Page 126 of Close Pursuit

Two more of Natasha’s men emerged cautiously from the office, AK-47’s at the ready. They scanned the destroyed windows and crab-stepped to their fallen comrades. One of them knelt and tore off the shot guy’s pant leg and used it to bind his wound The shot guy howled even louder than Dawn.

Last of all, Natasha peered out of the office, her gaze finally coming to rest on Katie. “Who in hell are you?” she breathed.

In the tomb-like silence, her voice carried easily to Katie, who replied, “I’m a nurse…with friends.”

“And with fucking enemies,” one of Natasha’s men growled from beside the lowest hanging body on the ropes. He gestured at the limp corpse and spat out, “Spetznatz.”

Natasha sagged against the doorframe. Katie didn’t hear the words, but she saw the woman mouth the words, “I’m so screwed.”

Everyone jumped as Natasha’s cell phone rang. The woman put it to her ear and didn’t bother to speak. She listened in silence and, woodenly, disconnected the call.

“FBI?” Katie asked sympathetically.

Natasha stared over at her emotionlessly. “They want to send in a doctor to make sure you and the kid are unhurt and not in need of medical care.”

“Have them bring in some clean diapers and a couple of bottles,” Katie suggested lightly. Her heart leaped. If the FBI was outside, then her and Dawn’s odds of surviving had just gone up mightily.

Are you out there, Alex?

Katie held her breath as the wrangling over conditions under which a doctor would be allowed to visit were hammered out between Natasha and the FBI. Why the woman didn’t just give up and throw in the towel, Katie couldn’t fathom. But the Russian woman held out, negotiated like a shark, giving up each inch grudgingly.

If Katie weren’t certain that a hundred armed FBI agents had this place surrounded, she would guess the woman was closing a tough real estate deal, given how Natasha was haggling.

But at long last, an agreement was reached. And none too soon. Dawn’s diaper felt like a full water balloon, and the baby was hungry and mad in no uncertain terms.

A slash of sunlight cut across the floor of the warehouse as a small side door opened to admit a large profile. The doctor stood patiently while Natasha’s man frisked him and searched his medical bag. The visitor walked forward slowly.

Katie was shocked to recognize the face.André Fortinay! She wasn’t sure she should show recognition of him, so she followed his lead and nodded formally at him as he approached.

“Miss McCloud?” he asked loudly enough for Natasha and her men to hear.

“That’s me.”

“I’m Doctor Fortinay. I’m here to make sure you and the baby are unhurt and render any medical assistance you might need. Have either of you been shot or in any way injured?”

“Not to my knowledge,” Katie replied.

“Would you mind if I examined the two of you and ascertain that for myself? It was agreed upon that I would do so.”

Katie nodded and held Dawn out to the man. What she wouldn’t give for him to turn around and carry the baby out of here to safety! Of course, her own life wouldn’t be worth a plug nickel after that. She had no value to anyone. Apparently, all this insanity was about the baby.

“Are Alex and my brother okay?” she asked low and urgent.

“Yes.”

She sagged in relief as Natasha yelled and charged toward them. “No talking!” the Russian woman shouted.

Katie’s boss unwrapped Dawn’s blanket, while the Russian woman looked on angrily from a range of about a dozen feet. The brief examination only made the irritable baby more annoyed. Her whole tiny body was flushed and vibrating with anger. “Excellent lungs,” he commented dryly.

He reached out and laid his hand on the infant’s tummy, but from behind him, Natasha barked, “No physical contact! That was the deal.”

Dr Fortinay glanced up and removed his hand. Katie was startled to see that in his palm, he had lifted away the small, desiccated remnant of Dawn’s umbilical cord, which had been about ready to fall off, anyway. On cue, Dawn howled anew.

Poor sweetie. She’d been through so much in her short life. Katie just wanted to get her home and surround her in safety and calm for the next eighteen years or so.

Doctor Fortinay reached into his medical bag and came up with a baby bottle. He held the bottle out to the baby who latched onto it angrily and sucked furiously.

He passed Katie a stack of disposable diapers as well. “I believe these were also part of the agreement,” he said loudly enough for Natasha to hear clearly.

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