Identity Withheld. Sandra Orchard

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      Kara tried not to wince as the paramedic dabbed the remaining gel around the blistered portions.

      “Most of the burn is first degree,” the paramedic explained as she wrapped a bandage around the arm.

      Kara swallowed again and again. Why had the marshal suggested a place so far away to meet? With her car covered in debris, not to mention blocked in the driveway by fire engines, she’d have to walk, and...

      “These blistered portions are second degree,” the paramedic went on. “I’m afraid they’re going to hurt a lot more than a four before they get better.”

      Yeah, they already did. A black haze slid over Kara’s vision.

      “Are you okay?” Jake sounded really concerned.

      She teetered, reached out blindly to stop herself from toppling off the gurney.

      Jake lunged toward her. “She’s going to faint!”

      The next thing she knew, her cheek was pressed against his solid chest, his arm wrapped protectively around her. “You’re okay. I’ve got you.”

      For a few blissful seconds, she lingered in his protective embrace—the kind of embrace Clark should’ve wrapped her in three months ago.

      She sucked in a quick breath and straightened, dismissing the memory. She’d made her choice and so had he. Jake’s arm dropped away, and she shivered at the chilly damp air that rushed into its place.

      “I’m guessing you’ll want those painkillers now?” The paramedic doused the bandage in saline.

      The cooling flow took the edge off the pain. “Uh, maybe just a couple of acetaminophen.”

      Empathy brimmed in Jake’s eyes. “You’ll have to forgive my cousin. She needs to work on her bedside manner.”

      Kara chuckled, bringing that heart-fluttering smile back to Jake’s lips. She sighed. She would’ve liked the chance to get to know him. But by tomorrow, Kara Grant would no longer exist.

      Another paramedic appeared at the back doors, where the now-missing sheriff had been. “Ready to roll?”

      “Roll?” She pushed on the gurney to slide off. “No, I’m fine. I don’t need to go to the hospital.”

      Jake’s hands dropped to her shoulders, pinning her in place. “You almost passed out. You’re going to the hospital.”

      Kara was about to argue, offer to sign anything they needed to let her leave, then she caught sight of the reporter angling for another photograph and said, “Okay, let’s go.” If by some miracle the adoption ring wasn’t behind tonight’s fire, her picture in the paper would seal her fate. A haircut, dye job and colored contacts may have transformed her from a long-haired, blue-eyed blonde, but there was no disguising her heart-shaped face.

      * * *

      One good thing Kara learned en route to the hospital was that the coffee shop where she was supposed to meet her handler was only two blocks away. All she had to do was convince the doctor she was fine and get out before anyone tried to stick her with anything.

      Except the triage nurse didn’t hold out much hope that she’d see a doctor anytime soon. “The fog caused a huge traffic pileup,” she said. “Every E.R. bed is full, and I’m afraid it may be some time before we can even transfer care from the EMT. We need to give priority to the most critical patients.”

      “Yes, I understand,” Kara said, fishing for an out. “Perhaps I should just wait to see my own doctor tomorrow.”

      “I don’t think that’s wise,” the paramedic—Sherri, she’d said her name was—piped up. “You have no home to go to. And besides, the sheriff is coming here to interview you.”

      “Okay, then.” The nurse recorded all Kara’s pertinent details, and then directed Sherri to wheel her into the hall to wait until her care could be transferred.

      Not good. She could be stuck for hours waiting for a bed, never mind waiting to see the E.R. doc. “You really don’t have to stay with me,” Kara said to Sherri after her partner wandered off to do paperwork and restock their rig. “You must have other calls to get to.”

      “No, not until the hospital takes over your care. That’s the policy.”

      Kara sat up. “If you just need the gurney back, I can sit in the waiting room.” She felt silly lying on the thing anyway.

      “That’s not how it works.”

      “Oh.”

      Sherri hitched her hip onto the edge of the gurney. “So how long have you known my cousin?”

      “Your cousin?”

      “Jake.”

      “Oh, the firefighter.” Kara vaguely remembered him referring to Sherri as his cousin, although they shared little family resemblance. “Just since tonight.”

      Sherri’s head jerked back as if she didn’t believe her. “Really? He didn’t act like it.”

      Jake’s “It’s okay. I got you” replayed in Kara’s mind as she realized for the first time that he’d caught her, when Sherri had been closer, right at her side, even.

      Sherri studied her intently, her expression unconvinced.

      “Why don’t you grab yourself a coffee?” Kara suggested.

      “I’m fine.” Sherri asked her about her family and job and Kara did her best to avoid giving direct answers.

      Once more, Kara suggested Sherri get herself a coffee or bite to eat or a breath of fresh air, anything to get her away for a few minutes so Kara could slip out of the hospital. She needed to go before the bad guys figured out she was here. But the woman wouldn’t budge.

      Kara readjusted her position on the uncomfortable gurney for the umpteenth time in two hours. “What happened to the sheriff? I thought he wanted to ask me questions.”

      “I’m sure he’ll be here soon. Why don’t you try to get some rest?”

      No, she couldn’t do that. It seemed as if every person who walked by looked at her oddly. Any one of them could be a goon of the adoption ring waiting for the chance to finish her off. She needed to get out of here. Somehow she needed to get word to the marshal, but with Sherri hovering so close, Kara hadn’t dared even to try to text him. “Um, Sherri? I need to use the washroom.” Why hadn’t she thought of that sooner?

      Sherri smiled, her eyes crinkling as if she genuinely cared, so different from her all-business attitude back in the ambulance. “No problem. I can walk you there.” She led her to a single-stall facility.

      “Uh, maybe you could find out how much longer the wait will be while I go.”

      Sherri propped a shoulder against the hall wall. “I’m sure it won’t be much longer.”

      Great, СКАЧАТЬ