Even unconscious, his bound hands were curled tightly over his chest, protecting something hidden inside his torn jacket.
Natalie rushed forward, falling to her knees in the dirt. “Andrew! Andrew, can you hear me? I’m Officer Natalie. We have Ashley. She’s safe. We have your daughter.”
At the sound of Ashley’s name, Andrew’s swollen eyelids fluttered. A guttural sob tore through his throat, accompanied by a cough that sprayed blood onto his chin. He couldn't speak, his jaw clearly dislocated or broken, but he forced his mangled hands to open just a fraction of an inch.
Inside his grip was a small, child-proof pharmacy bag. It was stained with his own blood, but the bottle inside was intact. It was Ashley’s life-saving medication.