Page 9 of Code Trauma

The officer nodded and walked to the nursing station. With a few taps on the keyboard, he logged into the software and soon had the footage playing. “There’s Holly,” he said. “And there. The person caught the door just before it closed.”

Andy sighed. “No badge necessary. Thanks.”

“Yep.”

Andy looked up to meet her gaze. “You ready?”

She nodded. Then winced. “Remind me not to do that.”

He led her out of the hospital and to his truck. “Let me drive you home. We’ll get your car later.”

She hesitated, then shrugged. “Sure.”

“Who would do this to you, Holly?”

“I don’t know. At least, I’m not sure.”

“Penny told me about the threats. I’m going to call the sheriff and find out all I can, and we’ll get to the bottom of this.”

“I’ve already reported it to Sheriff Lewis as well as Dr. Kirkpatrick, but you’re welcome to talk to him.”

Andy shot her a look as he climbed into the driver’s seat. There was something in her tone that held a chill. A distance. He swallowed. Not that he blamed her. They rode in silence for the next ten minutes until he pulled into the parking space in front of her home. She lived in a three-bedroom townhome not too far from the hospital.

Andy slid out of the truck and walked around to the passenger side. After he helped her from the vehicle, Holly pulled her keys from her pocket. “Let’s get you settled,” he said, “then I’ll call the sheriff. In the meantime, I’m going to stay with you. You shouldn’t be alone.”

“Andy...”

He started to open the door, and she placed a hand on his. “Stop.”

“Stop what?”

“Pretending nothing is wrong. We’ve barely said two words to each other for two months, and now you want to come riding to the rescue? Why are you here?”

3

He raised a brow. “Are you kidding me? Penny texted and called me out on being an idiot and said someone was threatening you.”

“She did?”

“Yeah.”

That sounded like Penny. “So, you’re here because she told you to come.”

He frowned. “No, I’m here because she told me what was going on and I can’t bear the thought of you in danger.”

Okay, that was better. And she could understand that, but still...

Andy took her face in his and gave her a sweet kiss. “I’ve missed you.”

She placed a hand on his chest and backed up. “Hold up with the kisses, Andy. You don’t get to do that anymore.” As much as she wanted to melt into his arms, there was too much wrong between them for that. “I’m not the one who went anywhere.”

He closed his eyes. “I know. I know. You’re right.” He glanced around. “Let’s get you inside.” He pushed the door open and allowed her to go first.

Holly stepped over the threshold and gave a low cry. Andy’s hands came up to grip her shoulders. She simply stared at the red words spray-painted across her living room wall.

Leave town or die.

He moved her so her back was against the wall, then closed the door. “Call 911 and don’t move from this spot.”

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