Allen took one look at Izzie and knew something had happened. He’d just finished in surgery. By the time he’d gotten to the ER, people were buzzing.
Shots fired.
Close.
Izzie was covered in blood.
“Izzie!” He stepped toward her instinctively, hands already reaching for her, not hesitating to think about the people watching them.
Then his gaze landed on the man behind her.
On a familiar woman held close to Jake’s chest. “What happened?”
Shelby lifted her head off Jake’s shoulder. “I’m ok, Allen. I-I could have walked.”
Annie was there, a wheelchair at the ready. “What happened?”
“Drive-by,” Izzie said quietly. “Shot out the front windows of W4HAV. Shelby was closest and was grazed. Plus, there’s glass imbedded. She’s lost a lot of blood, so Jake carried her here.”
Annie helped Shelby into the wheelchair even though Shelby was protesting that she could walk.
Shelby was embarrassed by all the attention. Overwhelmed.
At least Allen hadn’t totally freaked. Izzie followed behind Annie.
A hard arm around her waist stopped her. “Not you.”
She turned and looked into her uncle’s eyes. “Jake…”
“She’s got people with her. I want to talk to you. I have questions about what in the hell is going on over there.”
“You know someone else has to be the one to interview me. I’d prefer Callum. He has dreamy eyes.”
“I still want to know exactly what happened. Now.”
“There isn’t much to say, Jake. Shelby, Margo and I were finishing up. We were waiting for Tarra. She’s another attendant for W4HAV. I…Margo and I didn’t want to leave Shelby there alone yet. So we were waiting. Margo was getting supplies out of the side office. Shelby was near the windows, and I was closer to the desk.”
“What time were you supposed to leave? Who do you think was the target of this? You? Or her?”
“I don’t know. W4HAV, maybe? The charity manages to really piss people off sometimes. Are you sure this doesn’t have anything to do with your case?”
“I love you, kid. You have to stop scaring me like this; I didn’t raise you to have adventures. Remember?”
“I’m fine. Shelby was scared witless. Poor kid.” Izzie’s arm stung; she looked at it. She had glass in her own arm. She hadn’t realized that. It was above the cast.
There was even glass stuck in the cast. Great. She’d have to get someone to help her get it out. Or she’d end up ordering yet another cast for herself in the morning.
“Kid? Isn’t she older than you or Annie?”
“A year or so. How did you know that?”
“We’ve met before. A time or two.”
Yeah, right. He’d probably investigated Allen from his head to his toes, and learned all about the man’s only living family.
“She…well, W4HAV deals with trauma. This will bring up memories she’d probably rather forget, Jake. She’s a very sweet, very sensitive person. Be gentle, will you? Don’t make it worse for her.” A man as direct as her uncle, as imposing—he’d terrify Shelby right down to her toes. “You…you’re everything that scares her. It’s taken Allen this long to help her heal. Don’t ruin that.”
“What are you not telling me?”
“I’m not going to gossip. Just…be kind. She’ll need that. Make sure no one comes on too strong from the TSP especially.”
“What are you saying?”
She didn’t want to violate Shelby’s privacy at all, but… “The man who caused Shelby’s trauma four years ago was TSP.”
Her uncle flinched. “I see. I’ll do what I can.”
“I’m holding you to that.”