Proving Ground

by Stanalei Fletcher

It was more emotion than she’d heard from the man since encountering him yesterday. Was it only yesterday when all this started? She took a breath—cleared her mind. “I’m not.” She stated the obvious.

  “I should have killed you myself at the cabin, instead of leaving it to that incompetent coward.” He growled out an uncomplimentary name for Dunn.

  “Good help is hard to find.” Caitlin smiled weakly at him and shrugged.

  “Give me the vial, and I’ll let you both live,” Smith said.

  “Why don’t you…” Mac tossed the tube into the air. “…catch it.”

  Smith swore. His weapon lowered. His gaze tracked the spinning vial, and he leaped forward with his outstretched hand to catch it.

  Caitlin snatched her Glock from Mac’s belt. As Smith dove to catch the vial, she brought up the gun and put two quick rounds into his chest before the tube shattered on the floor. The third round, intended for the center of Smith’s forehead, went wide and drove into the ceiling at the end of the hallway. As the echo of gunfire faded, screams sounded down the hall.

  Smith crashed to his knees on the polished hospital tiles, clutching his chest, blood blooming over his white shirt. He stared wide-eyed at Caitlin. Then he tottered forward, his head striking the floor with a sickening thud. He lay still in a pool of spreading blood.

  Caitlin ran forward, her gun aimed at the back of Smith’s head. When she reached him, she kicked his gun to the side where it spun before coming to rest against the wall.

  Mac knelt and pressed two fingers on the side of Smith’s neck for a pulse. He looked at Caitlin and shook his head.

  The truth hit her hard. She’d killed another human being.

  Bile rose in her throat. A cold, hollow sensation claimed her body. Nothing she’d learned from her father or Northstar prepared her for this overwhelming horror of taking a life. Regardless that her action possibly saved countless people, she’d have to live with that deed for the rest of her life.

  Movement in her peripheral vision drew her attention.

  The big biker, wearing his security uniform, entered the hallway.

  “Dunn,” she breathed. Somewhere he still had the real pathogens from Unified Bio-tech. The danger was not over.

  He stared at her as though he was seeing a ghost. “I killed you,” Dunn said thickly. “Back at the cabin, you were dead.” His face was gray, and dark circles ringed red-rimmed eyes.

  “Seems to be the general consensus,” Caitlin said. She held out her hand. “It’s over, Dunn. Give us the case.”

  Dunn looked at Smith sprawled in the hallway. “You killed him.”

  “That’s right. We had to stop him.” Caitlin took a step toward the big man. “We’ll do whatever’s necessary to keep everyone safe.”

  Dunn pulled his gaze from the body to her. His expression was bleak, weary and resigned. “You can’t save Lacey.” His voice broke. Reaching into his shirt pocket, he withdrew a vial and cradled it in his hands. “No one can save Lacey.”

  Dunn’s look of hopelessness frightened Caitlin. A clammy chill skittered across her neck. What was the big man thinking?

  Mac must have sensed Dunn’s anguish, and took a couple of steps toward him.

  Dunn inched back into his wife’s room. “Don’t come any closer,” he said. The vial, innocuous in size, dangled between his fingers looking no more lethal than a pencil.

  Mac froze.

  Caitlin’s heart tripped and her breath caught in her throat. “You don’t want to do that, Martin.” She hoped her voice sounded calmer than she felt.

  “How do you know what I want?” Dunn said. “I’ve lost Lacey. I’ve lost everything.” His fingers curled around the vial and he held it close to his chest. “I. Got. Nothing.” His head bowed. A tear crept out of the corner of one eye.

  “You have Lacey’s memory,” Caitlin whispered. “You don’t want to destroy that, do you?”

  Dunn looked over at her, but didn’t speak.

  “Killing yourself might ease your pain. But if you break that vial, you’ll release a terrible disease that could kill thousands of innocent people. Lacey will be remembered as the cause of all those deaths and ugliness. You don’t want that. Don’t do that to her memory.”

  Dunn stood still. His breathing was slow and labored as emotions rolled across his face. Then he shook his head. “No.”

  Mac reached Dunn in one long step. Gently, he took the man by the shoulder and held out his hand. “Give me the vial, Martin.”

  Dunn placed the vial in Mac’s palm.

  Caitlin released the breath she’d been holding.

  Two uniformed police officers rushed the hallway toward them, followed by a couple of bikers from Jack’s club.

  The officers advanced, taking in the scene at a glance. The bikers held back.

  Caitlin pointed to Lacey’s room. “The case is in there.”

  One of the officers disappeared into the room. A moment later, he reappeared with the metal attaché case.

  Mac placed the vial inside. The officer closed the case and hurried down the hallway. The other officer spoke into his radio and then approached Dunn, who turned and placed his hands behind his back.

  ****

  Mac saw Caitlin glance down at the man she’d killed. He wanted to shield her from the horrific deed but knew she’d need to work through the process of taking a life, on her own. It was an ugly road, one he hoped to never go through himself. But her father could help, if she’d let him. Mac stepped behind her. “Come on. Let the police do their job.” He held her shoulders and guided her toward her father’s room.

  “Mac.” One of the bikers called to him. He stopped and turned around. “It’s Jack.”

  “What about Jack?” Caitlin asked.

  “He was hurt trying to stop Dunn,” the biker said. “He’s with the doctor right now. I thought you should know.”

  “How badly?” Mac asked.

  The biker shook his head. “I don’t know. They wouldn’t let us in.”

  “Go to him,” Caitlin said. “I need to see how Dad’s doing, first. I’ll catch up with you later.”

  Mac hesitated. He’d avoided interacting with his uncle for so long it felt awkward to change now. But with everything that had happened—Jack stepping up to help locate Dunn and Smith when he could just have easily ridden his Harley in the opposite direction—Mac owed his uncle a thank you, at the very least.

  He looked at Caitlin. She smiled, and he felt something break loose inside his chest.

  “Go.” She gestured down the hall. “It’s time to get to know your uncle again.”

  “You’re right.” Without thinking about it, Mac grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her into a kiss. She tasted tart and tangy with sweat and smoke. Familiar and new. Like…freedom.

  Just as she started to return his kiss, he stepped away. “I’ll be back.”

  She brought her fingers to her lips and looked up at him, dazed. “You’d better be.” Then she walked toward her father’s room.

  He stared after her for moment then started the opposite direction down the hallway. As close as he was to Sean and Caitlin, they had each other. Uncle Jack was his last living relative, and he needed Mac.

  He was halfway down the hall when he realized he was smiling. He didn’t feel divided in his decision. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d given his uncle a second thought, let alone made the man’s health a priority. Caitlin was right. It was time. The tenuous thread of life had almost snapped for everyone around him. Now was a good time to strengthen those bonds instead of letting them fray. He’d start with his uncle. Then he’d go to Caitlin.

  He entered the nearly empty emergency room. A nurse stepped out of an exam room and glanced at him.

  “Jack MacAlistair?” Mac asked.

  She held the door open and Mac stepped inside. His gaze landed on a pile of bloodied gauze at the end of the gurney. The doctor stood over someone covered by a sheet.

  Was he too late? Had his un
cle died before Mac had a chance to mend the rift between them? Then he heard a groan and let loose his own sigh of relief.

  “Damn it, man! Can’t you wait for the shot to take effect before you start quilting?”

  Mac grinned. “Let the man do his job, Uncle Jack.”

  “Never mind,” Jack said to the doctor. “The drug must be taking effect. I think ranger-boy, here, just called me ‘Uncle’.”

  Mac stepped all the way into the room so his uncle could see him without twisting his head. “I heard you took a knock on the head,” Mac said.

  “Doesn’t make me any kind of hero,” Jack quipped. “How’s Caity?”

  “She’s…okay.” Or at least Mac hoped she would be.

  “Sean?”

  “Sean’s resting in his room. Cait’s with him.”

  “Dunn?”

  Mac shook his head. “His wife’s gone. He took it hard. Rockton PD took him in. I’m sure there’ll be charges.”

  “There’d better be. They can throw away the key.” Jack nodded his head. “Ouch!” He jabbed the doctor back.

  “Hold still, please,” the doctor said.

  “Just get this over with, will ya?” Jack growled.

  “How bad is he?” Mac asked the doctor.

  “After I finish these few stitches, I want to admit him overnight for observation. He’s got a concussion.”

  “I’m not spending the night here,” Jack countered.

  “Then I want someone to stay with you,” the doctor said.

  Jack grinned. “You send that nurse right over. I’d be real comfortable in her company.”

  A look of alarm crossed the doctor’s face.

  “I’ll stay with him,” Mac promised. The doctor nodded and went back to work, missing the surprised look on Jack’s face.

  “I don’t need a babysitter.”

  “Since you’re not a baby, I won’t sit on you. But I will take away your keys—if you try to go anywhere but home,” Mac answered.

  “As long as it’s home and not a hospital room.” Jack’s eyes narrowed and he looked at Mac. “Care to fill me in on all the action I missed? I heard gunshots.”

  “The guy pulling Dunn’s strings is dead.”

  Jack remained silent for a moment then asked the inevitable question. “Caitlin?”

  Mac nodded.

  “She’s gonna take that hard.”

  Mac nodded again. As much as he wanted to take the burden of killing someone away from her, he couldn’t.

  “Any idea who the man really was?”

  Mac shook his head. “I expect Caitlin will be on the phone to her boss, trying to figure that out.”

  “What say you spend the night with her, and I’ll be fine at home.” Jack winked.

  “I don’t think—”

  “You need to stop thinking, boy, and start feeling. You’ve been letting that head rule for too long.”

  “This isn’t a discussion I want to have here.” Mac frowned.

  “You’re right about that. And you shouldn’t be having it with me, either.” Jack turned as the doctor taped the bandage over the stitches. “You finished?”

  “I want you to stick around the hospital for an hour or so,” the doctor said. “To make sure you don’t have any ill effects from that concussion.”

  “I got a headache.” Jack slid off the table and grabbed his jacket. “I can handle a headache.”

  The doctor looked at Mac. “You promised to watch him.”

  “Uncle Jack, why don’t you follow the doctor’s orders for once?”

  “Twice in one day, he calls me Uncle. Will miracles never cease?” Jack looked between Mac and the doctor. “Fine. I’ll be down the hall visiting Sean.” He turned to Mac. “You coming?”

  The doctor handed Mac a paper with a list of symptoms and instructions. “For later. And my pager number, if you need to call.”

  Mac gave the instructions a cursory glance and then folded the page and stuck it into his pocket. “Thanks.” He followed Jack out of the emergency room and down the hall.

  Smith’s body had been removed, although there was still blood pooled on the floor. Someone had put up yellow crime tape to block off scene. Mac and Jack walked around the officers who were taking notes and pictures. The situation had caused quite a ruckus, and Mac figured most of the patients would be transferred to La Grande or Pendleton as soon as arrangements could be made.

  Jack tapped lightly on Sean’s door and pushed it open. Mac followed his uncle inside. His gaze immediately found Caitlin.

  She broke off from the statement she’d been giving the uniformed officer when she saw them. “Uncle Jack,” she said, limping over to give him a hug. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

  “Takes a lot to knock this ol’ biker down, pipsqueak.” He gave her a gentle hug. “Heard what happened. Are you doing okay?”

  She nodded. “I’ll be fine.” Caitlin’s eyes searched Mac’s face as he and Jack walked to the opposite side of Sean’s bed. Mac wanted to say something more to Caitlin, but there were too many ears for his comfort.

  She turned her attention back to the officer. “I’m sorry for the interruption.”

  “No problem.” The officer took in the pseudo family reunion and cleared his throat. “I can get the rest of your statement later, if you’ll stop by the station.” He slipped the notebook back into his breast pocket and looked at Mac. “I’ll need to talk to you and your uncle, as well.”

  “Can we do it tomorrow?” Mac asked. “Jack has orders from the doctor to rest today.”

  “Just don’t wait too long.” The officer started to leave and then turned back. “I almost forgot, Ms. Malone. I need to take your weapon.”

  “Of course. Let me clear it for you.” Caitlin pulled the gun out of her belt. While pointing the barrel away, she dropped the magazine and handed it to the officer. Then she pulled back the slide and ejected the chambered round into her palm. She pulled back the slide one more time to confirm the weapon was clear before handing the gun and round to the officer.

  The entire process took only seconds, yet Mac noticed Sean beaming from his bed like a new grandfather.

  After the officer left, Jack turned to Sean. “How’re you doing, old man?”

  Sean’s smile was still there, but had thinned a little from his pain. “It’s been kind of like old times.” He glanced over at his daughter with a look of pride and concern. “Too much for a prehistoric agent to take anymore. It’s time to leave it to the younger generation.”

  Caitlin stared at her father. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

  Sean’s face grew serious. “I’m proud of you, Caitlin. I’m still not happy you chose this career. It’s hard to watch you put yourself in dangerous situations. But I am proud of you.”

  “Being a Northstar agent is what I’ve always wanted,” she said.

  At her words, Mac felt his world drop and shatter. Until this moment, he hadn’t realized how much he wanted Caitlin to stay in Rockton.

  When she voiced that simple desire, he realized he’d lost Caitlin again. This time, he knew it was permanent. He couldn’t—wouldn’t—stand in the way of her career if that was what she really wanted.

  “I know,” Sean continued. “Watching you today, I saw firsthand how good you are. But you have to understand a father’s heart.”

  “And an uncle’s heart,” Jack chimed in.

  Caitlin frowned. “Are you two ganging up on me?”

  “Well, we can’t have that, can we?” Jack nodded toward the door. “You’ve had a rough twenty-four hours, pipsqueak.” He crossed to a chair and sat. Then he looked over at Mac. “Why don’t you and Caity get something to eat? After that, take her home so she can rest. I’ll sit here with Sean for a spell. You can come back for me later.”

  Mac looked at Caitlin. Exhaustion deepened the circles under her eyes, but her expression was unreadable.

  At that moment, Nurse Angie marched into the room. She pointed a finger at eac
h of Sean’s visitors. “I want you, you, and you, out of here. Now!”

  Jack leaned back in a chair and propped his boots on Sean’s bed. “Not me. I’m under doctor’s orders to stay put for the next hour.”

  The nurse scowled at him, then made a sweeping motion with her hands at Mac and Caitlin. “Out.”

  Caitlin crossed to her father’s bed and leaned down. He didn’t resist when she gave him a hug. “I’ll see you soon.”

  Mac waited by the door and she joined him. With a flourish, the nurse shooed both Caitlin and Mac out of the room, shutting the door behind them.

  “I guess that’s our cue to leave,” Mac said. All he wanted to do was gather Caitlin in his arms and never let her go. Instead, he opted for a safer conversation. “Where would you like to eat?”

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “You need to eat,” Mac said. “You’ve been through a hell of a mountain hike, in a fire, and a gunfight. Even though the x-rays didn’t show broken ribs, you still got a concussion when Dunn knocked you out.”

  “And I’ve been symptom-free since then. Please. Just take me home. I have a lot to think about.”

  Mac didn’t like her tone. He was afraid she was going to pack her bags and leave again. By tomorrow, she could be clear across the country, in a world he wanted nothing to do with. But it wasn’t his place to stand in her way. He’d given up that right when he walked away two years ago.

  ****

  The drive back to the house was silent. Caitlin didn’t know how to breach the chasm building between her and Mac. She didn’t know what to make of the kiss he’d given her at the hospital, either. But she couldn’t ignore that something had shifted after he brought Uncle Jack into Sean’s room. She rewound all the things they’d said to each other. Nothing she could think of hinted at the cause for this change in Mac’s demeanor. It was as though he was trying to distance himself from her again.

  She was through begging. Regardless of his kisses, Mac had made it clear on the mountain that he couldn’t offer her more than friendship. She wanted his friendship, but she also wanted more. These last few days had shown that her love for Mac hadn’t changed—only grown deeper.

  “Are you coming in?” she asked as she climbed out the Jeep. Hoping against hope that she’d read him wrong.