Page 69 of I'm Watching You

Her throat burned as she straightened and coughed. ‘Yes. I’m fine.’

Warwick didn’t lower his weapon. ‘Do you have him, Kier?’

‘Yes.’

Warwick called dispatch. ‘This is Detective Jacob Warwick. I need a patrol car at the county mental health building on Woodman Road.’ He waited as the dispatcher responded, ‘Right.’

Saunders struggled. ‘Let me go. That bitch won’t tell me where my wife is.’

Again Zack dug his knee into Saunders’s back. This time the guy flinched. ‘Don’t say another word.’ The menace in his voice chilled Lindsay and reminded her of a time when he’d been that furious with her.

Still, she’d never been happier to see anyone. ‘Thanks.’

Zack shot her a glance, swiftly assessing her. ‘Are you sure you’re all right?’ His voice sounded brittle.

‘I’m good.’

Warwick moved beside her. ‘Your neck looks bruised.’

The guy almost sounded concerned. ‘Like I said, I’m fine.’

Zack studied her for another beat and then turned his attention back to Saunders. He informed him he was under arrest for assault.

Saunders’s wrists strained against the restraints. ‘The bitch deserved it. She butted into my life.’

Zack jerked on the cuffs. ‘Shut up.’

Within seconds two blue-and-white patrol cars, lights flashing, pulled into the parking lot. The uniforms took custody of Saunders and put him in the back of one of the squad cars.

The reality of how close she’d come to a bad beating or worse sank in.

Zack rested his hands on his hips and stared at her. He kept his voice low but she heard the tension. ‘What happened?’

‘The guy’s name is Saunders. His wife was taken to Mercy Hospital yesterday. She had injuries consistent with a beating, so the doctor on call asked me to visit with her.’

‘That’s the appointment at the hospital you had.’

‘Yes. I spoke to Gail, this guy’s wife, and gave her my business card, but I didn’t think she cared about what I was saying.’ She nodded to the car where Burt sat in the backseat. He was glaring at her. ‘Ole Burt said she moved out last night. He found my card and figured I knew where to find her. And for the record, I don’t know where she is.’ She frowned. ‘She could have called me. But if she had,she couldn’t have gotten me at Sanctuary or on my cell, which is in my purse in my office.’

Zack tightened his jaw. ‘I’ll get your purse back today.’

‘Thanks.’ Lindsay watched with satisfaction as Saunders struggled against his cuffs in the squad car’s backseat. ‘Gail might not have been willing to file assault charges against him, but I have no problem with it.’

Zack moved away and spoke to Warwick. After several minutes of discussion, Warwick got in the front seat of the patrol car holding Saunders, and the car drove off.

The shrill of an ambulance siren had her cringing. The flash of red lights got closer and the ambulance turned into the parking lot. ‘Please tell me that ambulance isn’t for me.’

‘It sure is,’ Zack said.

She dragged a shaky hand through her hair. ‘I’m fine.’

He towered over her. ‘Easier to get an ambulance here than you to the hospital.’

His proximity made her uneasy. She’d always had trouble thinking when he was close. ‘I’ll go see my family doctor.’

Even, white teeth flashed. ‘Time has not made you a better liar.’

She tried to sound offended. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

---