Chapter Six

“Olivia,” I whispered.

The man peered at me. “Do you know her?”

“She’s a friend. Is she okay?”

Breathe. In and out, in and out, I reminded myself.

Mark snuffled. I patted his arm again. I really wished Carmen was there.

“She’s alive, but unconscious. She received a nasty gash and bump falling into the fountain, or whatever the hell you people call that thing.”

I let out a breath. “And she’ll be okay? She’ll recover?”

“Hopefully we got to her in time.” He flipped through his notebook.

Mark stopped weeping and sat staring in the direction of uniforms by the fountain. His face looked carved from stone.

“Does her family know? Have you called them?”

“They’ve been notified and will meet Olivia at the hospital in Akron.”

“What does Mark have to do with this?”

“If you would give us a minute, that’s what I am trying to find out,” khaki man said.

The light dawned. “You’re a police officer.”

He held out his hand. “Detective Rick Mains.”

I stopped short of shaking his hand. “Rick Mains? Ricky Mains?” And I remembered where I had seen Mains before. He was one of a long line of high school boyfriends that Carmen had dated before she’d settled down in college. Mains was one of the long-termers. Four months.

Mains grinned. “You remember me?”

“I’m sure Carmen does too,” I said.

Mains guffawed the same intrusive and uproarious laugh that had caused Carmen to dismiss him for the happy hunting grounds of higher education.

I frowned. The current situation was not conducive to any levity, and what I’d said wasn’t funny, anyway.

Regaining control, Mains smiled. “I’m sure she does. Now, if you don’t mind, I only need a few more minutes with Mark.”

I scowled, but stepped away from the ambulance.