The Littlest Target. Maggie K. Black

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ even as she could feel it beating like a drum. He had no idea how tempting his offer was, how long the last hours of driving had dragged on her limbs and just how much she wanted to be somewhere safe, away from the cold and the fear.

      But she couldn’t let her guard down. Smith had somehow found her and the fact that he’d also somehow got his hand on a police vehicle didn’t do much to sway her concerns about Gerry’s warning not to trust the cops. Plus, when she’d grabbed her bag and Fitz’s car seat out of the wrecked remains of Gerry’s smashed car, she’d found a brand-new prepaid burner cell phone and two envelopes of hundred-dollar bills that she guessed totaled at least a few grand on the floor of the back seat. She’d grabbed the phone on impulse in case anything happened to the one Gerry had given her and had stuffed the cash in her rucksack, figuring she’d need some money to take care of Fitz. It had been a split-second decision she’d made without thinking. Now, that the world was quiet again she wondered if it’d been the right one.

      Could a burner phone be traced like a regular cell phone could? The phone looked like it had never even been activated. Would using it be more or less safe than using the phone Gerry had given her? She had no idea.

      Max was still staring at her, waiting for her to say something. Her eyes roamed over him as if searching for answers to questions she couldn’t even think to ask.

      He was tall with broad shoulders and arms that hinted he was able to carry a lot more weight than his slender build implied. His dark hair was soaked with sweat, slightly messy and curling just a little at his neck. His blue paramedic uniform radiated reassurance and authority.

      But then again, so had all the uniforms of the men who’d stood in her living room and listened to her stepfather’s lies, while he denied he’d ever lost his temper and hit anyone, pressured her mom to say she was clumsy and branded Daisy hysterical.

      Daisy’s eyes met Max’s again. They were green, with a look in their depths that spoke of protection, security and warmth. Suddenly she realized she was holding the scissors so loosely he could’ve probably knocked them from her fingers and taken it at any time. Her grip tightened. “I wasn’t kidding when I said I will not let you hurt Fitz.”

      “Understood,” he said. “I just want to take a look at him to make sure he’s okay. He looks fine from here but I won’t know for sure until I can take a more thorough look. Let’s start by walking back to my vehicle where the light is better. Then we can stand and argue there if you’d like. Judging by the look of the accident, the state of the car seat and his type of cry, I’m pretty sure he’s not injured. But I still need to check.”

      She felt her lips curl into a smile again. He had this way of talking that her aunt would have referred to disparagingly as “a bit of cheek.” But it wasn’t rude. Not at all. It was more like he was constantly trying to lighten the mood just enough to reassure her that she didn’t have to be afraid. It was comforting.

      “Okay. Just don’t try anything funny.” She straightened her rucksack on one shoulder, slid the scissors into her belt and picked up Fitz’s car seat with the opposite hand.

      Max reached to pick up the flashlight and she saw the curve of a smile at the corner of his mouth. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

      She followed him back through the woods to his paramedic vehicle. Max ran the light over the back of it. The right rear fender looked like a giant hand had punched it.

      “I’m sorry,” she said. “I can give you some money to cover repairs and to pay for gas.”

      “Please don’t worry about it,” he said. “Now, if it’s okay with you, I’d like to double-check that Fitz is every bit as healthy as we both think he is.”

      She nodded and set the car seat down. She hadn’t managed to salvage the toy boat Gerry had thoughtfully bought his son. But Fitz had somehow managed to pull the soft yellow fabric sail off and now clutched it to his cheek like a blanket. “Max is going to take a quick look at you and make sure you’re okay. Nothing to worry about.”

      She wasn’t sure if she was reassuring Fitz or herself. Either way, she stepped back and watched as he approached, crouched down and gently brushed his fingers along Fitz’s pudgy limbs. Fitz looked up at Max. His huge baby blue eyes filled with wonderment. Yeah, she knew how he felt.

      “You’re okay, aren’t you, buddy?” Max said, softly. He reached into the car seat and carefully pulled Fitz out and into his arms.

      Daisy’s breath caught in her throat. Every muscle in her body tensed. The only other person she’d ever seen hold Fitz were those moments she left him and Gerry alone to open and play with whatever new toy he’d brought. Not even Anna had shown any interest in holding her stepson. Daisy always figured she needed time to warm up. Now she never would.

      “Can you hold him?” Max asked. Without missing a beat, he slipped Fitz into her waiting arms even as she felt her hands reach out instinctively to take him. “I find with a child this small, a lot of caregivers are more comfortable if they hold him during an examination.”

      She watched and waited while Max carefully checked Fitz’s eyes and ran his hands over his limbs. Fitz chortled, and his laughter made something catch in Daisy’s throat.

      “He’s teething,” she said. “Lower gum on the right side. He’s been fussing more than usual and has a slight fever that comes and goes.”

      “All very normal.” Max nodded seriously. Then he stepped back and checked the car seat over. “Everything seems fine. No sign of injury, trauma or distress. The fact the car seat didn’t sustain any damage is a good sign. Still, you shouldn’t reuse a car seat after it’s been in an accident. But the rental place should have one and I do have a spare one in my vehicle we can use for now. Now, how about you? Any pain from the accident? How are you feeling?”

      He looked at her pensively, like she was a bomb he needed to defuse or a problem he needed to solve.

      “I’m fine,” she said. “A bit stiff and sore, but I’ll live. Now, tell me, why are you doing this?”

      He paused. There was no smile on his face now. But even with a slight frown, there was still something soft about his face. “I told you. You’re in trouble and you need help.”

      The moon disappeared behind the clouds. A shiver ran down her back. “I told you I didn’t want your help.”

      “I know,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean you don’t need it.”

      The rain fell suddenly, in just a few scattered drops like the splattering of a garden hose. Fitz screamed. Daisy wrapped her arms around him and ran for the shelter of the truck. Max opened the back door for her, and she climbed onto the back seat and held Fitz on her lap while Max ran back around to get the car seat.

      She looked around the vehicle. She’d thought it was a police vehicle when she’d first passed it. Now she saw it was actually a truck, with both a front and a back seat. The covered truck bed was filled with brightly colored and neatly stacked bags of medical equipment, with labels like Primary Response, Secondary Response and Pediatric. The front of the unit had a laptop, a huge screen and some kind of radio device.

      Fitz squealed happily and tried to lunge between the seats to push the shiny buttons. She caught him. “I think Fitz wants to play with your toys.”

      Max laughed. “I don’t blame him. I’ve got some pretty snazzy gadgets.” He leaned in the opposite СКАЧАТЬ