Page 23 of The Deadly Shallows

Caleb strode to the front door and grabbed the pie from the kid in a red T-shirt and baseball hat with a slice of pepperoni imprinted on it. “What’s the damage?” he asked, setting the pizza box onto the edge of the entry table as he pulled out his wallet.

“Oh, it’s already covered. She orders so often, we keep her card on file.” He chuckled.

“Must be good pizza.”

“It’s pretty rocking, dude.”

Caleb pulled a twenty out of his wallet. “Here you go, kid.”

“Geez. Thanks, mister.”

“Have a good night.” Caleb shut the door with his socked foot and, grabbing the box, headed back to the patio. “This,” he said, settling the pizza in the center of the round mosaic tabletop, “smells out of this world.”

She smiled. “Wait until you taste it.”

“Should I go grab plates?”

“Nah, I got it.” She stood. “I’ll get a pizza cutter too. Their pizzas are so cheesy I find it helpful to run back over the slices.”

Regardless of how she played it down, her shoulder had to smart, but he didn’t argue this go-around. Quick as a firefly’s light blinked, she returned with two plates, a stack of napkins, and a pizza cutter. He examined the latter and smiled. The cutter had a red monkey for the handle, and the blade made it look like he was riding a unicycle.

He laughed under his breath. Austin Kelly was full of surprises.

THIRTEEN

Brooke’s mind flooded with the vivid image of Molly’s face in shock and pain as blood soaked through her white uniform. She swallowed and looked down at the scrubs she’d changed into in-flight. They were clean, and she’d used antiseptic wipes to clean off what blood she could see clinging to her skin, but no doubt some of Molly’s blood remained, even if only a trace.

She should go home and shower and get some sleep, but she was terrified the terror would return when she’d close her eyes. Instead, she’d take Blotny up on her offer to use the nurses’ locker room.

She sat up, and Noah, who had dozed off, roused. “Where are you going?” he asked, wiping sleep from his eyes.

“To shower.”

“You’re going home?” He gripped her hand firmly, as if he didn’t want to let go.

“No.” She wanted to remain with Noah. One, she wasn’t ready to be alone yet, and two, she still worried about his femoral artery. Fear had had a stranglehold on her chest that was just loosening up. She didn’t want to leave him. “I’m going to use the nurses’ locker room.”

“Okay.” His bleary eyes studied her. “Can I pray for us first?”

She nodded. She and everyone involved needed to be bathed in prayer.

Noah cleared his throat, and she bowed her head.

“Father, we cry out to you today. Our hearts are broken. So much innocent bloodshed. Please be with all who sustained physical injuries. Continue to give the doctors and nurses deft hands as they treat them. Also be with everyone emotionally wounded through this tragic event. Help us discover the motivation behind the attack and, especially, if anyone else had a hand in this. If so, please help us bring them to justice. And lead everyone touched by this to you, our refuge, and our rock. In our Savior’s name, we pray.”

“Amen,” Brooke whispered.

When she opened her eyes, his locked on hers with a gaze she’d swear was full of love. But she must be reading too much into it. He was a compassionate man. That was all. If anything, it was a love of friendship. She was kidding herself to think it any more.

She stood, grabbing the Trader Joe’s bag Gabby had brought her, along with the catchall bag she always kept in her purse. “I’ll be back.”

“I’ll be right here,” he promised.

But for how long? Until the trauma passed, and then was it back to him pulling away?

Dwayne rocked forward in his chair, rage searing through him. “What,” he gritted out, “is taking so long?”

“She’s been surrounded by emergency personnel all day, and now she’s with the agent who got shot,” Saul said.