Read Online Hidden in Shadows by Hope White - Free Book Online

protect women they’re interested in, honey. He’s cute.”
    â€œI hadn’t noticed.”
    â€œUh-huh.” Ruth placed the clipboard on the bed and pulled the gurney away from the wall.
    Ruth wheeled Krista out of the emergency room to the elevator.
    â€œI need to make a call,” Krista said.
    â€œAfter the scan.” Ruth glanced over her shoulder. “Don’t look now, but we’re being stalked.”
    â€œWhat? Who?” Krista leaned up on her elbow and glanced over her shoulder.
    Luke walked a couple of feet behind them. He shot her a comforting smile.
    â€œThat protective boyfriend of yours isn’t letting you out of his sight, is he?” Ruth pushed.
    â€œIt’s been a wacky twenty-four hours.”
    â€œI heard about the lavender garden sniffer and the Bender kid shooting out your windows.
    â€œHe didn’t shoot out the windows. Just fired off some rounds, I guess. And tonight someone broke into the shop.”
    â€œWhat for? Your hazelnut scone recipe?”
    â€œI have no idea.”
    â€œMcIntyre,” Luke said.
    Ruth glanced over her shoulder. “Sir, you can’t use a cell phone—”
    â€œWhen? How many? Hang on.” Luke rushed past Krista and pointed at the nurse. “Don’t let her out of your sight.”

SIX
    T wo of Garcia’s suspected henchmen were spotted boarding a plane for the States.
    Then who the hell broke into the tea shop and attacked Krista?
    â€œDestination?” Luke asked his boss.
    â€œChicago, so maybe it’s not related to your case.”
    â€œChicago, Detroit, they’re equidistant from Wentworth. But I’m afraid someone’s already here.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œIn addition to the attack last night, someone broke into the tea shop just now.” Luke glanced across the town square where city workers were putting up Christmas decorations. Krista was attacked, nearly killed, and yet life went on as if nothing had happened.
    â€œYou think one of Garcia’s men broke into the shop?”
    â€œCan’t be sure,” Luke said. “If not, and it’s someone from a rival drug organization, it could mean a drug war is brewing.”
    â€œTwo rival groups after the same thing. But what?”
    â€œI think her luggage is the key.”
    â€œStill missing?”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œI’ll put agents in Chicago on alert to find and tail Garcia’s men once they land. Is the woman all right?”
    â€œSays she’s fine, but they’re doing a CT scan to be sure.”
    â€œReady for backup?” Agent Marks said.
    â€œNot yet. More strangers in town will stir suspicion. I don’t want to scare off the local contact. He’s our best link.”
    â€œHave you gone through the list of people who went on the mission trip?”
    â€œWas about to when the tea shop was hit.” He’d been going over the list of names with the chief, flagging a few and forwarding them to the office for background checks. Then they got the call that the tea shop had been hit.
    â€œStick close to the girl. She’s our best lead.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    He pocketed the cell phone and glanced up at the gray sky. It smelled like snow.
    He hesitated before going back into the hospital, needing a minute to ground himself. Seeing Krista hurt, lying on the ground, had ripped open the old wounds. She shouldn’t have gone to the tea shop, especially without him. What was she thinking?
    She thought the girls were having problems setting the alarm and they needed her help.
    Krista was always thinking about others, helping others. Knowing this was her M.O., it was Luke’s job to put her first, make sure she was safe and protected.
    He’d take her home and set the ground rules: He was going to be her handyman whether she liked it or not. He would always be close, within arm’s reach when she went into work, to make sure she was