Safe Harbor. Hope White

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СКАЧАТЬ Alex have been any more insensitive? Probably not. But he was trying to get her to open up so he could assess how to protect her.

      Alex’s cell phone vibrated with a call from Chief Roth.

      “Hi, Chief,” Alex answered.

      “I heard you went chest-to-chest with the FBI.”

      “He was bullying a witness.”

      “How’s she doing?”

      “It’s been a rough night. She was hiding in the closet when I found her.”

      “Too traumatized to talk to the Feds?”

      “Yes, sir.”

      “Mark said she gave you the slip?”

      “And nearly drowned. She was running from someone. The killer could have still been on the property when we left.”

      “Not a smart move on his part. What’s your current location?”

      “Medical center, then Harbor Lights Inn. I have to wake her every few hours due to a mild concussion. Do we still have jurisdiction on this one?”

      “Absolutely. The Feds aren’t here for the murder case. They’ve got their own agenda. You did good tonight, Alex.”

      “I nearly lost the witness.”

      “But you got her back. Let’s focus on PA.”

      Productive Action was a term the chief had coined to keep his staff focused on solving problems, not feeding them.

      “Keep the witness safe. We owe it to Edward to find his killer,” Chief Roth said. “I’ll call when I know more.”

      “Yes, sir.”

      “I’ll send a cruiser to sit outside the inn. Never hurts to have someone watching your back.”

      “Thank you, sir.”

      Alex shoved the phone into his pocket and pulled a couple of Decker’s Lakeside Resort sweatshirts from the truck. His brother never missed an opportunity to promote one of his properties by giving away free sweatshirts with his logo emblazoned across the chest. He’d given Alex a few to hand out to friends, not that Alex had much of a social life since he moved back to Waverly Harbor. At least the sweatshirts would come in handy.

      Alex scanned the lot, then pulled off his shirt and undershirt, and yanked the thick cotton sweatshirt over his head. He sensed Nicole needed a moment alone after exposing her past to Alex. He reached into his gym bag for a pair of sweatpants.

      “Detective Donovan!” Dr. Wendell waved frantically from the building. “Hurry!”

      He slammed the door and took off, panic spiraling in his chest. Had something happened to Nicole? Did she pass out again? Stop breathing?

      “What—”

      “He claimed he was FBI,” she interrupted. “He took her out the back door.”

      Alex tossed the spare sweatshirt and pants on a chair as he rushed down the hall. What was the agent thinking, dragging her out against her will? Because Alex was pretty sure she wouldn’t have gone willingly without checking with him first.

      He shoved open the back door and spotted Nicole struggling against a tall, bald man who was trying to shove her into an SUV. Alex had made a promise not to let anything happen to her and he’d blown it. Again.

      “Hey!” Alex shouted.

      The guy let go of Nicole with such force that she stumbled and lost her balance. Alex tried getting to her before she hit the ground but failed.

      The agent used his temporary distraction to jump in the SUV. He peeled out of the parking lot as Alex kneeled beside Nicole. He touched her shoulder but she fought him, swinging her fisted hands against his chest. Or maybe it was somebody else she fought. Her eyes were pinched shut; guttural sounds vibrated against her throat as if she were reliving what just happened.

      Or something worse.

      My father beat us....

      “Nicole, open your eyes,” Alex said, removing his hand from her shoulder. Maybe touching her kept her imprisoned in the nightmare. “It’s me, Detective Donovan, remember? You’re safe. No one’s going to hurt you.”

      Breathing heavy, hands fisted against his chest, she blinked a few times and looked into his eyes with a confused and lost expression. He tried to crack a slight smile to let her know she was okay, that the danger was gone.

      That she was safe.

      Suddenly she whipped her head around, scanning the parking lot as if remembering what happened. When she finally refocused on Alex, he put up his hands and nodded, silently asking permission to touch her again.

      She collapsed against his chest and gripped his sweatshirt with trembling fingers. This time they were not trembling from exposure to the frigid lake, but from the trauma of nearly being taken against her will.

      Wrapping his arms around her, he held her close as she coughed and sobbed for a few painfully long minutes. The adrenaline rush alone of what happened to this woman in the past two hours would crack the toughest of men.

      “It’s okay.” He stroked her still damp hair, hoping he sounded more confident than he felt.

      An FBI agent just tried to take her out of the medical center against her will? What, to earn gold stars with his boss? Then again, maybe he wasn’t FBI.

      If not FBI then who was he? If it was the killer how did he know where to find her, and why risk exposing his identity? Nicole and the doctor had seen his face and could give a description.

      Alex had another thought: if the guy wanted to silence Nicole why not just kill her in the parking lot?

      Something was off here. Seriously off.

      “We need to get out of here,” he whispered against her ear. “Can you stand?”

      “Yeah.”

      He stood slowly, helping her to her feet. She clung to his sweatshirt as he led her back into the medical center.

      “Is she okay?” Dr. Wendell asked.

      “I think so.” Alex shut the back door to the clinic. “Can you give Nicole another once-over? She may have hit her head on the pavement.”

      “No, I’m okay.” Nicole looked up with pleading eyes. “Can we go? Please?”

      He glanced at the doctor.

      “It’s okay. But watch her.”

      “I plan to.” Alex guided her through the medical center, ignoring the stares of curious staff members and patients. Luckily it was a slow night so there weren’t a lot of witnesses to the near abduction, but that wouldn’t stop the gossip mill from buzzing.

      “Here,” СКАЧАТЬ