“A little to your left, dear,” called Mrs. Henry from above her.
Addie’s fingers pressed on the bottom part of the phone. The dial tone was sweet music to her ears. “Now if I can just dial nine-one-one,” she muttered. Perspiration dripped into her eyes, burning them as she traced the rows of numbers, seeking the ones she needed.
After what felt like an eternity, a woman’s voice called out, “Nine-one-one, what is the nature of your emergency?”
Before Addie could answer, the elderly woman bellowed from the bed, “Some rude young man is trying to kill us. That is the nature of the emergency. We are at Magnolia Haven, 12004 Magnolia Lane, and we require some assistance. Preferably of the police variety.”
“Ma’am, what’s going on exactly?”
The sound of her attacker trying to break into the room sent adrenaline through Addie’s veins. “There is a man here trying to kill both of us. Do you hear that?” She swung to face the door, addressing her attacker. “Do you hear that? We’re on the phone with the police. It’s too late for you!”
“Ma’am, who are you talking to?” the dispatcher asked
“That’s right, you slimy miscreant. Picking on people you think can’t fight back. I’ll show you.”
“Hello?” came the voice on the phone.
All the yelling only increased the pounding in Addie’s head. “Please hurry. Someone drugged me and tied me up. He’s outside the door trying to get in. You have to hurry.” She gave the dispatcher her name.
“I have a car in your area. He should be there in under two minutes.”
Addie hoped they had that long. “We’re in room one forty-four, all the way in the back of the first floor.”
“Where they put the sick, old people,” added Mrs. Henry. “I'm only here because I broke my wrist.”
Addie backed up across the floor, putting all her weight against the door. “Did you hear that? The police are on their way.”
“Her boyfriend is Detective Jonah Wolfe of the Ocean Grove Police Department. Someone better inform him of this. He’ll want to know,” Mrs. Henry added.
Addie would have lowered her aching head into her hands, if they weren’t tied behind her back. Jonah was going to be so angry with her. Suddenly, the only sound in the hall was that of running feet. And then a body falling to the floor. And some grunting.
“Are the police here already? It sounds like a scuffle in the hallway,” Addie asked the dispatcher.
“No, ma’am, they’re just pulling in now. I'm not sure what you’re hearing.”
The door shook hard against her back. “Addie, are you in there? Let me in!”
Relief flooded through her system and she rolled away from the door. “Jonah, thank goodness,” she cried as she kicked the chair from under the doorknob.
She rolled further from the door, allowing Jonah and Grey to run into the room. She craned her neck to see someone in scrubs lying still on the floor.
“Is he, uh, out?”
“As in unconscious? You bet!” Grey laughed as he announced this.
Jonah swept her up off the floor and into his arms, his dark eyes, and expression, unreadable. “Are you okay?” he asked in a huskier than normal voice.
“I'm fine. Or I will be. Did I miss dinner?”
A laugh burst from him as he clutched her to his chest. “What am I going to do with you?” he muttered in her ear.
“Don’t worry, we saved you some,” answered Grey from next to the hospital bed.
“You didn’t seriously start without me?” Addie wailed.
Any answer was cut off by two uniformed officers rushing through the door. Jonah turned to fill them in, gesturing to the man on the hallway floor. He then gently set her from him and unwound the gauze bandaging tying her wrists together. He kissed the chafed skin beneath, bringing tears of another type to her eyes. She swung her legs around so he could undo them as well.
He placed a hand under her chin, raising her gaze to meet his. “I'm so glad you’re okay. Yet another thing to be thankful for today.”
“You and me both.”
“Let’s get you out of here.”
“Sounds like a plan.” He helped her up and held onto her as her wobbly legs gained some strength. Addie moved over to the bed. “You were amazing,” she whispered to the older woman. Color returning to Mrs. Henry’s skin brought a smile to Addie’s face.
“Not so bad yourself, young lady. We make a great team.”
Addie kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you very soon. In fact, I’ll come back tomorrow with some books for you to read.”
“Make sure they have a half-naked man on the cover!” Mrs. Henry cackled.
“Of course.” Addie allowed Jonah to lead her out of the room. He’d have a thing or five to say to her about her reckless behavior, but that was okay. Beat the alternative.
Epilogue
Jonah groaned before leaning back in his chair.
“Can’t say I didn’t warn you,” Addie teased.
He raised his linen napkin and waved it like a flag. “I surrender.”
“What? Not before you sample some of my famous bourbon sweet potato pie, young man,” crowed Aunt Clementine from one end of the table.
Aunt Beatrice, not to be outdone, thumped her hand on the table-top. “Right after he’s sampled some of my delicious pecan and pumpkin bread pudding.”
“Would this be a good time to throw my traditional pumpkin layer cake into the ring?” asked Gertie, eyes twinkling with laughter.
Jonah threw up his hands. “I’m happy to try them all, ladies, but maybe after a nap?”
Addie sat back and looked around the table. All the people she loved had gathered here, the evening after Thanksgiving, to celebrate the holiday. After a short stay in the ER to check on the effects of the sedative used to drug her, she’d spent several hours with the police, telling and retelling her story.
It seemed the suspect, one Brian Clarke originally from Alabama, had lost his nursing job in that state after the questionable death of two of his elderly patients. Local police had never found enough proof to charge him, and Brian had slipped away to start over. And now his nursing days were over.
He’d come to in the back of an ambulance, telling everyone who’d listen that he was an ‘angel of mercy’ sent to relieve others of their Earthly suffering. Jonah grumbled that he’d better be found competent to stand trial and answer to what he’d done. And tried to do to Addie.
Her stalker remained a mystery, at large to terrorize her in any way he saw fit. But, for tonight at least, she’d put that thought aside. Tonight, she would bask in the warmth of these people she loved so dearly.
They continued to grumble, comparing desserts. Grey offered to eat all of them if Jonah couldn’t ‘man up.’ That brought a giggle to her lips.
She raised her wine glass, which contained ginger ale thanks to yesterday’s incident. “A toast to all the wonderful people in this room. I love each and every one of you.”
“Some more than others,” Grey teased.
“Maybe not more, just different. And I am so very thankful to be here with you all today.”
“Here, here,” agreed Aunt Clementine, raising her glass of bourbon. No fruity wine for her, as she liked to say. “And to any little Fosters who might join us in the future.” She looked at Addie over her reading glasses. “After all, young lady, you’re not as young as you used to be.”
“And neither are your eggs,” added Aunt Beatrice, not to be outdone.
Jonah squeezed her hand, grinning at the odd toasts. Everyone raised their glasses, laughing as they drank to her eggs.
Only in this family, Addie thought.
And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
The End
Also by Kimberley O’Malley
Cozy Mysteries
The Addie Foster Series
Book 1: Death Comes in Threes
Book 2: Dyeing for Change
Book 3: Murder by Numbers<
br />
Contemporary Romances
The Windsor Falls Series
Book 1: Coming Home
Book 2: Taking Chances
Book 3: Second Chances
Book 4: Saving Quinn
Book 5: Finding Kat
Book 6: Coming Back
Acknowledgments
This is my tenth book in just under three years. Tenth! Oh and two anthologies as well this year. Needless to say, I've been a busy little bee. But of course, none of this was possible without my amazing team!
Rebecca Pau of The Final Wrap is my brilliant cover designer, whom I love so very much. She always knows just what I want, and need, without my having to say it. Which is a good thing, as I'm terrible at putting my vision for my covers into words. Thank you for yet another gorgeous cover!
Margie Greenhow, PA extraordinaire, keeps me in line and on track. She nudges, cajoles, and sometimes shoves me into new adventures and undertakings. And I am a better person for it. Thank you!
Every author thinks they’re brilliant. And then they think everything they write is pure…you get the idea. And that’s why we have editors; people to keep us from slitting our wrists. And I’m lucky enough to have a few. Thank you to Karen Boston and Chelly Hoyle Peeler. You guys have a tough job.
Molly, my Shetland Sheepdog, is the inspiration for Gracey and Lily. Molly is my third child. Somedays I like her more than I do my human ones. She’s always there at my side, with a lick or a woof to encourage me.
And, always, there’s my family! They are at the center of everything I do.
How to Help an Indie Author
Thank you for reading Angel of Death. I know you have millions of books to choose from, so thank for choosing mine.
So, here’s one more favor…reviews, reviews, reviews! Even if you didn’t fall in love with this book, please take the time to review it on Amazon, Goodreads and/or Book Bub. Reviews are so much more important than you could ever imagine.
About the Author
Kimberley O’Malley is a transplant to Charlotte, North Carolina from the frozen North. She is learning to say y’all but draws the line at sweet tea. Sarcasm is an art form in her world. She writes small town Contemporary Romances and hilarious Cozy Mysteries. When not writing, she is a full-time nurse and part-time soccer mom, but not necessarily in that order. She shares her life with an amazing husband of more than 23 years, two teenagers, and one very sweet Shetland Sheepdog, Molly.
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