by Kera Faire
Not of Lila once he’d gone. He daren’t think of that.
Or of how much it hurt him to go.
How long had it been since Jenna had left? He tried to see his watch and squinted at his wrist for several seconds. No bloody watch. Had the bugger who stabbed him nabbed it? If so, why? It wasn’t an expensive one, just a bog-standard generic timepiece. However someone might think it did more than tell the time. He wished.
“Man up,” he muttered and shut his eyes. He couldn’t do anything except try to conserve what energy he had, so that had better be his next step. Whatever else happened would be in the hand of the gods.
Euan slipped into an uneasy doze.
****
Her world was spinning, and she didn’t like it. Wasn’t it bad enough to be out in the rain without a dizzy, woozy sensation? Lila tried to open her eyes.
She couldn’t. For one stark moment, blind panic set in. Literally. Then common sense reasserted itself. She was alive.
Better than dead, but what the hell?
“Why am I blindfolded?” Lila was proud of the way her voice didn’t shake. She was determined not to exhibit her fear. Her skin might be clammy, her pulse rate way too high, but she bloody well wouldn’t show how scared she was. She was damned sure her lack of sight wasn’t for anything kinky. That sort of thing and the person she’d played with was long gone. Her world rocked and she swallowed hastily. She knew what that meant and cussed it. Immediate action was needed. Think, woman. “Why am I in a boat?”
There was silence except for the dull throb of a motor. Lila considered what to do or say next. Her panic level receded as her nausea increased. She understood the reasoning behind the silence was to make her worried, more amenable. Therefore, she would damn well do her best not to be. Lila flexed her fingers and realized her hands weren’t tied. So whoever had taken her, they didn’t intend to toss her overboard to drown. That had to be a plus. She took a large gulp of fresh air, swallowed hard, and lifted one hand to try to find the knot on her blindfold.
“You do, and I’ll rope you up.” It was the same voice as before. Only one assailant then. Gradually, things she’d been told began to come back. She bit her lip hard and forced herself to not give in to the urgent need to be sick, and went over things in her mind. Check out what you can, as long as it is safe to do so. One person I think, but can’t be sure. Don’t go for the heroics, go for keeping your life. Only attack if it’s sensible and safe to do so. You’ll have to judge the safe bit.
That was hard. How the hell can I tell that?
Why now? Why her? And bloody Nora, why remember him? Okay, he’d taught her, but it hadn’t been for real, had it?
Had it?
Lila slowly dropped her hand. Roping had never been on her list of favorite things. “Okay, but…” The boat lurched again and she gulped. “Um, do you have a sick bag?”
“A what?” The voice was incredulous. “Lady, it’s like a mill pond out here.”
“You and I don’t have the same definition of mill pond,” Lila said shakily, all thoughts of sounding reasonable dispersed by that last lurch. “I can’t even drive to Glasgow without wanting to throw up. As for the loch? Never ever. I sit on the shore and feel icky just looking at the ripples so for God’s sake, a bag or the boat floor—” She finished in a hurry. She wasn’t joking. A bag was imperative.
“Here.”
Her fingers were wrapped around what felt like a carrier. Lila used it in a rush and prayed there were no holes in it. “Thanks,” she said once she felt safe to speak. “I should be okay now. That’s how it hits me.”
The bag was removed from her grasp and a bottle replaced it. “Water.”
“Thanks again.” Lila realized it was a sports lid, flipped the lid, and sniffed it cautiously. She ignored the laugh and the, “It’s not drugged. I need a doctor with all the faculties working.”
“Funinger’s crossed there.” After several cautious sips—she didn’t usually have a second bout, but decided to play it safe—Lila decided she was able to speak properly. “I mean figers … finigers, ah hell.” She bit her lip and counted to ten as whoever it was stifled a snort of laughter. Try again. “Not sure I qualify at the moment.”
“You’d better.”
Ah, right. Memo to self: stop feeling icky. It didn’t work.
“Out of interest, what’s this all about?” Lila said in what she hoped was a casual manner. “It’s not really the sort of weather to go out in a boat, surely?” She had been about to say go out for a jolly, but jolly it wasn’t.
“It’s only rain,” the voice said impatiently. “Not hail, thunder, nor the end of the world.”
“If you say so,” Lila replied equably. Or she hoped she did. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see when we get there.”
Not a person of many words, it seemed. Lila gave up. She’d find out soon enough. She sniffed and licked her lips. A wisp of a breeze touched them as she did her best to remember which direction the wind had come from earlier. She thought it was the north, so that meant they were going up the loch. Where the hell to? Surely, she wasn’t going to have to climb the Ben—the local mountain—blindfolded?
Lila wondered why she wasn’t frightened. She was angry, bloody angry, but not, she realized, scared stiff. Apprehensive, anxious, icky-sicky, ready to sound off, but why not scared shitless? Nothing so far had been said to put her mind at rest, but somehow, she concluded she was needed, so until that need was assuaged, she was safe.
After that, who knew?
Unsighted, she counted off the seconds and minutes in her head. Maybe not exactly accurate, but his voice—his voice—his deep-as-rich-chocolate, as-smooth-and-soft-as-velvet tones echoed in her head. “One spanked bottom, two spanked bottom…”
She made it around five and a half minutes before there was a bump and the sound of wood on pebbles. Wherever it was, they’d arrived.
If only she had an idea of how long she’d been unconscious and knew how fast the boat went, she’d know roughly where she was. She knew neither facts so there was no point guessing.
On the loch, north of home? If the boat just went north and not in a different direction first and if I didn’t get taken to a different loch while I was out of it and … argh, sod it. Lila gave up. Why waste energy on something she couldn’t solve? Better to control her upchuck reflex.
Nevertheless, her heart raced. What happened next wasn’t up to her. Not there and then, but oh, boy someone would pay. She hoped. One day and one day soon. She also hoped she’d be able to discover what it was all about and kick the appropriate ass. For now, though, she’d have to bite her tongue and bide her time.
“We’re here,” the voice said, somewhat unnecessarily. However, she nodded cautiously. At least whoever it was couldn’t see her roll her eyes in a duh expression.
“Do I get to see where here is?”
“Not yet, soon enough.”
She was lifted without ceremony, put over the unknown abductor’s shoulder and, she guessed, by the way the person moved, was carried off the boat. Gravel crunched as whoever it was began to walk.
“I’d prefer it if I was under my own steam,” Lila remarked conversationally. “You know, in case my upchuck reflex wants to come out to play. Plus, I doubt you want me to throw up down your back.” If I did, you’d only have yourself to blame. “And, I guess you want a fully functioning medic not one only half with it. Probably the least useful half.”
Her assailant laughed. “True. Fair enough. Not taking the blindfold off, though. Still want to walk?”
“Yeah. As you’ve seen fit to abduct me for reasons unknown, I’m fairly certain you won’t want me to do myself an injury.” Or she hoped to hell not.
“Also true.” The voice seemed amused. “Hold on.”
Lila’s world swung for a second and then her feet were firmly on the ground, her shoulder held securely. Not gravel under her shoes, but, she guessed, grass, or no doubt, due to the rain stil
l lashing down, mud. She stumbled over what she presumed was a tussock of grass, which clung wetly to her legs.
“Shit, sorry, urgh,” she muttered as the hand on her shoulder tightened and held her upright. “Like seaweed, all clingy and octopussy.”
“I guess.” The speaker still sounded amused.
It was all right for her or him. They could see where they were going and avoid stuff like that.
“Okay, we’re gonna turn now.”
Lila was steered to the right. “You do know, there’s no need to make me go round in circles, don’t you?” she remarked. “I might get dizzy, and unsighted, I haven’t a clue. Can we just go wherever, get it over with, and let me go home and enjoy what was going to be my first weekend home alone for ages? Please?” Gah, was that whiny please really her?
Pathetic, Truly pathetic.
“Just what we are about to do. Well, the get to where we need to go not the going home bit. Hold on a sec.” There was the sound of a door opening. “Just a wee threshold and we’re inside. That’s it.”
Lila toed the raised metal and stepped over it. A bang told her the door had closed.
She waited, not patiently but without speaking.
“I’m about to take your blindfold off.”
Thank goodness. Someone fumbled with the knot at the back of her head, the cloth was lifted, and she blinked in the harsh light. What she could see wasn’t much help. A square hallway, unfurnished except for a shoe and boot rack, with an assortment of wellies on it and a row of coat pegs. All empty except for a long yellow and red checked scarf like a cartoon bear used to wear. Beside her, far enough away not to be within thumping distance, a woman took off her raincoat.
“Might as well get out of your wet things,” the stranger said. “They can drip dry in here.”
The abductor? It wasn’t anyone Lila knew. The woman was tall, thin, with short spiky brown hair, tipped with red, and a wary expression.
Beside her was a bag Lila recognized. One she’d last seen locked inside a cupboard in her study at home. Her go-anywhere, cover-most-things medical bag.
The bag, a present from the person she’d thought loved her and wanted to spend his life with her. The ratfink bastard who left her with the pathetic excuse that it was for the best.
Whose best was debatable.
She’d actually chucked it in the bin, only to retrieve it just before the refuse men came. It was too good to chuck out like an old newspaper.
“How the hell did you get that?” she demanded. “It was locked away.”
The stranger nodded. “I know and very well locked away it was, too. Took me a good two minutes to pick the lock. Just as well everyone isn’t so thorough.”
Lila knew fine well her jaw dropped. Had she really heard that correctly? “What the hell is going on?”
The other woman smiled faintly, although worry clouded her features. “I did wonder when you’d ask me for specifics. I’ve got a patient for you.”
It probably wouldn’t be a good idea to say she didn’t do out-of-hours anymore. “What sort of patient?” she asked cautiously.
“An arsy one,” the woman said and smiled. “Sorry to be so vague. He’s upstairs.”
“But what do you think’s wrong?” Lila persisted. “Cold, broken leg, something in his eye?”
“Pain in the ass,” the woman said with a mischievous grin and then sobered. “Stab wound in his stomach. Bump on his head, but he’s thick-skulled.”
Stab wound. Oh, lovely. Lila got that something’s up and I’m not gonna like it feeling. She picked up her bag. “Better take me to the patient. How long ago did it happen?”
“Two, three hours. I had to wait to get you.”
Great, now if he dies, the woman can have two reasons to blame me.
“Then lead me to him.” Lila bit her lip. “Might it now be a good idea to tell me your name?”
The woman headed down a corridor to their left. “You don’t need to know that.”
So I can’t snitch on you? Lila nodded, fed up with it all. “Let’s get it over and done with.”
She paused and opened a door. “This is my colleague…”
Lila stared at the man slumped on the floor.
“Euan?”
Chapter Three
Why was someone who looked like Lila floating in front of him? Shit, he really had lost the plot. She wouldn’t come within a mile of him unless it was to stick the knife in, and someone had already done that. He moved and pain shot through him. Yeah, someone definitely had.
The Lila lookalike gasped and rocked on her heels. That was something his Lila had done when she was surprised or shocked. “Euan?”
He squinted. The vision separated into two Lilas, and then came back to be one. Maybe he was halfway to wherever government-sanctioned operatives went once they’d popped their clogs. Or was it a hovering between heaven and hell while they—whoever they were—weighed up the pros and cons as to which you deserved. Then let you kick the bucket.
Couldn’t they at least let him visit a good part of the past? Him and his Lila together, a little wax play, where he decorated her breasts and her stomach? Him and Lila in bed, with him buried deep inside her, holding back their orgasms until they nigh on exploded? Him and Lila, legs entwined, sated and silent, loving and loved? Before he walked away and left her, hurting and knowing he had no other option?
He tried not to think of that.
“Why are you in my dreams?” he muttered. “I’m fucking sore and now I’ve got to be fucking guilty as well? Life is shit.”
“You can say that again,” the apparition muttered. “Why you?”
He grinned as sweat poured off him. “I wondered that… I gu … I dunno it’s… Shitebags fucking… Get Darke. Now.”
Blackness swirled around him until he distinctly heard Lila speak. “Stop the bloody woe is me, McKeand, and man up. Dark what? Now he’s rambling.”
“Snot ram … Darke.”
“I’ve contacted him,” someone else said. He recognized the voice. Jenna, that was it. Jenna.
“They’ll get notice to him and have him on his way as soon as possible. It’s just that he’s not that contactable. I might have to hunt him down. This is the doc. She’s going to sort you out.”
“’Fraid of that,” Euan said in a weird, thready, so-not-him voice. “Deserve it. Please sew me pretty, Doc. Nothing vital hi…”
Why the hell couldn’t he think and speak coherently? “Whas not going… Dizzy. What’s up … why…”
“Because, you asshole, you’ve got a lump the size of a tennis ball on your thick head, and someone’s done what I’m amazed no one has thought of or succeeded in doing before and stabbed you,” Lila snapped, her bedside manner gone and forgotten. “Not in the back either, though that I could also understand. Now stay still and let me look.”
“Always bossy,” he said as his head began to swim again. “Anyone would think you were the Do…” He caught himself just in time. That part of his life was over and done with. “Doc who knows it all,” he finished.
“You better believe it. I need some hot water and soap.”
“Don’t need my mouth washing out.”
“You reckon?” She didn’t bother to say anything else and if he were honest, he didn’t have the energy or inclination to exchange any more jibes, exhilarating though they were. He and Lila had always been able to tease each other.
The mists in front of his eyes cleared and he didn’t have to squint to see who was next to him. “Lila, it is you?”
She grimaced. “For my sins.”
Euan sighed. “Thanks for helping,” he whispered. “Even if you hate to do it.”
“Hippocratic oath,” Lila said smartly. “Be glad I took it and take it seriously. Now shut up and let me hurt you.”
“I’m guessing you two know each other?” Euan heard Jenna say.
“You could say that,” Lila responded.
Why did Jenna sound so pleased? Surely it made no
difference to the treatment Lila would give.
“Or more to the point,” Lila continued. “You could say I thought we did. Turns out I didn’t.”
Ouch.
“Reasons, safety…”
“Shut up.” She touched his head. Pain exploded once more. Fucking ouch.
****
Lila stood up and rubbed her aching back. “That’s the best I can do for now.” And she suspected his injury was nowhere as near as serious as intimated, and he knew it, and didn’t mention it. Something about his demeanor made her keep quiet as well. Why? She didn’t have a clue and for some obscure reason, it ensured she decided not to share her thoughts. If this Jenna person wanted her to think it was life-and-death, she had a weird thought it was best not to dispute it. “I’m guessing whatever the pair of you are up to, you’ve had every jab known to me and a few beside?” She surveyed her unconscious patient. “So, in theory, I’ve done all I can do. I expect you’re about to tell me I can’t report it?”
“’Fraid so.” Jenna glanced at her ruefully. “And add that you’ll have to stay here for a while.”
She’d half-expected that. Something dodgy was going on. Either by Euan and Jenna or by persons unknown. Or both.
“Surgery nine AM Monday.”
“You might be sick.”
“Nope I’m a doctor, remember. I don’t do sick.”
“Doctors get sick,” Jenna pointed out.
“Don’t lie though, and my partner knows I rarely get sick. It’s not in my repertoire.” Even if it was in his. Not everyone had her iron—except for motion sickness—stomach.
“Except in a boat?”
Lila laughed. “Busted. Or car, train, or plane.” She glanced at Euan. “I’m not sure I even want to know what’s going on, but he said dark several times and got all over agitated until I promised him I’d tell you that you had to go. So, go forth into the darkness and if, though it’s not likely, hardhead wakes up, I can tell him I discharged my duties and therefore so have you, or so you’re doing. Or something. Hope it makes sense to you. Oh, and he also said to warn him several times. At least I think it was warn, not warm. He wasn’t that clear. That was it. He then told me to behave or—”
