Read Online Hard Target: Elite Ops - Book One by Kay Thomas - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kay Thomas
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“Here’s the keycard.”
Zach made a beeline for the stairs. Anna watched the fire exit door for a long time after her son pulled it shut behind him.
She dreaded turning to face Leland. She couldn’t imagine what he was thinking—of her, the situation, or the mess he’d gotten himself into by befriending her. The kindest thing she could do to repay him would be to send him on his way.
Prepared to do just that, she took a deep breath. “I don’t know how to thank you. You saved me.”
“It’s no problem. Like I said—”
She turned, interrupting him. “Don’t. I can’t imagine what you’re thinking of this entire soap opera you’ve witnessed tonight.”
They stood soundlessly until they were next in line. The night clerk was working alone, and his eyes lit up in recognition as Leland spoke to him.
“Ah, Mr. Hollis. Could you please have a seat in the lobby while I get these arrangements finalized?” The man nodded at Anna, taking in the bandage on her arm. “I understand you’ve been in the ER. Our computers are acting up. I don’t want you to have to stand while you wait.”
Leland nodded his thanks and guided Anna to the conversation area in front of a faux fireplace.
She took a deep breath before beginning. “I should be mortified about all this, and on one level I am. On the other hand, I’m so grateful you were there. I don’t know what I would have done without your help. So I can’t be sorry. As for the questions the doctor was asking—”
“That’s none of my business.”
“You’re right, it’s not your business. But I’d like to explain because . . . well, I’m not sure why exactly. They say confession is good for the soul, don’t they?” She felt her smile tremble and hoped her expression wasn’t as shaky-looking as she felt.
For some reason it was important to her that he hear this. Since she didn’t expect to lay eyes on him again after tonight, her story felt anonymous. Like talking to the person beside you on an airplane and telling them things your best friend doesn’t know.
He watched her with unnerving intensity, his eyes holding a green fire that should have been intimidating. She appreciated that he wasn’t saying anything. This admission would be impossible with interruptions. She needed to speak the words quickly to get it over with. The problem was, she wasn’t sure where to start. Diving in seemed the best option.
She took a deep breath before speaking. “First of all, I’m not pregnant.”
When Leland’s face didn’t change with that declaration, she kept going. “After Zach was born, Max wanted another baby and initially I wanted to give him one. But after twelve years of fertility specialists . . .” Her voice trailed off as Leland’s eyebrows rose.
“I know, it’s a long time,” she said, reading the questions so clearly in his puzzled expression. “Along the way, our marriage disintegrated. Max wasn’t abusive, he just . . . disappeared.”
“Had he ever hit you before tonight?”
“No. He yelled a lot, a whole lot, leading up to when he moved out a few months ago. But until today I’d never thought he’d try to hurt me. When he got his own place, our relationship got better. His leaving took the pressure off. I’m pretty sure he was seeing someone else. He’d had affairs even before Zach’s diagnosis, but once he moved out it was ‘good riddance.’ By that time I didn’t care. It was such a relief to have him gone.”
Something about that seemed to bother Leland, but he didn’t comment. Instead, he asked another question. “Why was he was searching for you here exactly?”
She huddled into the sofa before she said anything else. “I never explained. It sounds so unreal, and given the fantastical events of the evening, I wasn’t sure how much more you would believe.
His piercing gaze never wavered. “I’m still here and I’m listening.” Both statements could be taken to mean he could leave or stop
Zach made a beeline for the stairs. Anna watched the fire exit door for a long time after her son pulled it shut behind him.
She dreaded turning to face Leland. She couldn’t imagine what he was thinking—of her, the situation, or the mess he’d gotten himself into by befriending her. The kindest thing she could do to repay him would be to send him on his way.
Prepared to do just that, she took a deep breath. “I don’t know how to thank you. You saved me.”
“It’s no problem. Like I said—”
She turned, interrupting him. “Don’t. I can’t imagine what you’re thinking of this entire soap opera you’ve witnessed tonight.”
They stood soundlessly until they were next in line. The night clerk was working alone, and his eyes lit up in recognition as Leland spoke to him.
“Ah, Mr. Hollis. Could you please have a seat in the lobby while I get these arrangements finalized?” The man nodded at Anna, taking in the bandage on her arm. “I understand you’ve been in the ER. Our computers are acting up. I don’t want you to have to stand while you wait.”
Leland nodded his thanks and guided Anna to the conversation area in front of a faux fireplace.
She took a deep breath before beginning. “I should be mortified about all this, and on one level I am. On the other hand, I’m so grateful you were there. I don’t know what I would have done without your help. So I can’t be sorry. As for the questions the doctor was asking—”
“That’s none of my business.”
“You’re right, it’s not your business. But I’d like to explain because . . . well, I’m not sure why exactly. They say confession is good for the soul, don’t they?” She felt her smile tremble and hoped her expression wasn’t as shaky-looking as she felt.
For some reason it was important to her that he hear this. Since she didn’t expect to lay eyes on him again after tonight, her story felt anonymous. Like talking to the person beside you on an airplane and telling them things your best friend doesn’t know.
He watched her with unnerving intensity, his eyes holding a green fire that should have been intimidating. She appreciated that he wasn’t saying anything. This admission would be impossible with interruptions. She needed to speak the words quickly to get it over with. The problem was, she wasn’t sure where to start. Diving in seemed the best option.
She took a deep breath before speaking. “First of all, I’m not pregnant.”
When Leland’s face didn’t change with that declaration, she kept going. “After Zach was born, Max wanted another baby and initially I wanted to give him one. But after twelve years of fertility specialists . . .” Her voice trailed off as Leland’s eyebrows rose.
“I know, it’s a long time,” she said, reading the questions so clearly in his puzzled expression. “Along the way, our marriage disintegrated. Max wasn’t abusive, he just . . . disappeared.”
“Had he ever hit you before tonight?”
“No. He yelled a lot, a whole lot, leading up to when he moved out a few months ago. But until today I’d never thought he’d try to hurt me. When he got his own place, our relationship got better. His leaving took the pressure off. I’m pretty sure he was seeing someone else. He’d had affairs even before Zach’s diagnosis, but once he moved out it was ‘good riddance.’ By that time I didn’t care. It was such a relief to have him gone.”
Something about that seemed to bother Leland, but he didn’t comment. Instead, he asked another question. “Why was he was searching for you here exactly?”
She huddled into the sofa before she said anything else. “I never explained. It sounds so unreal, and given the fantastical events of the evening, I wasn’t sure how much more you would believe.
His piercing gaze never wavered. “I’m still here and I’m listening.” Both statements could be taken to mean he could leave or stop
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