Page 7 of Dark Medicine

“He did,” she said quietly. Adam sensed it was a subject she did not want to discuss. Watching her features go from happy and light-hearted to sad was not something he wanted on his shoulders.

Fiona said nothing else on the long drive up to the national park. When they reached a turn-off where other hikers and runners parked, she opened the door and quickly sucked in a breath of cool, fresh mountain air.

Adam unfolded from her small car and stretched. It was beautifully clear. The mountains stretched out before them. The hills were covered in pink and purple heather, large granite boulders marring the sides of hills, drops of morning dew littered the fields glistening like diamonds in the sun. It was stunning, like a scene from a movie.

Fiona watched Adam take in the surroundings. She was glad that he liked the view. She knew it was her Irish pride, but she wanted him to like it.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she asked. He grinned at her and nodded. “Are you ready?”

“Lead the way,” he said, waving his big hand toward the trail.

Fiona started at a moderate pace, warming her legs and arms. Within ten minutes, she felt her adrenaline kick in and the need to kick it up a notch or two. Adam was close behind her, and she noticed that his breathing was even and sure. Impressive.

Kicking her heels, she picked up speed and moved around the curves of the trail easily. Following the bend around the large lake and the old Guinness house, she kept peeking over her shoulder to be sure she hadn’t lost Adam. He was still there, still running, and no problems keeping up. She was genuinely impressed now. Running was a passion, a necessity for Fiona, and any man in her life would need to understand it or become a part of it.

Fiona was easily keeping a six-minute mile, and they were probably five or six miles into the run. Adam was keeping up but hoped she didn’t do her full twenty today. He could keep this pace for ten or twelve, but twenty… no way!

The trail led to a narrow two-lane road, and Fiona stepped out with Adam catching up and running by her side. She smiled at him, and he smiled back, giving her a playful wink. As they approached the bridge, she swallowed hard as two men appeared from beneath the old stones.

“Fuck!” she whispered.

“Stay behind me,” said Adam, stepping in front of her.

“Well, well, lookie here, boys. Our hot little cunt of a redhead brought reinforcements.” A greasy-haired man of about forty with a heavy belly and nicotine-stained teeth smiled at the two. He was the leader, but Adam could tell he was all mouth and bumbling skill.

“We don’t want trouble,” said Adam, trying to avoid the inevitable. “Just let us pass.”

“Oh, you’ll pass, boyo, but she comes with us,” said the other man. Adam noticed a third man had moved behind him, holding a long wooden stick similar to a baseball bat.

“Yea, that’s not happening,” said Adam.

He turned sharply with a roundhouse kick landing his size thirteen shoe to the side of the man’s head. The man dropped as if hit by a boulder, his body making a loud thud against the paved road. The bat clattered to the road, and Fiona picked it up, holding it securely to her side.

The two men standing in front of them looked wide-eyed at Adam and then back at Fiona. The younger man looked at pork belly and shook his head.

“We should get outta here, Roman,” he said.

“Shut up! We don’t get paid without her,” he whispered.

It was all Adam needed to hear. He dodged forward, landing a hard right to the older man’s jaw, and then crushed his elbow to his nose. The man dropped, blood pouring from his mouth and nose, but he was out cold.

Adam turned quickly and swept his legs to the back of the younger man’s knees. He dropped hard, grunting and crying out from the pain.

“What the ‘feck! Just let me go,” he squealed.

“You’re going to tell me who wants Fiona and why,” Adam asked as he pressed his knee into the man’s chest.

“I… I don’t know who. Roman knows,” he said, looking at the bleeding man beside him.

“Why?” The man didn’t speak. He didn’t move, just looked at Fiona, terrified. “I asked you a question, asshole. Answer me, or I will fucking kill you right here.” He pressed his knee harder, and the man gasped for air.

“She’s a healer! They want her. For money…” he panted.

Fiona opened her mouth to protest, but Adam gave her a small shake of his head. She stared at him, wondering how he could have known. Her hands started to shake, and she realized that she was suddenly very cold, perhaps a side effect of shock. Adam had moved so proficiently and so perfectly, she hadn’t known what happened. He said he was a doctor. Did doctors in the Army move like that?

“Listen to me, you little shit,” said Adam, “you take a message to whatever piece of garbage is behind this. You tell him for me that no one touches Fiona. No one or they will answer to me.”

“Wh-who are you? Are you some hired American gun?” he asked.

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