by Scott, Laura
She knew she should’ve stayed away from Reese, but she hadn’t listened to the voice of reason. Instead, her desire to spend time with Reese had nearly killed them all.
“Dennis is possessive and controlling.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She couldn’t bear to look at Reese. “I’m not sure, but I think his violence may have escalated because he saw us together down at the lakefront.”
The knowledge was sobering. If she hadn’t agreed to spend the day with Reese, it was possible none of this would have happened.
REESE MUTTERED A CURSE, a word he hadn’t used since his Air Force days. He should have known something like this would happen. By trying to protect Samantha, he’d made things worse.
No, he hadn’t made things worse by protecting her, but because he hadn’t been able to stay away from her. He’d crossed the line of friendship and, as a result, sent Markowitz into a frenzy.
He forced himself to remain calm. “I’ll agree to being grounded, but first I need to take a brief trip in the air.” Flying alongside Nate as a copilot wasn’t quite the same as flying himself. Reese knew if he didn’t get up with his hand on the stick soon, he’d lose his nerve.
Jared must’ve understood because he nodded. “Fine. Let’s head back to Lifeline.”
They made their way to the front part of the office. Grace waved at them, phone up to her ear. “Wait. Dr. O’Connor? I have Dr. Harris on the line.”
Samantha put a hand on Jared’s arm. “Let me speak to him.”
Jared hesitated, then gestured for her to go ahead.
Reese listened intently to her one-sided conversation.
“Ben? It’s Samantha Kearn. I’m sorry to bother you, but I need to understand why you met with Dennis Markowitz the other day?” She fell silent, the corner of her mouth turned down in a frown. “I see. I never thought he’d ask your personal advice about our divorce. I’m sorry. I should have told you I have a restraining order against him.” Another pause, then she said, “I’ve tried to give my resignation to Dr. O’Connor, but he won’t accept it. Yes, I’ll have him call you when you return. Thanks, Ben.” She hung up the phone.
“Markowitz actually contacted your boss for advice on getting you back?” Reese couldn’t believe what he’d heard.
Sam nodded. “It’s my fault. I should’ve told Ben the truth upfront, but I was too embarrassed.”
“About what?” Reese was genuinely confused.
She ducked her head. “I’m training to be a physician. I felt foolish for falling for someone like Dennis. For allowing myself to get involved with a control freak and emotional abuser.”
“That’s not your fault.” Reese wanted to draw her close, to provide reassurance. But with Jared right there, he held off.
“Easy to say, not so easy to believe.”
He let it go. He wondered if she’d convinced her boss to find a replacement for her at Lifeline. On one hand, he wanted Samantha out of danger. The near miss this morning still rattled his bones. But on the other hand, the idea of losing Samantha was unthinkable.
Yet, once she left Lifeline and Markowitz was no longer a threat, she wouldn’t need him anymore. He tried not to dwell on his own selfishness.
Back at Lifeline, Reese completed the rest of the paperwork surrounding the hard landing. The FAA would need to talk to him as well, he knew. Since the peds crew was out on a call, he didn’t have the opportunity to take a chopper up, although they were expected back soon.
He glanced down at his trembling hands, hoping he could still fly. It wouldn’t be easy. Riding shotgun with Nate had been difficult enough.
Samantha poked her head into the debriefing room. “I just called to check on our patients. Mom and baby are doing great. Eddie made it through surgery, but he’s still in critical condition.”
More proof that there were no guarantees. It dawned on Reese that if he married someday, his child could grow up without a father, too. With an effort, he pushed his morbid thoughts aside.
“I’m ready to head home,” Samantha told him.
“I’ll come with you.” He shoved his report aside. Since they were both grounded, there was no reason to stick around.
She shrugged, avoiding his gaze. “If you want, but I have my car here.”
He remembered her stubborn insistence on driving separate vehicles. “I can drive you home.” Reese couldn’t bear to let her out of his sight. Not while Markowitz was still on the loose.
“I don’t want to leave my car here. Remember what happened last time?” Samantha’s mouth was set in the familiar stubborn line. “You can follow me, if that makes you feel better.”
It didn’t, but since their apartment complex was only a few miles away, he figured it would have to do. “Fine, I’ll follow you. But we’re going to my place.”
Samantha’s expression was troubled. He expected an argument, but she nodded. “I guess we should talk.”
Talk? His gut clenched. Was this when she’d give him the brush-off? Thanks, it was fun, but since you almost got me killed, I think it’s better if we don’t see each other anymore?
With a grimace, he knew he couldn’t blame her. Silently he grabbed his coat, then held hers out for her, before heading outside.
The day was cloudy and cold. He waited until Samantha was safe inside her car with the engine running before heading to his. He’d purposefully parked several spots away so it wouldn’t be too obvious that they’d arrived together.
He turned the key in the ignition, but his car wouldn’t start. With a frown, he tried again. Was it possible his battery was dead? It wasn’t an old car. His lights turned off automatically, and all his doors were closed.
The image of Samantha’s hammer-smashed battery came to mind. He popped the hood and slid out from behind the wheel. He waved at Samantha, indicating she should come over.
Instead, she looked at him, a strange expression in her eyes. She waved, then slowly drove away.
“Wait!” He started after her. The silhouette of a second head appeared in the back window of her ancient Oldsmobile, and his heart squeezed painfully.
Someone was in the car with her. Markowitz.
Reese didn’t stop to think. He ran inside Lifeline and shouted at Jared. “Call nine-one-one. Markowitz is in the back seat of Samantha’s car.”
Without waiting for response, he hurried through the building to the hangar, then outside to the helipad. The second chopper had just landed. Impatiently, he grabbed his helmet and gestured for Nate to get out.
Nate shut the engine down and jumped out. Reese snatched the keys from his hand. “Hey, what are you doing?” Nate protested.
“I’m going up. Markowitz has Samantha.” He jumped into the pilot seat and started the engine. Communicating with the paramedic base wasted precious seconds, but he couldn’t afford to lift off without them knowing. For all he knew, they could accept a transfer from another helicopter transport company without realizing he was up there.
“Paramedic base, this is Lifeline. I’m taking off.” He buckled his harness with a snap. “I also need you to patch me through to the police.”
“Roger, Lifeline, but where are you going?” The dispatcher sounded confused. “We aren’t aware of a call.”
“Patch me through to the police,” Reese repeated. For a nanosecond he hesitated, then took a breath, pushed the stick forward, and lifted the chopper airborne. Banking left, he circled the area over the Lifeline parking lot and scanned the road below, searching for Samantha’s car.
His heart hammered in his chest when he didn’t see the familiar Oldsmobile. Then his gaze picked out a large burgundy-colored vehicle just a couple of miles away from the parking lot. The car seemed to be moving deliberately slower than the rest of the traffic, heading away from the city on a small highway rather than the interstate. There were other cars, but Samantha’s older model vehicle had a bulky frame that stood out from the rest.
“Found you,” he whispered in satisfaction. “Base, d
o you have the police yet? I’m following Dr. Samantha Kearn’s vehicle west on Highway Twenty. Dennis Markowitz is the suspect inside.”
“You’re using the helicopter to follow someone?” The dispatcher’s voice rose in alarm. “That’s not allowed. We don’t have that as part of the flight plan.”
Reese gnashed his teeth. “All the more reason to put me through to the police. Now!” They could call up the entire National Guard as far as he was concerned. Samantha was in trouble. He didn’t care how help arrived.
“All right, I hear you.” The dispatcher paused, then came back on the radio. “Go ahead, the police are on the same frequency. Officer, you’re on.” The dispatcher finally turned the mic over to the police.
“You have the suspect in sight? What’s the make of the vehicle?” the officer wanted to know.
“Burgundy Oldsmobile, heading west on Highway Twenty.” Reese hovered over Samantha’s car, wishing he could do more. “I don’t know the license plate number. It’s too far away for me to read.”
“And you’re certain Markowitz is inside?” There was a hint of uncertainty in the officer’s tone.
There was no doubt in Reese’s mind that he’d seen two figures in the car. Since Samantha had gone to her car alone, he figured Markowitz must’ve been hiding in the back seat. But, was Reese sure enough to stake her life on it? “Yes, I’m certain.”
“When they get out of the city, we’ll set up a roadblock,” the officer informed him. “Keep the car in sight.”
“I will.” There was no way he’d lose her now.
The palms of his hands were sweaty on the stick, but Reese couldn’t afford the luxury of being nervous. He had to fly high enough to avoid treacherous power lines at the same time making sure he wasn’t so high he lost Samantha.
He absolutely refused to lose her ever again.
Up ahead, he could see a long stretch of highway, relatively free of traffic. Sure enough, there were several police cars setting up the promised roadblock.
“Hang on, Samantha,” he prayed. With a wide sweeping curve, he came back around, keeping the burgundy car in sight. “Officer, I see the roadblock. The suspect’s car is headed directly toward it.”
“Ten-four. We have a sharpshooter in position to take out the vehicle’s tires,” the officer replied.
“What?” Reese shouted, his hands slipped on the stick. He quickly straightened the chopper. “What if she crashes?”
“We need to get the car off the road. I’ve been told there’s a possibility the suspect has weapons in his possession.”
He didn’t doubt Markowitz had the gun he’d used to shoot down his chopper, so Reese swallowed his protest. Samantha was cool under pressure, he’d seen her in action more than once. She’d saved countless lives while flying thousands of feet in the air. She wouldn’t crash. She’d be fine.
Dear God, please let her be fine.
As if watching a movie in slow motion, he saw her vehicle slow dramatically, then swerve wildly on the road when the tire blew out. He held his breath until the car came to a wobbly stop, then desperately sought a close place to land.
He decided the stretch of highway that the cops conveniently blocked off would have to do. Without sparing more than a passing thought to the last time he landed, Reese lowered the chopper down onto the concrete surface.
After shutting down the engine, he jumped out. Samantha’s car was just thirty yards away. He heard cops shouting at him, but he didn’t listen.
Then he saw her. He stopped abruptly in his tracks. Samantha’s car door opened, and she emerged from inside with Markowitz right behind her.
He held a knife to her throat.
14
Samantha saw Reese, wanted to run straight toward him, but she didn’t dare breathe when Dennis whispered, “You didn’t come back to me. Why not? Because of lover-boy over there?”
Dear heaven, she didn’t know what to do. Dennis seemed beyond reason. Reese was so close, yet she didn’t dare acknowledge him for fear Dennis would turn his wrath on him.
Stall. She needed more time.
“We’re surrounded,” she began, but when the knife pressed closer, she clamped her mouth shut. For support, she held onto the arm he’d wrapped around her neck as he forced her to walk forward. He wouldn’t listen to reason anyway. Bile rose in her throat, threatening to choke her. The entire time he’d been in the car, he kept trying to convince her everything was her fault.
Months ago, she may have believed him. It was her fault she married him, but that was the extent of it. Seeing Dennis now, she realized she was not in charge of his actions.
No one was but him. It was time he faced the truth.
“Tell them you made a mistake,” he hissed in her ear. Slowly, he turned her in a circle so everyone could see the knife he held to her throat. “Tell them you’re my wife and your place is at home with me. Tell them!”
Sam bit back a cry, her grip on his arm slipping when his hand tightened.
“Tell them this is all your fault. You never should’ve left me, Sammie. You never should have left.”
She shivered, his whispered voice haunting her, flooding her with memories of the past. How many times had she listened to similar taunts? The familiar lethargy seeped through her pores, sapping her will to fight. She knew Dennis would rather kill her than give up to the police.
Maybe that was for the best. It would end, right here, right now.
Her gaze settled on Reese standing statue still while he stared at her, his gaze imploring her to hang on. Abruptly, she knew Reese would risk his life for her.
The idea snapped the invisible hold Dennis wielded. Reese had faced his fears, flying the helicopter to find her. She deserved a normal life, and no way was she going to let Dennis the Menace control her for another second.
She sent Reese a warning glance, trying without words to tell him what she was about to do. She subtly tightened her grasp on Dennis’s arm, then stomped on his foot at the same time pushing with all her strength against his arm. Dennis wasn’t used to her fighting back. For a second, he yelped in pain and loosened his grip, just enough so she could tear herself free.
“No,” he cried. “You’re mine, Sammie. You’re mine!”
Ignoring his outburst, she ran straight toward Reese, who simultaneously sprinted toward her. He caught her in his arms and held her close. There was a stampede of movement behind her, shouts from several officers, and just that quickly, Dennis was facedown on the ground, being handcuffed and placed under arrest.
“You’re safe, Samantha. Thank God above, you’re safe,” Reese murmured against her hair.
She buried her face in his shoulder, breathed in his scent, and sobbed. She knew, without looking, that the police had taken custody of Dennis. He was probably still trying to blame everything on her, but this time they wouldn’t listen.
He would be held accountable for his actions.
It was finally over.
REESE WAS glad Samantha didn’t need to spend too much time with the police. They’d found a rifle in the back seat of her car and had seized the weapon, suspecting it was the one used to shoot at the chopper. Apparently, it had been too long and awkward to use in controlling Samantha, so Dennis had pulled out a knife.
Reese held onto Samantha’s hand, unwilling to let her go as she finished her statement. When she was ready to leave, he steered her toward the helicopter he’d left sitting in the middle of the road.
“I couldn’t believe it when I watched you land this thing,” Samantha confessed.
“Yeah.” Reese knew the memory of what had nearly happened would stay with him forever. Reluctantly he released her hand and opened the chopper door. “I lost ten years off my life when I saw him through the back window of your car. I’m sorry, Samantha.”
She raised a brow, then plunked her helmet on her head. “Sorry for what? I insisted on driving separately, if you recall. And now that it’s all over, I’m glad. Dennis is finally in custody. He
can’t control me anymore.”
Reese fell silent as he put his helmet on, then gestured for her to get into the front seat. He was very glad her ex couldn’t torment her ever again, but at the same time, his usefulness was over.
She didn’t need his protection anymore.
In a few more months, Samantha would graduate from her emergency medicine residency and take her boards. He had no doubt she’d pass, then she’d head out to San Diego, three thousand miles from Wisconsin.
His heart squeezed painfully in his chest. Ignoring the sense of loss, he communicated with the paramedic base, explaining that he was about to take off and return to Lifeline. He imagined the dispatcher was dying to know what had happened, but she simply gave him the go-ahead.
“Everything is so beautiful from up here.” Samantha gazed out the window.
He didn’t comment but silently agreed. He could appreciate how the chopper had helped save Samantha from harm. Safety would always be his top concern, but his team approach would help ensure that would always be the case for the rest of the crew.
It was time he stopped dwelling on the “what ifs” of the past and focus his attention on the future.
Back at Lifeline, they found Jared pacing the length of the hangar.
“Jarvis! What kind of stunt was that?”
Reese straightened his spine but refused to apologize. “I understand you’re angry, Jared. But Samantha’s life was in danger.”
Jared blew out a long breath. “I’m glad you’re okay, Samantha,” he told her before turning back to Reese. “But you are not a cop. What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking about Samantha.” Reese stood his ground. If Jared wanted to turn him over to the authorities, so be it. He had taken the helicopter to use in a non-FAA approved fashion. “I understood the risk and would take it again if need be.”
Samantha frowned and reached out to place a hand on Jared’s arm. “What risks? Jared, Dennis was hiding in the back seat of my car. He must have made a spare set of keys while we were still married. Reese was only trying to look out for me.”
