by Lara Lacombe
“Time’s wasting,” he muttered, shaking his head to clear it. He wasn’t sure when her shift ended, but he figured she had to have some kind of dinner break. He reached for the brown bag in the front seat, careful not to jostle it. The sandwich should be fine, but he didn’t want to spill the soup. He’d stopped at the fancy deli across the street from the hospital, figuring she hadn’t taken the time to eat a good meal today. Hopefully the food could act as a sort of peace offering, and would help break the ice between them.
At this time of day the ER was relatively empty. A few sniffling souls sat in the plastic waiting room chairs, but to his untrained eye, they appeared to be fine. He approached the sign-in desk, pasting on a friendly smile for the benefit of the nurse behind the Plexiglas.
“I’m looking for Dr. Mahoney. Is she here?”
The woman regarded him suspiciously. “Who wants to know?”
“Special Agent Alex Malcom,” he said, pulling out his badge. He wasn’t above using his position to cut through a little red tape, especially if it meant he’d get to see Jillian.
One of the nurses standing a few feet away snapped to attention and turned to stare at him, her dark brown eyes alight with a speculative gleam. She approached the Plexiglas barrier, coming to stand behind the receptionist. “Are you Jillian’s friend?” she asked, eyeing him up and down.
He nodded, sensing this woman knew him somehow. He racked his brain, trying to come up with a connection, but gave up after a few seconds. “Do I know you?”
She snorted, apparently finding his question amusing. “Nope. But I know all about you, Mr. Secret Agent Man.”
His stomach dropped as he realized Jillian must have talked to this woman about him. Great. Now I’ll never get to see her. Not with her friend running defense. He may as well go back to her apartment and camp out in front of her door. Maybe her elderly neighbor would take pity on him and invite him in for dinner.
“Is Jillian here?”
The nurse tilted her head and tapped a finger to her lips while she considered his question. “Maybe. It depends. Why are you here?”
“I need to speak with her. I have some important news.”
“Does it come with an apology?”
None of your business. It was on the tip of his tongue, but Alex bit his lip, recognizing he would have to pass this test if he wanted to see Jillian. He settled for a nod instead, hoping that was enough.
“All right. Come on back. She’s with a patient now, but she should be finishing up. I’ll see if she’s available.” At her nod, the receptionist pressed a button and the door to the left of her station swung open. The nurse met him as he walked through, and pointed to a chair just past the reception station. “Stay there. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Alex sat and arranged the bag on his lap, surprised to find his palms were damp. He wiped them on his pants, ignoring the flutter of nerves in his stomach. Would she see him? How would she greet him? What if she told her friend to send him away?
I’ll leave her a note if she doesn’t want to talk to me. He patted his pockets for a pen in case one was needed.
A muffled shriek sounded from somewhere down the hall and he heard the slam of a door followed by rapid footsteps coming his way. The nurse was back, looking distressed.
He stood, but she moved past him, reaching for the intercom system near his head. “Code Green. I repeat, Code Green. Dr. Strong to the ER. Dr. Strong to the ER, stat!” She replaced the mouthpiece and turned to face him, alarm written across her face.
“What happened?”
She shook her head. “You can’t be here now. You need to leave.”
Alex put his hands on her shoulders and shook her gently. “Is it Jillian?”
The nurse bit her lip, clearly torn. She glanced down the hall, then looked back at him and nodded. Tears pooled at the corners of her eyes. “Her patient is using her as a hostage.”
His gut twisted at her words and a cold fist gripped his heart, squeezing hard. “What room?”
“You can’t—”
“What room?” he repeated, trying to keep his voice down. He wanted to roar in frustration, but yelling at this nurse wasn’t going to help the situation.
“Three B. Down the hall. Third on your left.”
“Does he have a weapon?”
“He’s using the scalpel as a knife.”
“Tell the police a federal agent is on the scene,” he said, already moving. He grabbed his badge with one hand and pulled his gun from his shoulder holster with the other.
The nurse’s announcement had triggered some kind of rehearsed response and people streamed past him, apparently moving to a pre-arranged muster station. He held his badge up as he walked against the flow of traffic, identifying himself and ensuring he wasn’t stopped on his way to Jillian’s room.
He paused outside the door, pressing his ear against the cool wood. Faint scuffling sounds reached him, as though someone was being dragged across the floor. Then he heard Jillian’s voice, muffled but strong.
“I’m telling you, it isn’t him.”
“Then who’s your visitor?” Was that Tony? Alex flattened against the door, straining to hear.
“It could be anyone,” Jillian said. “My dad. My brother. Who knows?”
“Nah, it’s him. That nurse lady was too excited for it to be one of your relatives.”
“I haven’t seen him since that night at the motel. I promise you, he hasn’t showed up here.”
“Then he will,” Tony said, sounding confident. “Once your boyfriend finds out we’re in here, he’ll come.”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” Jillian replied, but she sounded unsure.
Tony laughed; a harsh sound that grated on Alex’s already frayed nerves. “I know what I saw, lady. And me and him, we’ve got some unfinished business.”
Alex kept his ear against the door, but heard nothing else. If he was right, and it was Tony holding Jillian hostage, he hoped the kid would keep hold of his temper. It killed him to stand outside while she was trapped, but he needed to come up with a plan. Barging into the room wasn’t the best idea, especially since he had no idea what he’d be walking into.
Could he try to approach from above? He glanced up at the institutional ceiling tiles. Were the heating and cooling tunnels large enough to accommodate his frame? Could he even get access to them from here? He looked around in search of a mechanical access room, but saw nothing. It was probably at the end of the hall, and he wasn’t willing to leave his post by the door for a wild-goose chase.
“You need to call him.” It was Tony. Apparently the kid had figured out that Alex would not automatically be notified and realized either he or Jillian would have to make contact. “He needs to get here now.”
Alex was pleased to hear that Tony wanted to talk, but his growing impatience was a bad sign.
“I don’t have his number.”
“Do you think I’m stupid?” Tony’s voice rose along with his agitation. “I know you can talk to him. Now do it!”
He heard Jillian whimper and his budding plans went out the window. Keeping her safe was the only thing that mattered.
“Tony, I’m here,” he said, speaking loudly so his voice would travel through the door. “It’s Alex. Can I come in?”
“You got a gun?”
Alex moved carefully, tucking the gun in the waistband of his pants at the small of his back, so it would be hidden. Then he grabbed a clipboard off the neighboring door and slid it across the floor, hoping the sound would convince Tony he had given up his weapon. “Not anymore,” he replied.
“Open the door slow,” Tony instructed. “And keep your hands where I can see them, or I’m gonna cut her.”
“There’s no need for that,” Alex said. “I’m here to talk. No one needs
to get hurt.”
Alex pushed the door open a crack and stuck his hands through, fingers splayed wide. Careful not to make any sudden movements, he used his toe to widen the opening until he was standing in the doorway, his hands held up by his head.
At first glance, Jillian seemed unharmed. The tension in his chest relaxed a bit and he took a deep breath as he ran his gaze over her body. No sign of blood or other injury. Maybe Tony really didn’t want to hurt her, but had just used her as bait to get to him.
After assuring himself that Jillian was fine, at least for the present, Alex scanned the rest of the room, searching for other potential threats. Aside from Jillian and Tony, the room was empty.
Tony shifted, forcing Jillian to move with him or risk getting cut by the scalpel he held to her throat. The blade was bright in the fluorescent lights, gleaming with lethal potential against the pale column of her neck. Alex forced himself to stay rooted to the spot, knowing that if he rushed in, Tony wouldn’t hesitate to slice her up. And although they were in an emergency room and had immediate access to medical care, he couldn’t risk her safety like that.
“Told you he was close,” Tony said, his voice low in Jillian’s ear. She shuddered slightly and he tightened his grip. “Come on in, man,” he said to Alex. “We need to talk.”
Alex stepped into the room, keeping his hands up. “This is between us. Why don’t you let her go?”
Tony grinned and shook his head briefly. “You know that’s not how this works. But nice try.”
“How do you think this is going to end?” Alex moved closer, taking small, slow steps. If he could get within arm’s reach, he could make a grab for Jillian and pull her away from Tony. It might not be too difficult, given the way Tony was swaying slightly on his feet. A small puddle of blood had formed on the floor underneath him, and he heard a steady plop as more drops were added. If Alex could keep him talking, it might not take long for Tony to pass out, which would be the safest way of dealing with him. He met Jillian’s eyes, which had gone wide and round with shock and fear.
Trust me.
“That’s far enough,” Tony said, taking a step back and tugging Jillian with him. Her gaze never left his face, and Alex tried to look reassuring, hoping she had gotten his message.
“Now what?”
“Now you’re both gonna die.”
Chapter 17
Jillian’s heart stalled at Tony’s words and she braced herself for the cold bite of the scalpel. Would it hurt? Would she even feel it? Or would the shock of the situation keep her numb, so that she died feeling muffled and cold?
Was that how it had been for Jason?
Anger swelled, pushing aside her fear. This was the man who had killed her brother, and now he was threatening her. She would not—could not—allow him to win. He’d taken enough from her already; he wasn’t about to take her life, as well.
Jillian closed her eyes, embracing her fury and stoking it into a blazing inferno, preparing for the moment when she could use it against him.
She’d been so shocked when she’d seen him, she hadn’t thought to call the police. After all, what could he do to her, lying injured on her exam table? So she’d moved on autopilot, ordering tests and scans to determine the extent of his injuries. She was determined to fix him, so that he could pay for his crimes. Luckily for him, the wounds were superficial. She’d felt a perverse satisfaction in knowing Tony would make a full recovery so he could rot in jail for what he’d done to her brother. In fact, she’d been so busy silently gloating that she’d allowed herself to become distracted and that’s when Tony had made his move.
She cursed herself again for taking her eyes off Tony to talk to Carla, for letting the news of Alex’s visit fluster her. Tony was injured but he wasn’t stupid, and he’d seized the opportunity to gain the upper hand. But what Tony didn’t realize was that he’d lost a lot of blood. He was still standing, but she could tell by the way he rocked slightly that he was feeling dizzy. A few more minutes and he’d probably be leaning on her for support.
Unless he killed her first.
“How are you going to kill me, Tony?” Alex asked. “You have one weapon, and it’s not a great one. Besides, you’re too busy holding it up to her throat to reach me.”
Tony stiffened against her, sending a flare of panic through her limbs. Don’t move, she pleaded silently. The last thing she needed was for Tony to slit her throat as a demonstration of his prowess.
“I don’t have to do anything to you, man,” Tony replied. “I called my boys. They’re on the way. Just like last time.” He made a sound that might have been a laugh, his breath a little wheezy.
Alex glanced at Jillian, apparently seeking confirmation. She shrugged slightly. While Tony hadn’t made any calls since coming to the ER, she had no idea who he may have talked to beforehand. It was possible he had phoned his friends and told them where he was going. This time, though, the police would keep any gang members from accessing the ER. She caught Alex’s eye again.
Stall him.
Alex cleared his throat and slowly lowered his hands. “Well, since we have some time to kill until your buddies arrive, why don’t you tell me how you found out who I really am?”
“None of your business.”
Alex shrugged and rested his hands on his waist. He seemed normal, but there was something a little too casual about the way he moved his hands. Did he have a weapon behind his back?
“Just trying to make conversation,” he said, his gaze flicking back to her. He read the question in her eyes and nodded once.
Tony’s hand grew heavy on her shoulder and she realized he was starting to fade. Adrenaline flooded her system, making her tremble slightly. If Tony noticed, he didn’t respond.
“I don’t wanna talk to you,” Tony said. “We’re going to wait for them to get here, and then we’ll take care of you. Her, too,” he added, turning his head to sniff her hair.
Bile rose from her stomach, scalding the back of her throat. It was time to end this. She’d rather take her chances with the scalpel than stay in Tony’s arms a minute longer.
She looked at Alex and saw the rage in his eyes. He, too, had had enough. She kept her gaze locked on his, drawing comfort from the knowledge that if this didn’t work, if Tony cut her throat, at least Alex would be the last thing she saw before she closed her eyes forever. The thought both calmed her and gave her strength, and she tried to let all the emotion she felt for Alex show on her face. I love you, she mouthed.
He blinked and fear danced across his face when she started to count down.
One...
He shook his head, lifting a hand to stop her.
Two...
Tony noticed Alex’s distress. “What the hell—?”
Three...
Jillian raised her arm and drove her elbow back into Tony’s abdomen with all the force she could muster. He doubled over, his breath whooshing out in a pained grunt. She dropped to her knees and scooted away as fast as she could, trying to get out of his reach before he recovered enough to stab her.
Everything seemed to happen at once. Shouting voices, a rush of feet, the sounds of weapons being cocked.
From her vantage point, Jillian couldn’t tell who had stormed into the room. Was it Tony’s friends? Please, no, she thought, curling up into a ball on the floor. If she kept her head down, she wouldn’t get shot.
Strong hands pulled her up and she opened her eyes to see Alex, his face creased with concern. “Are you all right?” he asked, running his hands over her neck, turning her head from side to side so he could inspect the skin of her throat.
“I think so,” she answered, feeling a little uncertain. The numbness was back, creeping across her body and making it hard to tell how she felt.
“You took ten years off my life just now,” Ale
x said, pulling her close and squeezing her gently. “Don’t ever do that again.”
Jillian closed her eyes, savoring the contact with Alex’s broad chest. She felt complete for the first time in days and wanted to stay in his arms for hours, making up for lost time. Unfortunately the police had other ideas.
“Ma’am? Sir? I need you to step over here, please.” A policewoman gestured for them to move and Jillian reluctantly surrendered her hold on Alex to comply. She kept her hand on him, though, wanting to maintain some connection, however tenuous. She had made the mistake of letting him go once. She wasn’t going to do it again.
* * *
Hours later Jillian walked out of the hospital hand in hand with Alex.
It had taken some time to explain all the whos, whats and whys of tonight’s events, but once the police learned of the FBI’s ongoing investigation into the gang, they settled for taking everyone’s statement and calling it a day. Jillian suspected Alex and his mysterious phone calls had played a part in their sudden acquiescence, but she didn’t ask and he didn’t volunteer.
“Never a dull moment with you around,” she remarked. She’d meant for the remark to be teasing, but he flinched. “I’m sorry,” she said, pulling them to a stop. “I didn’t mean that in a bad way.”
He shook his head. “It’s okay. I deserved that.”
She studied him a moment, her heart softening as she watched emotions play across his features. “No, you don’t,” she said softly. “And I’m the one who should be apologizing, not you.”
He frowned at her, clearly confused. “What are you talking about? What have you got to apologize for?”
Jillian reached up and brushed the hair off his forehead. He closed his eyes briefly at her touch, making her want to pull him down so she could hold him. “I’m sorry for the way I reacted when you told me about Jason. It wasn’t your fault, and I shouldn’t have pushed you away like that.”
