Page 70 of I'm Watching You

‘I know you. You’re not going to see a doctor. You’ll retreat back to your office, maybe eat a pack of Nabs, and drown yourself in work.’

Uncomfortable, she shifted. He’d hit the nail on the head. Still, pride had her denying it. ‘You’re wrong.’

The paramedics got out and shook hands with Zack. ‘Bill, good to see you.’

Bill was medium height, muscular, with ink black hair and a Cary Grant cleft in his chin. ‘You too, Zack. So what’s going on?’

Zack took Lindsay by the arm. His touch was gentle but unbreakable as he pulled her toward Bill. ‘Have a look at her. I just pulled a creep off her. He was trying to strangle her.’

Strangle.It sounded more frightening when Zack recapped the incident. Adrenaline fading, she felt her knees weaken.

Bill lifted his sunglasses. His green eyes were sharp as he leaned forward to look at Lindsay’s neck. ‘Some red marks that will likely lead to bruises. Come over to the back of the truck and sit down, so I can have a closer look.’

Lindsay didn’t argue. Saunders could have done real damage and she’d be a fool at this point to pass up a quick once-over from the paramedic.

Zack walked with her to the ambulance.

Bill opened the back of the truck and his partner climbed inside and removed a tackle box filled with medical supplies. With Zack behind her watching, Lindsay climbed inside and sat on the cot.

After donning rubber gloves, Bill turned her head from side to side studying her battered skin. ‘You’ve got some scratches and you’ll have a couple of fingerprint-size bruises in a few days. Can you swallow?’

Lindsay nodded. ‘Yes. My throat is fine.’

Bill pulled an alcohol swab packet from the tackle box and tore it open. ‘This might sting but I want to get those scratches cleaned.’

She winced when the alcohol made contact with her raw skin.

‘He grab you anywhere else?’ Bill asked.

‘No. Just the throat,’ Lindsay said.

‘Who did this to you?’ Bill asked.

‘Some guy who took exception to the fact that I encouraged his battered wife to leave him.’

Bill’s lips flattened into a grim line. ‘I thought I recognized you. I’ve seen you over at Mercy Hospital in the emergency room. It was a couple of months ago. You showed up to talk to a woman who had been beaten.’

‘Good memory.’ Lindsay held out her hand. ‘Lindsay O’Neil.’

Bill took her hand and grinned. The smile was warm, genuine, and she found her foul mood lifting. ‘Bill Kline.’ He wiped her neck a second time, his hand lingering close. ‘I work out of the station house down the road.’

The guy was flirting with her. And she felt flattered.

Zack pulled off his sunglasses. Dark eyes flashed annoyance. ‘Does she need to see a doctor?’

Bill’s gaze skipped between Lindsay and Zack. Realization that Zack wanted Lindsay to himself had Bill easing back a fraction from her. ‘A throat X-ray wouldn’t hurt.’

‘No,’ Lindsay said. ‘I’m fine.’

Bill took a last look at her neck. ‘If you have any trouble swallowing, get to a doctor immediately. Otherwise, aspirin and rest are the best medicine.’

‘Thanks,’ Lindsay said.

Zack nodded. ‘I’ll keep an eye on her.’

She scooted off the cot and hopped down onto the asphalt. ‘Thanks, fellows, I’m fine.’ As the paramedics packed up, she painfully started walking the quarter-mile toward the fast-food joint. She needed to sit down before her knees gave way.

Zack followed Lindsay as she made her way across the parking lot. She needed a cold soda and a couple of aspirin.

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