Read Online Lone Defender (Love Inspired Suspense) by Shirlee McCoy - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Shirlee McCoy
Ads: Link
to be allowed access to the site where Skylar’s jeep had been found. Not expecting that he’d find a woman alive, but expecting that he could at least help a friend in need find closure.
He had found Skylar alive, though, and he planned to make sure she stayed that way.
“I’m hoping you can help me find a patient that arrived by chopper a couple hours ago. Skylar Grady.” He kept his voice even and his expression pleasant, and the receptionist finally looked up.
“You mean the woman who was missing in the desert for a week?”
“That’s the one.”
“She’s been admitted. Are you a friend or family member?”
“I’m Jonas Sampson. I—”
“You found her. I guess that makes you a friend. She’salready been admitted.” She typed something into the computer, read the information that popped up on the screen. “Room 432. Visitation is limited, so check in at the nurse’s station before you go in.”
“Thanks.” He hurried through the emergency room, pulling out his cell phone as he went. He needed to call Kane, let him know Skylar had been found.
“Dougherty here. You have news?”
“You were right. Skylar is too stubborn to die.”
“You found her?” The relief in Kane’s voice was unmistakable, and that feeling Jonas had, the one that said he was doing what he was meant to be doing, using his skill the way he was meant to, settled deep, surprising him. He hadn’t had that in a long time. He’d forgotten how good it felt. An instant later, he pushed the feeling away. This wasn’t his life anymore. This was just a favor to a friend. He couldn’t let it be anything more.
He’d found Skylar and now he was going to make arrangements for her to fly back to New York, just like he’d promised in the first place. Then, all of this would be over.
Yeah, right. As if it would really be that easy.
“We’re at Phoenix General Hospital.”
“Is she okay?”
“She should be. I’m heading up to her room now. I was held up by the police and haven’t seen her since she arrived.”
“Police?”
“We’ve got a problem, Kane. A big one. Whatever you sent Skylar here to do, she’s in it deep. Deep enough that someone wants her dead.” He filled in Kane on what little he knew, explained what had happened in the desert.
“I sent her to find a guy who owes back child support. That shouldn’t be enough to bring out a posse. I want her on the next plane back to New York. Tell her I’ll send a couplepeople out to track down Redmond and figure out what’s going on.”
“I’ll tell her.” But he doubted she’d listen. Sick as she’d been, she’d climbed a hundred and fifty feet straight up, walked all night, and managed to fight Jonas most of the way while she was doing it. She wasn’t going to turn tail and run because Kane said she should.
“She’s going to refuse, so you’re going to have to find a way to convince her.” Kane said exactly what Jonas was thinking.
“Me? You’re her boss. It seems like you should be the one to convince her.”
“And it seems to me that you’ve run short on backbone.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were afraid to face down a 120-pound woman.”
“Nice try, Kane, but we’re not college students anymore. You can’t convince me to do something by calling me chicken.” He punched the elevator button, anxious to get up to Skylar’s room, make sure she was okay.
Make sure she was there.
Based on what he’d seen out in the desert, he wouldn’t be surprised if she was planning an escape.
“I figured as much, but I had to try. The truth is, there’s no way Skylar is going to listen to me.”
“But you think she’ll listen to me?”
“You saved her life. That has to have some value.” Jonas got on the elevator, wished things would be as easy as Kane was making them sound.
Go up to the room.
Convince Skylar to leave town.
Go back to his life.
“Guilt value, you
He had found Skylar alive, though, and he planned to make sure she stayed that way.
“I’m hoping you can help me find a patient that arrived by chopper a couple hours ago. Skylar Grady.” He kept his voice even and his expression pleasant, and the receptionist finally looked up.
“You mean the woman who was missing in the desert for a week?”
“That’s the one.”
“She’s been admitted. Are you a friend or family member?”
“I’m Jonas Sampson. I—”
“You found her. I guess that makes you a friend. She’salready been admitted.” She typed something into the computer, read the information that popped up on the screen. “Room 432. Visitation is limited, so check in at the nurse’s station before you go in.”
“Thanks.” He hurried through the emergency room, pulling out his cell phone as he went. He needed to call Kane, let him know Skylar had been found.
“Dougherty here. You have news?”
“You were right. Skylar is too stubborn to die.”
“You found her?” The relief in Kane’s voice was unmistakable, and that feeling Jonas had, the one that said he was doing what he was meant to be doing, using his skill the way he was meant to, settled deep, surprising him. He hadn’t had that in a long time. He’d forgotten how good it felt. An instant later, he pushed the feeling away. This wasn’t his life anymore. This was just a favor to a friend. He couldn’t let it be anything more.
He’d found Skylar and now he was going to make arrangements for her to fly back to New York, just like he’d promised in the first place. Then, all of this would be over.
Yeah, right. As if it would really be that easy.
“We’re at Phoenix General Hospital.”
“Is she okay?”
“She should be. I’m heading up to her room now. I was held up by the police and haven’t seen her since she arrived.”
“Police?”
“We’ve got a problem, Kane. A big one. Whatever you sent Skylar here to do, she’s in it deep. Deep enough that someone wants her dead.” He filled in Kane on what little he knew, explained what had happened in the desert.
“I sent her to find a guy who owes back child support. That shouldn’t be enough to bring out a posse. I want her on the next plane back to New York. Tell her I’ll send a couplepeople out to track down Redmond and figure out what’s going on.”
“I’ll tell her.” But he doubted she’d listen. Sick as she’d been, she’d climbed a hundred and fifty feet straight up, walked all night, and managed to fight Jonas most of the way while she was doing it. She wasn’t going to turn tail and run because Kane said she should.
“She’s going to refuse, so you’re going to have to find a way to convince her.” Kane said exactly what Jonas was thinking.
“Me? You’re her boss. It seems like you should be the one to convince her.”
“And it seems to me that you’ve run short on backbone.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were afraid to face down a 120-pound woman.”
“Nice try, Kane, but we’re not college students anymore. You can’t convince me to do something by calling me chicken.” He punched the elevator button, anxious to get up to Skylar’s room, make sure she was okay.
Make sure she was there.
Based on what he’d seen out in the desert, he wouldn’t be surprised if she was planning an escape.
“I figured as much, but I had to try. The truth is, there’s no way Skylar is going to listen to me.”
“But you think she’ll listen to me?”
“You saved her life. That has to have some value.” Jonas got on the elevator, wished things would be as easy as Kane was making them sound.
Go up to the room.
Convince Skylar to leave town.
Go back to his life.
“Guilt value, you
Similar Books
