Page 69 of Canyon of Deceit
“I’ll be all right.” I stood on wobbly legs and Major Montoya steadied me. The man appeared to be made of bricks. “The ER will get to me soon enough. But I’m a bit nauseous.”
“I’ll walk you to the ladies’ room.” Major Montoya wrapped his arm around my waist, and together we moved down the hall to where I’d find relief. “I’m staying outside the door. Alert me if I should get a nurse.”
I thanked him. Inside, I locked the door. Within seconds, my body emptied of what had made me sick. A few minutes later, I inwardly fumed.Rats.Blood in my urine.
“I’m okay,” I said through the closed door. I washed my face covered with dirt and dried blood. A nasty purple bruise on my cheekand a near-black eye gave me ghoulish color. Not a way to make friends.
Stiffening my shoulders, I unlocked the bathroom door and smiled at Blane’s boss. “I’ll live.”
“I had no doubts. Were you kidney punched?”
“How did you guess?”
“Years of experience. Let’s get you back to a chair.”
“Keep my injury to yourself. Blane will worry about me.”
“He cares about you more than a friend. Hasn’t dated anyone since you showed him the door.”
“Our relationship has changed. He’ll tell you, I’m sure.”
The major chuckled. I hooked my arm in his and hobbled back to Blane. An hour later, doctors met with him, treated his infection, and casted his arm. The concussion required the most attention, especially when he vomited during the examination. I wanted to leave the hospital and fly home, but Blane and Major Montoya insisted I see a doctor, so we waited another hour. We received antibiotic prescriptions and pain meds, the latter I didn’t plan to take.
The major arranged a flight home to Houston for later in the day. “I’m accompanying you. Wouldn’t want you to frighten the passengers. I’ll contact Rurik with the latest.”
“Thanks,” I said. “Home sounds good.”
“We look like Bonnie and Clyde after the final shoot-out,” Blane said. “I don’t care though. Sorta like the beat-up look.”
I glared at him. “Speak for yourself. Makeup won’t cover this face.”
“You’re gorgeous just as you are.”
“Your concussion is talking.” I could sleep in the trunk of a car. As it happened, I slept on Blane’s shoulder from the time we boarded an afternoon flight until Major Montoya nudged us awake. What about Alina? Had the poor child been able to rest? Once we landed, I must talk to Rurik...
FORTY
BLANE
I slept the entire flight from Hobbs, New Mexico, back to Houston Hobby Airport. Therese’s head on my shoulder, as though she trusted me, confirmed the future. I’d wanted her willingness to pursue a relationship months ago, but not at the expense of her faith and other mental scars she denied.
Late afternoon had sent the sun moving slowly westward by the time Sergio drove us to the Ranger office. Therese and I wanted the official briefing done and behind us, no matter how badly our bodies protested. Separately we told Sergio what happened from the time we landed at Hobbs on Thursday night. He recorded every word. Therese’s briefing lasted longer with what she’d experienced—Chandler, Falin, the abduction, and Chandler’s death.
Sergio pulled us aside and issued a few orders. Neither Therese nor I argued. We needed to regroup. He handed us new phones and even with our cloudy focus, we activated them. My firearm had gone up in smoke in the cave. He reached in his back waistband and handed me a new SIG. “Try to keep this one.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“I have two Rangers and two cars to escort you home. You both need to stay behind closed doors for the next three days. That meansno stepping outside until Saturday morning. Do not attempt to work together or solo to find Alina Ivanov. Put me on speed dial. If Rurik talks to you, I want every word relayed to me. If anyone contacts you who is remotely connected to this case, call ASAP. If I see either of you before the weekend, I’ll put you in cuffs.”
“You sure know how to ruin a good time,” I said.
Sergio set his jaw. “Don’t pull a stunt like this again. I plan on us growing old playing poker together.”
“Not my intention to come that close to the hereafter again. This one made a believer out of me. Literally.” I searched his face for a reaction. Curiosity brimmed from his dark eyes. “I’ll tell you about it later, but you can tell your mother that her prayers finally stuck.”
Sergio grinned. “I’ll do it. She’ll be planning a party and will want to hear the whole story.”
Just as I figured. “Feed me, and I’ll be there.”
