by M. Merin
“You’re right. To be continued, Tabby,” he pulls me to him for a kiss before he pulls on his clothes. “I hadn’t thought of that, you know…”
I arch my brow as he trails off, watching me getting dressed, I complete his thought. “That this is the life we both lead? That we’ll both get called in at random hours?”
“You get it, and I’ll understand, too, you know? When we’re called in on our time off?” he grins at me, ushering me out the door and to his SUV.
The rest of the ride is silent and I try to watch my surroundings for familiar landmarks but it’s not until we hit the road to my house that I realize how completely turned around I was.
“I’m sure I’ll be around the hospital and I’ll check in with you when things calm down,” he promises me.
“If I’m in surgery, I’ll get back to you later,” I say before kissing his cheek and running to my truck. Checking to make sure I have scrubs in my go-bag, I quickly follow him back out my driveway. He heads the opposite direction, to the crash site while I head to the hospital.
The head obstetrics nurse is standing near the employee entrance and exhales when she sees me. Try as I may, I’m at a loss for her name.
“Dr. Forsythe,” she begins, following me to the locker room. “Patient is in her mid-twenties, approximately thirty weeks along. They got her here about eight minutes ago and she’s been in and out since then. I’m holding the ambulance staff here based on comments she’s made. It’s possible this wasn’t an accident.”
“What?” My voice is deathly quiet as I follow her to surgery, grabbing the chart from her.
“I clearly heard her say, ‘Don’t let him get my baby.’” Tanya—I finally remember the nurse’s name—says, “I spoke to the EMTs and they heard darker comments on the way here. At this point, her survival chances are low.”
“Fuck,” is all I say as I scrub in.
Michaels
Getting to the crash site, I see Smith on the scene working the traffic flow and he points me to the sole ambulance so I head over to it. Seeing one of my Sergeants there talking to a civilian, I angle for them.
“What’s going on?” I start.
“Three wrecked vehicles on site when I arrived,” Sergeant Walker starts and the other man, a truck driver I’ve seen in Ray’s Diner takes a step back. “Roscoe here says there was a fourth car, got the description and partial plate number. That car caused the whole thing. Came up around the semi and rammed the bumper of that Compass hard enough that it knocked that little Civic into the drainage ditch.
“Roscoe had to break hard, tire tracks agree with his story, and caused his payload to tilt over. Compass had a family of four in it. The father is over there waiting to give me a report, his wife took the two kids to be checked out at the hospital. The Civic is fucked. On the way over the road, it hit the drainage pipe and a pregnant woman was hanging upside and is in bad shape. Connal towed her car already and is coming back for the Compass. I got her bag and registration over in my cruiser.” Walker finally takes a breath after that.
“I’m telling you, Sheriff,” Roscoe adds. “That car was out gunning for trouble. I tried to get to that woman but I don’t think I did much good. That other guy agrees on the make but wasn’t in a position to see the plate. I know I got the first three letters right.”
“Ok, Walker, finish getting the statements and I’ll swing by the hospital to see about that end.” My statement gets instant smirks from both men. “What?” I frown at them.
“Guess you’ll be swinging by the hospital pretty often, way I heard it at the diner…” Roscoe gives me a shit eating grin and Walker turns away, heading towards the other driver but really to escape my ire.
Fuck ‘em. I turn on my heel and after checking the traffic situation with Smith, I head to the hospital to try to get a better idea of what the hell is going on.
Chapter 13
Michaels
Upon my arrival, I find out the woman died but no one can tell me what happened to the baby. Searching the halls, I come to the NICU to find Tabby silently crying as she cradles the child. I pause in the doorway, memories of the worst day of my life nearly overwhelm me and the growing feelings I have for the woman in front of me swell in my chest.
I push aside the memory of another woman who didn’t survive her child’s birth and the day I held tight to that child, still wishing there was more I could do.
“Mike,” Tabby finally notices me. “I think this is murder, Mike. I don’t know. I…” The tears stream down her face faster and I move to hold her.
“I’ll figure it out, Princess,” I assure her, hoping I can make good on my word.
“She said, the mother, I meant, said different things at different times. The others are waiting to give statements, I will too. But she was scared of someone taking her baby, murdering her baby,” Tabby sobs. “I couldn’t save him, Mike.”
“Look at me, Doctor,” I purposefully use her title and my harshest tone as I rub her back. “Help me put together a case then. Get me blood work, DNA, whatever we need. Have two different tests run on whatever you do, but don’t tell anyone but me. Got it?”
She squares her shoulders and lets out a shuddering breath. She nods and the steel I’ve seen in her pushes to the surface. Laying a light kiss on the fetus’ cheek, she turns to get a needle.
“I had the nurse save the placenta,” she informs me as she gathers hair and blood samples, sliding them into her coat pocket. She wraps the child in a blanket before nodding to a younger nurse who was waiting behind a glass panel.
“Put me down as the next of kin, to be notified if anyone else steps forward,” she informs the nurse and waits for a confirming nod before leading me into the hallway.
“Tayna!” she calls to the back of a nurse further down the hall. The woman quickly looks back and shakes her head before turning a corner
“Dr. Forsythe?” We turn simultaneously to find two state policemen, followed by Rod Addison, approaching us. “We’re investigating a crash that happened and the subsequent death of Ashley Taylor and her unborn child. We’ll need any blood and tissue samples that have been taken and we’re looking for the nurse who was working with you.”
The older officer does all the talking while the younger one can’t seem to stop his eyes from looking anywhere but at us. Addison merely stands behind them appraising me.
“Where’s your warrant?” Tabby asks without missing a beat.
“This is an open investigation…”
“Yes, and Sheriff,” she turns to me, “isn’t it in your jurisdiction?”
“The accident happened on the interstate,” the officer answers before I can say anything.
“If it’s an accident then why do you need blood and tissue samples from a baby?” Tabby’s response has me hiding my smile but has also drawn Addison’s attention. “Again, nothing will be released to you without proper paperwork and I would like to have your names.”
My tiny spitfire has both officers turning red and Addison stepping to the forefront.
“Ms. Forsythe…” OH! Wrong thing to say.
“It’s Doctor Forsythe.” She grounds out. “Please identify yourself.”
“This is Rod Addison, he’s in town doing some legwork for the Maddocks,” I helpfully introduce him in my ‘good ole boy’ voice, drawing a glare from him before he opens his mouth.
“Are the Maddocks the baby’s next of kin?” Tabby snaps before he can speak. “You know what? I don’t give a shit. Nothing will be released, nor will my staff be questioned, until I see proper documentation. Is that understood?”
“We’ll be in touch,” Addison replies after a pause, turning on his heal. The two State Policemen only hesitate a second before running in his wake.
Tabitha
“What…” I start, but before I can finish, Mike is steering me in the direction Tanya went.
“Come on. Let’s make sure she’s getting the samples handled correctly. I’ll explain later.�
� He looks as stressed as I feel right now, so I just focus on keeping up with him.
“Tanya will be in that lab,” I direct him.
Crashing through the door a moment later startles Tanya and another nurse in the room, the other one is practically shielding Tanya.
“What the hell is going on, Doctor?” Tanya asks when she sees me. “Is he…”
“He’ll help us. Sheriff, what happened with the crash? Why are the State Troopers chasing remains and blood panels?” I turn on him and he starts relating the witnesses statements from the scene of the crash.
After taking it in, Tanya sits down. “The EMTs are waiting to give a statement. Besides what Dr. Forsythe and I heard, the patient told them that her child’s father is powerful, that he demanded she get an abortion. She obviously didn’t and felt that she was being targeted.”
“We can’t use local labs,” Mike speaks up. “If you’ll trust me with some of the samples, I can get them to a friend in Utah. I just need to make sure that the chain of evidence doesn’t get fucked up.”
“I can transport them,” Tanya speaks up. “It’s just that…I mean, if I get followed?”
“Mike, I know you won’t like this but maybe Jake can help with Tanya’s safety?” I offer.
“Fuck,” he hisses.
“Um, who’s Jake?” Tanya asks.
“My brother. He’s in the Northern Grizzlies,” I reply, getting wide eyes from the other nurse and a light laugh from Tanya.
“I’ll do it,” she whispers after a moment. “I lost a child I’d have given anything for. Someone has to pay for this and maybe I do watch too much Law & Order, but this can’t have been an accident. Although I wouldn’t mind an escort.”
“Text Jake, have him come meet you. Nothing over the phone,” Mike immediately instructs me. “Tanya, put in for a couple vacation days. I’ll get you in touch with my friend tonight but plan on leaving in the morning. Take me to the EMTs, then I’ll make some calls.”
“This has to stay in this room,” I insist, looking at the other nurse, a woman I don’t know.
“I trust her,” Tanya insists. “We’ve known each other since high school.”
*
Finally leaving the hospital, I find Jake and an older man waiting in my living room when I get home.
“Jake, what did I say about letting yourself in?” I start, getting a chuckle from the other man.
“Tabs, this is Flint. What’s going on?” my big brother ignores my annoyance, so after a grin at the other man, I explain everything.
“What was the woman’s name?” Flint asks when I finish.
“Sheriff Michaels is looking in to her background,” I let him know.
“Give us her name, Tabs, we got someone who can track her fast,” Jake says quietly, so I do, also passing on Tanya’s mobile number and address.
“We’ll get someone out to the nurse’s place tonight. Call her let her know these names – no land lines though,” Flint instructs. “Doc, you may not want to hear this, but you may want to go stay at Jake’s for a few days.”
I weigh his words and immediately decide against his suggestion, “Charlie’s pregnant. I won’t put her in danger. Mike was going to come here when he could get away.”
Flint studies me quietly before letting out a low whistle.
“Won’t be easy for you, Tabitha,” he says, quickly holding up a hand to stop me saying anything. “There’s more at play here than most people realize and between Jake’s life and the Sheriff’s, there will come a time when you’ll have to betray someone you care about. I don’t know you, won’t tell you what to do. Just tread carefully, little girl.”
“So you knew his name is Michael Michaels?” Jake asks like that’s relevant now.
“And his sister’s name was Michelle,” Flint says studying my face. I can’t hide the surprise at hearing about a sibling, Mike hadn’t said a word to me. “She and Amy were best friends.” He says this last part more to Jake than me, even though I instinctively know Flint’s giving me a person that I can discuss Mike with, if I need to.
“Speak of the devil,” Jake says, looking out the window at the lights coming up the drive. He opens the door and heads out to talk to him.
I turn to face Flint, who’s still studying me.
“You were the only part of Jake’s old life he cared about,” he says silently.
“’Old life’,” I grimly laugh. “I have barely been here two weeks and that world feels light worlds away.”
“Better or worse?”
I almost spit out worse but stop myself. This place and the past couple weeks are vastly different from the routine existence I had before and getting settled in hasn’t been easy but it isn’t worse. In a weird way, it feels like I’m just waking up after a long slumber.
“Give it time, Tabitha,” Flint squeezes my shoulder as he heads out.
Michaels
“Keep her safe, Sheriff,” Jake says when he gets close to me. “I don’t like this shit going on around here and especially not having her in the middle of it.”
“I care about her, too, Jake,” I confide. “We’ve only been around each other a handful of times but I will move heaven and hell to keep her protected.”
He stands quietly, staring at me before nodding his approval. “I can’t say I would have picked you for her, but I won’t give you shit for how you feel. It was that way for me when I met Charlie. Sometimes you just fucking know.”
“Mrs. Riley says we’re all falling like dominoes,” I smirk over at him, getting a bark of laughter from him.
“Now that’s an idea,” Flint says, lighting up a cigarette as he joins us. “We’re going to have to communicate without getting noticed, what better way than through Rogers? Mrs. Riley’s…well, whatever the fuck he is.”
“He was with the British Royal Marines,” I throw out, mainly because I’m curious to see their reaction.
“The fuck you say?” Flint’s eyebrows shoot up. “I’ve never heard an accent.”
“He speaks five languages. I would imagine he’s worked out the accents also.” I enjoy the moment but we don’t have time for this now. “Gunner can get word to him without anyone suspecting anything, as can I.”
“And here I thought Gunner and Shade were public enemy’s number one and two in your book?” Flint mocks me.
“Speaking of that, I don’t want that psychopath on Tanya’s safety detail tomorrow,” I bark out.
“Shade? Naw, I think he hit the road to get some air. Maybe send Vice and Royce with her.” Jake chuckles at Flint’s choices, making the older guy pause. “Right, is she single? Probably don’t need them messing with any relationship she’s in, on top of this.”
“Jesus Christ, we need her to keep the chain of evidence safe. Can they not follow her for half a day without trying to fuck her?” I clinch my fists at having to think about that on top of Tanya not becoming a fatality.
“Ok,” Jake says, turning to his bike. “You don’t trust Shade and anyone who goes will keep their dicks in their pants. Got it.”
“Sheriff,” Flint nods goodnight as he moves towards his own bike.
I watch them drive off and shake my head, wondering why the hell I’ve stayed in this town all these years.
“Come inside, Mike?” Tabby’s soft voice calls from the dark front porch.
I pull her into my body and pausing to lock the door behind us, her lips eagerly meet mine and I have no desire to take another step.
Sinking to my knees, I pull her pants down, cup her ass with my large hands and sink my tongue into her pussy. Eating like it’s my last meal, I sate myself—first on her gasp of surprise, then on her juices that quickly come to greet me.
Ignoring the sound and feel of her orgasm, I only stop when her knees buckle and she’s kneeling with me on the hardwood floor. Crashing my mouth back down on hers, it’s long moments before I pull back to catch my breath.
I no sooner lean back, than she is pulling open my belt, �
�Bed.” My voice is harsher than I mean it to be but she quickly nods in understanding. Standing, I lean down to pull her up, her legs circle my hips and she again squeaks in surprise.
“You’ll throw your back out!” Tabby whines as she wiggles against my buckle.
I spank her ass for that comment. “None of that shit, Tabby. Don’t ever fucking doubt I can’t handle all of you.” Flexing my biceps around her, I sooth the side that I smacked before lowering her down to her bed. Grabbing a rubber as I kick off my boots, I strip as she scoots back on the bed.
Turning away from me, she removes her top and sports bra, throwing a little grin back to me as she gets on all fours. I growl then lunge forward, biting that red ass cheek of hers.
“Hard, Mike. I need it hard tonight,” she moans and I waste no time entering her warm core. “Ahhh, yessss.”
Eagerly reaching for her large breasts, I hold them, tweaking her nipples as I take what I need to erase the worse parts of the day. Her body contracting around my cock like nothing I’ve ever felt. Her gasps and sighs drive me to pump faster as I hear her approach her next release.
Knowing I won’t be able to hold on for much longer, I slide a hand down her side and around until my fingers reach her clit. A few light pinches to her little nub is all it takes, she screams so fucking loud and clenches my dick, making it almost impossible to leave her sweet little pussy. Her arms give in and with her shoulders and head down on the mattress, I grab her rounded hips to keep her in place for me.
My pulsing cock is getting the life choked out of it and after a few more thrusts I pull out. Ripping my condom off I palm my length and let go all over her. Long, milky ropes shoot out of me, covering her luscious ass and her back.
I squeeze the last drop of cum out of my dick before dropping my hand to rub it into her skin, my softening cock is nestled in her ass crack and neither of us seems capable of movement.
Tabitha
As the world around me comes back into focus, I should probably care that that Mike is lazily rubbing his cum into my back, marking my body as completely as he’s claimed my pussy. He gave me what I needed, riding me so hard I can still feel him inside me.
