‘Don’t let him get me,’ just before she passed out.”
She blanched. “Oh, my.”
Cal nodded. “Did you see anyone suspicious hanging around her?”
“No, darling, I was just looking for you and noticed how flushed she was. She also looked a little lost, so I asked her if she needed some help.”
Cal smiled. “Leave it to God to lead you to the one who needs help.” He glanced at the door wondering what was taking so long. How sick was she? He started to get concerned. Had he misjudged the seriousness of her illness?
Outside the window at the end of the hall, darkness had fallen and the full moon cast shadows.
His gaze sharpened. Wait. Was that someone trying to look in? “I’ll be right back.”
“What is it?” She frowned up at him.
“Just want to check something out, all right?”
“Cal, you’ve got that look on your face.”
But he was already moving toward the front door. He could feel her worried gaze drilling his back as he turned the corner.
Once outside, he stopped and listened. Had he just imagined the shadow outside the window?
Making his way as silently as possible around to the back of the building, he found the window where he thought he’d seen the image of someone trying to peer inside the building.
Nothing stirred but the normal end-of-day noises and his breath in the air.
A footfall to his left.
Cal whirled. The shadow ran.
“Hey! Freeze! Police!”
Ignoring him, the person never stopped. Cal took off after him, boots slapping against the asphalt as he rounded the side of the building.
Squinting, Cal tried to get a look at the fleeing man, but in the darkness, even with the light of the moon, wasn’t able to make out much more detail than the man’s baseball cap. He thought the guy had on a dark colored heavy coat and boots, but wasn’t a hundred-percent sure.
The figure slipped between The Candy Caper and John’s General Store. Cal heard the roar of an engine, but by the time he got around the corner, man and vehicle were gone, taillights fading in the distance. In the dark behind the buildings, he couldn’t even get a make on the car or a license plate.
Cal slapped his thigh in frustration as he stopped to catch his breath even as his brain started processing the events.
A sick woman—whose name he still didn’t know—in a bus station. A frightened plea for help. A stranger lurking outside the medical building where the woman was receiving care.
Who was he? An ex-husband or a boyfriend?
Had Cal found himself in the middle of a domestic violence situation?
His jaw tightened as he stared in the direction of the long-gone taillights as another woman’s pleas echoed in his ears. Another woman he’d failed.
If this new stranger he and his mother had taken under their wing needed help, Cal would do everything in his power to make sure she received protection and care for as long as she needed it. And from whomever she was scared of.
Dylan gave a disgusted grunt and turned to walk the three blocks back to the clinic.
When he entered the door, his mother greeted him with a worried look. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
“What made you think you needed to go check on things outside?”
Not wanting her to worry, Cal shook his head. “Just a feeling. But everything’s all right.” He changed the subject. “How’s our patient? Have you heard anything?”
“Not yet. I’m worried she might need—”
Dylan opened the door and Cal pounced. “How is she?”
“She’s sick.” The doctor’s brow furrowed. “I suspect strep and the flu.” He held up two capped tubes. “I took some cultures, so we’ll know something in a few minutes after I get them processed.”
Dylan walked into the lab and began the process that would read the cultures. Cal followed on his heels. “Did she wake up? Why did she faint?”
As Dylan washed his hands, he looked over his shoulder at Cal. “Yes, she woke up. I talked to her a bit, but she’s not making much sense. Talking about someone being after her?” Dylan lifted a brow. “Do you have any idea what that’s related to?”
“I might. In the bus station she seemed scared, then before she passed out she said, ‘Don’t let him get me.’”
Dylan frowned. “That doesn’t sound so good.”
“Exactly.” He hardened his jaw.
His friend gave him a knowing look. He knew exactly what Cal meant. “Well, I gave her something for the fever, so it’s coming down. She’s worn out and pretty dehydrated. As for your second question as to why she fainted, I think that was probably due to a combination of things.”
“So, does she need to be in a hospital?”
“Nah.” Dylan dried his hands on the towel. “Like I said, she’s a little dehydrated, but if someone will make sure she gets proper rest and care, she’ll be good as new in a few days. I can even come out there in a couple of days to check her over.”
Cal thought about the man he’d just chased. If he was after the sick woman, he was going to have to go through Cal to get to her.
And Cal wasn’t an easy man to go through.
TWO
Abby blinked at the sunlight streaming in through the window to her left. Awareness came to her slowly, almost as though she were slogging through a fog. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the opposite wall where a collection of weapons hung on display.
Knives, guns, rifles, a slingshot?
And a Christmas tree on a small table in the corner of the room. Multicolored lights twinkled in a repeating pattern.
Where in the world was she?
Turning her head, she squinted to take in the rest of her surroundings.
“Ah, so you’re awake now?”
The voice with the soft Irish accent made her start. The smell of chicken broth made her stomach rumble. Abby felt a surge of fear, but in light of the yellow curtains, cream-colored walls and the very pregnant woman staring down at her, she managed to swallow that fear and ask, “What happened? Where am I?”
Bits and pieces of the past few days flitted through her mind. A woman helping her to the bathroom. A cool cloth placed on her forehead.
