Sweet Danger

by Cheryl Pierson

  Jack Rawlins stood behind Norton, a disgusted look on his craggy face, as he glared at the mayor, then met Jesse's eyes over the top of Norton's balding head.

  "Tony Johnson didn't make it," Rawlins muttered abruptly.

  Jesse let his breath out in a rush, feeling like someone had slammed him in the gut with a forty-pound sledgehammer. "And John?"

  "He's hanging on. If Tom Norton hadn't taken McAdoo on, he'd have killed both of them for sure. He was bent on emptying a clip into them…being uniforms. We felt he might have gone for the kids, too."

  "What happened to Mrs. Montgomery?" Lindy asked anxiously.

  "She's fine, Lin," Oliver answered. "She hustled the kids out during the melee. Evidently, Brindle McAdoo heard something in the bedroom—"

  "The gunshot," Lindy murmured.

  "When all hell broke loose in there, he knew the jig was up. He decided to take as many hostages down as he could before he was killed—starting with Johnson and Caspar. He opened up on Johnson." Oliver's voice was steady. "He killed him quickly, before anyone knew what he was going to do."

  "Damn it," Ryan swore.

  "Then, he turned the gun on Caspar," Rawlins said. "Managed to hit him twice. Not hard to do, I suppose, when a man is chained in one place."

  "That's where my boy came in," Charles Norton boasted proudly. "They say Tommy just barreled into McAdoo and sent him flying. He managed to hang onto the gun and shot my boy in the leg. But, Tommy—he fought for the gun. McAdoo got it, but then, he turned and ran. But he didn't give up—he came running out of here, firing."

  "No way we could take him alive," Rawlins put in mildly. "With the kids and Mrs. Montgomery not in the clear completely." He met Jesse's eyes with a look for him alone. They wouldn't have taken McAdoo alive, no matter what, not after what he'd done to Tony Johnson.

  Jesse nodded his understanding. "The kids?"

  "Mrs. Montgomery saw her chance while McAdoo was occupied elsewhere," Oliver said. "She got the kids out safely."

  "Crazy woman!" Norton sniffed. He peered up at Jesse. "The SWAT guys had to hold her back to keep her from trying to get back inside!"

  "She's not crazy!" Nash lifted his head from Jesse's shoulder and looked challengingly at the mayor.

  Oliver stepped forward in the awkward moment of silence and laid a comforting hand on Nash's arm. "No, she's not, son. She was trying to look out for a very special boy by the name of Nash. Do you know him?"

  Nash nodded vigorously. "Me. I'm Nash. Nash Nightwalker."

  Oliver smiled, giving him a kind pat.

  "Where is she?" Jesse asked.

  Oliver turned his gaze to Jesse. "In the ambulance with Tommy Norton," he said dryly. "Seeing as how there was no one else to go with him."

  "Nightwalker, my boy wanted me to tell you that he did his part," Norton blustered, oblivious to Oliver's words. "Said to tell you, you were right about the free-for-all."

  Evidently, Tommy had taken their talk to heart.

  Ryan faltered, and Ken Oliver reached to steady him, casting a glance over his shoulder. Jesse followed Oliver's gaze to see two frustrated paramedics headed their way. He hid a smile.

  "Okay, Captain, let's get you out of here," Donaldson muttered. "My supervisor'll have my hide over this."

  Ryan drew a deep breath.

  "Captain?" Miller said, stepping forward.

  Ryan sighed wearily. "Okay."

  "Later, buddy." Jesse told him. "See you at Mercy." He shifted Nash, but his son suddenly felt very heavy. The adrenaline rush was leaving him, and he knew he needed to sit down before he embarrassed himself. Getting to Mercy wasn't going to come any too soon.

  Oliver seemed to realize it, too. "Nash, will you let me hold you a minute? Your…uh…"

  "Dad," Lindy interjected.

  "Your dad's a little tired," he finished smoothly.

  Nash shook his head. "No, thank you." He turned serious black eyes to Jesse. "But you can put me down, Dad."

  Jesse looked into Nash's eyes for a long, still moment. "I named you right, Nashoba," he murmured. "You fought like a wolf today. Fierce and unafraid."

  Lindy reached to help him down as Jesse's grip loosened and Nash wriggled to the ground. He reached for Jesse's hand, and Lindy smiled at Nash's proprietary gesture.

  "One more thing, Nightwalker."

  Jesse looked at Norton, fast losing patience with the pompous man. Over Norton's shoulder, he could see another ambulance pulling up to be loaded. He figured that was the one with his name on it, just in time.

  "Tommy told me he intends to…become a cop." Norton spat the last words as though he'd eaten a persimmon.

  Jesse let the night air blow across his face and neck, cooling his body and his temper. The flashing lights all around him had haloes that streaked together like a passing carousel of comets. He felt Lindy move away from him, her father slipping under his shoulder as a jolt of fire ran the length of his body. He heard Ken Oliver curse at his own roughness, felt Nash grip his hand uncertainly.

  But he managed to smile into Mayor Norton's indignant face. "You must be relieved. At least he's not going into politics."

  * * * * *

  The paramedics arrived just as Jesse let go of consciousness. They handled him with swift efficiency.

  Lindy stood watching, bereft without Jesse's calm presence. She took an unconscious step as if to follow as they loaded the gurney, but stopped herself as Nash's fingers clutched at hers.

  "Let's ride with him!" Nash begged.

  Lindy knew she would've done just that, had she not felt such a keen responsibility to Jesse's son.

  "It might not be a bad idea for both you and Nash to be looked at by a doctor." Her father's voice resonated from behind her. "I can take you, or we'll get one of the cruisers."

  Lindy nodded. "Yes. That's a good idea." She touched her father reassuringly on his sleeve, knowing he'd want to stay here. And she needed time to herself. She wasn't thinking clearly. Jesse Nightwalker was the only thing on her mind right now. She would never forget this day as long as she lived, the day she'd come so close to losing her life. The day she'd so unexpectedly found the best reason of all to live.

  Nash's hand tightened anxiously in hers and she looked down into the earnest little face, giving him a reassuring smile.

  "I want my dad," Nash said quietly.

  "We're going to him, sweetie. Have you ever ridden in a police car?"

  * * * * *

  Lindy felt Nash's body tense as the patrol car they were riding in pulled into the emergency drive. The officer got out to open the door for them.

  Lindy followed the youngster's gaze to where a blonde woman stood by the revolving door, a cigarette in her hand.

  "Nash?" Lindy softly questioned.

  Nash's expression became grim. "It's…my…it's Melissa." He finally looked up at Lindy. "I don't want to go with her, Miss Lindy. I want to be with my dad."

  Just then, the officer opened the door. Lindy got out, Nash following close behind her. She felt his hand close tightly around hers again.

  "Thank you, Officer," Lindy said absently. Her eyes were on the beautiful blonde woman who stood watching them.

  As they approached, Melissa Nightwalker dropped the cigarette, crushing it delicately beneath her booted heel. She walked toward Lindy and Nash, who suddenly dragged his feet.

  Oddly enough, Jake's wife didn't seem emotional at all. Lindy had thought Melissa would be beside herself with worry over Nash, and to a lesser degree, over Jesse, too. But Nash seemed to expect this kind of behavior from his "mom." He hung back as Lindy extended her hand to the other woman.

  "Hello, you must be Melissa; I'm Lindy Oliver."

  Melissa shook hands distractedly, looking Lindy up and down quickly. "Were you there?"

  Lindy nodded. "Yes. Nash is fine." She glanced down at him, a gentle reminder to Melissa.

  The other woman bent down to give him a quick hug. "Are you okay, Junior?"

  Lindy felt as if
she'd been sucker punched, and Nash's fingers tightened in her hand telling her he felt the same. He didn't respond to the name. Melissa held him by the shoulders, looking into his face.

  "Yeah, you're okay. That's good." She straightened and looked at Lindy again. "How's Jesse? They wouldn't tell me anything in there at the desk."

  "He's…" Lindy took a deep breath, remembering she must keep up the pretense for Nash's sake. "He's going to be fine."

  Melissa gave a short laugh. "Well, Jake'll be glad to know, once he sobers up. I'm on my way to bail him out of the pokey again." She sighed heavily. "Got a sitter lined up for this morning at eight. Jake'll be sleeping off his drunk and I intend to go to the casino, like I planned to do last night."

  Lindy tried to keep the distaste from her expression. She forced herself to smile, giving Nash's hand a quick squeeze as he started to speak.

  "Why not let Nash stay here with me? He's worried about his…uncle."

  "Well," Melissa looked at her dubiously. "I don't really know you." She went on quickly, "Are you Jesse's girl? If you are, then I'm sure it'll be okay. If you want him, that is. I've gotta go down to the station after Jake, and then take him home and get him settled before I head out. It would save me paying a sitter, if you don't mind…"

  Lindy swallowed back the response she wished she could make. But Nash seemed to take it in stride, as if he were used to it. He probably was.

  "Oh, no," she said quickly. "I don't mind at all. Here, let me give you my cell number—"

  "That's okay. Just have Jesse give me a call. He can put Nash in a cab and send him home, or I'll have Jake come get him once he sobers up. How'd that be?" Melissa smiled brightly, tossing back her bleached mane of hair.

  "Fine," Lindy responded. "We'll figure out something."

  "Thanks. Well, I guess I'd better go." Melissa glanced at her watch. "Men. Sometimes I feel like letting him stay in the tank for a day or two. Maybe he'd quit then." She pivoted to walk toward the parking lot, giving Lindy a quick wave. "See ya!"

  Lindy was already turning away, heading for the revolving door that would dump her and Nash into the emergency room lobby. Melissa's callous behavior replayed in her mind as she walked to the admission counter. "We're here to see Jesse Nightwalker."

  "Your name?" The admitting nurse opened a file, barely glancing up.

  "Lindy Oliver."

  The woman ran a fingernail down a list. "See some I.D. please?"

  Dismayed, Lindy realized she didn't have her purse. "I don't have it with me."

  "Who's the boy?"

  "Jesse's son, Nash. Look—"

  "Hold on a minute." She reached across the desk to answer the phone.

  Grasping Nash's hand firmly, Lindy started for the elevator. She would find someone else who could tell her what room Jesse was in. She needed to be with him.

  "Hey, ma'am! Wait a minute!"

  Lindy glanced behind her to see the nurse push her chair back and start toward where she and Nash stood. "Miss Oliver, you're on the list of hostage survivors. I need to have you fill out your admittance papers."

  Lindy had enough. Her lips compressed in frustration, and she could feel Nash's anxiety as he stood quietly beside her. "I will fill them out and we'll both see a doctor later. Right now, we are going to Jesse's room…if you'll be so kind as to give us the room number."

  The nurse started to say something, but thought better of it. "Well," she muttered after a moment, "I suppose…I suppose that'll be okay. You are all right, aren't you? Not wounded or anything?"

  Lindy gritted her teeth. "We're both okay. If you can just point us in the right direction?"

  "Second floor. Room two-thirty. Take a right when you get off the elevator. If he's not there yet, he'll be out of surgery shortly."

  Lindy turned as the elevator door opened behind her, and she and Nash stepped inside. Nash reached to push the "two" button, and the doors closed. "I didn't like her."

  Lindy patted his shoulder. "Well, we do need to see a doctor, Nash, but first things first."

  "Yeah." He looked up at her. "First, my dad."

  Lindy smiled down at him in reassurance. "Yes, sweetheart." The door opened as the elevator came to a stop. Lindy and Nash walked out and veered to the right, down the hallway.

  Lindy's heart pounded with every step. She was worried, but other thoughts assailed her, as well. Melissa's reaction to Nash earlier had convinced her that his living with Jake and Melissa needed to come to an end. It made her wonder exactly what he'd gone through in his home life with them. Jesse would wonder, too. And blame himself. How could she divulge her fears without worrying him? Would Melissa and Jake put up a fight to keep Nash?

  What would become of her relationship with Jesse, now that the danger was past? Would he feel the same as he had before when he was promising his life for hers? Was he sorry for that, or was it just something he would have done for any of them? A police officer doing what was ingrained in him…to protect and serve?

  Nash read the room numbers off quietly, and Lindy realized the child must have doubts and fears of his own. So much had happened in less than twenty-four hours. She glanced at her watch. Nearly three a.m.

  "There it is! Two-thirty, Miss Lindy!" Nash exclaimed. Lindy glanced down at him, and he came to a stop. The door was pulled close to the frame, but not shut completely.

  Lindy took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. She knocked lightly on the door, and pushed it open, feeling Nash's sudden reluctance. She wondered if he worried about seeing his dad in bad shape, or if he, too, was afraid of everything changing, now that they were in different circumstances.

  Nash's fingers gripped her hand tightly, but he followed her inside the dimly-lit room. A nurse was just leaving, and she smiled at Lindy.

  "He's asleep," she whispered as she passed by Lindy and Nash. "Just brought him in. We gave him some morphine for the pain and it pretty well knocks you out. If you need anything, just push the button on the bed."

  "Thank you," Lindy replied, feeling ridiculously close to tears at the woman's kindness.

  Nash started for the bed, pulling her along with him. She renewed her grip on his hand. A five-year-old's exuberance could surface at anytime. Nash edged up to the bed, his eyes wide as he watched the steady rise and fall of his father's breathing. Lindy watched, too, noting the shallowness of the breaths Jesse was taking.

  His bruised face looked relaxed, and Lindy was grateful for that. Her gaze traveled down the length of his left arm to his shoulder, where a pristine bandage covered the bullet wound. An arc of red seeped through the whiteness covering the deep cut across his chest. His wrist was also wrapped, and Lindy figured he must have injured himself with the handcuff as he'd ripped the bars out of the window. She hadn't noticed before. Were there other wounds? Wounds he'd not said anything about? He wasn't one to complain. Yet, there at the end, he'd tried to hold back the wave of darkness until the paramedics had gotten him to the ambulance, but he couldn't. He must've been operating on pure adrenaline.

  Lindy went back over the last few minutes at the deli in her mind. Looking back, she remembered Jesse had seemed uncharacteristically relieved at the arrival of the paramedics. After his parting shot at the mayor, Lindy only remembered her father reaching to grab Jesse's arm, hurting him unintentionally as he tried to steady him. Jack Rawlins stepped up too, quickly supporting Jesse on the right. The paramedics were running toward them awkwardly, the gurney between them. They'd gotten Jesse strapped down and began taking his blood pressure, preparing an IV as they loaded him into the ambulance. Jesse had been in worse shape than she'd realized at the time. What had he been hiding from her?

  Had Hardin's shot been true?

  "He looks okay, doesn't he, Miss Lindy? He's going to be all right." Nash leaned close to her, the only sign of his heavy worry for his father.

  Lindy laid her hand on his shoulder, then gently tousled his silky-fine mop of dark hair. She grimaced at the sticky spots, making a silent promise to g
et him cleaned up as soon as possible. And herself, as well; she looked down at her own soiled and blood-spotted clothes and frowned.

  "Yes." A lump rose in her throat. Please, let him be all right.

  Nash glanced up at her. "Is it time to worry yet?"

  Lindy's brow furrowed as she vaguely remembered Althea Montgomery's words, echoed in Nash's question. She smiled. "No. Not yet, sweetie."

  Nash looked back pensively at his father's sleeping form. "Maybe…we won't ever have to worry again."

  Before Lindy could reassure him, the door swung open behind her.

  "Lindy?"

  "Dad!"

  He smiled at the relief in her voice.

  "Everything okay?"

  "That's what I want to know. I brought your purse."

  She reached to take the purse from him.

  "I've never known you to leave it behind," he teased. "Here…let's sit down." He pulled a cushioned chair up close beside the bed and Lindy sank into it, grateful to be off her feet. Nash climbed up into her lap, and she looped a comforting arm around him. Her father reached for the other chair, a more austere wooden one, and pulled it up to face her.

  "You seen a doc yet, honey?"

  "Not yet. I wanted to see Jesse first." The admission was bold and seemed to surprise her father. Heat rose in her cheeks.

  "When did all this come about? With you two, I mean?"

  Lindy glanced at Nash, already fast asleep, his head pillowed on her shoulder. "Yesterday. He lives in my complex, so I sort of…knew who he was…but we really just met yesterday morning."

  She shifted in the chair.

  I'm in love with him. Head over heels, knock your socks off, stars in my eyes, crazy about him in love.

  She wanted to shout it from the hospital window, and that made her smile.

  "Do you mind explaining a little to your old dad? Just so I'll know how this all happened?"

  Warmth rushed through her at the memory. "He was just ahead of me in line at Silverman's, and there was one sugar ring left…"

  Chapter Thirty-Two