Pure Dynamite (6 page)

"Great." Renata rifled through the trash and retrieved one of the slips,
call your mother—no matter
how late
.

Renata checked the beeper clipped to her waistband. The display blinked with only the date and time. No calls. That meant it wasn't urgent—her mother had her pager number for emergencies.

But the fact that her mother had called her at work instead of at home was telling. As telling as David leaving three messages.

Janet escorted Richard's patient to the door and locked it behind him. "There went the last one. Sure we can't talk you into joining us?" She looked at Renata and batted her eyes. "I want to hear more about your experiences with Italians and Swedes. Like who's hung better? And who has better staying power?"

Renata opened her mouth to reply then closed it. Could she honestly remember? Back in her younger days—she'd be thirty in three months—she used to know. She used to have an active sex life. But then she entered med school. And married. Divorced.

Crap—how long
had
it been?

Richard, who had joined them, frowned at Renata. "Penny for your thoughts?"

Not on your life.
Renata cleared her throat. "I was just telling Janet I can't make it tonight."

"Why not? You are entitled to a social life, you know.

In fact I wanted to tell you about a colleague who's in town."

"He isn't by chance Italian or Swedish is he?" Janet teased.

Richard looked from one woman to the next. "I'm afraid to ask why. Actually, he's the all American type who—"

Janet laughed. "Save your breath, Rich. I've been trying to tempt Renata with men for months. But apparently you can't have a social life and save the world too."

"I'm not trying to save the world. Just a few city blocks," Renata defended. "And I have one last report to finish for this grant. Then I'll get a social life."

"I want a sex life," Beth chimed in. "I've heard we're allowed to reclaim our libido after our second year of residency."

"Which is why I opted for nursing. I couldn't go that long," Janet said.

"Sounds like I just missed another stimulating discussion," Richard deadpanned.

"Nah. We'll pick it back up over pizza. Come on." Janet grabbed her backpack, fished out car keys. "By the way, the drug cabinet's ready for pickup."

"Wait up," Richard called to Beth and Janet. He turned back to Renata. "If you still want me to look over your report, leave it on my desk. I'll look at it first thing."

"Thanks. I owe you one."

Richard grinned and shrugged into his raincoat. "Good. Because my friend is in town for another two days.

"Ugh. I hate blind dates."

"Then let me assure you his vision is fine. Seriously, this guy may surprise you. He's a research fellow. Brilliant. Witty. And before you write him off as a nerd, call my wife. She swoons around him. In fact, Vicky's told him all about you. He's eager to meet you."

"Oh swell. Tell Vicky thanks."

"Then it's a date."

Renata made a face and was rewarded with deep laughter. She heard a series of beeps as Richard set the alarm before ducking out the back exit.

The sound of the door closing rang hollow in the deserted clinic.

God she was tempted. To call it a night. To join her friends for food laughter. Maybe even a glass of wine. Or three. It was bad enough she couldn't remember the last time she'd had an orgasm. But to not remember the last time she just plain had fun.

She glanced from her stack of work to the phone message in her hand, mind made up.
Screw work.
She could save the world tomorrow. Richard was right. She was entitled to a night off.

Right after she called her mother...

Adam used torn pieces of Lyle's shirt to fashion a makeshift compress. Lyle took a hit in the lower left groin, just as he had been climbing into the car.

At the time, Adam had been so intent on escape he hadn't noticed. And Lyle had been in shocked denial until the pain registered. The bullet had obviously severed a major vein. It took heavy pressure to stem the blood flow.

"You need a doctor, kid."

"I'd rather die than go back to prison." Lyle shook his head, swallowed a cry. "If you're gonna dump me, do it where I have half a chance. Not here."

Here
was a dark alley near the hospital emergency room where a police car had sped by moments ago. Did the police realize Lyle had taken a bullet and anticipated his showing up at a hospital?

Somewhere along the way, probably while switching cars a second time, they'd lost the police scanner and Lyle's handgun. As bad as Adam wanted to retrieve both, they didn't dare go look for them.

"Though you damn sure deserve it, I wasn't planning to dump you." It wasn't exactly the truth. While Adam shared the younger man's opinion of returning to prison—he couldn't stand by and let the kid die.

"I had hoped to find a doctor or nurse hanging around outside," he continued. "Someone I could coerce into helping."

"We ain't that lucky." Lyle grimaced at the cell phone he had clutched in one hand. "Damn it, if I can just get a hold of my brother. Nevin will know what to do."

"Provided you haven't bled to death by the time he calls back." Adam checked the wound. "It's stopped bleeding for the moment. But it's critical you don't move until I return."

"Where are you going?"

Standing, Adam tucked his gun beneath his shirt. "I'll see if I can slip in the ER, at least get some clean gauze and bandages."

"Something for pain, too."

Adam grunted. He'd been shot before, knew it hurt like hell. "We also need another car."

They had abandoned the shot-up Toyota, but the one they'd stolen was overheating. The owner had probably left the key in it on purpose, praying someone would take the piece of shit.

Careful not to trigger any alarms, he hurried along a dark row of parked cars, checking for unlocked doors as he went. He paused beside an old rusted Volkswagen, did a double take. He wasn't interested in the car as transportation; however, on the passenger's seat was a white lab coat.

He backed up. The rear window, a pop-out vent, had been left ajar. He forced it open and reached in to unlock the door.

Snatching the coat, he slipped it on. It was snug across the shoulders. If he moved the wrong way it would rip. He ran his hands through his hair, tucked the length beneath the collar before checking his reflection in the side mirror. In bad light, he could pass for a grungy med student.

An employee badge hung from the pocket. Turning it so the photo didn't show, he grabbed the foam coffee cup from the drink holder and strode toward the emergency room entrance, whistling. Acting as if he belonged.

The lobby was jammed. He paused inside the glass anteroom, pretending to sip coffee while feigning interest in the paper-covered bulletin board. Twisting his head slightly, he scanned the waiting room. Two uniformed police officers huddled near the reception desk, their backs to the door.

Adam stepped away and quickly searched the opposite side of the lobby, looking for an alternate way in. He saw none. Now what? Should he check for another entrance? Try another hospital? Surrender? Whatever his choice, he had to act quickly.

He turned to leave. A sheet of paper taped haphazardly to the door caught his attention.

BAY MEADOW URGENT CARE CLINIC

OPEN UNTIL 10 P.M.

NON-LIFE THREATENING CASES ONLY

A map detailed the clinic's location. Adam glanced at the clock in the lobby: 9:45.

He tore the note down and stuffed it in his pocket. Perhaps their luck was improving, after all.

Renata's mother lived in Denver. With the two-hour time difference, it was only eight o'clock there.

Her mother answered on the first ring. "Thank God! I've been worried."

"What's wrong?" She pressed the phone closer. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I was just surprised to get the answering machine at the clinic."

"We've been short-handed, Mama. The roads are still flooded from the big storm and most of our staff couldn't get in."

"Then what are you doing there?"

"A few roads are still navigable. And the clinic's one of the few locations that's accessible on this side of town."

"Oh." Her mother grew silent, then, "David asked if you were still working
there."

Renata released a puff of air. She should have guessed. "You talked to David?"

"He was having trouble reaching you. He sounded quite ... concerned. Have you called him?"

"I have no desire to talk to the man. Except to tell him where to go and not to call you." Which of course would accomplish his mission of getting her to call.

"He said you always expect the worst from him."

"He rarely disappoints."

"I think he's changed this time."

David change? Renata took the phone from her ear and stared at it. Had her mother gone senile? Had she forgotten their disastrous marriage?

Renata had met David her first year of med school, had been flattered by his attention and awed by his status as a surgeon. She'd been willing to overlook a lot. Like the way he pressed her to pursue a career in surgery because the money and prestige were better. Or the remarks he made about her being gorgeous and smart, as if they were mutually exclusive. She had been in love. Or thought she had.

A week after their honeymoon, the late night hangups started. They'd been married two months when she caught him cheating; learned it hadn't been the first time. Nor had it been the last. In the four years since their divorce David had remarried numerous times. The man was a gifted orthopedic surgeon; he was equally gifted when it came to adultery.

"Let me guess." Renata made no attempt to disguise her sarcasm. "He and Lisa broke up."

"It's Shawna," her mother corrected. "He and Shawna broke up."

"So let him call Shawna. Or Karen. Or Jean. Or one of the others. God, you'd think even Nevada would have a per capita limit on divorces."

Her mother ignored the remark. "David says he's finally realized you're the only one who's ever been right for him. And there's an opening at his clinic you'd be perfect for."

So that s what this was about.

She sighed again, only louder. She'd heard through the grapevine about David's latest disaster. The woman, a staff practitioner, had threatened a sexual harassment lawsuit.

This wasn't the first complaint. Or the second. And to pacify his business partners, David needed to come up with a replacement physician. Fast. Did he figure Renata would be safe? Or fair game?

"I've already accepted a position that's perfect for me."

Her mother took a deep breath. "But—"