Laura woke up the next morning ready for her last injection and to donate her stem cells, but she wasn’t looking forward to assuming another identity. Or leaving her life again. She abhorred the idea of returning to the program, but she knew she had no choice. Leaving WitSec would put everyone she loved in danger and that wasn’t an option.
She looked around the bedroom where she had stayed and made sure she had picked up all of her belongings. Her aunt came in, short gray hair coiffed perfectly. Her makeup was fresh and the silver jewelry she wore set off the navy pantsuit and red blouse.
The older woman finished attaching an earring, then moved over to Laura, sliding an arm around her shoulders to hug her. Laura returned the embrace. “Sydney’s here, so I’m going to take off. Is there anything you want me to tell your father?”
“That I love him.” She wished she could visit with him, but that wasn’t possible. Not after everything that had happened.
“Your appointment at the clinic is for ten o’clock this morning?”
Laura nodded.
“I’ll see you there.”
After a kiss on the cheek, Joy walked out to meet Sydney. Her aunt wanted to be present for Laura’s last injection and for the donation procedure. The other woman had to be relieved that this would be the last day she had to stay at Griffin’s or depend on Sydney for transportation.
Laura’s things were packed. There wasn’t much. Several sweaters and tops she’d bought after arriving, along with a couple of pairs of jeans and a pair of slacks. Plus her cosmetic kit. The dark circles under her eyes showed that she’d gotten very little sleep, so she had applied extra concealer.
From the window in her room, she could see the roof of Griffin’s barn. The barn where he’d told her about his friends. And where she’d first realized that she could have feelings for this man. Where her admiration of him had deepened.
“Ready?” Griffin’s voice came low and quiet from the doorway.
She nodded, giving the barn one last look before she turned to pick up the suitcase she’d bought when she had purchased the new clothes. Griffin beat her to it, lifting the bag effortlessly, lean muscles flexing in his arm.
She followed him to the garage and when he opened her door, she climbed into the SUV. As they pulled out of the driveway, she took in the U-shaped layout of the ranch house. Nestled in a shallow valley, it was surrounded by bare-branched trees and acres of land.
“You have a really nice place. Thanks for letting me stay.”
“You’re welcome.”
Neither of them spoke again until they reached the highway that would take them to the clinic.
The day was sunny and breezy. With temperatures in the high thirties, the wind was razor-sharp and Laura welcomed the heat in the SUV.
Griffin glanced over. “Have you already spoken to Yates?”
“Yes. We’re supposed to call him once the donation is finished.”
“Then he’ll meet us there.”
“That’s right.” Griffin signaled and crossed into the right lane. “Boone will meet us there, too. Both he and Sydney have agreed to provide backup.”
“That’s good.”
Just as he exited the Kilpatrick Turnpike to southbound Lake Hefner Parkway, his phone rang. He pushed a button and answered via the Bluetooth coming through the stereo system.
“Devaney?” Alex Morales’s voice was gravelly from fatigue.
“Yeah?”
“The nurse didn’t get home until early this morning and Harlan Thompson paid her a visit soon after.”
Laura’s gaze shot to Griffin’s.
He hit the button to increase the volume. “And?”
“I have pictures of them together.”
“Excellent!” Griffin threw Laura a hopeful look and she smiled, glad for the news but not really sure how much it would help. “Where is the nurse now?”
“She just went into the hospital. Looks like she’s working today.”
“Great. I’ll be by to talk to her again. Can you keep an eye on her until this afternoon?”
“Yes, and I’ll send you the pictures I took with my phone. The better-quality ones are on my camera.”
“Thanks. I’ll meet with you later for the other ones.”
“Will do. Also, I didn’t find any phone calls between the pastor and Arrico. Or the pastor and either of your other two suspects.”
“Okay, thanks.”
The men disconnected and Griffin smiled over at Laura. “That’s another lead I can follow. There may be something useful in the photos.”
“But I’ll be gone.”
“I know, but I’m not stopping until I connect Arrico to these murder attempts.”
“Do you think it will make any difference?”
“If I can take evidence of his involvement to a judge, I can prove he’s able to retaliate against you from prison. I think I have a good shot at getting him moved to solitary.”
“Would that help?”
“It would cut off a lot of his communication.”
“But he might still be able to finish what he started?”
“Maybe, but it would be much more difficult.”
“Thank you. I appreciate anything you can do.” Even though it would change nothing. For her safety and the safety of those she loved, she’d still have to give up her life.
There were no spaces available in the front, so Griffin chose a spot facing Portland Avenue, perpendicular to the center.
Sydney’s silver SUV was in a south-facing slot, as was Boone’s black Lexus sedan.
Laura unbuckled her seat belt. “Looks like everyone is already here.”
“They must be inside. Don’t get out. I’ll come to you.”
She waited for him to round the back of the SUV. As he came up the side of the vehicle, she saw him pull a Glock from his back waistband and double-check it. She couldn’t believe how many different guns he had. He opened the door and before she could move, he flipped up the collar of her black wool coat.
“It’s cold out here,” he murmured. Even he was wearing his thick sheepskin jacket.
Her jaw brushed his knuckle and she realized that he was still fingering her collar. “Thank you.”
Their eyes caught and held for a moment. Laura wondered what he was thinking. His gaze searched her face and she thought he would say something.
Instead, he stepped back, giving her enough room to move out into the brisk north wind.
“Brr!” The frigid air cut her face and she ducked her head into the neck of her coat.
Just as they stepped out from behind the SUV, a gunshot cracked the air. Laura screamed. Another shot ripped past her.
With one arm, Griffin shoved her back and pushed her to the ground, rolling her slightly under the vehicle and covering her body with his. He already had his gun out. “Stay down!”
Securely beneath him, she heard Griffin fire. She felt him shift slightly, probably aiming from a different angle.
Laura’s arms were pinned to her sides. All she could do was huddle into Griffin. A bullet hit the concrete beside her, shards of cement flying against her face. His weight crushed her and she tried to remain still.
He lifted up, firing twice in rapid succession. The noise echoed sharply in her ears. A battery of gunfire rained down. Laura flinched.
Glass shattered. People screamed and shouted. She could hear footsteps but couldn’t tell from which direction. A car alarm went off, the shrill blare coming from across the parking lot. Griffin and the unseen shooter were still firing.
Where were Boone and Sydney? Laura wondered. Was Aunt Joy all right?
In the far distance, a siren wailed. Inside, she shriveled. This was all because of her. Please, Lord, protect all of these people. Don’t let them be hurt because of Vin.
Another volley of gunfire erupted. Griffin shoved her even farther under him, then rose on one elbow and fired toward the roof. He shot again. A bullet flew past, grazing the concrete close to Laura’s head. Very close.
An abrupt silence descended. She didn’t dare breathe.
Griffin stayed still, his head turned in the direction of the gunshots. Laura could feel the tension in his body, the leashed power straining to erupt.
After a few seconds of quiet, there was a sudden onslaught of voices mixed with screams as people left the businesses in the area and came out to see what had happened. Only then did Griffin look down at her.
His mouth was tight, white around the edges. There was both concern and rage in his eyes. “You okay?”
“Yes.” His weight was heavy, but she didn’t care. “Are you?”
She heard murmurs and cries of alarm. Over them came Boone’s voice. “Anybody hurt?”
“Laura’s okay,” Griffin said.
The words were labored, as if he was short of breath, probably because he’d hit the ground so hard. She’d had the wind knocked out of her when he had pushed her out of harm’s way.
“The shots came from the roof.” Sydney sounded as if she was several yards away. “We’re headed up there.”
People ran past. From the corner of her eye, Laura could see feet, a small crowd gathering. Now that her heart rate was slowing down, she became aware of the cold. Sharp frigid air swirled around them, but the sun still shone.
A few seconds later, Boone yelled, “Side clear!”
From her position on the ground, she could see people milling about the parking lot, hear sirens getting closer.
A moment later, Boone hollered from up high, “Shooter down.”
“Sniper’s dead, Devaney!” Sydney called out.
“Good.” Laura tried to get a full breath. Reaction set in and she began to tremble. Thank goodness Griffin had been with her.
He eased up on one elbow to look at her, his windblown hair falling over his forehead. Sweat dotted his upper lip. His skin looked waxy. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Yes. Are you?” She held on for dear life, clutching him around the middle as if she were the only thing supporting him.
She loosened her grip and dragged her hands over his shoulders, patting and squeezing to make sure he was in one piece.
Without any warning, he slumped down on top of her, his eyes rolling back in his head.
“Griffin?” Her voice sounded loud in her ears. “Griffin?”
Something warm and sticky coated her right palm and her heart skipped as she lifted her hand to see. It was blood. Griffin’s blood.
“You’ve been shot!”
* * *
Minutes later it was a mass of chaos. People yelling and screaming, cars from the bordering streets stopping to gawk, other drivers honking angrily at them. Laura could smell the bite of gun smoke in the air, still feel the wetness of Griffin’s blood on her hand even though she had cleaned it off.
A police car at each entrance blocked access to the parking lot. An ambulance honked its way through the standing traffic and into the lot, the flashing lights a beacon to additional police who were arriving. Two paramedics elbowed their way through the gathering crowd.
Laura was on her knees beside Griffin, applying pressure to the wound.
He put a hand on her leg. “Is anyone else hurt?”
“No.”
“Ma’am, can you let us in?”
She rose and let the younger, stockier of the two men have her spot.
“What happened?” the same man asked. His name tag read Adams.
“He was shot. In the shoulder or back—I can’t tell.”
Adams and the other medic, Durant, backboarded Griffin in order to stabilize him.
Adams unpacked a bag of saline and inserted a needle into the patient’s arm. “Has he been conscious?”
“Yes, and woozy,” she answered. The cold she felt in her blood now had nothing to do with the arctic temperature.
The tall lanky Durant nodded to his partner. “Let’s get him on the stretcher.”
Laura wrapped her arms around her middle. “Do you think he’s going to be okay?”
“We’ll do the best we can, ma’am,” Adams answered, his dark eyes kind.
The EMTs transferred him onto the stretcher, then lifted him into the back of the ambulance. Durant climbed in first with Adams pushing their patient in the rest of the way. Durant moved into the front to drive.
Adams glanced back at Laura. “Are you his wife?”
“No, we’re just—”
“You can meet us at Baptist Hospital.”
“Please let me go with you!”
“Are you his fiancée?” Before she could answer, Adams motioned her inside. “You can ride in the back if you want.”
She started to get into the ambulance and was stopped by a hand on her arm. She looked over her shoulder to see Sydney.
“The cops need to talk to you,” the brunette agent said.
“Can they do it at the hospital? He has to go and I really want to go with him.”
Sydney looked at Adams. “Is he critical?”
“His vitals are okay, but we don’t know the severity of the gunshot. The doctors need to examine him.”
“Okay, thanks.” She turned to Laura. “Go. I’ll take care of it.”
“Thank you.”
“We’ll see you at Baptist.”
Laura climbed into the back of the ambulance and pressed against the wall, staying out of the medic’s way.
“Do you know his blood type?” Adams asked.
She shook her head. “I don’t.”
“It’s O neg,” Griffin said in a scratchy voice.
He was talking, still conscious. That had to be a good sign. The relief Laura felt made her sag against the wall.
The siren screamed and the vehicle rocked onto Northwest Expressway, speeding down the road until it reached the ambulance entrance on the northwest side of the hospital. She stayed out of the way as the EMTs lifted Griffin’s gurney out of the ambulance and rolled him into the ER.
“GSW,” Durant yelled as they entered the building.
A male and female nurse and a female doctor came running.
“He’s stable,” Adams reported.
“O negative,” Durant added.
The doctor gave a sharp nod. “Let’s get him to X-ray, see what we’re dealing with.”
The male nurse stopped in front of Laura. “Are you family?”
“I’m with him.”
“Wait here and one of us will be back out to tell you what’s going on.”
“Thank you.” Teeth chattering, suddenly aware of how violently she was shaking, Laura made her way to one of the chairs along the wall and sat down. Nerves had her getting right back up.
Her mind was a tangle of questions and desperation. Vin had sent the sniper. She didn’t know anyone else who would have. Maybe this incident would connect him to the other murder attempts. Could a link be traced now that the sniper was dead? Was Griffin going to be all right? How much blood had he lost? He’d been conscious. That was encouraging.
Tears blurred her vision and she walked over toward the far wall, away from the other people in the waiting area. The heating unit hummed quietly as she stared out the windows frosted from the cold.
He could’ve been killed.
This was the second attempt on his life. She needed to start her new life—fast. Once she went back into the program, Griffin would no longer be a target. Neither would anyone else.
* * *
Laura was safe. She hadn’t been shot or hurt by the sniper. That was all Griffin cared about.
She stood beside his hospital bed. The streaks of dirt and gravel on her black wool coat were from Griffin pushing her to the concrete and out of harm’s way. She had tucked her long hair behind her ear and he searched her face and neck for bruises. There were none. She had no cuts, wasn’t bleeding anywhere. She was a welcome sight with her flawless rose-and-cream skin.
“I’m okay,” she said as he checked her over. “You’re the one who was shot.”
“I wanted to see for myself that you weren’t hurt.”
“I’m not, thanks to you. I don’t know if the sniper was after me or you, but if it was me, thank you for saving my life again.”
“Since he missed me on the bike, he must’ve given up on the drive-bys.”
“Please don’t make light of it.” She had a pained expression on her face. In the fluorescent light, her eyes were very blue. And concerned.
“Sorry. I really am all right.”
“Are you up to talking to the cops?”
He nodded, increasingly aware of the searing pain in his left shoulder. Laura walked to the doorway and motioned someone inside. She hurried to the corner and picked up the remote to mute the television.
A balding chubby man wearing a rumpled black trench coat was the first inside with a dog-eared notebook. Griffin could easily imagine the man chomping on a cigar.
He looked to be about sixty with sharp dark eyes. His gaze took in Griffin’s bandage, visible beneath the thin gown provided by the hospital. “I’m Detective Starnes.”
A second man came in. This one was a tall rawboned younger man with red hair and a nicely tailored suit. He introduced himself as Detective Chapman.
He walked up the side of the bed to shake Griffin’s hand. “May we ask you some questions?”
“Sure.”
“We’ve already interviewed Miss Parker.” Chapman smiled over at her, dropping his voice. “And Marshal Yates.”
Griffin’s gaze shot to Laura and she nodded. So Floyd had told them about Laura being a protected witness. The marshal probably hadn’t had much choice with an investigation going on and it was best that the information had come from him.
“The shooter was dead at the scene,” the detective continued. “Did you get a look at him?”
“No. He was on the roof. My colleagues, Boone Winslow and Sydney Tate, should be able to identify him as the shooter. They found his body.”
“Yes, we spoke to them,” Starnes said. “We asked Miss Parker if she had any enemies and she named Vin Arrico. We’re familiar with the family.”
“I’m sure you are,” Griffin muttered. Probably starting with Vin’s father, Donnie.
Chapman rubbed the side of his nose, looking at Laura with unabashed admiration. “I remember your testimony at his trial.”
A funny sensation shot through Griffin and he hoped the man’s obvious appreciation was for Laura’s courage, not her beauty.
The detective brought his attention back to Griffin. “We understand Arrico has been harassing Miss Parker since her first night back.”
“Harassing is not a strong enough word. He’s been trying to kill her.”
“He has someone on the outside helping him,” Starnes put in. “Any idea who?”
“Nobody I’ve been able to pin down yet.” Which frustrated him no end. With what he had so far on Hughes, Inhofe and Thompson, the cops wouldn’t be able to pull any of them in for questioning. If he could tie any of them to the shooting today, that would change.
Chapman flipped through a small notebook that was filled with neat handwriting before asking Laura, “Your final injection is tomorrow?”
“It will be if the marshal agrees, then the donation of my stem cells.”
He turned to Griffin. “I guess your colleagues are handling her protection tonight if you aren’t able to.”
“That’s right.” Griffin shifted against the burn of agony in his shoulder. In the background, The Andy Griffith Show played on television.
The policemen asked several more questions and made sure they had the correct contact information for Griffin.
He gestured to the chair where his belongings had been laid out. “I have a card.”
Laura moved around Starnes, picked up Griffin’s sheepskin jacket and brought it to him. He reached in the side pocket and pulled out a business card. “If you have more questions, you can call or come by the office. All of my phone numbers are on there and so is Enigma’s address.”
“Thanks.” The older detective pocketed the card in his wrinkled black trench coat.
Chapman smiled. “I think we have what we need for now, Mr. Devaney. We’ll be in touch if we have other questions.”
He nodded. If they had questions after tomorrow, Laura wouldn’t be here.
The two men had barely walked out when a roly-poly nurse hustled in to check Griffin’s bandage. She wagged a finger at him. “Not too many visitors, young man.”
“That was police business, Daisy.” He’d seen her name tag as he’d been wheeled in.
“Mmm-hmm.” The black woman with an angel’s face pursed her lips. “There’s a United States marshal wanting to come in, but after that you need to rest. If your wound looks good when the doctor returns, you’ll be discharged tonight.”
“Okay.”
Laura smiled. “Aunt Joy will want to visit you before then.”
“You may have to run interference for me.” Seeing her smile, he realized it was the first time since he’d arrived at the hospital that her face hadn’t been pinched with worry and fear.
Yates peered into the room, cowboy hat in hand. Griffin motioned the man inside, but Floyd looked to Daisy before he entered.
“Yes, yes, c’mon,” she said, waving him in.
The marshal stepped into the room. “You don’t look too bad.”
Daisy stopped at the foot of the bed on her way out. “Three minutes, Mr. Marshal.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And you,” she pointed to Griffin. “I’m going to want this bed for someone who needs it.”
He grinned and looked over to see a faint smile on Laura’s face.
As the nurse left, Yates chuckled. “I can’t see anybody disobeying her.”
His gaze shifted to Griffin’s shoulder. “How much damage?”
“None to my tissue or muscle. I was lucky. It could’ve been much worse.”
“We need to talk about transporting Laura.”
“I can’t leave today!” she exclaimed.
The marshal frowned. “Seems to me this might be the perfect time. This place is crawling with cops. We should use the protection while we have it.”
“We never made it into the clinic. I haven’t even had my final injection.”
“You haven’t donated your stem cells?”
“No.”
“How will that affect your father’s transplant?”
“It shouldn’t. His doctor said it didn’t have to be performed the same day I donate. He has twenty-four to forty-eight hours to get my stem cells.”
Yates fingered his cowboy hat. “Can you do it right now?”
“Not here.”
At the man’s frown, Griffin said, “It takes a special machine.”
“And that’s at the clinic,” Laura added. “I might be able to get them to see me today, but I’d really like to make sure Griffin does all right overnight. I don’t want to leave until I know he’s settled at home. He’s taken care of me all this time. I need to return the favor. Besides, it’s only one night.”
“I don’t like it.” The man chewed the inside of his cheek. “The safest, smartest thing would be to get you out of here right now. You don’t know who Vin will send next.”
“Please, Floyd. Just tonight. I didn’t come all this way to fail my dad.”
“If it helps, my colleagues will be with her 24/7,” Griffin said. “Once we leave the hospital, we’ll go to my house. Arrico can’t get onto my property without the alarms sounding.”
After a moment, Floyd nodded. “The director trusted you enough to vouch for you and your ability to protect Laura. I guess that hasn’t changed.”
“Thank you, Floyd.” Laura came over to hug the man.
His hazel eyes found Griffin over the top of Laura’s head.
“You call me in the morning and we’ll work out our timetable.”
Floyd shook Griffin’s hand, then said goodbye.
Laura moved to the side of the bed. “I’m going for more coffee. Do you want anything?”
“No, but I would like to apologize.”
Her eyes widened. “For what?”
“That I can’t do more about stopping Arrico for good.”
“You’ve done everything you can.” There was no mistaking the sincerity in her face. “It’s not your fault.”
That wasn’t how it felt. It felt as if he were failing her just as he’d failed his team. “Still—”
“No.” She smiled, sadness lurking in her eyes. “You’ve saved my life more than once. That’s worth more than anything else. You’ve made it possible for me to still help my dad.”
She amazed him. He lifted her hand and brushed a quick kiss across her knuckles. “I wish you could stay.”
“So do I.”
He thought he saw a tear in her eye before she turned to pick up the half-empty coffee cup she’d used earlier.
Her hair swirled around her shoulders like black silk. He knew it felt like silk, too. He wanted to touch it just once more.
Suddenly the cup fell out of her hand. Brown liquid puddled and spread across the floor as she stood frozen.
“Laura?” Griffin’s gaze followed hers to the TV. A picture of Arrico and two other men in orange jumpsuits appeared on the screen with a warning crawl across the bottom: “Three men escaped last night from the federal penitentiary in McAlester. Authorities are still searching for them.”
Laura made a sound like a wounded animal. “Vin’s out. He’ll know to come to Oklahoma City. He may already be here!”
She sounded as if she was on the verge of panic. Even in the fluorescent light of the hospital room, he could see how pale she had gone. Her body trembled.
He sat up and held out his hand. “Come here.”
She came toward him, fear on her face. He covered her hand with his. “We’ll take precautions. Make sure Boone and Sydney know.”
Her eyes were huge and desperate as they searched his face.
“The local LEOs will be all over this, too. Looks like the report is several hours old.”
Her pulse jerked in her neck.
“We didn’t hear about it because we’ve been busy here. It will be fine. I won’t let him get to you.”
“I’m worried about him getting to you!”
“Before too long, we’ll be home. I imagine he found out from his goon that he can’t get into my house. You and your aunt will both be safe.”
She nodded, visibly trying to compose herself. “I can’t believe he’s escaped.”
“Even though he knows you’re in OKC, he probably doesn’t know you’re here at the hospital.”
“Right. That’s right.”
He squeezed her hand. “Okay now?”
“Yes, thanks.” She left her hand in his for a moment, then pulled away. “I better clean up this mess—”
“I’ll do it.”
She gave him an exasperated look.
“The wound is in my shoulder. I’m able to get out of bed and I can use my other hand to mop it up.”
“I don’t know.”
“Go on, if you still want coffee.”
She hesitated. “I’ll walk down to the waiting area and tell the others that you’ll be discharged soon. I can pick up coffee on the way and I’ll come straight back.”
“Sounds good.”
“Okay.” She waved to him from the doorway and disappeared.
What he’d said seemed to reassure her, although Griffin would feel better once she returned.
* * *
Laura made her way down the hall. Nurses hurried in and out of rooms and a custodian mopped the floor in front of the women’s restroom. She continued to the waiting area and saw Sydney, Boone and Joy. They all stood when she reached them.
“How is he?” they asked in unison.
“He’s doing well. The nurse expects him to be discharged once the doctor examines him.”
“I want to see him,” her aunt said.
“Can’t we all visit?” Sydney asked.
“The nurse said only one or two at a time. She just about ran Marshal Yates out.”
Boone nodded. “Sydney and I will wait. You go ahead, Joy.”
The older woman smiled a thank-you and joined Laura on the walk back.
“Is he really all right?” her aunt asked.
“Yes.”
Joy hugged her. “He saved your life.”
“I know. He’s pretty good at that.” He’d certainly had enough practice.
More than halfway down the hall, Joy stopped in front of the restroom. “I need to make a pit stop.”
Laura thought about continuing on for the coffee and meeting her aunt in Griffin’s room but decided she’d rather not be alone. Not with Vin on the loose. “I’ll wait for you out here.”
“I won’t be long.” The older woman disappeared into the ladies’ room and Laura waited for the janitor in the green scrubs to move away from the water fountain. Once he did, she bent over to get a drink.
A hard hand slammed over her mouth and another wrapped around her upper arm in a bruising hold.
“Hi, baby. Been looking for you.”
Vin! Laura’s knees almost gave out.
With a hand still over her mouth, he jerked her up with his free arm and shouldered his way through a stairwell door that was propped open with a mop bucket.
Laura kicked and flailed, her head snapping back into his face. He moved his hand to her throat and squeezed. And squeezed. Until black spots danced in front of her eyes.