by Laura Scott
Naomi looked dejected at the news. “You don’t think he’s the same man who’d helped kidnap me.”
Sawyer’s heart went out to her. He understood her need to make sense out of a situation that was anything but logical. “We’re working the case, Naomi. Trust that we’ll do our job, okay?”
She stared down at the table for a long moment. “I know you will. But I want to help.”
Her helping was only likely to slow them down. He tried another tactic. “What is Kate going to think if she goes home to an empty house?”
She met his gaze. “I left her a note with my new cell number, so hopefully she’ll call me.”
“If she can get access to a phone,” he felt compelled to point out. “If she manages to escape the way you did, she probably won’t have a phone or money either.”
Her eyes clouded as she frowned. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
Their server brought their respective meals, and they ate in silence for a bit. He was so relieved Naomi was unhurt that his appetite had returned with a vengeance. He made quick work of his buffalo chicken sandwich and fries.
Naomi picked at her salad, which made him feel bad that he’d ruined her lunch. He smiled reassuringly. “Hey, you can go back to Dalton and be there for Kate when she gets home.”
When, not if.
She shook her head. “I’m not going back, Sawyer. I can’t. Not yet. I’m the only person who can identify the kidnappers.”
Except she hadn’t been able to identify the driver, a fact he decided not to reiterate.
When they finished eating, he signaled for the bill. Naomi pulled out some cash, but he waved her away. “I asked you to meet me here, so it’s my treat.”
“I owe you for the towing and the repairs to my car,” she protested. She shoved a couple of hundred-dollar bills toward him. “Take it. Paying you back is the least I can do.”
He didn’t touch the cash. “Please keep your money, at least for now. There will be plenty of time to square up when this is over.”
She stared at him for a long moment. “Would you do this for anyone else?”
He didn’t hesitate. “Yes, I would. I promise I only want to help you through this. No strings attached. I, uh, once had a guy do something similar for me.” Sawyer normally didn’t talk about himself like this, but he wanted to reassure her. “Joe was a cop, too, and helped me out of a jam. I learned to accept his help, the way you should accept mine. I wouldn’t be here today if not for him.”
“I’m glad to hear you had someone helping you,” she said softly. She drew in a deep breath. “Okay, I’ll keep the money for now, but I need you to know that I expect to pay my own way.”
“I do,” he assured her. “Even though I really wish you’d go home.”
“You can wish all you want, but I’m staying.” She slid out of the booth.
He inwardly sighed and briefly considered arresting her for driving without a license. But doing something like that would only add to her already stressful ordeal.
Although her ability to get a motel room without a credit card and ID would be slim to none. Which may actually force her to head home. He relaxed a bit as he slid out of the booth and followed her outside.
Should he offer his place again? It wasn’t as if he was using his guest room.
As soon as the idea flashed in his mind, he thrust it aside. No, what he needed to do was make Naomi realize that her being in Chattanooga was unnecessary. If she couldn’t find a motel room, she’d likely head back to Dalton.
Maybe. Hopefully.
“Thanks for lunch, Sawyer.” Outside the café, Naomi gave him a solemn look. “Will you please call me if you find something related to my kidnapping or the missing girls?”
“Naomi . . .” He sighed. “I can’t talk to you about an ongoing investigation. As I said before, I need you to trust me. Trust the process.”
She looked down at the ground and reluctantly nodded. “I’ll try.” She lifted her gaze. “But you need to understand that I won’t rest until I know what happened to Kate. And if that means bothering you every single day, too bad. I don’t care. She’s only sixteen.”
Her defiant gaze made him want to smile. Frankly, he’d be surprised if she only bothered him once a day. “Got it.”
She turned to reach for her car door, then stopped and swung back. “Sawyer?”
“Yeah?” He’d opened his own car door and rested his arms along the top.
“I—would you be willing to give me your personal cell phone number?”
He hesitated, knowing it was a bad idea.
“I promise I won’t bother you too much,” she went on. “But if I see the leering man or the driver of the black Buick, I’d like to be able to call you directly.”
Even though it went against protocol, he nodded. After all, by now they were hardly strangers. “Fine. Actually, you already have it. I used my personal cell to call you back. But understand if you become a nuisance, I’ll block you.” The minute the words left his mouth, he felt foolish. No way would he block Naomi’s number.
A fact that bothered him.
“I know, thanks.” She pulled out her prepaid phone and stared at the screen. “Is this your number?” She held up the display.
“Yes.” She hit the call button, and his phone vibrated in his pocket. “See?” He pulled it out and added her name to the number in his contact list. “We’re all set.”
“Thanks.” She smiled and slid the phone back into her pocket.
“Take care of yourself, Naomi.” He had to force himself to slide in behind the wheel. Why on earth was he so attracted to her? Because she was beautiful and strong and had managed to outsmart her kidnappers long enough to escape?
It wasn’t as if he didn’t serve alongside a couple of capable female officers who were just as brave, because he did. Granted, cops like him took on the risk by donning their uniform each day.
Unlike Naomi who didn’t deserve to be in harm’s way. It wasn’t something she was trained to do.
Although now that he thought about it, he’d never asked about her career. Did she work at one of the carpet factories too? She’d mentioned Kate working there but hadn’t said anything about her own role in the community.
Not that it should matter to him one way or the other. Naomi Palmer had been a vulnerable victim in a terrible crime. A victim he refused to take advantage of.
He glanced over, waiting for her to back out of her parking spot first. She gave him a little wave, then slowly rolled her Toyota backward.
Crack!
The gunshot and the resulting shattering glass spurred him into action. He shut off the squad and rolled out of the vehicle, weapon in hand. Keeping his head down, he spoke into the radio on his collar. “Shots fired, repeat, shots fired outside the City Café on Edgerton Road.”
Naomi’s car was half in and out of the parking spot. Had she been hit? His heart lodged in his throat as he darted around the front of his car, still keeping his head down, to reach her driver’s side door.
“Naomi? Are you okay?” He cranked on the door handle, but it was locked.
“Naomi?” He glanced around, then used his baton to crack the rear passenger window open, fearful of raining glass on her. “Are you hit?”
She didn’t answer.
Chapter Six
Somewhere off in the distance, beyond the pounding in her head, Naomi heard someone calling her name. A sense of urgency hovered out of reach.
She needed to move, to get away, but her body felt sluggish. If only her head would stop hurting!
“Naomi?” The voice was louder now, so she did her best to focus on the sound. “Unlock your door!”
Realizing she was behind the wheel of a car helped her remember. A loud banging noise and then a window shattering.
With a wince, she lifted her head and tried to look around. Her vision was blurry. Fumbling for the door, she unlocked the car, then lifted a hand to her head.
Her fingers
were wet and sticky with blood, and she could feel a gash along the right side of her temple.
No wonder her head hurt.
“Naomi, can you move?” Sawyer had opened her door and was kneeling beside her.
“Yes.” She managed to swing her legs out of the car. “I’m okay.”
“You don’t look okay.” Sawyer’s tone was grim. “But there’s an ambulance on the way.”
“It’s just a headache.” A whopper of one, but nothing she couldn’t deal with.
“Stay down.” Sawyer helped her out of the car so that she was crouched beside him. “We’re going to get into the squad, okay?”
She couldn’t nod without lightning bolts of sizzling pain shooting through her head, so she simply followed his lead.
Within seconds, they were safe between the squad and the building. Sawyer was still talking into his radio as wailing sirens filled the air.
Loud. It was all too loud. She covered her ears, wincing as she accidentally hit the wound on her temple.
“Help will be here soon.” Sawyer’s tone was encouraging. “Hang in there a little longer.”
Did she have a choice? It wasn’t as if she could go anywhere.
“I need to examine your injury.” Sawyer’s voice was low and husky. She glanced down at her top and realized her favorite pink T-shirt was covered in blood.
“My bag is in the back of my car.” She grasped his arm. “Please get it for me.”
“I will as soon as our backup arrives.” He looked at something over her head and nodded. “And here they are.”
Seconds later, the area outside the restaurant was crawling with cops. It was heartening to know she was safe, but the constant questions were difficult.
“I didn’t see anything,” she said for what seemed like the tenth time. “I was backing up when I heard the sharp sound and my window shattering. That’s it. I didn’t even realize I was hit right away. I wish I could tell you more.”
“I didn’t see anything either,” Sawyer said, his voice full of disgust. “All I can say is that the gunfire came from directly behind us. I think it may have been from a handgun, although I can’t swear to it. I was taken by surprise, we don’t often hear gunfire in the middle of town.”
“We have officers canvassing the area.” The man standing next to them appeared to be the guy in charge. “Ma’am? The ambulance is here.”
“Okay, but I think the injury looks worse than it is. Head wounds tend to bleed a lot.” She knew, based on the pounding in her head, she probably had a concussion too. Too bad. No way was she going to be stuck in a hospital.
The EMTs crowded around her, wiping the worst of the blood away with wet gauze so they could examine her head.
“Looks like she was grazed by the bullet,” one of them said to Sawyer.
“I’m well aware of what happened,” she said, irrationally annoyed with the way they were talking to Sawyer rather than her. She was the patient after all.
“We need to take her to the hospital,” the second EMT said. “They’ll want to do a scan of her head.”
“I’m right here,” she said again. “And I get to decide if I’ll go to the hospital or not.”
“Naomi, please get checked out.” Sawyer looked upset. “You could have a serious head injury.”
“I doubt I’d be talking to you if that was the case.” Naomi was a nurse, although after her mother had passed away, she’d traded in her critical care nursing job for a lower paying role working in the clinic. The job was more routine, but the hours were better for keeping an eye on Kate. “There isn’t much they do for concussions other than rest and make sure the symptoms don’t get worse.”
“I’d rather hear that from the experts,” Sawyer said firmly.
“I’m a nurse, Sawyer.” It occurred to her she hadn’t told him that before. Not that he’d asked. “I’ll agree to get a CT scan, but that’s it. I’m not spending the night in the hospital.”
The EMTs looked at each other, then shrugged. The first one said, “All we need to do is transport you to the hospital. From there you’re on your own.”
“Fine.” She didn’t want to know how much this would cost her. Her mother’s medical bills had taken a huge chunk of her savings, which is why her financial situation was somewhat tenuous.
“Thanks. Please take her to Memorial. Naomi? I’ll meet you there with your bag,” Sawyer promised.
She didn’t say anything as the EMTs dressed her wound, then brought over the stretcher. Feeling foolish, she climbed onto the cart and allowed them to transport her to the hospital.
Having never ridden in an ambulance before, she couldn’t say she enjoyed it. The ride was rougher than she expected, the sudden movements of the driver making her head hurt worse.
The emergency department seemed busy, but they took her back into a room right away. Considering treatments for concussions involved rest and quiet, the place was anything but.
Naomi didn’t see Sawyer again until she’d been poked, prodded, and scanned. When he finally came into her room with her hastily packed gym bag over his shoulder, she grasped his arm. “Please take me home.”
“Easy now, we’re just waiting for the results of your head scan.” Sawyer gazed down at her. “You look better.”
Probably because they’d cleaned up most of the blood. Except for what stained her shirt and jeans. “Tell them to hurry and read it. The noise level here is awful.”
“Okay, sit tight.” He set her gym bag on the chair, then closed the door to her room. The noise level dropped a decibel, making her sigh in relief.
It wasn’t until that moment that the reality of the situation sank in. Someone had taken a shot at her car in an attempt to kill her.
Reaching up to lightly touch the bandage over her wound, she grimaced. Had nearly succeeded in killing her. If the bullet had hit even a fraction of an inch to the left, she’d be dead.
Who had done this? Leering man and his sidekick driver? Why? Because she’d escaped? If so, how had they known where to find her?
Recognizing her damaged car wouldn’t be that difficult, but that didn’t explain how they’d found her at the café. Chattanooga wasn’t that small.
She abruptly sat up, then had to grab the side rail to keep from passing out as a wave of pain hit hard. She took several deep breaths in an attempt to ignore it.
Had the driver of the Buick managed to follow her off the interstate? The thought was terrifying.
Although if that was true, then certainly Melvin Curtis was involved in this and could be brought in for questioning.
Naomi gently eased back down against the pillows and closed her eyes.
Note to self: Do not make sudden jerky movements.
She had no idea how long she rested when the door to her room opened, revealing Sawyer and the female physician.
“Your head scan came back negative for a bleed,” Dr. Rawlings said. “But you really should stay at least twenty-four hours for observation.”
“I’m a former ICU nurse,” Naomi informed her. “I know all too well that patients don’t get as much peace and quiet as they need while in the hospital. I’d rather be released so I can really rest. I promise to come back if my symptoms change for the worse.”
Dr. Rawlings eyed her thoughtfully. “Okay, I trust your judgment. I’ll send through the discharge paperwork. A nurse will be in soon.”
“Thanks.” She tried to smile, but it felt like a grimace.
“You’re welcome.” Dr. Rawlings patted her arm before turning to leave.
“A critical care nurse,” Sawyer repeated with a bemused expression. “You never told me. Very impressive.”
“I’m just a clinic nurse now,” she said wearily. “Better hours for Kate, no weekends.”
“Still, I’m in awe of your talent.”
“It’s nothing, really.” His comment made her wonder what he’d thought she did for work, but she decided he’d assumed she worked in one of the flooring companies. Af
ter all, she had mentioned living in the carpet capital of the world. He’d also assumed she was younger than she actually was. “I’d like to change into clean clothes.”
Sawyer put down the side rail and helped her sit up. The room spun for a moment, then thankfully righted. A step in the right direction. She eased onto her feet and slowly bent to unzip the gym bag.
She hadn’t packed many clothes, but thankfully she had an extra pair of jeans and several shirts. She pulled out something to wear and shuffled into the bathroom.
When she looked at her blood-matted hair along the right side of her head in the mirror, she sighed. Of course, she once again looked like an escapee from a horror flick. It seemed Sawyer was destined to see her at her worst.
After washing up in the sink and changing into clean clothes, she felt slightly better. When she emerged from the bathroom, her nurse, Lila, was waiting.
“Dr. Rawlings would like you to change the dressing twice a day and to follow up in a week, or sooner if your symptoms get worse.”
“I understand, thanks.” Naomi took the discharge paperwork, barely glancing at it. She knew the drill better than most.
Sawyer led the way outside where the bright glare of the sun made her wince. He opened the door for her, and she slid into the squad.
Traveling in a police car was beginning to feel routine.
“Can you find me a cheap hotel?” She glanced at Sawyer as he pulled out of the hospital parking lot.
“I’m taking you back to my place,” he said. “For one thing, a hotel is going to want to see an ID and credit card, both of which you don’t have. And for another, I’m worried about you staying in a hotel all alone. I’d rather be close by to keep an eye on you.”
“I’m not going to ignore my health.” His lack of trust stung. “You noticed the doc didn’t argue when I mentioned the lack of peace and quiet in the hospital. Patients are always better off recuperating at home.”
He sighed. “I know, it’s just—that was a close call, Naomi. You could have died.”
“I know. And I think you should look at that Melvin Curtis guy. He’s the only one who could have followed me to the café.”