Page 45 of The Sheriff & the Nurse

His grin widened, his blue eyes sparkling and full of her. “I’m hoping you never will.”

Her own eyes widened. He was going to pursue her and talk to Walker. That was what all of this meant, right? Or was he only trying to reassure and distract her from the horror of what they’d found out at lunch?

“Me too,” she admitted.

“Much obliged.” He tipped his head to her, his hat still in his hand.

She walked on unsteady legs to the door, swiping her card and buzzing in. Glancing back, she saw he was watching. His gaze was reassuring.

As soon as the door closed, she felt decidedly unsteady. She said a prayer and walked away, determined to focus on work.

The next five hours dragged by. They weren’t very busy with only two moms in labor. She restocked supplies, disinfected and cleaned equipment, checked on her moms, and prayed a lot. Fear lodged in her chest. She’d been afraid of what Dr. Hampshire might do to her grandma, but she hadn’t had this terrifying darkness and heaviness pressing down and making it hard to get a full breath. Where was that man who’d murdered Mary Fonnesbeck and her parents? It was surreal that a murderer was targetting Lily and had left that disturbing poster in her house. Thank heavens for Clint or she would be hyperventilating right now.

“Lily,” Jana said. “Why don’t you head out? You seem worn out, and it’s almost seven. I’ll brief the incoming nurses.”

“Okay.” Normally she’d wait and introduce her patients to their new nurse, but she was overwhelmed emotionally and physically right now. She walked into the room of the one patient she had and said goodbye, wished her and her husband a happy and safe delivery. They thanked her and she headed for her locker and grabbed her purse.

Pulling out her phone, she texted Clint.Leaving a bit early. I’ll wait for you in the waiting room.

Already on my way in. Can’t wait to see you.

Ah, that was reassuring. He could hear everything she said and was on his way. More importantly, he couldn’t wait to see her. She wanted to be home, in Clint’s house and in his arms.Her fear and exhaustion would flee then for sure. Thank heavens she had tomorrow off.

She said goodbye to her friends, buzzed out, and walked into the waiting room. She paced circles as she waited for Clint. He’d be coming any minute. Had he gotten held up with a phone call? She was tempted to walk down the stairs to meet him, but she said she’d wait for him here.

The elevator buzzed open behind her. She turned to look. Her eyes widened and she instinctively backed up. “Jacob?”

He wasn’t the murderer. She knew that. He didn’t look anything like the murderer. But when his lips curved into a smile and he darted forward and grabbed her arm, she screamed.

He clamped a hand over her mouth and dragged her back into the elevator. Lily kicked and flailed and hit at him. It slowed but didn’t stop him. He pushed the button for ground floor and the elevator doors shut.

Jacob held her fast, one hand clamped over her mouth, one around her chest like a vice grip. Clint would’ve heard her scream but she wanted to say the code word too. Make certain he knew she was in mortal peril.

She fought Jacob and tried to reach the panic button on the elevator wall. It was just a few inches away, but she couldn’t quite get there.

Her mind scrambled, trying to think what to do. She knew there were cameras all over the hospital; too many for them to pay attention to all of them. Had her friends heard her scream? Nobody had come.

Most importantly, where was Clint? He wouldn’t let Jacob hurt her. Was Jacob the murderer? That made no sense; he didn’t look like Landon Trupp.

“Now, Lily. You’re going to walk out of the hospital quietly with me and not make a fuss.”

She screamed against his hand, scratching at him and fighting to be free.

“You will. Or your parents are done.”

He released his grip around her chest and lifted a small device that looked like a bomb detonator. She had no clue what a real-life detonator looked like, but she’d seen them in movies.

She stopped resisting. Jacob was the murderer. No doubt about it now. Her legs weakened and chills pricked at her skin. He’d kill her parents and whoever else might be at the house tonight.

The elevator door dinged and opened. Jacob released her mouth, took her hand, and walked swiftly, skirting the open foyer of the hospital and heading for the back entrance. Lily was too terrified for her parents to think of defying him.

She could only pray Clint was listening in and would find her, stop this madman before he raped and killed her and blew up her parents’ home.

Chapter

Thirteen

Clint heardLily’s friend say she should leave early. He finished texting Aiden’s tech team. They hadn’t found anyone at the hospital or in Kalispell for that matter who matched Landon Trupp yet, but they were searching diligently. Jacob Wildman was the only match that fit the age range, and he was an anesthesiologist who had moved to town recently. Unfortunately, there were no other red flags in any other area. Jacob had graduated from Stanford. He’d grown up in foster care, so he had no family to check with. Aiden’s guys confirmed he’d worked at a small hospital in Nebraska before relocating a couple months ago to Kalispell. Model employee. Kept to himself. No issues.

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