Page 26 of Under His Guard

Luke quickly comes up behind me as he notices my weary expression and guides me back toward the trunk of one of the squad cars.

“You good, doc?” He’s smiling, but not even that megawatt grin can hide the concern.

It’s far too…something of him to be worried about me like that, and I feel vulnerable under his gaze.

He’s always calling me doc.

“I’m fine. It’s just the adrenaline wearing off.” I wave him away, and the officer comes up to me again.

“You’re a doctor then, I take it.”

“Yes, apologies. I’m Dr. Clara Stewart. I’m a surgical resident at Lakeshore Valley Hospital.”

I now realize the man didn’t have time to run my information before I started speaking with him, and I have no ID on me.

As we’re gathered there, another car pulls up and this one Luke goes to right away.

A man steps out from the driver seat, and he and Luke clap arms in a brotherly hug.

I don’t want to be nosey, but I find myself staring at them as they chat just out of earshot.

They’re clearly not actually related, unless maybe they’re half siblings, because the man Luke is talking to is African American.

Still, they stand close, speaking easily to each other like they’ve known one another for years. Military friend?

“Dr. Stewart,” the officer who went into the shop addresses me. “We’ve cleared the scene, and there’s no one left inside. We believe they fled when they saw you interact with Mr. Shaw. Can you tell us more about them?”

“Uh, sure.”

My brain is fuzzy on the minute details, like what they wore, but I remember the main guy from that night at work.

“The one I recognized was at the hospital. He’s about five-ten, five-eleven. He wore baggy clothes when I first saw him. Today, I’m not sure. He has a gold tooth in front. I remember seeing it that night. Dark hair and eyes. Luke, um, Mr. Shaw, that is, said they’re part of a group called the Crimson Cobras.”

Just then, Luke and his friend walk over.

“Officers.” The man wearing a suit strides over confidently, and they seem to recognize him. “Cobras is correct. He was the same man who injured Mr. Shaw in the warehouse altercation. That description should be with the detectives from their conversation in the hospital while Luke was still there.”

“Mr. Davies. Funny seeing you here.” The officer looks annoyed at the man’s presence, which makes my nerves tingle with apprehension.

Davies tilts his head at the cop, pinning him with a stare.

“I’m Mr. Shaw’s attorney, and I’m exceedingly familiar with the Cobras' activities in town. I’ll be assisting Dr. Stewart in any way I can.”

“You will?”

My eyes flare wide, and then I glance over at Luke, narrowing my eyes at him.

Luke steps closer, keeping his voice low. “He’s a family friend. I’ve known him since I was in the service.”

So, I was right.

“All right, well—” I look between Mr. Davies and the cop, who’s still eyeing him hard “—can I go back inside? I’d really like to, well, you know, relax after all this.”

The officer shakes his head. “We still need more time to collect evidence. CSU is on the way, but you should be able to return this evening. After a few hours.”

“CSU? My apartment is being treated like a crime scene?”

The guy nods. “There was a crime committed in it, so yes.”

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