Shield Of Refuge. Carol Steward

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      “Not one. I’ve fought with your father when he was still on duty, and won then, too. Just because I’m old, doesn’t mean you can pull a fast one over me. Your eyes are glazed over, one pupil is dilated. You have a concussion and in that condition, you’re more danger to the community than you are a help. I’m going to go find a nurse or hospital volunteer to sit with you and make sure you don’t fall asleep. We want to keep you awake for a while longer.”

      “I just want to help in the office,” he said lamely as the doctor left his room.

      Garrett heard a gentle knock and turned, surprised to see the woman who’d run into him walk meekly into the room.

      “I just had to make sure you’re okay.”

      He looked at her, reassured that she was just as pretty in the light. “I’m going to be fine,” he said, eyeing his uniform laying across the chair. “How’d you get in here?”

      She shrugged, though a pretty pink tinge colored her delicate skin. “I slipped in the exit as someone was leaving. Things get kind of hectic in an ER.” She smiled softly, and Garrett felt the pain in his head ease up considerably. “The police wouldn’t tell me anything. I’ll leave as soon as I know you’re okay, I promise. You didn’t look good when they took you in the ambulance. I’ve been worried.”

      Garrett laughed. “Sit down. The doctor says I have a concussion and has gone to pull someone off the streets to keep me from going to sleep. Care to volunteer?”

      “Really?” she asked, a smile brightening her face. “You’re not mad at me?”

      “I wouldn’t go that far,” he said, teasing her. “In my business, I’m well aware that accidents happen. I know you weren’t out to harm anyone.”

      She shook her head, a tired smile on her full lips.

      “Everyone is busy,” Dr. Call said as he walked through the door. His scowl disappeared immediately when he saw Amber. “Oh, I didn’t realize you had a…visitor. Good. That takes care of that. Should I keep calling your folks, or will your girlfriend be able to stay with you?”

      Garrett didn’t want to get Amber into more trouble. “Yes, please. Amber has had a long day.”

      The doctor gave her instructions on when to call the nurse and left the room. “You didn’t have to…” She bit her lip, and leaned her head to one side, as if trying to avoid the attraction.

      He reached out his hand, hoping she’d take it. “Maybe I’m the one who should be apologizing, for selfishly committing you to staying awhile longer to keep me from falling asleep.”

      “It’s me that owes you. You kept me from getting into more trouble more than once tonight, and don’t try to deny that.” She took a hesitant step closer and took hold of his hand momentarily. “I can’t tell you how much I regret the accident, Officer.”

      “If you’re going to sneak in here under the pretense of my girlfriend and make sure I don’t fall asleep, I think you’d better call me Garrett. Otherwise I’ll have to call security, and neither of us needs to fill out any more reports tonight, do we?” He smiled, though he really wanted to go to sleep, despite the beautiful woman God had sent tonight to interrupt his life.

      “I feel so foolish,” she said quietly. She blinked away tears, and he could see these weren’t her first of the evening. Her mascara was already smudged. “I should have done something to scare the guy away. Maybe the girl would be safe and sound in her dorm room now.”

      “No, you shouldn’t have done any more. You definitely shouldn’t. You could’ve been hurt. We don’t know what the suspect’s motive was. It might have been much worse. Don’t blame yourself, Amber.” He listened carefully for the next half hour as she talked through the incident, including the feeling that no one believed what she’d seen.

      When the doctor came back into the emergency exam room a while later, he had Garrett’s shift supervisor and his brother Nick with him.

      Nick spoke first. “You okay?”

      “Apparently not enough to get out of here.”

      The lieutenant looked at Amber and his smile faded. “How did you get in here?”

      That look of fear returned instantly to Amber’s face.

      “It’s okay, I approved her visit. In fact, I asked her to stay to keep me company until they could reach my folks to come take me home,” Garrett confessed, hoping it wasn’t going to cost him more than a little razzing from the guys. “It’s my fault.”

      His brother studied Amber. “You own the bakery in Old Town, don’t you? I think we met during the Harvest Festival, a few weeks ago.”

      “Yes, I own it, but it’s not just a bakery, it’s now Parties Galore, with party supplies and planning services, and costumes…” She studied his brother, then smiled as she apparently remembered meeting him. “Oh, yes,” she said, looking at Garrett, then back to Nick. “You and a female officer made sure I got into the shop safely, didn’t you? And then your partner came in and rented that chicken costume.”

      “That’s right.” He nodded, hiding a smile. “Things going okay?”

      “Yes, it’s been very quiet lately, since the festival anyway. Thanks for watching out for all of us downtown.” She looked sheepishly at him. “Garrett, since you have company, I’ll say good-night,” Amber said as she stood. “Stop in the shop sometime. Coffee and pastries are on me.”

      “Oh, wait,” Garrett said. “Nick, Amber’s a…party planner. He’s the one who might need help…with a party.”

      Nick looked at Garrett as if he’d lost his mind.

      “Sure….” She pulled a business card from her bag. “Give me a call. I guarantee I can give you a deal.”

      She made a quick exit, and Garrett hated to admit he didn’t want to see her go.

      The lieutenant glanced out of the ER room and waited a few minutes before speaking. “You let the woman who turtled you keep you company in the hospital?” he asked in disbelief.

      “Someone had to do it. The doctor was looking for volunteers,” Garrett replied, hoping Chavez was in a better mood than he looked. “I’m not kidding. She just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time twice tonight.”

      Nick glanced at their supervisor then back to Garrett. “Sounds like you’ll heal, you’re cranky enough to scare any real damage away,” his brother said with a laugh, trying to lighten the mood.

      “Did you find anything on the missing girl?”

      Lieutenant Chavez shook his head. “I think Ms. Scott has an active imagination.”

      Nick’s expression wasn’t as clear. “There’s still a BOLO out, so every officer in the county will be watching for her.”

      “May as well inform Wyoming by now. If I’d stuffed a body into a car, I wouldn’t stick around,” Garrett muttered.

      “We СКАЧАТЬ