Page 6 of Counter Attack

Nathan was sure all of this would make sense later. He glanced over his shoulder. Where was that ambulance? And where were the guys who were supposed to be protecting Alexis?

He no sooner had the last thought than a gray Malibu skidded to a stop behind his truck, and two plainclothes officers piled out of the car with their guns pulled. The two he’d seen at the Lemon Tree earlier. Parker and the shorter “bouncer type.”

“Drop your weapon,” Parker shouted. “And make sure I see your hands at all times.”

Kayla raised her hands, and Nathan laid his gun on the sidewalk and turned to face the detectives. “It’s me, Parker—Nathan Landry, Pearl Springs chief of police. Badge is in my jacket.”

A long moment passed as Parker squinted at Nathan. “He’s okay, Al,” he said, but the detective didn’t holster his gun as his partner knelt beside Alexis. “What are you doing in Chattanooga?”

“Taking care of a little business. The girl’s name is Kayla Jackson. She may have saved Alexis’s life.”

Parker holstered his gun. “Al Watkins and I are part of Alex’s team.”

Alexis groaned, and Nathan leaned closer to her.

“Hang on. An ambulance is on the way.” He should’ve followed her home when his gut first said so. If she didn’t make it, he would never forgive himself. He looked up as Watkins felt her wrist.

“When I took her pulse, it was faint but steady.” Nathan pulled off his jacket and put it over her. “Do you have a blanketin your car? The ground is cold. Don’t want her going into shock.”

“Should be something we can use.” Watkins stood and jogged to their Malibu while Parker approached the gunman.

“Kayla thought he was dead.” Nathan looked around for her. She’d walked to the bus stop bench and sat hunched over.

Parker felt the shooter’s wrist. “She was right. Do you know what happened?”

“Not really. Kayla can tell you more than I can.” Nathan pinned a hard stare on the detective as sirens approached from a few blocks away. “Where were you guys?”

Parker blanched. “Standard practice with Alex is not to follow too closely, so we made a trip around the block.”

“And I took a wrong turn,” Watkins said as he handed Nathan a corner of the blanket and helped him spread it over Alexis. The detective jerked his hand toward the subdivision they’d come from. “It’s a maze in there.”

Before Nathan could tell them what he thought, Alexis’s eyes fluttered open. “Nathan?” she whispered.

“I’m here.”

She turned toward his voice, and her intoxicating blue eyes locked onto his. “Somehow ... I knew you would be.”

His heart stuttered in his chest as she looked at him the way she had years ago. He gently cradled her hand in his. “You’re going to be all right.”

“Kayla ... is she...”

“She’s fine.”

“Saved my life.” She closed her eyes. “I’m so cold.”

It was hard to hear over the approaching sirens, and he leaned closer to her ear. “Hang on, help is here.”

Her eyes flew open. “The man ... did you get him?”

“He’s not going anywhere. Paramedics are here, and I’m gonna have to move, but I’ll see you at the hospital.”

“Don’t call Gramps ... it’s late. Wait till morning.”

“Alexis, you know—”

She gripped his hand. “Promise me you won’t call him tonight.”

“You’ll have to move out of the way.” The paramedic’s voice was firm as he handed Nathan the jacket.

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