Page 73 of Luke

“I don’t know…”

“Bryce, you will need protection. No one can be with you twenty-four seven, but Sam can have his deputies be with you on different shifts.”

“I need to call Luke.”

“Luke?” Rita asked.

“Luke McCallister. We’re… seeing each other, but he’s out of town right now.” A tear rolled down her cheek.

“I know Luke. Do you want me to call him?” Piper asked.

“No, I don’t want to worry him. He’d try to get back here as fast as he can, and I don’t want him to get hurt.”

“I understand. I’m calling Sam. You just sit here and relax.” Piper picked up the phone.

“But my job.”

“Is fine. I’m your boss. I’ll let them know you’re running late. You weren’t drawing any blood yet anyway. I was going to wait until next week for that. This week was to familiarize you with the hospital.” Rita touched her hand. “Do you want me to take Leah to the daycare? She’ll be safe there. No one without proper identification can take a child out.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Trust me. No one will get near her who isn’t supposed to be.”

“I don’t know. I’m too scared to leave her.”

“That’s fine. She can stay with you.” Rita smiled.

“Sam is on his way,” Piper said. “Let me get you a cup of coffee.” She walked out of the office.

Chapter Eleven

It seemed like forever, but was probably only twenty minutes, when Bryce saw a tall man in a khaki shirt with a badge pinned to it, enter the office. He wore jeans, cowboy boots, and hat. He nodded at her, then squatted down in front of her, and removed his hat.

“Ma’am? I’m Sheriff Sam Garrett. Tell me what’s going on.”

Bryce took a deep breath and told the sheriff everything, including the man she thought was following her this morning.

“Did you get a good look at him or the vehicle?”

“It was a blue mid-size Ford. I could see the emblem on the front of it. He looked to be tall, but I can’t be sure. He wore dark sunglasses. Oh, and I think he was partially bald.”

“That’s good. Did you see any front tags, by chance?”

Bryce gasped. “It was a Minnesota plate.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I lived there, I know that plate.”

“Great. Okay, let me call this in.” He stood, stepped from the office, and talked on his cellphone, then reentered the office.

“That was good information, Bryce,” Piper said.

“I didn’t think about it when he was behind me, but I remember it.”

When her cellphone buzzed, she jumped, then removed it from her purse. She looked at it to see Luke’s number.

“It’s Luke. I have to take this.”

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