Page 6 of Hollow Moon

It looked like he was about to lunge, and for a terrified moment, she fumbled behind her for the gun. Then she saw puzzlement in his dark eyes—followed by relief.

“You’re not one of them?” he gasped out.

“Who?”

“Drug lab guys.” As he flopped back against the ground, his eyes closing.

“What happened to you?”“

When he didn’t answer, she thought he might have lost consciousness. Finally he said, “Long story.”

“A drug lab out here?”

“Somewhere.”

She might have asked how far he’d run, but probably he didn’t know. And speaking would sap more of his energy.

She saw him drag in a breath and let it out. When he opened his eyes again, he blinked. It looked like he was making a tremendous effort to focus on her.

“Shit,” he muttered.

“What?”

“Can’t see straight.” He pressed shaky fingers to his forehead, breathing hard. “Get . . . away from me. I could be dangerous.”

“Why?”

“Hallucinations from the crap they gave me.”

“I’m not going to leave you out here. You’ve been shot.”

“Bullet went through my calf.”

“Lucky for you. But you still need the wound dressed—and antibiotics if you don’t want an infection.”

He grunted in acknowledgment.

As he lay with his eyes closed once more, she studied him. His shoulders were broad, his hips narrow, his male equipment impressive. She pulled her eyes away from his genitals and focused on his wound. Seeing the front of him, she knew he was correct. The bullet had passed through his flesh. Lucky for him.

“I want to check your leg,” she said, running her hand along his hair-roughened flesh.

“Doctor?”

“Nurse. There’s no obvious break in the bone.”

“If there were—I wouldn’t be here.” He breathed in and out again. “Stupid. Should have called for backup.”

“You’re a cop?”

“P.I.”

“We can talk later. I need to take care of you.” Thinking it would be easier to work out here than in the cramped confines of the tent, she turned. “Wait here,”

He managed a harsh laugh.

She stood and went back to the tent for the plastic box she carried with her on camping trips—since that time Campbell had tripped over a fallen log and whacked his shoulder on a rock. She’d had a hell of a time getting him back to the house.

She was sorry she’d let thoughts of her brother intrude. They hadn’t exactly been friends for a long time, and they needed to have a serious discussion. But not until she returned from this little vacation that had suddenly turned into an emergency.

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