Paroled

Chapter 23

The ambulance arrived first, then Jax, Chibs and Tig pulling up just moments before Hale and Unser. Neighbors were peering out windows and peeking through cracked doors after sirens pierced through their peaceful night.

Opie sobbed openly once Jax pried him away from Eva's bloody body. He couldn't even find a wound as he held her, there was just too much blood surrounding them.

"Dear God," Unser uttered to himself as they worked diligently over Eva.

"He took the baby," Opie said when Unser made himself known. "He took my son."

"Wee Harry?" Chibs asked in disbelief.

"Shit," Tig grumbled.

Immediately, Tig left the scene to call Clay. They knew Unser would do what he could but they had avenues and methods that he could not benefit from. He spoke in a low volume as the paramedics rushed Eva out of the house and into the ambulance.

"I'm gonna take him over," Jax told Tig as they walked out toward Eva's car. "Get everyone and we'll meet at Saint Thomas."

—

The air was heavy in the waiting room as SAMCRO members wandered in and stayed with Opie in silent solidarity. Gemma arrived sleepily after Clay and, although Tara was there, she was nowhere to be seen. She was more valuable working to get information on Eva and helping her any way she could.

Juice, Chibs, and Tig put together a plan of attack and after an hour or so of waiting left the hospital as the sun rose. They had contacts they'd reach out to and some stops to make to see who, if anyone, had information. They were not hopeful though, as adamant as Opie was about this being on the club, there was no evidence pointing in that direction. It all looked, and felt, so personal.

"What's he say happened?" Clay asked Unser privately.

"Said he got home, they had sex then he took a shower," Unser whispered. "Slept for a few minutes then the baby woke up but by the time he got out of bed the baby wasn't in his crib. Chased some sounds downstairs then found her. There's nothing he said that helps," he complained, slapping his little notebook against his hand.

"Jesus," Clay said, running his large baseball mitt hands over his face. "How long?"

"He said between getting home and finding her was about an hour."

Clay shook his head in disbelief. "An hour?"

"I know," Unser sighed. "If I didn't know Ope I'd think he killed her."

"She's not dead," Clay said warningly.

"But it doesn't look good," Unser told him. "Doc said she'd been laying there for a while. Whatever happened to Eva happened before Opie says he got home."

"Christ," Clay hissed. He could see why Unser would suspect Opie, it made sense hearing the details, but they knew it wasn't him despite how much sense it made. "Keep that dog on a leash," Clay warned as Hale marched into the waiting room toward Unser.

"Can we talk?" Hale asked, adding quickly, "Privately."

"Yeah," Unser huffed. They took a few steps away from the others. "What?"

"There was blood in the bedroom and the baby's room," Hale told Unser.

Unser closed his eyes and sighed. "What about the bathroom?"

"Nothing was found so far," he said. "Shower was useless, it was recently cleaned so if there's blood we won't find it."

"Weapon?"

"Two kitchen knives were found under the dryer," Hale explained. "We're not sure if one or both were used."

"Prints?"

"We got a few," Hale nodded. "Lodi is gonna rush it, it's been quiet so they have the time."

Unser eyed him suspiciously. "What are you thinking?"

"What are you thinking?" Hale asked back challengingly.

"You know he didn't do this," Unser said to Hale.

Hale shrugged. "Do I? I knew him and Jax in high school but we've all changed a lot since then. I follow the evidence, I never would have thought he could do it but tell me this doesn't look clear cut?"

"I know how it looks," Unser huffed. "But police work isn't clear-cut, it's also knowing your suspect. Opie didn't hurt that girl in there."

"I guess we'll see," Hale shrugged. He was going to speak again but he saw Tara coming from down the hall and was more interested in what she had to say than continuing their pointless back and forth with Unser.

"She's stable," Tara said quickly knowing that was the biggest question. "Still critical but stable. She just came from surgery so you can't see her yet but it looks good."

Opie nodded, finally feeling as if he could breathe after a weight had been lifted off his chest. "Good," he sighed. "What the fuck happened?"

"She was stabbed, multiple times, in the chest and abdomen," Tara explained.

Hanging his head, Opie couldn't make sense of it. "How? How didn't I hear her?"

Tara looked over at Hale and Unser who were still far enough away. "I'm not supposed to tell you this, Ope, but there was no evidence of sexual activity. At all. Her doctor said she'd been attacked up to five hours before you found her."

It was too much. None of what she was saying made sense, it was all impossible to him. "No."

"I'm sorry, Ope," Tara said sadly. Seeing Eva's doctor make his way toward Hale and Unser, Tara took Opie's one hand and gave it a squeeze. "You may want to take a walk."

"A walk?" He said in confusion.

"Everything you said happened, couldn't have," she told him cryptically. "So, maybe you should get some air," she urged him.

"You tell Jax and please, take care of her," he said to Tara.

"Of course," she assured him. "When she wakes up I'll tell her, she won't think you abandoned her and she'll clear your name."

"Thank you," he whispered as he kissed her cheek.

"Go," she said, pushing him toward the south exit of the hospital instead of main doors. "Be careful." 

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