need you too.”
    The officer joined them at the stretcher as Chase signaled Benji and me to come forward. He directed us where to grab the stretcher. “All right, on the count of three, we lift. One … two … three!”
    With a Herculean effort, we hoisted Dr. Beeson from the frozen ground. He made the faintest groan. In a small way, I found his protest comforting. It meant he was still alive.
    The walk to the road and the waiting ambulance was cumbersome. Even with six of us bearing Beeson’s substantial weight, three of whom were paramedics in top shape, my arms shook from the effort to keep my portion of the stretcher level.
    Chase directed us as we set the man on a rolling stretcher waiting outside the ambulance. He and his colleagues took over from there.
    After the EMTs slid Beeson’s gurney into the back of the ambulance, Chase jumped in.
    â€œLet me know how he is!” I called as he shut the door.
    Chase gave me the briefest of nods and turned to his patient.
    Officer Sonders, Benji, and I watched the ambulance disappear down Maple Grove Lane with its lights flashing.
    â€œI need to secure the scene,” the young officer said.
    â€œDo you think it was foul play?” Benji asked.
    In other circumstances I would have chuckled at her use of the words “foul play,” but not today. I wrapped my arms around my middle as if to hold myself together. Another death on the Farm in less than a year. How was that even possible?
    Officer Sonders was neutral. “I don’t know. More police are on the way, and you’ll probably be hearing from Detective Brandon.”
    I grimaced. The detective and I weren’t the best of friends, or anything close to resembling friends. “Do you need anything else from us?” I asked. “We have a school visit going on, and I should be returning to the visitor center.”
    â€œI need your statements about how you found Beeson and why he was here.”
    I heard sirens and figured it must be the backup Sonders had called. The patrol car pulled up in the space along Maple Grove Lane where the ambulance had been. I was grateful that they parked there, where the school children would not be able to see them.
    Officer Sonders spoke to the other policemen for a moment, then returned to Benji and me for our statements, which were brief. Finally, he said we could go but warned again that I would be hearing from the detective. Something to look forward to. Benji and I walked back to the visitor center in silence.
    Judy met us at the automatic doors. “I saw the ambulance leave.”
    â€œThey’re taking Dr. Beeson to the hospital. He’s going right into surgery.”
    Judy clicked her tongue. “Godspeed to him then. When Benji came running in here shouting that there was a man with a drill sticking out of his chest in the woods, I almost fainted dead away.” She straightened her shoulders. “And I’m not one to faint, Kelsey. I raised six children. I’ve seen a whole host of disturbing things in my day.”
    I didn’t doubt it. “Is Gavin with the school group?”
    Judy nodded. “He should be. He wasn’t here when Benji came running in, so Jayne ushered the children straight to the