Page 4 of Abandoned

She chuckled, which brought on a coughing fit.

He ran his hand up and down her back until the coughing eased.

Once she could speak again, she said, “I’m not going to die, even if it sounds like it.”

“That’s good. Hazel Hill wouldn’t be the same without you.”

“It’s not like I’ve been here for long.”

“But we’re all better for having you here.”

“Stop or I’m gonna puke.”

He laughed. “When can you ditch this joint?”

She shrugged. All the tests were coming back better than expected, so maybe she could get back to work. After all, they had another seven hours of their shift.

Will silently sat with her until the nurse came back about ten minutes later. With instructions to rest, drink plenty of water, and use a prescribed inhaler when needed, Zara was released. Another ten minutes, and she and Will were walking through the hospital emergency waiting room.

Logan jumped up and strode to Zara. “Are you okay?”

“If you two keep fussing over me, I’m going to call your moms. Let’s get back to work.”

Will touched her elbow, sending electrical bolts up her arm.

“My mom would like that, but I don’t think ‘get back to work’ was what the nurse meant by ‘get some rest.’”

She shrugged. “I haven’t been working long enough for leave. There’s no discussion.” She resumed her path to the exit, hoping the guys would follow her and drop the whole rest idea. The last thing she wanted to do was go home and sit on the couch by herself. She wanted to be with Will and Logan. Focusing on the job would be infinitely better than “resting.”

The guys did follow, and when they arrived at the squad cars, Will gripped her shoulder. “I’d like to note my disapproval of you continuing your shift, but I know it’s a futile fight.”

She smiled at him. “I’m glad you know me so well already.” A strong urge to hug him overcame her, so she spun toward the cruiser. Gripping the door handle, she called back to Will. “We’ll see you at end of shift.”

“Breakfast?” Will’s eyes were locked with hers. While she knew Logan was included in that invitation, something more personal was being directed at her.

“Absolutely.” She slid into the passenger’s seat and tried to catch her breath. What on earth was happening between her and Will?

Still patrolling, Will hung up with his mom. Only two more hours until the end of his shift. Her ability to get up at the crack of dawn still impressed him, but she was in bed by nine every night, so six wasn’t so crazy. She’d heard about the house fire and had called to check on everyone. His mom had grown up in Hazel Hill, and she was one of those people who knew everyone.

He’d told her how Zara had saved the baby, and his mom promptly asked when she would get to meet the woman that had stolen his affection. Once again, he found himself wanting to argue, but there was no point. His mom was right, like always.

As Will turned onto the major state road that ran through downtown Hazel Hill, a car zipped past him, blowing the red light.

He grunted, flipped his lights and siren on, and radioed it in to dispatch.

The car did not slow down. It wove between the two eastbound lanes but never crossed the double yellow line that divided the highway.

Will increased his speed to keep up with the black Honda Civic.

“Come on, dude, pull over.” He radioed in the make and model along with the license plate.

Why wouldn’t this guy stop?

The Civic turned onto a residential street. Will’s anxiety rose. It was the time of day people started emerging from their houses for early walks and runs, heading to work, or taking their kids to daycare.

For the safety of those who lived here, Will didn’t want to match the guy’s forty-five miles per hour, but he also needed to not lose him.

The crazy driver turned left and then right, down Main Street, another four-lane road. Here, he was able to push the Civic up to sixty miles an hour and blew through two more red lights.