Page 68 of Ace
‘We thought he was, but he never arrived, and no one there knows the medic who drove away with Keller.’
‘But he’s shot. Surely he’s at another local clinic or—’
‘He’s not, Savannah.’That stern voice was Eden.‘And he’s not responding to our attempts to reach him, either. I was sure he’d contact you when we were finished back at the stables. Why haven’t you heard from him?’
Savannah couldn’t reply. Worry for Keller had closed her throat.
‘What happened with you?’Isaiah asked, accusation in his tone.‘One minute you were with us, the next you checked out. You stopped talking to everyone. You vanished.’
Well, yeah…
‘Was it something I said?’Eden asked.‘Because I know I get direct and bossy when I’m—”
‘No, it wasn’t that. It was…’Savannah tried again.‘It was watching you guys in action. I finally saw the real Keller. He truly loves what he does for a living, doesn’t he? He is who he is, and I don’t want to stand in his way. I’m just—’
‘The woman he loves,’Isaiah said gently.‘Savannah, yes Keller is the best of the best. He can’t help but throw his soul into his job, but you’re his heart. He needs you in his life, and we need you to find him. Reach out. Don’t let him go, not like this.’
‘Okay,’she said quietly. She’d never felt so small nor so foolish before in her life. Where had her self-confidence gone? Her positivity? She, with all her specialinner sight,hadn’t seen the real Keller after all. Yet, she’d thought she had during that fight. Who was messing with her head? Was there really such a thing as a warlock or had she simply felt sorry for herself?
Closing her eyes, Savannah forced her fluttering heart to calm, and then opened her mind back up to the universe.‘Keller,’she called out.‘Answer me, honey. Talk to me. Everyone’s worried about you. Tell me where you are.’
A muffled‘Can’t’came back to her instantly.‘Where… where you been, baby?’
What could she say?’I’ve been wrong, Keller. I thought you’d be better off without me, but now I know better. We belong together. Where exactly are you?’
‘Shhhhh. Too tired. Too sick. Gotta sssssleep now.’
‘But you’re supposed to sleep with me,’she scolded gently. Lovingly.‘I need you to come home, Keller. Tell me where you are and I’ll send someone to help you.’
‘With S-S-Sandy,’he whispered.‘Gotta be quiet. They might hear us.’
‘Keep him talking,’Isaiah murmured.‘I’ve almost located his position.’
‘I love you, Keller,’Savannah declared, tears glimmering at what distancing herself had done to him.
‘Know you do, baby. Never doubted… you… one in a million.’
Yet she had doubted him.
‘Hard men don’t know how to express their feelings, Savannah,’Eden murmured.‘They aren’t in touch with their feminine side. Trust me. It took Ky a long time before he let it slip. Now he says it all the time. Keller loves you. I can tell. He’ll get around to it.’
‘Shhhhh. Someone’s comin’.’The mental link evaporated and he was gone.
‘Keller! Keller! Don’t leave me!’Savannah cried. She’d never felt so desperate, nor so foolish for letting him go. For leaving him when he’d needed her.
‘He didn’t leave you, Savannah. He’s been drugged again,’Eden said.‘I’m sensing cocaine. Ketamine. Something else, only not narcotic. I can’t get a decent feel for it. Not even sure which is in him, and which is in the horse.’
But Savannah knew better.‘He’s bleeding. I could smell it. Whoever’s got him is letting him bleed to death. He’s weak. If we can’t get to him in time—’
‘Got him,’Isaiah growled.‘Hang in there, Savannah. Tucker, can you hear me?’Silence reigned while Isaiah listened to his boss. Then,‘Good to know. Listen, he’s about twenty miles south of Fontenette’s stables on a neighboring horse farm, McGinty’s Rainbow. That’s why we couldn’t locate Sand Dollar at Champion Stables when we served the warrant. Fontenette moved him to McGinty’s because—’
‘Sand Dollar’s been doped, too,’Eden said.‘They’re giving him ketamine to keep him quiet.’
Which didn’t make sense. Why anesthetize an animal you needed to win a race?
‘Exactly,’Isaiah replied.‘Go, Tuck. Go get Keller. He’s passed out, but Sand Dollar’s with him. If that horse keels over...’
‘Hold on, I’ll guide you there, Boss,’Eden said, her voice rapping higher.‘Tell me when you see McGinty’s gate sign over his driveway. Are you there yet?’A beat of silence, then,‘Damn it, Boss, can’t you drive any faster?’
