Page 18 of Innocent Target

The EMT nodded. “That would be my diagnosis, but you should see your Pediatrician to be sure.”

“We will. Thank you.”

James looked up at Nick as two officers approached them, catching the warning in his friend’s eyes.

“Sir, Ma’am.” The older officer nodded at them, a knowledgeable look in his face.

“Officer,” James said, sliding his arm around Mercy who was now holding Abbie to give him a break.

The officer nodded to the two men; one being loaded into a stretcher, the black body bag covering him, the other man into the second ambulance. “You know those two?”

“No sir, we were driving on 95 when they came up beside us. Seemed like they were racing or some such so we got off the highway and they followed. Then they drove almost into us, and my girlfriend swerved in a panic.”

The officer pushed his hat back from his head and rubbed at the sweat as the sun began to warm the sky.

James almost blanched as Mercy burst into tears. “I never meant to hit that man, but I panicked and with Abbie in the car, my nerves were shot.”

The cop looked horrified by her tears. “Ah, don’t you be worrying, young lady. These bikers are nothing but a menace, been having reports of other incidents like this these last few months. Ask me, they had it coming.”

James didn’t say it, but his hand tightened on her back as she buried her head in his chest and wept. James didn’t necessarily agree that death was what these men deserved unless they were targeting Abbie, and then what had happened was way less than he would’ve done to them.

“Officer, if that’s all, I’d like to get my girlfriend home.” He felt Mercy pinch him in the ribs and coughed to hide the grunt of pain.

“Make sure to leave your details with Officer Cohn and then get yourselves away.”

James smiled. “Thanks, officer.”

As he and Mercy slipped into the car Nick had been driving, placing the baby seat between them in the back, he felt the hairs at the back of his neck prickle in a warning. He glanced around, scanning the area as Nick eased the car away.

“You okay?”

Mercy laid a hand on his forearm, and he sighed. “Yes. Just had the oddest feeling someone was watching us.”

Nick found his eyes in the rearview mirror. “They were.”

James tipped his head. “Who?”

Nick shrugged. “Not sure. I didn’t see them either, but I felt it.” The two men exchanged an in-depth look full of worry, which had James’s gut seizing.

“We have a leak. How else could someone know we were headed to the lab.”

Mercy’s head whipped to him. “No way. I don’t believe that.”

James held her troubled gaze, not wanting to believe it either. “You got a better explanation?” He saw the truth in her eyes before she dropped her head, hiding her thoughts from him as she retreated again.

“I’m not saying it was intentional, but somehow information that only the agency has access to got out. There’s no way those Henchmen were there by accident, and they couldn’t have followed us from the cabin, or they would’ve attacked when we were more vulnerable.”

“So, what’s the plan now?” Nick checked the mirror to make sure the only vehicle behind them was Knight.

“Now we get someplace safe and re-evaluate.”

“I know a place.” Mercy offered and James cocked his head, hearing the sadness in her words he didn’t understand.

“It is secure?” Nick asked.

“Of course. As if I’d risk Abbie like that.” Now she sounded pissed.

“Cool your jets, Merc. I didn’t mean anything by it.”