The Sheriff. Angi Morgan

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СКАЧАТЬ anxious as she was to escape the hospital before landing in Pete’s arms, she was scared to leave without him. The guy demanding she put on her shoes wasn’t the average government-issued suit.

      “Where are we going?” she asked.

      “That’s classified.”

      “I won’t tell anyone.” Pete seemed taller, firmer. He waved his hand for her to stay put. “Think you can give me another look at your badge?”

      When Pete took another step, ready to do battle, the Suit shoved his forearm across the sheriff’s windpipe. Andrea jumped to her feet to help but received a backhand with the Suit’s free arm, knocking her across the small emergency room bed.

      Pete was no slouch. He was younger, three or four inches taller and in really good shape. His strength kicked in and he shoved Suit Man straight into the path of her hospital-socked feet. Without shoes she couldn’t do much damage, but she did put a heel in Suit Man’s gut, hurtling him into the supply cabinet.

      Pete was there, swung his left fist and connected with Suit Man’s jaw, sending him flying backward into the door. Her rescuer swung again, connected a second time. She recognized the panic in Suit Man’s eyes. He knew he’d failed.

      Suit Man had something in one hand and the other hand on the door handle.

      “Watch out!” she yelled.

      Pete ducked, but she couldn’t get out of the path. The metal hit her square in the ear, and she tumbled to the linoleum.

      There was some yelling, really close to her ear, but the world was spinning sufficiently enough that it didn’t register. She saw the blur of black dress shoes running from the room. It was all she could do to focus on not passing out. Then the strong arms she admired lifted her to the table.

      “Everything okay in here, Pete?” the voice she’d heard earlier from the hall asked through the intercom.

      “Yardly, I need a doctor, and where’s security?”

      “It’s just a bump. My ears are ringing. That’s all.” She’d seen double for a few seconds, but that had already passed. “What are you waiting for?”

      A nurse and then a doctor entered. Pete slipped out, but she could hear his raised voice in the hall. She saw his phone to his ear. Watched him pace in front of the rectangle of a window and then speak with the doctor before coming back in the room.

      “Why aren’t you chasing Suit Man?” she asked between the blood pressure cuff and insisting she was fine.

      “You’re stuck with me while I ensure your safety. That’s your best option.” He didn’t seem at all satisfied being saddled with the position of her protector.

      “I can wait for the police. There are plenty of people here. So go.”

      “You’re serious?” He followed the nurse to the door, looked down the hall and slammed it shut. “Someone’s trying to kill you and you want me to leave you here, defenseless?”

      “And I appreciate your saving me. Twice. But I can’t tell you anything else, so isn’t it more important to catch that creep and find clues at the accident?”

      “The scene and Suit Man aren’t my priority. You are.”

      She watched his Adam’s apple bob nicely as he swallowed hard. His blue eyes searched hers. If she’d known what he needed to hear, she would have said it. But she was a little frightened or worried or maybe just confused from the blow to her ear.

      What was she thinking? These men had rammed her car off the road trying to kill her. Okay, technically, it was Sharon’s car. And in all probability, they had killed the man she’d been trying to help. She’d been knocked silly-unconscious by a complete stranger with really good counterfeit DHS credentials who also wasn’t afraid to show his face and try to kill her with security cameras everywhere.

      “I’ll concede that you don’t know me, but I’m not defenseless.” The soreness in her jaw screamed otherwise. “He caught me off guard. That’s all. I can take care of myself.”

      “Not tonight.” He stepped back, one hand going to his hip and the other pushing through a thick head of short, light brown hair. “I’m escorting you home until someone decides what to do with you. The local authorities will find Suit Man.”

      “Are you sure about that?”

      She’d lost her chance. He’d made his decision. And it was probably best. The only personal possessions she still had were her earphones. They’d hooked around her neck and somehow not fallen off. If she’d been alone when the Suit attacked, she would have been dead before she could press the nurse call button.

      Or maybe worse. She might have actually been woozy enough to leave with him. Then what?

      The sheriff opened the door. “Yardly!” The nurse he’d been speaking to came running. “We’re not waiting to give an incident report. We’re leaving. Do what you have to do to get us out of here. Now.”

      “Well then...it isn’t just another boring Friday night, after all.”

       Chapter Four

      Pete kept Andrea Allen in sight through the sliver of an opening in the door. There weren’t any windows in the exam room, and he needed to keep an eye on her. Victim or perpetrator. He didn’t know if that was an unsuccessful rescue attempt or an averted abduction.

      Whichever, something didn’t sit right and he wanted to know what she was doing. She was the prime suspect or witness in a man’s death.

      “I’ve got things under control, Dad. I don’t need backup at the hospital. I’ll be gone before anyone can get here. We’re just waiting on a prescription. There’s nothing you can do. I know you’re already at the office. Just stay there and handle that end of things. When exactly did Peach call you?”

      “Now, son, it’s no reflection on your abilities that she called. We’ve been working together for a couple of decades.”

      When were any of his instructions going to be followed?

      He’d been at the hospital almost three hours waiting on Andrea to be treated and discharged before Suit Man—it was as good a description as any—had shown up. And to get the okay for her to leave was taking a lot longer than he’d anticipated. The murderers seemed to be a lot more organized than the hospital staff, who couldn’t get them out the door.

      “Who am I kidding? Peach called the real sheriff as soon as I reported the dead body. Right?” A guy who went missing by the time the ambulance showed up twenty minutes later.

      “You are the sheriff now and never mind how long I’ve been here,” his father said, sounding wide-awake and probably on his third cup of coffee. He’d dodged answering like he usually did. “The picture you sent popped a red flag. I’m waiting on a call from the DEA and DHS.”

      “You think this guy was working undercover?” His charge was lying on an ER bed, ice bag on her ear.

      “Could СКАЧАТЬ