“Not since we came back inside.”
Dalton moved closer. “Nobody here knows you or where you’re from. You have to be the one to insist that she go with you.”
“You’re suggesting I kidnap her? I’ve been there. It didn’t end well.”
“I’m not suggesting that. Let’s see what she says.”
CHAPTER 11
Holly and the nurses moved to their workstations and started packing up. It gave her something to do and took her mind off her scrapes and bruises.
Why was this happening to her? She had run to stop that woman from being attacked on instinct. How did that make her important enough to kidnap? Chilly fingers wrapped around her spine. Would Angel’s friends try again?
She sensed Jake before he spoke. Her skin heated whenever his eyes were on her. She turned to find him and Dalton.
“I appreciate both of you for coming.”
“No worries,” Jake said.
“We need to talk with you.” Dalton’s frown dug furrows in his forehead.
Jake, on the other hand, was stoic and unreadable.
“Okay. Give me five minutes.” Holly closed the plastic tote she was packing into and set it on a cart next to her table. She joined them at the front door. “If you’re wondering about Chief Santos, he’s still in surgery.”
“Nothing yet,” Dalton said.
“Walk with us,” Jake said.
The hair on her arms quivered. Something was up. A few steps away from the crowd, she stopped. “What’s this about?”
Jake’s eyes darkened as he looked down at her. Was that a flash of concern? If it was, it vanished quickly. “Rey wants to place you in protective custody. As far as we know, the shooter was looking for you.”
“Let’s face it, your presence here puts others in jeopardy,” Dalton added. “This group of thugs is either lucky or damned good. After the kidnapping attempt, security swept the area and found nothing. Hours later, one of them came back and unleashed that barrage of bullets.”
His words stung but sometimes the truth hurt. “I know.”
Both Jake and Dalton weren’t saying anything she didn’t already know, but hearing somebody say it out loud sent her stomach rolling. “Look, I’ll be fine. If the airports in Houston are open, I’ll get a ride to town and fly home.”
“You won’t be safe there.” Dalton cut a quick glance at Jake. “If your name gets out, and we have to assume it will, you won’t be safe in Dallas. Nobody fully understands what happened today. Until we do, you should stay out of sight, maybe at Jake’s ranch.”
She scrambled to come up with a safe place to go. “The Lost and Found compound is isolated—” Holly stopped midsentence. “No, I can’t put them in danger, not with Kay pregnant.”
“I agree,” Dalton said. “If these men want to find you, they won’t hesitate to kill Nate or Kay. This shooter has proven that he doesn’t care about human lives.”
Holly tried to wrap her head around everything Dalton was saying. Now she understood why Jake had turned into Mr. Stone Face. Dalton was trying to shove her off on him.
“You’ll be safe with me at the ranch,” Jake said. His tone, cold and stiff, pushed Holly’s nerves to the edge.
“I can disappear without your help.” She shifted her gaze to Dalton. “Wait here. I’ll see what I can learn from the deputy chief of police. If there’s a plan in place, I’ll go with it.”
Before they could speak, she turned her back to them and walked to the area where the chief had been taken. But checking on Chief Santos wasn’t her major reason for a quick exit. She needed to think. Jake obviously found the idea of her staying at the ranch ridiculous. Why was he acting as if she were a contagious, incurable disease?
Dr. Paul was the first person with any authority she ran into. Holly waited until he’d finished his conversation and then touched his arm.
“Holly,” he said. His face bore the look of a man who’d shouldered a lot of responsibility that he didn’t necessarily want. “How are you holding up?”
“A little jumpy. Chief Santos thinks I should be in protective custody, but I don’t know what he had planned. I’m looking for his second-in-command.”
“I think he’s still outside.” Dr. Paul cleared his throat. “Look Holly, I think protective custody sounds like a good thing after all that’s happened today.”
His words sealed the deal. She couldn’t stay here and didn’t want to turn her safety over to complete strangers.
“How was Chief Santos?”
“The bullet broke a rib. Luckily, it missed his vital organs. It could have been a lot worse.” Dr. Paul lowered his voice. “You’ll be leaving soon?”
“Yes. I would appreciate it if you didn’t mention our conversation with anyone. I’ll contact the sheriff with details.”
“Of course. If anyone else inquires, I’ll tell the truth. You left without a forwarding address.”
“Thank you. Please ask the team to keep my identity confidential.”
“I will speak with them privately. Stay safe. I hope to see you at work when all this is over.”
“Me too.” Holly couldn’t help but wonder if or when “all this” would be over. She turned to see Jake was standing a few feet away. In long strides, he closed the gap between them.
“Dalton is right. My aunt’s ranch is the safest place for you.”
“Exactly how did you reach that conclusion? A few minutes ago you almost choked on the idea. You think because of our history that I should…what? Hate you? Be scared of you?” Jake opened his mouth as if to argue, but she wasn’t finished. “If I can understand you weren’t yourself, why can’t you?”
The dark cloud behind his eyes returned. The nerves in his iron jaw twitched. “You remember every detail of everything that happened. I don’t. What else is out there that I don’t know?”
“It doesn’t matter. Johnny Darling wasn’t and isn’t Jake Donovan.”
“It matters to me.” Jake glared at her. His broad chest expanded and then relaxed as he breathed out a long breath. “The only people in this town who know how to reach me are the police department. It makes perfect sense for you to stay at the ranch.”
“I really don’t know what else to do. Why would these men go to all the trouble of hunting me down? The only one I could have testified against is dead.”
“The cops will identify the dead guy and go from there. They will run his DNA, fingerprints, and picture. Maybe that information will lead them to the rest of them. Dalton is sticking around to lend Chief Santos a hand.”
“This is crazy. Those men came here to steal narcotics. Now look what it’s turned into.” Holly’s mind was racing. She’d spent a lot of time in therapy getting her life back together after the kidnapping. And now this? “So this bastard got away?”
“The cops are still looking.” Jake’s gaze swept the room. “I’ll get you to my pickup safely.” He glanced around the room. “Hang on a second.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but Jake had already walked away. He spent a few minutes on his cell phone before speaking with one of the other nurses. A few minutes later, he motioned for her to come there.
“My aunt’s expecting us.”
“You couldn’t have told her everything.”
“She knows enough and understands.” He handed Holly a light-weight hoodie. “I borrowed this with the understanding she’d never see it again.”
Holly waved at the nurse, who looked thoroughly confused. “I’m surprised you found anything.”
“It’s raining again, so covering your head won’t draw attention. We need to go before it stops.” Jake motioned for Dalton to join them. “Dalton and the chief will be the only people who know where you’re staying.”
Dalton’s lips were drawn into a grim line as he approached. “You two reach an agreement?”
“We did.” Holly tried to read his thoughts but couldn’t. “I’m going to the ranch.”
“Think you can get a ride t
o your vehicle?” Jake asked Dalton.
“Sure thing.”
Jake held out his truck keys. “If you’ll bring my pickup close to the front door, we’ll be ready. I’ll call you when we get to my aunt’s ranch but not until I have clean phones.”
“Clean phones?” Holly asked. “Isn’t that overkill?”
“Nothing is overkill until we’re sure nobody is looking for you,” Jake almost growled.
“He’s right.” Dalton twirled the keys around his finger. He held Jake’s gaze for a minute before shifting to Holly. “He’ll take good care of you. If either of you need anything, call me.”
Dalton walked away, leaving behind a sadness that settled in her heart right next to her fear. Right now all Holly wanted to do was crawl into a hole and hide. People were dead. Her dear friend shot along with the chief of police.
Holly’s presence put everyone she was near in danger. And the word why kept circling through her mind.
“It’s raining harder. We need to go.” Jake held the hoodie while she slipped it on.
“I’m ready.” She led the way, pausing at the door to cover her head and face as best she could.
Dalton had parked so the passenger door was closest. Jake ushered her inside, hurried around the front, and quickly changed places with Dalton.
“Go,” Dalton said, stepping back and closing the door.
Jake’s foot came down on the gas pedal and the pickup lurched forward. Holly turned in the seat to wave good-bye, but Dalton was already gone.
Jake kept his gaze on the highway, avoiding the main roads for a while before taking a ramp onto the freeway.
Holly was full of unanswered questions. She didn’t even know where this ranch was located. What exactly had he told his aunt and what if she wasn’t okay harboring a hunted woman?
Jake was silent as he drove north. That he kept coming to her rescue said a lot about the real Jake Donovan, the one who would always have a place in her heart. The young man she remembered had matured. The long hair and scruff on his face couldn’t hide the fact he was masculine and handsome. Working at the ranch had strengthened his body, hardened him, and transformed his muscles into works of art. Something as simple as turning down the radio or shifting on the seat caused his sleeves or jeans to stretch, almost groaning against the strain.
An overhead sign drew her attention. “You missed the exit to my motel.”
“Is there anything there you can’t live without?” He slowed down.
“Not really, just a few clothes, some makeup, and a good book.” She thought a minute. “You’re right. Let’s keep going.”
“There’s one stop I have to make.”
He didn’t offer any additional information, so they slipped back into their silent worlds for another twenty minutes. Jake took an exit and drove past a sign indicating ten miles to the next town.
“That’s my motel.” He nodded as they drove past a rundown motel. The rooms looked as if they were tied together by one long awning.
“I’m sorry.” What else could she say? No need in telling him it was a dump. “You’re not stopping?”
“No. Who knows if your picture will surface, but people are quick to snap away with their cell phones.” He parked in front of a veterinarian’s office. “This won’t take more than a few minutes, but I don’t want you out here alone.”
“I’ll go in. No problem.” The rain had stopped, but Holly slipped the hoodie over her head, tucking her hair out of sight. She followed Jake inside the small office, immediately turning away from the woman behind the counter.
“I’ve been expecting you,” the middle-aged woman behind the counter said.
“Yes, ma’am. What did you find out?”
“She’s a little thin but in overall decent condition. Judging from the condition of her paws, she’s been walking a while. I fed her, and then gave her the required shots.”
“No chip?”
“No, but I implanted one.”
“Then I guess she belongs to me.”
“I’m glad you’re taking her, because I really don’t have room for another animal. I’ll bring her right out.”
The woman turned and disappeared through a door while he selected a collar from a sale rack.
The door opened and Jake knelt on one knee. He opened his arms and a large brindle dog jumped into his arms as if they were old friends. He slid the collar around her neck while she licked his cheek. The animal followed him to the counter, leaning against him while he paid the bill. As soon as he pocketed his change, they were out the door.
Holly watched in amazement, biting back questions, knowing that she’d have time on the drive. She got in the pickup and waited. Jake opened the drivers side door and patted the seat.
“Come on. You can do it.”
The animal jumped inside, hopped on the seat, waiting for Jake. “Good girl.”
Holly removed the hoodie and then extended her hand. The dog rested her muzzle on Holly’s fingers. Soulful brown eyes stared up at her, instantly connecting.
He started the engine and turned to Holly. “I hope you don’t mind sharing your ride with a dog.” His blue eyes flooded her with warmth.
Holly laughed for the first time in days. “Not at all. What’s her name?”
“I don’t know. I figure she’ll let us know.” Jake buckled his seat belt and the unnamed dog rested her head on his thigh.
Holly waited until they were back on the freeway to ask her question. “Where did you find her?”
“She found me in the motel parking lot. She needed a friend.” His right hand dropped to scratch behind her ears. “She was pretty rank last night. I gave her a bath.”
“We’ll need a leash and some food for her.”
“I have a nylon rope in the tool box that will work until we get home.”
“How far is it to Murdock?”
Jake glanced at her. “It’s another three hours plus a good twenty minutes the other side of town. How did you know where we’re going?”
“Kay often talks about you, wondering if you’re happy, that sort of thing. She and Nate miss you terribly.”
“Hmm,” he hummed with a slight nod of his head.
So, it seemed they were back to not talking. Holly leaned back and turned her face to the scenery. The rain hadn’t been as devastating inland as it had been closer to the coast. Still, water stood in all the ditches and in areas of low ground.
The signs of city living slowed faded. Soon the houses were few and far between, replaced by ranch-style homes with porches that ran the length of the house. The older homesteads, built years ago and faithfully maintained by people who truly loved their homes— those were her favorites. Flower beds planted across green yards, tire swings hung from aged trees, and the occasional plastic swimming pool to help ward off the heat—all of it reminded her of the family she’d lost years ago.
Holly shifted her head and studied Jake’s profile. A man of many internal scars, his hair covered the one over his ear where a life-saving surgery had been performed. She didn’t have to see the scar to know it was there. The operation had freed his personality from the monster he’d become, giving him back his identity but robbing him of his memory. She wondered if his self-loathing would ever go away.
“You’re staring at me. If you have questions, just ask them.” His tone was chilly and didn’t sound as if he’d welcome any conversation.
“I don’t have any ball busters. My questions are common ones, like how are you, really? Are you happy living on a ranch? Obviously, I don’t have to ask if you’re married, but maybe there’s a woman in your life. Ordinary questions one might ask a friend.”
His broad chest rose and then fell in an audible sigh. “You want answers? Here’s what you can tell Kay. I’m fine. Yes, I’m happy living on the ranch. No wedding and no woman.”
“That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“And we are not friends.”
“We could be. We’ve both changed.�
�
“How have you changed? You were not a timid person then and you’re not one now.”
“That’s true, but I used to be a little quicker with my mouth. I’ve learned there’s a time and place where that’s acceptable. And I’ve learned how to defend myself with and without a gun.”
“How so?”
He’d managed to turn the subject to her, but he was talking, even if in short sentences. She’d take it. “I took self-defense classes, and I perfected my aim.”
“You have a license to carry?”
“I had that a long time before I met you. The only time I thought I might have to use it was on Nate.”
She wasn’t sure but she thought she heard him choke. “I’d love to have witnessed that day. What happened?”
“It was the first time he and Kay had seen each other in ten years. Suffice it to say, it didn’t go well.”
“Nate’s always been head-over-heels in love with her. There’s no way he would hurt her.”
“It wasn’t him who was riled up. She smacked him in the jaw. He remained a gentleman, so I didn’t have to get involved.”
“Then if something happens, you can save me.”
Jake’s answers were eating away at her patience. “You can handle yourself without my interference,” she snapped.
“You don’t know who I am or what I’m capable of.” He cast a harsh look at her, probably meant to shut her up.
It wasn’t going to work.
“I ‘know’ you look great, but that’s not surprising. I ‘know’ you’re still packing enough guilt to sink a ship. I ‘know’ you’re capable of giving of yourself to save lives. I ‘know’ people benefited from your help over the past few days. I ‘know’ Mr. and Mrs. Barnes wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for you.”
“Maybe you should be a fortune-teller.”
“You’re right about one thing. We’re not friends. But how I feel or don’t feel is none of your business.” She was rambling and close to making a fool out of herself, so she hushed.
“That’s true.”
“Thank you for the concession. If we’re going to stay safe, we need to at least communicate civilly.”
No Greater Hell (Lost and Found, Inc. Book 4) Page 9
