“In other words, I should shut up and leave you alone.”
“Smart man.”
“Okay. Hopefully you’ll feel better after you’ve had some strong coffee.” With the remembrance of the previous morning’s weak drink he started to smile. “Not like what you made for me yesterday.”
To Daniel’s relief the corners of her mouth started to twitch. “You didn’t seem to care for it.”
“Understatement,” he said, smiling fully and looking over at her. “It was by far the worst I have ever tasted.”
“Well, at least it was memorable.”
“Oh, yeah. And good for dousing the fire.”
“I heard you do that but I let it slide. You should have seen your face when I handed you the cup. I was actually surprised you had the guts to taste it.”
“I told you I was brave.”
Slowing as they approached pavement, Kaitlin’s grin faded. “You didn’t have to tell me that,” she said. “I’ve always known.”
If they hadn’t been at a literal crossroads he would have tried to come up with a witty reply. As it was, however, the situation didn’t leave room for levity. Checking both ways he saw no traffic.
“Turn right,” he said, “then keep an eye out for a sign that points to a tourist area. We’ll find gas there.”
“Gotcha.”
“No questions? No argument? Is your headache that bad?”
Kaitlin made another face, and although she didn’t divert her attention from the road ahead she spoke clearly. “If you must know, my worst headache is sitting right here next to me.”
Given her mood, Daniel didn’t laugh out loud when the urge hit him, although he wanted to. There were lots of things he wanted to do that he refused to consider. Things like patting her hand and telling her she was pretty despite her wrinkled outfit and beautiful, flyaway, corn silk–colored hair.
And then there was the hug he wanted to bestow, not to mention the kisses he’d already given her in his imagination. If reality turned out to be half as wonderful as he’d pictured it, he might even change his mind about real dating.
That’s assuming he survived and Kaitlin agreed to start seeing him, he added, his emotions in turmoil. She would. She must. He wasn’t going to just let her walk out of his life after all they’d been through.
But I should, he countered his own thoughts. A lot of crimes were going to have to be solved, their perpetrators arrested and sent to prison, before he’d feel safe opening his personal life to anyone. Nothing he wanted for himself was worth risking Kaitlin’s becoming collateral damage the way his former partner, Levi Allen, had.
If only there had been someone else, anyone else, he could have asked for aid. His thoughts came full circle. Who would have done this much for him, have stuck with him as long as Kaitlin had? He couldn’t think of a single person, friend or fellow officer, he trusted as much as he did this extraordinary young woman. Did she have a clue how special she was? Daniel doubted it.
The truck slowed and made a turn, jarring him from his reverie. “You saw a sign for gas?”
“And food, which means I can get my coffee,” she said.
“I hope it helps your headache,” Daniel said, meaning the pain in her head.
When Kaitlin’s lips twitched and she said, “Oh, you’re going to drink some, too,” it took him a second to realize she’d made another subtle joke.
“Sounds like I’d better buy you the giant size.”
“Whatever works. You’re going to go inside?”
“I thought I would.”
“Then you’ll need this,” she said, grabbing some crumpled bills out of her pocket right before pulling into an empty spot by one of the pumps.
Although he took the money, he grimaced. “I really hate this situation. You know that, right?”
She was smiling. “Yeah. Personally, I’m kind of enjoying the part where I get to be the boss.”
“That figures. You’ll probably be running the whole ambulance company by the time you’re twenty-five.”
“Then I’d better hurry,” she replied, getting out and reaching for the pump nozzle. “If they want you to prepay, start with twenty so you get a little change back. I’ll be in as soon as I’m done out here.”
His answer was a wave. A lot of women might enjoy being in charge as much as Kaitlin did but few would come right out and admit it. With her, what you saw was the real thing. No pretense, no ruses to lead men on. That was beyond refreshing.
Opening the heavy glass door with little difficulty he headed for the back to freshen up before choosing food and drinks. By the time he hobbled to the coffee urn Kaitlin was already sipping from the largest cup available.
She handed him a plastic sack and a smaller cup of steaming coffee. “I didn’t know if you drank it black or not so I put sugar and creamers in the bag.”
“Okay, I’ll just...”
“No,” she said.
Daniel’s first thought was that she was teasing. Then he noticed how her eyes were scanning the little store. Something was bothering her. A lot.
She grasped his elbow, almost causing him to slosh coffee out the hole in the lid. “Come on.”
“Okay, okay. I’m coming.” He lowered his voice. “What’s wrong? Did you recognize someone?”
“No. Just a creepy feeling. Trust me. We need to hit the road ASAP.”
“How do you know...?”
Giving his arm a tug she shook her head. “I don’t know anything for sure, okay? All of a sudden I got nervous so I came in to hurry you up.”
“Maybe you don’t realize what you did see but your subconscious does.”
“Maybe. I don’t really care.”
By this time they were back out the door. Kaitlin had circled the truck and was getting in. Daniel threw his cane into the bed, handed her his coffee cup and hoisted himself into place.
As he did so he noticed several vehicles off to the side of the redbrick building. The morning air was cool enough to create visible clouds of exhaust, proving that the other cars were idling, not parked.
He canted his head. “Over there. Something about them looks fishy.”
“Whatever.” She dropped the truck into gear and pulled away from the bank of pumps.
Tourist vehicles clogged the Highway 5 intersection, keeping her from driving as fast as he knew she wanted to.
“Take it easy. We don’t want to get in a wreck or hurt anybody.”
“I know what I’m doing.”
Daniel had been watching the service station behind them in the outside mirror. What he observed was disquieting, at best.
“I’m afraid you may have had a reason to be jumpy,” he said. “One of those suspicious cars just pulled out behind us and the other one is in line after him.”
* * *
If her old truck had been a military tank Kaitlin would gladly have climbed right over the traffic jam and squashed every troublesome car, truck and travel trailer as flat as a pancake. Good thing for all those clueless motorists that she was in a regular pickup.
Frustration took over. Letting go of the steering wheel she slammed her palms against it as if that would help. “Aargh!”
“Feeling better now?”
“No.” If he laughed she wasn’t going to be responsible for her actions.
“I gathered.” He was leaning to see the reflection in the mirror better and sipping coffee as if nothing was wrong.
“How can you do that?”
“Do what?” He saluted with his paper cup. “Oh, this? It’s a trick all cops learn sooner or later. Eat and drink whenever you get the chance because you never know how soon you’ll get another opportunity.”
The light ahead turned red, trapping them in the solid sea of cars. Eyeing her giant cup, Kaitlin decided there was no way she’d be able to
handle it if they were racing down a winding road in flight or pursuit.
“I’ll let you know when the light changes,” Daniel said. “Enjoy your breakfast.”
“All I need is this coffee. Whew! Hot.”
“What’s in the bag?”
When she glanced over at him he was checking for himself and hefting a paper-wrapped bun. “Looks like fried egg and mystery meat.”
“Better than the freeze-dried pot roast, I hope.”
“Has to be.”
“Not necessarily.” Seeing a narrow opening between two slowly creeping cars she whipped the wheel with her free hand and nosed in, thrusting her cup at Daniel. “Hold this.”
He obliged. “Smooth move. Reminds me of the way you sneaked between those trucks at the clinic.” He chuckled. “I didn’t think you’d make it, then or just now.”
“Never underestimate me,” Kaitlin told him. She reached for her coffee and he placed the cup in her hand while surrounding cars jockeyed for space to move forward.
Although she’d bought both sandwiches for her companion, she had to admit to hunger now that the odor of hot food was filling the cab. “That smells good. How does it taste?”
“A whole lot better than the pot roast.”
“Good.”
“Want a bite?”
“Can’t. I’m driving with one hand as it is.”
Scooting sideways he presented the sandwich. “Here. I’ll hold it for you.”
“Naw. I’m good.”
“Good and hungry, I imagine,” he countered. “C’mon. Be a sport. Let me do something for you for a change.”
“Well, since you put it that way.” Keeping her eyes on the road she leaned just far enough to reach the hot egg sandwich and took a big bite. “Um. That is good.”
“Told you so. Oops. The light’s changing.”
Kaitlin was way ahead of him. Dropping her cup into one of the two round holders she put both hands back on the wheel. “Here we go.”
Once through the main intersection she’d hoped they’d make better progress. When that didn’t happen she decided on evasive driving and turned into the first business that looked promising.
“Where are you going?”
“Playing hide-and-seek. We should know in a few minutes whether or not those cars are after us.”
“If they are, we’ll be easier to overtake in parking lots.”
“Not after I find an outlet on the opposite side.”
“Suppose you don’t.”
“Then you’ll have a reason to complain.”
“Meaning I don’t yet?”
“When you’re right, you’re right. Hang on to your coffee. And balance mine if it starts to tip over. Those holders aren’t made for anything that size.”
Bouncing over speed bumps sloshed coffee onto the white gauze of Daniel’s bandage.
Kaitlin saw him jump. “Watch your leg. Keep it dry.”
“Anything else? Would you maybe like me to do a handstand or somersault while balancing two cups of coffee and a half-eaten sandwich?”
“The bandage is most important. Pour my coffee out the window if you can’t handle it.”
“Not on your life,” he shot back. “I’m keeping anything that might improve your morning mood.”
A loud “Ha!” was her first reaction. Then she added, “I’m a lot sweeter when I’m not running for my life. Or for your life, come to think of it.”
* * *
By putting his smaller cup into the holder and lifting Kaitlin’s, Daniel managed a controlled chaos while they swerved in and out of three more parking lots. He assumed Kaitlin would have kept doing it if they hadn’t run out of opportunities. Sooner or later, he was going to have to admit she was right. They were no longer being followed. Therefore, the so-called suspicious cars had either not been waiting for them to come out of the station or had lost track of where they’d gone.
He took one last peek behind, then cleared his throat. “Um, looks like you were right. Nobody’s on our trail now.”
“So I can finally slow down?”
“Please.” All he could do was chuckle at her expression. “Save some of that wild driving for later, in case we need it.”
“There’s plenty more where that came from,” she countered. “I’m actually surprised it’s so easy. I’d never tried speeding before.”
“Adrenaline helps,” Daniel told her, hoping she’d take the warning to heart. “If you weren’t agitated you wouldn’t feel so powerful and in command. Trust me. I know.”
“If you say so.”
“I do. How about finding an easy place to pull off where the truck can’t be seen from the road and finishing your breakfast.” When he noted her reluctance he went one step further and confessed, “I wouldn’t mind a short rest, either.”
“And a pill,” Kaitlin said with a frown. “You didn’t take one early this morning, did you?”
“We were in kind of a hurry.”
“We usually are,” she said. “All right. I’ll park behind that row of trash receptacles. Will that suit?”
Stinky, but a good choice otherwise. “Sure. Park. But keep the windows rolled up.”
“Whatever you want.”
What Daniel did want was to find someone, anyone, to take Kaitlin’s place and drive him the rest of the way to his destination. Not only was that an impossible goal, she was irreplaceable in another way. Nobody could ever take her spot in his heart. Not even close.
He rubbed his knee below the bandage. Sheer determination might be enough to let him drive a short distance but there was no way he could take over from her and pilot a truck with a stick shift. If her truck had had an automatic transmission it would have been different. Then he could have dropped her off with the rest of the money and made the last leg of their journey by himself.
Knowing he’d have to be able to walk when he arrived, he stopped trying to think of ways to drive, as well. No way could he do both. Not until he’d healed more, and that wasn’t going to happen quickly. Plus, the longer the delay, the greater the danger. Like right now.
Popping the antibiotic and a painkiller into his mouth he washed them down with coffee. Kaitlin was watching him as if she half expected him to turn around and spit the pills out. Instead of acknowledging her concern he handed her a fresh sandwich and picked up his own to take another bite.
Had she sensed any special intimacy when he’d fed her? he wondered. It had felt like a loving gesture to him. So had her amiable acceptance of what he’d offered. If he’d thought about it more carefully he’d have given her the other sandwich in the first place. It had simply seemed so natural to share his that he’d acted without a qualm.
As if she could read his thoughts, Kaitlin held out her sandwich. “Would you like half of this one? I’ll share. I don’t think I can eat it all.”
“No, I’m good.”
To his delight she smiled broadly at him and said, “Yeah, you are,” leaving the interpretation up to him. Considering his own blossoming feelings toward her, he chose to believe she was paying him a subtle compliment. It was going to be such a relief when they were able to speak freely and share fondness openly.
Soon, he promised himself. Soon. And this time he refused to even entertain the opposite scenario. His brain might keep insisting their future was iffy but that didn’t mean he had to accept the concept.
Reality was bound to intrude on them soon enough, and when it did, he’d deal with it.
In the interim, he was going to enjoy a few precious moments filled with the possibilities of a happy future.
If he had anything to say about it, it would begin with Kaitlin North.
SEVENTEEN
If Kaitlin had been able to relax she wouldn’t have hurried her meal and gotten back on the road so quickly. Unfortunately, she knew tha
t the longer they stayed in one place, the greater the chances they’d be spotted. Yes, it was a big state compared to some, but Daniel’s enemies knew where he had come from and had probably figured out where he was headed. That gave them a corridor in which to concentrate their search. Once they figured out he wasn’t traveling Highway 44 they’d branch out and any sighting of her truck would lead them northeast. If they really had had a visitor near their makeshift camp last night, the killers might already have zeroed in on this area.
She knew he wanted to get to his chief as fast as possible. She was also positive that sticking to a main highway was foolish. How she would convince him she was right was another story. If they came in high, skirted Jefferson City, the state capital, then dropped down and crossed the Missouri River, they’d be close to their destination. The only other option was to backtrack and cut over to 44. In her opinion, that could be suicide.
“Where are you going?”
Ah, he’d finally noticed. Well, there was nothing to do but confess. “I’m taking you to St. Louis.”
“By way of Iowa?”
“Of course not. I told you I planned to avoid highways. That’s what I’m doing.”
“No wonder you wanted more gas. How much wandering around in the boonies do you intend to do?”
“As much as it takes.”
She heard him sigh, saw him shake his head. “No, Kaitlin. Just no. I understand what you’re thinking but I disagree. The longer we’re on the road the greater our chances of being spotted. Start working your way toward Jeff City. We can take 50 across. It won’t be as fast as I’d like but it’ll have to do.”
That didn’t sound bad so she nodded. “All right.”
Sensing that he was staring at her, she arched a brow and glanced over at him. “What are you doing? Trying to guess my thoughts?”
“Thankfully, that’s impossible. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t like whatever you’re thinking right now.”
“You might. I actually think the route you just picked is satisfactory.”
Marked For Revenge (Emergency Responders Book 2) Page 15