Page 49 of Condor’s Vow

“Yes. Please help him.”

Paddy looked relieved. He was a tall man, not overly muscular but lean and nice-looking with sandy blond hair and blue eyes. She was surprised he was single, but she thought he was a little socially awkward.

“Stay with him. I need to get my bag and give him something before I move him.”

Martin was crouched down. “I don’t understand how he got out. I closed the gate myself.”

Hattie shook her head, too worried about her pet to wonder right now. “It doesn’t matter now. We just have to get him the care he needs.”

“We need to keep you safe, too. I don’t like this, Hattie.”

“I’m back.” Paddy knelt down and gave Mr. Chester an injection into his neck and placed a blanket down on the ground to lift him.

“Can you lift him if I get the door?” Paddy asked Martin who looked around one more time and shrugged. Bending, he lifted the dog who whimpered lightly. Hattie walked behind Martin as Paddy stepped out of the way and allowed him room to place the dog in the back.

“Would you like to ride with him and keep him calm while I drive?”

“Yes.”

“No.” Hattie turned to Martin who was scowling. “Hattie, I don’t like this.”

“He’s my vet, and Mr. Chester needs me.” She glanced at the fierce dog who looked so pathetic right now. “You can follow behind us, and I’ll let Clay know where we’re going.”

“Fine, but I don’t like it.”

“Noted.”

Paddy cocked his head as he watched the exchange. “We ready to go?”

“Yes.”

Hattie slid in the back beside Mr. Chester and smoothed her hand over his back. Paddy closed the door, and she had the strangest moment of panic. Her gut finally making her aware that something was off. Hattie turned to get out of the car and ride with Martin, but as she pulled the handle, she realized Paddy had locked it. Tugging at the door again, she felt her heart rate go up and looked out in time to see Paddy pull out a gun and hold it on Martin.

“Oh, God.”

Her hand flew to her mouth as she watched her brother step back and put his hands in the air, his eyes flying to her as they both realized what a huge mistake they, or rather she, had made. Tears burned her eyes which she swallowed back. Now was not the time for tears and she needed to keep her head. If she panicked, her brother would end up dead for sure.

Hattie shook her head when Martin went to move forward, and her brother stopped. Paddy was waving the gun around and talking to Martin, who nodded. Martin knelt on the ground in front of Paddy, and she felt bile crawl up her throat.

He was going to kill her brother, and she couldn’t do a fucking thing about it. Martin kept his eyes on her, not showing any fear, his hands on the back of his head. Paddy lifted the gun and swung it, hitting Martin on the side of the head, and knocking him out cold.

Relief, sharp and sweet, made her sag in her seat as she blew out a breath. The front driver’s door opened, and Paddy got in and pointed the gun at her. He wasn’t the man who’d so carefully cared for her pet. He looked deranged, as if someone else had taken over his mind in some way.

His hand was steady as he faced her. “Here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to drive us to the clinic, and you’re going to carry Mr. Chester inside. If you try and attack me, the dog dies. If you run, the dog dies. I’ve injected him with poison, and without the antidote, he’ll die. Now, are we going to have a problem?”

Hattie shook her head. It might be stupid to some, but she could no more let Mr. Chester die than she could a human being. Her mind was reeling as she tried to understand what was going on. How could he be the killer?

“I don’t understand.” Hattie hated that her words sounded weak and cleared her throat, not willing to show him how frightened she was.

“I know, but you will. Before they die, they’ll all understand who I am and why. Your time has come, Nurse Pollard. Now you die. But first I must save Mr. Chester. He is, after all, innocent.”

The laughter in his eyes and apparent insanity were terrifying. Hattie knew, without a doubt, he was going to kill her. She had to find a way out of this or at least find a way to stall enough for Clay to find her, and he’d find her, of that she had no doubt.