“Not a problem. I’m not going anywhere. And it’s Pete.”
“I’m Andrea.” She could really get into liking that mouth of his. “You have a super-cute smile. Did I—” A yawn escaped and she almost couldn’t remember what she was saying. “Oh, yeah. Did I tell you I like your smile?”
“I think you did, Miss Allen. I think you need to get some shut-eye.”
She turned into his hand, still holding her shoulder. She caught a clean, musky scent before letting her heavy eyelids close and stay that way. “Can’t think of a better place to do it.”
* * *
THE SHERIFF WHO’D taken Andrea’s statement stood outside the door, which was open just a crack. The person he spoke to was in scrubs. Maybe the nurse who’d checked her out earlier, maybe someone new. Shoot, it could be the doctor there to discharge her. She didn’t know. She grabbed the side of the bed and began pushing herself upright, jerking to a stop as a hiss of pain whistled between her teeth.
“Wow, that really hurts.” Her wrist was bandaged. Funny, she could remember everything except that her wrist was sprained.
“I’m headed back to the scene,” Pete said. “I’m waiting on the local PD who are going to stay with Miss Allen until we have a few more facts.”
“What if we need the room?”
“Mrs. Yardly, it might be a Friday night in downtown Alpine, but when was the last time the ER filled up?”
The casual stance and charm disappeared quickly as a balding man approached, flipping open a flat wallet. The kind she’d seen many times before.
The Suit Man seemed to have no personality. He wasn’t attempting to make friends. His straight, thin lips never curved into an approachable welcome. “Steven Manny, Department of Homeland Security. I’m here for Andrea Allen.”
“I was told local police would be here to escort her to the observatory,” the sheriff answered, shifting his right hand near the top of his gun.
“I have a few questions and will make certain she gets returned to her residence. You’re relieved.” A light knuckle tap on the door and Suit Man walked inside. “Miss Allen, are you ready?”
She nodded but locked eyes with Pete, silently imploring the sheriff not to leave her alone. Before she verbalized the words, he stepped into the room behind the new guy and closed the door.
“She passed out a few minutes ago and they’re not ready to discharge her.”
“We understand your concern, but we’re moving. Now. Miss Allen.” He gestured for her to head to the door.
As anxious as she was to escape the hospital before landing in Pete’s arms, she was scared to leave without him. The guy demanding she put on her shoes wasn’t the average government-issued suit.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“That’s classified.”
“I won’t tell anyone.” Pete seemed taller, firmer. He waved his hand for her to stay put. “Think you can give me another look at your badge?”
When Pete took another step, ready to do battle, the Suit shoved his forearm across the sheriff’s windpipe. Andrea jumped to her feet to help but received a backhand with the Suit’s free arm, knocking her across the small emergency room bed.
Pete was no slouch. He was younger, three or four inches taller and in really good shape. His strength kicked in and he shoved Suit Man straight into the path of her hospital-socked feet. Without shoes she couldn’t do much damage, but she did put a heel in Suit Man’s gut, hurtling him into the supply cabinet.
Pete was there, swung his left fist and connected with Suit Man’s jaw, sending him flying backward into the door. Her rescuer swung again, connected a second time. She recognized the panic in Suit Man’s eyes. He knew he’d failed.
Suit Man had something in one hand and the other hand on the door handle.
“Watch out!” she yelled.
Pete ducked, but she couldn’t get out of the path. The metal hit her square in the ear, and she tumbled to the linoleum.
There was some yelling, really close to her ear, but the world was spinning sufficiently enough that it didn’t register. She saw the blur of black dress shoes running from the room. It was all she could do to focus on not passing out. Then the strong arms she admired lifted her to the table.
“Everything okay in here, Pete?” the voice she’d heard earlier from the hall asked through the intercom.
“Yardly, I need a doctor, and where’s security?”
“It’s just a bump. My ears are ringing. That’s all.” She’d seen double for a few seconds, but that had already passed. “What are you waiting for?”
A nurse and then a doctor entered. Pete slipped out, but she could hear his raised voice in the hall. She saw his phone to his ear. Watched him pace in front of the rectangle of a window and then speak with the doctor before coming back in the room.
“Why aren’t you chasing Suit Man?” she asked between the blood pressure cuff and insisting she was fine.
“You’re stuck with me while I ensure your safety. That’s your best option.” He didn’t seem at all satisfied being saddled with the position of her protector.
“I can wait for the police. There are plenty of people here. So go.”
“You’re serious?” He followed the nurse to the door, looked down the hall and slammed it shut. “Someone’s trying to kill you and you want me to leave you here, defenseless?”
“And I appreciate your saving me. Twice. But I can’t tell you anything else, so isn’t it more important to catch that creep and find clues at the accident?”
“The scene and Suit Man aren’t my priority. You are.”
She watched his Adam’s apple bob nicely as he swallowed hard. His blue eyes searched hers. If she’d known what he needed to hear, she would have said it. But she was a little frightened or worried or maybe just confused from the blow to her ear.
What was she thinking? These men had rammed her car off the road trying to kill her. Okay, technically, it was Sharon’s car. And in all probability, they had killed the man she’d been trying to help. She’d been knocked silly-unconscious by a complete stranger with really good counterfeit DHS credentials who also wasn’t afraid to show his face and try to kill her with security cameras everywhere.
“I’ll concede that you don’t know me, but I’m not defenseless.” The soreness in her jaw screamed otherwise. “He caught me off guard. That’s all. I can take care of myself.”
“Not tonight.” He stepped back, one hand going to his hip and the other pushing through a thick head of short, light brown hair. “I’m escorting you home until someone decides what to do with you. The local authorities will find Suit Man.”
“Are you sure about that?”
She’d lost her chance. He’d made his decision. And it was probably best. The only personal possessions she still had were her earphones. They’d hooked around her neck and somehow not fallen off. If she’d been alone when the Suit attacked, she would have been dead before she could press the nurse call button.
Or maybe worse. She might have actually been woozy enough to leave with him. Then what?
The sheriff opened the door. “Yardly!” The nurse he’d been speaking to came running. “We’re not waiting to give an incident report. We’re leaving. Do what you have to do to get us out of here. Now.”
“Well then...it isn’t just another boring Friday night,