Point Blank. Sandra Robbins

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СКАЧАТЬ back and examined the cut. “Is it very deep?”

      He shook his head and pressed the gauze back in place. “No, it should heal very cleanly. Of course, we need to make sure there aren’t any other injuries you haven’t yet noticed. I’ve ordered a CT scan to determine if you have any internal injuries. As soon as I’ve looked at it, I’ll be back to examine you further. Do you have any questions?”

      “No. I did wonder, though, when I’ll be able to see my friend.”

      “Sheriff Whitman? I talked with him in the waiting room. He’s very anxious to find out if you’re okay. I’ll let him come back soon.”

      For the moment there was nothing else Hannah could do but accept the doctor’s decision. If she’d had her way, Ben would have been with her every minute since she got to the hospital. He was the only person she’d been able to depend on since Shane died. He had been there the minute he heard and hadn’t left her side during the days leading up to the funeral. Since then, he’d done everything he could for her and Faith whenever they needed him. She didn’t know what she’d done to deserve a friend like Ben, but she was thankful for him.

      Thirty minutes later, the tests were completed and Hannah was settled back in the bed in the emergency room as she waited for the doctor. He didn’t keep her waiting long. When he walked in, he was smiling, which she took to be a good sign. He didn’t waste time telling her what the results of the tests were.

      “Well, Mrs. Riley, the CT scan shows no internal injuries. You’re a very fortunate young lady to have survived a car crash like that with nothing worse to show for it than cuts and bruises.”

      “I know,” Hannah said. “I’m very thankful. Everyone here has been extremely nice to me, but I hope you’re going to let me go home now. I have a daughter I need to see about.”

      He nodded. “I know. Sheriff Whitman told me. I’m not going to keep you, but I suggest you take it easy for a few days. Come back to the emergency room if you have any problems, though.”

      “I will.”

      “Now, I’m going out to tell the sheriff he can come back to see you. The nurse will be in to discharge you.”

      “Thank you, Doctor,” she said as he turned and walked from the room.

      She lay back on the bed and waited for a few minutes, and then she heard Ben’s footsteps in the hallway. She smiled at how she had come to recognize the sound his boots made as he walked. The doctor had left the door open, and Ben stopped before he entered and let his gaze rake over her.

      He held the Stetson hat he always wore in his hands, and his fingers clutched the brim. He almost looked as if he was afraid to enter. She pushed up in bed and smiled. “Are you going to stand there, or are you coming in?”

      The muscles in his throat constricted as he swallowed. Then, without taking his eyes off her, he walked over to her bed. “How are you feeling?” She smiled and reached for his hand. He wrapped his fingers around hers and held them tightly. “I’ve been going out of my mind in that waiting room,” he admitted. “I was afraid you were hurt badly and they weren’t telling me.”

      The rasp in his voice surprised her, and she let her gaze move over his face. She’d known Ben for years, but she’d never seen the look in his eyes that she saw now. It was so much more than just concern. It looked like he had just experienced agony, and her heart pricked. Had he really been that worried about her?

      “Ben,” she said as she squeezed his hand, “I’m okay. The doctor says there are no serious injuries. So quit worrying.”

      He released a long breath and closed his eyes for a moment. “Hannah, when that car went off the road, I knew if you died it would be my fault because it was my bullet that hit the tire. I don’t think I could’ve lived with myself if I was the cause of you being killed.”

      She smiled and swung her legs over the side of the bed. “I prefer to think that you saved my life. If it wasn’t for you, that guy would have killed me.” When she was standing in front of him, she put her arms around him and gave him a hug. “Thank you for being there again for me, Ben.”

      Slowly his arms encircled her, and he gave her a quick hug before he pulled back. “Anytime, Hannah. All you have to do is call.”

      She laughed. “That’s good to know. Now could you do something else for me?”

      “What?”

      “Take me home. I’m ready to get out of this place.”

      He opened his mouth to speak, and then a look of horror flashed across his face. “I can’t.”

      She stared at him and frowned. “Why not?”

      “Because I left my car out at the crash scene for Luke, and yours is still smashed into that tree. We don’t have a way to get either of us home.”

      She laughed and shook her head. “Did it not occur to you to drive your car and let Luke ride back with one of the other deputies?”

      He grinned and shook his head. “All I was thinking about was getting you to the hospital, and I didn’t want you out of my sight. So Joe let me ride in the ambulance.”

      She placed her hands on her hips and arched an eyebrow. “Well, what do we do now?”

      Ben turned his mouth to his shoulder mic. “Officer needs a squad car at the hospital emergency-room door to transport a victim home.”

      The radio crackled, and the dispatcher’s voice answered. “Ten-four. Escort on the way. By the way, how is Hannah?”

      Ben grimaced. “Clara, this is an official channel. It’s not for personal use. Over and out.”

      Hannah couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re going to have to give up on trying to make Clara more professional. From what my grandfather told me, she’s always been the biggest gossip in these hills.”

      “I know,” Ben grumbled. “But she doesn’t need to be spreading gossip about you right now. We need to keep you out of the spotlight as much as possible until we catch this guy who kidnapped you. Until that time, I’m going to keep a closer check on you.”

      His words startled Hannah, and she gasped. “You think this might have been more than a random abduction?”

      “I don’t know, but until we find out one way or the other, you have to watch your back. I’ll be there to help.” He glanced at his watch. “Now let’s go to the emergency-room entrance and wait for our ride.”

      Hannah nodded and walked from the room with Ben right behind her. For a moment there she’d felt relief and a sense of security that her ordeal was over. But Ben had just reminded her that it wasn’t.

      She frowned as she tried to remember the words of her kidnapper when she’d asked him why he was doing this. Her heart raced as she recalled what he’d said. All you need to know is that it’s payback time.

      Payback for what? She hadn’t gotten a close look at his face, just his eyes. They hadn’t seemed familiar in that moment, but now she knew she would recognize them anywhere as she would the sound of his voice.

      If СКАЧАТЬ