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She ran her fingers over her skin and pressed in different areas, but there was no slight pulsing that she could feel. Was that bad? She eyed her leg, which was looking even worse. A tiny slice of skin had opened up and was oozing pus. This wasn’t good.
***
Annie read Jon’s text as soon as she parked in the lot by Dr.Eckright’s office. He was on his way here, too, but he didn’t say why. Was he planning to handle the DNA test himself? She’d planned to ask for a test kit to take home. The doctor would know the truth as soon as they asked for a paternity test.
If he didn’t already. Dr.Eckright was smart and intuitive. It wouldn’t take much explanation.
She’d barely slept after discovering the break-in, and she was eager to get Kylie home. The waiting room was empty when shestepped inside the old Victorian building and glanced around. The receptionist wasn’t in her place, but she might be back in one of the exam spaces getting things ready. It was still a few minutes to eight, so the office technically wasn’t open.
The door opened behind her and let in the scent of the lake with the breeze. Jon stepped into the room, and she gasped at the blood on his face.
She rushed to him. “Jon, what happened?” She fished a wet wipe out of her purse and dabbed at his face with it.
“Some guy in a boat tried to take me with him to treat a broken leg. The funny thing is, he tried the same thing with a surgeon in Houghton. Luckily, we both got away. He hit me with something, and I think the gash might need stitches. What are you doing here?” Before she answered, his smile dropped away. “You’re picking up a paternity test, aren’t you?”
“I am, but you’d better get fixed up first.” She went to the desk window and rang the bell. “Hello? Anyone back there?”
Dr.Eckright appeared through the open door at the back of the reception room. “Annie, I wasn’t expecting you.” His gaze went past her to Jon, and his brows went up. “Bring him back right now.”
Annie took Jon’s arm and they went through the door and into the hall. “Which room?”
The doctor pointed. “First door on the right. Let me get some instruments. I think he needs stitches.”
Jon looked a little green, and Annie guided him into the exam room and got him on the table. She stepped out of the way when Dr.Ben came in.
“What happened?” The doctor eased Jon down to lie on his back, then set to work disinfecting the wound.
Annie told him what she knew since Jon was looking more and more out of sorts. He was very pale. “Close your eyes, honey. Rest while the doctor stitches you up.”
His eyelids fluttered and closed. “Is he going into shock or something like that?” she whispered to the doctor.
“I think he’s got a mild concussion. He’ll need to rest today, and he shouldn’t be alone. I think we need a CT scan to assess his brain, too, just to be on the safe side.”
Jon’s eyes opened. “I’m fine, just tired. I didn’t sleep well last night. I have a theory about the guy. What if it was the guy who abducted Michelle? He could have been trying to bring a doctor to her so he didn’t have to take her to the ER.”
“Maybe,” Ben said. “But don’t think about any of that now. Rest. You need to do what you’re told or I’ll have you admitted.”
Jon’s lips twitched. “Yes, sir.”
While he stitched Jon up, Dr.Eckright asked him questions to test his memory and recall. Jon didn’t stumble with any of the answers.
The doctor finished with the stitches, then dabbed antibiotic ointment onto the seam before he affixed a bandage. “I want you to take an oral antibiotic to avoid infection as well. I’ll call the hospital to order the CT. Then home to rest.” He glanced at Annie. “Watch for any vision or hearing disturbances, and keep an eye on his balance and coordination.”
“I will,” she promised.
The doctor put his arm around Jon’s back and helped him sit up on the table. “Do you need an ambulance to take you to the hospital?”
“I can take him,” Annie said. “My truck is right outside.”
Jon looked rakish and handsome with his hair askew andthe bandage on his temple. Annie rose and went to stand beside him. She might as well explain the reason for her appearance too.
“Um, Dr.Ben, we’d like a paternity DNA test for Jon and Kylie.”
The doctor glanced at her without surprise. “I see. I suspected this after Jon mentioned he had celiac disease. Let me get a swab. I already have Kylie’s DNA.”
He left the room and closed the door behind him. At least the initial explanation was over. Once it was sent off, she still needed to face Kylie with the truth. Annie needed no DNA result to know the truth.
Jon tucked a strand of hair behind her left ear. “You doing okay? I didn’t sleep well when I got back. I didn’t like the thought of you being there alone after the break-in.”
