by Hope White
Without having spoken her truth to Spence.
She should have told him she’d felt it, too, an unusually close connection that scared the wits out of her because in her experience that kind of emotion was usually followed by pain.
“Man, that stings,” Rocky said.
She put more pressure on his shoulder wound to stop the bleeding. “You’ll be okay.”
“I’ll be better once you’re safe.”
“I’m waiting for the police.” She glanced nervously over her shoulder.
“Why is he using us as target practice if we’re here to help him?”
“Unless it was a trap.”
“A trap?” Rocky sat up and winced.
“It might have something to do with Dr. Spencer.”
He snapped his attention to her. “What are you talking about?”
“Spence didn’t want me to go on shift tonight. He thought it might be dangerous, but I said I’d most likely be at the station and ignored his concern...and now, now you’ve been shot, because of me.”
“Knock it off. None of this is your fault.”
She couldn’t make eye contact, ashamed that she’d put his life in danger because she hadn’t taken Spence’s warning seriously.
“Hey, look at me.”
She slowly turned to her friend.
“Did you shoot me in the shoulder?”
“No, but—”
“No. This isn’t your fault.”
“Maddie McBride!” a man called out.
Rocky touched her arm. “Don’t.”
“What do you want?” she shouted back.
“Tell me where Dr. Spencer is and I won’t hurt you.”
“Are you kidding me? You shot my partner! Police are on the way!”
“They won’t get here in time.” His voice seemed closer.
Her pulse raced. They had to get out of here. She gripped Rocky’s uninjured arm and whispered, “Let’s move.”
With a nod, Rocky stood. She shouldered the medical supplies bag and they stayed low.
“It’s a simple question!” the assailant yelled.
And if she gave the answer, Spence would be assaulted again, plus the shooter would have no reason to keep her and Rocky alive.
“Ambulance 64,” dispatch called over the radio. She turned down the volume so it wouldn’t make them easy targets. Then she realized the shooter probably figured they would head for the service elevator.
“Stairs,” she whispered to Rocky. She hoped he could manage the stairs in his condition.
With his uninjured arm around her shoulder, they passed the elevator and turned a corner.
Another shot rang out.
Maddie pulled Rocky down again.
She heard the stairwell door swing open a few feet away.
Two more shots were fired.
She held her breath. Prayed.
“Are you hurt?” It was her brother’s voice.
She snapped her eyes open and saw him standing over her, his gaze focused beyond them.
“I’m okay,” she said.
Officer Carrington burst through the stairwell door, gun drawn.
“That way.” Ryan motioned and crouched beside Maddie.
Red took off in pursuit of the shooter.
“Ryan? I... I...” Her voice caught in her throat.
“You did good, sis.” Ryan kept his hand on his firearm and his gaze focused in the direction of the shooter.
“Did you hit him?” she asked.
“Not sure. How’s Rocky?”
“A little bloody, but I’ll live,” Rocky said. “You guys got here fast.”
“Dr. Spencer called the chief, worried about Maddie being on shift tonight, so I’ve been monitoring your calls. Got here as soon as I could.”
“Stop! Police!” Red’s voice echoed.
More shots rang out and she automatically ducked. A few seconds later, her brother squeezed her shoulder. She glanced up as Red approached them. “I think you hit him,” Red said to Ryan. “He was limping to his car down below. He took off in a small SUV. I’ll call in the description.” Red spoke into his radio.
Maddie suddenly realized her brother was not in uniform. “Wait, you’re off duty.”
He smiled. “Never off duty for family.”
* * *
A sense of dread awakened Spence. He shouldn’t have napped after dinner, but his sleep schedule was off because of the drug working its way through his system.
Well, that and the constant worry that Maddie was in trouble.
He went into the living room and was greeted by Adam, who sat at the kitchen table. “Good nap?”
“Sure, I guess.” Spence eyed the microwave clock. It was nearly nine, which meant Maddie’s sub would already be there to relieve her. Spence hoped Maddie would return to his cabin, at least to let him know she was okay. A text or phone call would satisfy some people, but he always felt better when he saw her in person.
A firm knock echoed across the cabin.
Adam went to answer it. “Stay out of sight, Doc.”
Spence went into the kitchen where he couldn’t be seen from the door.
“Yes?” Adam asked.
“It’s Nate.”
Adam let him inside and Spence stepped out of hiding. “I didn’t expect you to see you tonight unless... What happened?”
“Adam, can you give us a few minutes?”
“Sure.” With a nod, Adam left, shutting the door with a click.
“What is it?” Spence pressed.
“Let’s sit down.”
“Tell me she’s okay.”
“She’s okay.”
Relieved, Spence went to the sofa and collapsed. Nate sat in a chair on the other side of the coffee table.
“They got a false call and someone was waiting,” Nate said.
“The guy from the mountains?”
“We don’t know for sure.”
“What happened? Did he hurt her?” Spence fisted his hand.
“He fired at them—”
“But she’s okay?”
“Yes.”
“That’s why I told her not to go to work. I was afraid something like this would happen because of this mess I’m in. And I’m ending it. I’m going down the checklist one by one and scratching off these so-called enemies before she gets seriously hurt.”
“This is why I came by to talk to you, because I knew it would make you crazy.”
“Of course I am. Wouldn’t you be crazy if it was Cassie?”
Nate narrowed his eyes at Spence.
“You’re sure she’s not hurt?” Spence redirected.
“Not physically, but tonight will be hard to forget. Her partner, Rocky, was shot.”
“Why? Why shoot at either of them?”
Nate glanced at the Echo Mountain PD hat he clutched between his fingers.
“Nate?”
“He wanted your location.”
“Great, just great. Tell me you caught the guy.”
“He got away, but was shot. I alerted the hospitals. It’s just a matter of time before he shows up needing medical attention.”
Spence leaned back against the sofa. “So, it’s almost over.”
“I’d like to think that, too, but...”
“But what?”
“You didn’t recognize him when he broke into your cabin, right?”
“I’d never seen him before.”
“I doubt a complete stranger would try to kill you multiple times, and shoot at two paramedics to get your location without a good motivation.”
“Meaning what?”
“He was hired by someone.”
“You’re saying he’s a hit man?”
“Yes, but not a very good one. I think he’s an amateur, or small-time criminal, which means we’ll catch him.”
“Maddie and I will help expedite the process.”
“No, I want you to take it easy.”
“I can’t. Not until I know Maddie is completely out of danger.”
“Maddie? What about you?”
“If something happens to me, it happens. But if anything were to happen to Maddie...” His voice trailed off.
“Spence, this thing between you and Maddie—”
“I like her, Nate. A lot.”
A knock was followed by Adam cracking open the door. “Someone wants to see you, Dr. Spencer.”
Adam stepped aside and Maddie entered the cabin. Spence couldn’t control the rush of relief at seeing her beautiful face. In three steps he crossed the room and held her in his arms. It felt so natural, like he’d been hugging her for most of his life.
Then he worried that the embrace was making her uncomfortable.
Breaking the hug, he looked into her eyes. “You’re okay,” is all he could say.
She nodded, and hugged him again.
* * *
The next morning Spence awoke with a sense of peace and his headache was finally gone. Maddie had spent an hour with him last night, relaxing in front of the fire. He encouraged her to talk about what had happened—the fear and the adrenaline rush of being shot at—to help her process the traumatic experience.
Then her brother showed up and escorted her across the resort compound to her cousin Bree’s cottage. The cottage had a state-of-the-art alarm system and her brother would stay on the premises to keep watch, as well.
Although the assailant had been shot, they didn’t know how seriously he’d been injured and feared he might continue his quest to come after Spence and Maddie.
Frustrated, Spence knew what he had to do: stop being a victim and take more aggressive action. He got dressed and opened his bedroom door, half-hoping he’d find Maddie sitting at the kitchen table. Instead, he was alone.
He spotted a note on the refrigerator from Adam explaining he was outside on the porch getting some air if Spence needed him.
What Spence needed was to feel better and put an end to this deadly drama.
He also needed Maddie.
He needed her? How had that happened?
Spence brewed tea and glanced out the kitchen window. The sun shone in such contrast to the murky dread hovering at the recesses of his brain.
Dread, frustration, helplessness.
Maybe he should have another MRI to see if the swelling had increased because these weren’t typical feelings for Spence. He was generally content, as long as he was working.
Work withdrawal could be causing him to feel anxious, well that and the thought he’d almost lost Maddie. He clenched his jaw. She was an innocent in all this, responding to a SAR call in the mountains and saving his life. He couldn’t thank her enough.
He wondered if he was so drawn to her because she took care of him without judgment or criticism, and graciously put up with his mood swings.
He remembered the look on his parents’ faces after Bobby’s death, their expression of disappointment and disgust. It followed him throughout his life.
The cabin door opened and he turned with a smile, hoping to see Maddie. Adam poked his head inside. “Bree wanted to drop off some food.”
“Great, thanks, Adam,” Spence said.
“I’m staying out here for a little while longer,” Adam said.
Spence couldn’t blame him. Being inside all the time was starting to drive Spence crazy.
Maddie’s cousin Bree entered the cabin carrying a large bag.
“Thanks for the food, Bree,” Spence said.
She slid it onto the counter. “Of course.”
“How’s Maddie?”
“You mean, where’s Maddie?” She raised an eyebrow, opened the refrigerator and started loading it with food. “She’s still asleep. Ryan will keep watch until I get back. I suspect she’ll want to come over and share some of this food. Mom made most of it.”
“I’m very grateful to your entire family.”
She shut the refrigerator door. “Then how about doing something for us?”
“Sure, anything.”
She folded her paper bag with delicate precision. “It’s about Maddie.”
“What about her?”
“This is going to sound corny but—” she sighed “—be careful with her. She seems tough but she’s been hurt, a lot. And before you say anything about me misreading things—”
“I wasn’t going to say that.”
“So you admit there’s something going on between you two?”
He glanced at the sofa where Maddie had leaned against his chest last night as they watched the fire.
“Yes, there’s something,” he said.
“I don’t want this to sound disrespectful, I mean my brother thinks highly of you, as does the chief...”
“But?”
“I always got the feeling this was a temporary stop for you, that after a few years you’d move back to the city and a more prestigious medical practice. What I’m saying is, if you don’t think you’ll take this thing with Maddie to the end, then stop right now. Don’t let her come over and take care of you. She’s got such a big heart and she’s been hurt by people who supposedly loved her.”
“I would never intentionally hurt her.”
“I’m sure you wouldn’t, but I know my cousin. She’d do anything for someone she cared deeply about, even at her own expense.”
Bree slipped the bag under her arm and started for the door. “Sorry if this conversation made you uncomfortable, but I’m protective of my cousin.”
“I know the feeling.”
“But was I right? About you wanting to move on after Echo Mountain?”
“It’s a possibility, yes.”
She turned to him. “That’s too bad. I just don’t see Maddie going anywhere. She loves her family and community too much to leave.”
As she opened the door, Maddie and Ryan stepped onto the porch.
“What are you doing here?” Maddie said with a curious expression.
“Delivering food from Mom,” Bree said. “I’d better get to work.”
Maddie and Ryan came inside and joined Spence at the kitchen table.
“Any word on the guy who was shot last night?” Spence asked Ryan.
“He hasn’t shown up in any area ERs yet, but we found the vehicle abandoned in a shopping center parking lot. It’s registered to someone named Alex Moors. You know him?”
“The name is not familiar.”
“Maybe he was a patient, either here or in Portland?” Maddie suggested.
“I’ll look into it,” Ryan said.
“Actually, let me,” Spence offered. “I can make some calls to my former employer and determine if he was one of my patients.”
“That’d be great.” Ryan glanced at his sister. “Don’t go anywhere alone. It’s easier for us if you two stay together, under Adam’s protection.”
“Sounds good,” Maddie said.
“Text if you need anything.”
“I will. Thanks, Ryan.” She hugged her brother and he left. She smiled at Spence, “So, you ready to get to work?”
“Oh yeah.”
“What’s first?”
“First, you tell me you slept okay.”
“I’m famished.” She went to the refrigerator.
“I’m sorry,” he said, assuming she’d evaded the question because he wouldn’t like the answer. “Did you sleep at all?”
“Here and there, and
in between I’d pray.”
“Pray?”
“I’d say prayers of gratitude that I wasn’t hurt, that Rocky wasn’t seriously hurt, that my brother wasn’t shot by the creep, all that stuff.”
She shut the refrigerator, holding a plastic container in her hand. “You ever have eggs baked in ham cups? They’re yummy.”
Bree’s words taunted him. If you don’t think you’ll take this thing with Maddie to the end, then stop right now.
He should shut down the relationship brewing between them because he didn’t know where his career would take him. He was a drifter, a nomad who didn’t feel connected to any specific place, whereas Maddie belonged in Echo Mountain with her family.
“I’ve made a decision,” he said.
Maddie slowly placed the container on the table. “That sounds serious.”
“It’s about us.”
Maddie’s eyes widened and she gripped the back of a chair as if bracing herself.
He struggled to form the words. It would start with an apology for all the violence he’d brought into her life. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
“Well, you’re not down on one knee so you’re not about to propose,” she teased. “Let’s see what else could it be?” She eyed the plastic container. “You hate ham cups?”
“I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“That makes two of us. Let’s have breakfast.”
“I should be telling you to leave.”
“What, and miss my aunt’s cooking?”
“You’re teasing but I’m trying to be serious.”
“I know, it’s just...” She sighed. “There’s so much serious stuff going on right now. Can’t we just take it easy and enjoy a nice meal together?”
He sighed. “Sure.”
* * *
After a hearty breakfast, Spence contacted the Portland hospital but there was no record of an Alex Moors having been treated there.
He decided to visit Gwen at the hospital and while he was there, inquire about Alex Moors. Perhaps if Ruth saw Spence fully functional, it would give her confidence that his condition was improving.
Maddie would go with him, and they’d keep Nate and her brother in the loop.
Spence was impressed by bodyguard Adam’s ability to catalog each and every person in their immediate surroundings to assess danger. They made it to the hospital shortly after lunch. Maddie bought a colorful plant from the hospital gift shop for Gwen.
