.38 Caliber Cover-Up

“Darby, your dad is waiting.”

She kissed her brother’s cheek, pushed his hair off his forehead and stared at them. “From the look you’re both giving me, I’m assuming you’d like me to leave.” She punched in a number and lifted the phone to her stubborn little ear. “I’m staying with him as long as possible. You two talk outside.”

Proof that she could take orders or even listen to suggestions. Yeah, right.

“Standing around here is a huge risk to us.” The Medic backed out of Darby’s hearing. “It’s not only risking O’Malley. Our entire operation is in jeopardy, especially with Pike gone.”

“Drop it. You know we don’t have a choice. That’s why you’re here.” He watched a soundless Darby hang up and then stroke her brother’s cheek, whispering something he couldn’t hear. He lowered his own voice. “The family doesn’t know why we rescued O’Malley and I want to keep it that way.”

“It was too easy to get to the kid in that hospital. Anyone could have killed him. You proved he was vulnerable and at risk.”

Erren’s level of “uncomfortable” was off any scale he’d used before. Darby’s brother was a necessity. He may be a major part of the problem or the only person holding the solution.

No matter what, Erren had decided to keep Darby close to him. She seemed to be as much a part of the answer as her brother.

The Medic nodded and gestured, waving his hands like a traffic officer. “Let’s go. You guys have a train to catch.”

Damn it, they did need to get out of there, but he tapped on the window holding one finger up. “She needs a minute.”

That’s all they could afford for her to stay with her brother.

“Have you thought about the consequences of getting tangled with her?”

“I am not tangled.”

“You do realize we’re still standing outside the loading dock, trying to escape with a prisoner, right?” the Medic pointed out. “What if the brother is guilty? What are you going to do then?” He was not involved with Darby. She knew that. He knew that. No matter how first-rate the kissing. He had a duty. A promise.

“Pike’s murderer is still out there. I know my responsibilities.” And one of them was to keep her safe. They were taking too long. “Son of a…” He slammed the back doors shut, closing Darby inside and rounding on the Medic. “Get in the van. Now. I don’t care who’s watching us leave with you.”

It would be a short ride to the next rail stop, but he received a soft smile from Darby as a thank-you. She needed the time with her brother. It might be a while before she saw him again.

“Are you thinking with that organ in your chest instead of that thing you call a brain?” the Medic asked. “She’s going to get you in serious trouble.”

“Why don’t you keep that thing you call a trap shut?” He didn’t want to admit the Medic was even close to spouting the truth. Ignore. Evade. “Where are you stashing O’Malley?”

“In plain sight at the VA hospital down the street,” he said. “I’ll have him in a room before they know he’s missing at Parkland. Thought you didn’t want to know.”

“I didn’t want Darby to know. She’s a terrible liar.” He pushed his hair away from his face, keeping his hands behind his head, trying to think. “Stay in touch with Thrumburt. You’ll be with Michael 24/7?”

“That’s what you asked. Not a problem.”

“One last thing.” Erren watched the other man for his reaction. “Any idea where the hell this damn package is?”

“No clue what you’re talking about, man. Make this quick. I roll in less than five.”

The van pulled beside the Sergeant Major and Sean, who waited at a DART Rail park and ride. Sean stood with his arms crossed tight over his chest, but met them at the back of the van. The Sergeant Major had a small towel, which he had been using to polish the broad, black stripe on the hood of a classic baby-blue Mercury Cougar.

“Paladin,” the Sergeant Major acknowledged.

“Sir.” Erren walked to him. “Nice car.”

“I like it.” He slapped Erren on the shoulder—a bit more friendly than the day before. “The kids think it’s too retro. Plates were borrowed with the permission of my neighbor.”

The man was different. Lighthearted. Smiling. Whatever Darby had said to convince him of Michael’s innocence had lifted years from the man’s disposition.

“It’s a ’70 or ’71 Cougar?” He slid an envious hand over the shiny hood. “She got a 230 or 390 horsepower?”

“Seventy and the 390. So you know cars.”

“Had a ’67 Ford Ranger, found a 427 Cammer for the engine. Never got to finish her though.”

“Transport is leaving,” the Medic said.

Darby climbed out of the van without the wig hiding her gorgeous red hair, and Sean climbed in. Their father squeezed Erren’s shoulder a couple of times in gratitude.

“I’m keeping you at your word, son.”

Erren knew what he meant. Keep Darby safe.

“Enough about the cars already. Michael’s set to go.” Darby used that cute lift of her eyebrow and a smile to soften her words. She hugged her father like it was the last time she’d see him. Maybe she believed that. Maybe it was true. “Thanks for believing me, Dad.”

“I always believe you, Darb’tagnan. Always.” He pulled her back into his embrace. When he let her go, he didn’t look in their direction, but his hand swiped at his cheek a couple of times before he got in the van and closed the doors. Erren touched the middle of Darby’s back to remind her without words it was time to go.

Once in her father’s retro Cougar, Erren raced the engine. “Now that,” he said, listening to the engine rev, “is a thing of beauty.”

“Where do we go from here?”

“I’m not sure,” he answered. He left the parking lot headed away from the hospital.

“I thought you were the man with all the answers.” Darby looked in the direction of the ambulance. “Excuse me, I forgot. Doctor McCoy is merely the man who is a doctor and not a miracle worker.”

They stopped at a red light and he caught her hand in his, lacing their fingers together. The physical contact reacted with the rush he had from succeeding. Dangerous. The operation wasn’t over by a long shot.

“You were great in there, Nurse Chapel.” He didn’t release her hand.

“That was amazing how you looked three inches shorter.” She didn’t pull her hand away.

“I’ve had some practice.”

“I want to thank you for helping my family.”

“Not necessary. You know I have my reasons.” No more lies? Could he afford to be honest about his motivation before they found the package?

The highway beckoned, but he took roads heading north, following a roundabout path to nowhere. One problem conquered. The next wasn’t too complicated, just undecided. “Guess we need some more clothes and a place to lie low until we figure out where to look for the package.”

“Any chance we could get into the house? Michael crashed at my old apartment a couple of times. I moved the things he left behind.”

“I got inside without the cop out front knowing.” He smiled at her and after he faced the road again, he realized the smile was genuine, not calculated. That reaction was happening more and more often with this woman.

“Do you know how to get there?” She patted his arm in a comforting, thank-you sort of way.

“Yeah, I can find it.”

His body’s reaction to her simple pat wasn’t a surprise. His adrenaline level was ramped up and he’d wanted her since the moment they’d met. The desire hadn’t stopped when they were in danger, at a safe house or during an actual op. Nope, the desire was natural. The admiration he had for her made him swallow hard.

That should have him running as far and as fast as he could.

He needed to keep his mouth shut and not say anything or he might admit his admiration for the great job