by Karen Kirst
When they passed into a more populated area, she scooted lower in the seat.
A gentle tug on her braid brought her attention back to Julian.
“For the record, I’m a fan of red.”
“You’re just saying that.”
“The truth is, I thought you couldn’t be anymore beautiful than you already are.” His liquid gaze had gone soft, a warm caress as tangible as a touch. “I was wrong.”
She steeled herself against the delight fizzing and popping inside. “I still don’t like your tattoos.”
SIXTEEN
Something was troubling Audrey.
Julian would’ve liked to assign it to their circumstances, but he sensed it had more to do with the emotional element underscoring their every exchange.
He sighed. “That kiss—”
“A mistake,” she said, shaking her head. “A reckless moment.”
Her words of dismissal cut into him. His rational self applauded her evaluation. His heart, long insulated and guarded, quailed.
Staring straight ahead, he kept his expression neutral and his grip on the wheel slack.
“Seriously, what were we thinking?” She waved her hand between them. “Nothing between us could possibly be real. It’s manufactured emotion, that’s all.”
Julian couldn’t speak past the tank-size lump in his throat. The silence doubled.
“Don’t you agree?” she demanded.
How could he argue with her when everything he’d been taught about hostile operations supported her reasoning?
“Julian?”
He ground his teeth together. “Sure.”
He drove down the mostly empty streets of Jacksonville. She rolled and unrolled the hem of her aquamarine long-sleeved cotton shirt. Although new, her jeans fit her like a soft glove. He applauded Brady’s choice of sensible tennis shoes.
“Are we headed to the storefront?” Her words were stilted. Distant.
“If you’ve had enough sleuthing for one night, then yes.”
“I’m not tired. We shouldn’t waste time. The sooner we solve this puzzle and get the information to the police—someone in the department who isn’t in league with Gerald—the sooner we can resume normal life.”
He was starting to question whether that would be possible. Could they return to casual waves across the parking lot and the standard how-are-you? exchange in the elevator?
“We have two stops to make,” he said.
“I won’t invade Chasity’s home and be part of an interrogation. I can’t.”
“I’ll only go in if she’s not home. It’s twenty-two hundred hours. She could be out with friends.”
“Or working a late shift. Sometimes she picks up extra.”
Julian prayed that would be the case. Audrey’s defense of her friends was natural and appropriate.
Following her directions, he drove to a tidy subdivision about a mile from the hospital. Chasity’s modest, new construction rancher was in a cul-de-sac. Julian eased the car to the opposite curb and let it idle.
“Lights are on.”
Audrey shifted forward in the seat. “She often leaves a couple on to discourage thieves.”
He applied pressure to the gas pedal and started to follow the curve of the cul-de-sac.
“We’re leaving?”
“I’m going to park in another section and hike back. If she’s home, I’ll try again tomorrow night.”
Just as they were about to reach her house, the garage door opened. He hit the brakes.
“That’s Lincoln’s car,” Audrey whispered. “Chasity’s isn’t there.”
A low-slung silver Mercedes whipped out of the driveway in reverse, then shot out to the main street.
“Where’s he off to so fast?”
“There’s only one way to find out.”
Julian tailed the surgeon through the neighborhood and onto the main highway, careful to remain far enough behind so as not to arouse suspicion. Even so, he had to exceed the speed limit in order to keep up. The last thing they needed was to draw attention for speeding.
When they zipped past the hospital, she said, “Guess he wasn’t called in to perform an emergency surgery.”
“Maybe it’s his kids. I’m not driving an hour to Wilmington. We’ll turn around if that’s the direction he’s headed.” The longer they were on the streets, the higher the chance trouble might find them.
“He’s not going home.”
Lincoln had passed the turnoff that led to his upscale community and continued toward the waterfront. The surroundings became less residential and more commercial. Julian’s gut hardened.
“Audrey, this is the way to the warehouses.”
Her shoulders hunched. “I wouldn’t remember.”
Because she’d been bound and blinded. The terror he’d endured, not knowing her whereabouts or her condition, couldn’t begin to match hers.
He lifted his foot from the gas.
“We’re slowing down. Why?”
“I’m taking you back to the storefront.”
She gripped his arm. “No, Julian. We can’t afford to lose sight of him.”
He glanced over at her. “He could be innocent.”
“I’m holding out hope that he’s taking a long route elsewhere, and that this is merely a coincidence.”
“I don’t want you anywhere near this place. I’m turning around.”
“Julian, please.”
An inner war ensued. Heed his instincts and get her as far away from Gerald as possible? Or accept that they were partners and respect her decision?
He resumed their previous speed. Too soon, Gerald’s compound came into view, and the Mercedes made the turn. As they continued past the dead-end road, he glimpsed the rolling fence gate sliding open to admit Lincoln.
“I’m sorry.”
“I never thought—” She audibly swallowed. “Lincoln’s a good person. He’s thoughtful and attentive and caring.” Bowing her head, she covered her face with her hands.
Soon, her shock would wear off and anger would take its place.
He parked close to the same spot he’d used before. His own wasn’t where he’d left it. The city had likely towed it. Or Gerald’s men had gotten rid of it.
“I’ll be back in five.”
She clutched her door handle. “Where are you going?”
“To take a few pictures of Lincoln at this site. We have to have proof.”
At this point, their reputations were in tatters and their word was worthless. A good police officer would believe a respected surgeon’s denials over a couple accused of assaulting an officer.
“You’re not going alone,” she said.
“I need for you to stay here. In case I don’t return, contact Brady.”
“No—”
“We’re running out of time to catch a glimpse of him outside.”
Looking extremely displeased, she released the handle and pulled out her phone. “You have ten minutes, Sergeant.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Closing the door and motioning for her to lock it, he jogged in the building’s shadow until he reached the dead-end road. The entrance gate was directly across from him. With no cars or goons in sight, he dashed across the lanes.
Through the fencing, in the halo of exterior lights, he saw Lincoln running alongside the twins and barking orders. They were carrying a wounded man. He couldn’t make out his identity or condition from this distance.
He took multiple pictures. When they entered the warehouse, he snapped another picture of the parking lot and Lincoln’s Mercedes.
“Julian.”
Audrey hadn’t stayed in the car as promised. Opening his mouth to express his exasperation, he pivoted and everything inside him went cold.
“Phone, p
lease.” Josef kept the gun pointed at Audrey’s head while motioning for Julian to toss his phone over.
Her eyes were huge with fear and regret. “I’m sorry.”
His usual calm failing him, he let it clatter to the asphalt. “Let her go, and I’ll lead you to the evidence we have on your boss.”
“The Jungle King is untouchable. If you haven’t learned that by now, you will.”
Julian lunged. His forward motion was interrupted by a buzzing sound behind him. Electric volts vibrated through his body. His muscles convulsed, screaming in white-hot agony. He landed on the ground, helpless to stop Josef from dragging Audrey away.
* * *
“Where’s Julian?” Audrey demanded, pitting her weight against Josef’s forward march and making progress difficult. She didn’t care about the gun he brandished. “I’ll do whatever Gerald wants as long as he remains unharmed.”
His grip on her arm turned bruising, and he hauled her through the warehouse doors. She couldn’t hear or see Julian. That Taser blast had rendered him defenseless against the enemy. He was at their mercy again, and so was she.
At the wave of familiar moisture-laden air and the echo of macaw screams, she almost lost her supper.
Getting out the first time had been nearly impossible. This time, Gerald would ensure his prisoners remained in his control for as long as he wished.
Josef propelled her through the building. She avoided looking at the exotic animal collection. A cacophony of shouts reached her. He thrust her inside the medical ward, where chaos reigned.
Lincoln stood at the deep sink scrubbing his hands and barking orders. Sasha and Sergei scrambled left and right, clearly unfamiliar with the ward’s layout and contents. A patient was lying on a bed to her right leaking blood from multiple GSWs.
Her gaze locked with the man she’d considered a friend. Any shame he might’ve felt remained locked away as he was in life-saving mode.
“I need you, Audrey.”
Betrayal sat on her tongue like bile. “How could you...?”
A man stepped from the shadowed alcove on her left. Gerald. His face was grey, but his gunmetal eyes were as ruthless as she remembered.
“If you don’t do everything in your power to save my son, Miss Harris, your marine will die sooner rather than later. It won’t be a pleasant death, of that you can be sure.”
His son? Shock held her immobile.
Finally, she found her voice. “You want me to help your son? Release Julian.”
Gerald’s eyes narrowed to slits. “No one makes demands of the Jungle King.”
Her insides quelled. “My assistance for his freedom. It’s a fair trade.”
“Fair isn’t in my dictionary.” Gesturing to the twins, he barked, “Ready one of the torture rooms for Sergeant Tan.”
“No!” The last of her defiance drained away. “Leave him alone. I-I’ll help.”
Lincoln pulled on gloves and instructed her where to find IV fluids. Audrey didn’t have a choice. Springing into action, she made quick work of sterilizing her hands and inserting the port into his hand.
“What’s his name?” she asked, trying hard to focus on the patient instead of the danger surrounding her. “Age? Medications?”
“Zachary. Twenty-six. No meds. No known drug allergies.” Lincoln cut away his tattered shirt. “Help me turn him.”
She reached across the bed to assist. “Exit wound?”
Lincoln nodded. “Yes. Bullet cleared the body. We’ll need to check for internal damage.”
“What’s that sucking noise?” Gerald had stationed himself at the foot of the bed.
“Pneumothorax. Collapsed lung,” she clarified. “We’ll fix it.”
She cleansed the chest area. Using the clear dressing Lincoln gave her, she quickly taped it over Zachary’s wound, leaving a small opening for air to escape. While Lincoln retrieved a portable ultrasound device, she cranked the bed to raise his upper body to the desired angle.
“Where can I find lidocaine jelly?” she said.
He pointed to the cabinets behind the bed. “Chest tube and drainage system are in there.”
“What about his leg?” Gerald said.
“We’ll deal with that next,” Lincoln replied, passing the ultrasound wand over Zachary’s abdomen and studying the screen. “Whoever applied the tourniquet did a smart thing.”
Audrey returned and applied the jelly. Then she took the wand from Lincoln in order to guide his procedure. He made an incision between the patient’s ribs and inserted the tube into the chest cavity. Once it was stitched into place, they locked gazes. He gave her a small nod of encouragement.
They weren’t out of the woods yet, though. Audrey applied the heart-monitor leads. His heart rate was up, his blood pressure low from blood loss.
“I need to type and cross match him before we address his leg.”
“He’s O positive. You’ll find blood stores in the cooling system.”
Audrey dashed to the glass-fronted fridge and masked her surprise at its contents. Antivenom. Blood stores rivaling any top-notch hospital. A variety of medications. Black-market medicine at its finest.
At Zachary’s bedside, Lincoln uttered some choice words. Gerald immediately stiffened.
“What is it?”
“Nothing to worry about. The bullet’s lodged in his thigh, that’s all. Audrey and I will have to remove it and repair the damage to his artery.”
“Do you have everything you require for the procedure?” Gerald demanded.
Audrey looked at Lincoln. They didn’t have support staff or lab technicians. There wasn’t an anesthesiologist. The list continued.
Avoiding her gaze, he exuded a confidence she didn’t feel. “I do.”
“Good.” Gerald studied Zachary’s face. “Get on with it, then.”
“You and your henchmen have to wait outside,” she told him.
“I don’t believe you’re in the position to give orders.”
“This is supposed to be a sterile environment,” she growled. “It’s your son’s life. If you don’t mind taking unnecessary risks, then neither do I.”
He shot her a black scowl before ushering the twins from the room. He took up residence on the other side of the observation window.
Lincoln had already donned a cap and mask. He handed her the same and returned Zachary’s bed to the regular position.
“This is madness, Lincoln. Renegade medicine.”
“It’s a simple repair job.”
“Where’s the electrocautery machine? Pulse oximeter? What happens if we get in there, and there’s bone or tissue damage?”
His gaze punched hers. “We’ll react accordingly.”
“Lincoln—”
“There’s no sense arguing, Audrey. You can rail at me afterward.”
She tamped down her objections and forced her mind from the fury simmering in her veins. The patient—no matter who he was or what he’d done—deserved her full concentration. The surgery was relatively straightforward. Zachary was fortunate the bullet hadn’t inflicted serious damage. He remained stable throughout the procedure, a small blessing in the midst of uncertainty.
The tightness bracketing Lincoln’s mouth finally eased.
“Let’s close him up.”
Gerald, who’d been hovering outside like an ominous cloud, reentered the ward, his henchmen behind him. He gazed upon his son’s face for long moments.
“Sergei. Sasha. You will join me in my private quarters.”
Audrey removed her mask and gloves and discarded them, unnerved by the twins’ nearness. Their very presence confirmed Officer Dunn was guilty, like Craddock.
If they were gleeful she’d been recaptured, they didn’t show it. Like robots, they nodded and opened the door.
Gerald clasped Lincoln’s upper
arm. “Thank you, cousin.”
Audrey couldn’t have heard that right. Gerald hailed from Eastern Europe. Judging by their appearance, they did share hair color and skin tone. They both had prominent noses. That’s where the similarities ended.
“He’s not out of the woods, yet,” he warned.
“You won’t leave him alone.”
Lincoln shook his head. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Gerald’s focus came to rest on her. Her mouth dried. The adrenaline rush that had carried her through Zachary’s life-saving procedure was fading, leaving uncertainty and dread in its wake.
“You will remain with Lincoln until I order otherwise,” he commanded. “Try another stunt like the last one, and you will regret it.”
He was almost to the door when she called after him.
“Where’s Julian?”
Lincoln shot her a warning glance. Gerald’s back was rigid as he turned. “He’s in a holding cell.”
“With one of your creatures?”
“For the moment, he’s alone.” He looked at his son. “Keep Zachary comfortable and well, and Sergeant Tan will enjoy his last days in peace.”
The crime boss didn’t give her any time to pose more questions. The door closed with a hard click.
She fisted her hands at her sides. “I want to see him.”
Lincoln sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “That’s impossible.”
“As impossible as my best friend’s fiancé being related to an evil crime lord?”
A grimace marred his features. “Audrey, you don’t understand—”
“You’re right, I don’t.” She casually moved to the patient’s bedside. “I can’t think of an explanation or excuse that would make sense of this.” Her hand hovered above the tube inserted into Zachary’s chest. “Either you get me to him, or I rip this out and the Jungle Prince suffers potentially fatal complications.”
SEVENTEEN
Julian paced the perimeter of the ten-by-ten room, searching for weak points in the cement-block wall or the thick glass insert on the interior wall. He wasn’t prepared when the door burst open and Audrey hurled herself into his arms.
His muscles sore from the Taser shock, he staggered back a couple of steps. As her warmth and scent enveloped him, he buried his face in her hair and held her tight.