Page 82 of Boxed In

“Do what you have to,” Luke answered.

Brand nodded and used a stretch bandage to hold the gauze in place. When he finished, he sat back on his heels. “Do you think you can you walk?”

“I hope so.”

oOo

“Give me the box,” Olivia said.

When he handed over the precious object without hesitation, her heart squeezed. He was showing his absolute trust in her.

“Thank you,” she whispered as she cradled the box against her middle.

He gave her a small nod. Then the guy named Brand helped him up, and his face went white. She moved to Luke’s other side, lending him more support as he hobbled to the SUV.

When they reached the vehicle, she stood back while the younger man eased Luke into the front seat, where he flopped down and sat with his head thrown back against the headrest.

“You can recline the seat.”

When Luke didn’t move, she adjusted the seat to make him more comfortable.

Olivia knew he had to be in shock. She wanted to sit beside him. But since Frank was driving, she slid into the back and reached over the seat, resting her hand on Luke’s shoulder as Frank climbed in and started the engine.

Carl was already in the far back area.

As they drove away, she looked up and down the street one more time. But it still appeared that nobody had been paying a lot of attention to the drama in the alley. Well, that was modern urban life.

“We have to get Luke to a doctor,” she said.

“We will.”

”Not a hospital!” Luke ordered.

“No. We sometimes work with the Light Street Detective Agency when we’re in Baltimore. They have a facility we can use.” He pulled to the curb and made a phone call. Olivia could hear him giving a brief description of what had happened, then listening to whoever was on the other end.

When he clicked off, he turned to Luke, “All set.”

“I do not know this Light Street Agency,” Luke said, his voice taking on a tone Olivia had come to recognize. Zabastian was being stubborn. But Luke must have told him it was okay, because after a few moments, he flopped back into the seat.

They drove through downtown and then into the Fells Point area. Frank took an alley to the back of a two-story red brick building that looked much like the others on the block.

A man and a woman came out, conferred with Frank, then helped Luke into the building.

Olivia followed behind into a room that looked like it was part kitchen and part hospital emergency room. They transferred Luke to an exam table.

“Who are you, exactly?” Luke demanded.

“I’m Doctor Miguel Valero,” the man answered. “And this is Nurse Rosa Sanchez.” Repeating Frank’s assurance, he said, “We sometimes work with Decorah Security. We’re going to take good care of you.”

Zabastian must have sunk into the background as Luke introduced himself. “Luke Garner. Sorry we’re meeting under these circumstances,” he said, obviously struggling to keep his voice steady.

“Yes,” the physician answered.

Olivia had heard of the doctor. She knew he was active in the Latin American community. But she had no idea that this place existed.

Luke looked around. “If this isn’t a hospital, what is it?”

“A facility where we do community medicine. But we also handle emergencies—when it makes sense not to get the cops involved.”

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