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Although, in some ways, she'd been lingering in that space for a long time. She'd killed off her previous life to start another one. She'd become someone else, made new friends, invented a life that had no connection to the past until now. Until her worlds had come crashing together by a gunshot.
So far, I hadn't run into anyone who hated her. On the contrary, everyone loved Laura. She was a great friend, an excellent teacher, someone who inspired others. She'd saved a man's life, too. But someone wanted to kill her. I didn't know if that person came from her past or her present, but I did know that they weren't done. At that reminder, my stomach churned, and goose bumps ran down my arms. My sweater wasn't nearly warm enough now that the adrenaline was wearing off. I also suddenly realized I was alone. The girls had gone inside.
I pushed myself off the wall, turning toward the door to the auditorium when I heard a noise behind me. I started to turn, but I was too slow. Someone grabbed me, one arm going around my neck, as a smelly towel was pressed against my nose and mouth. I struggled, but my assailant was big and strong, and I was feeling faint.
Whatever I was breathing in was making me dizzy. My limbs felt heavy. When he dragged me across the ground, I tried to kick and to scream but nothing was working. I almost felt paralyzed. I'd been so stupid to go outside by myself.
I heard a car door open. He was going to push me inside and take me away. Once I got in that car, no one would find me. From somewhere down deep inside, I found the strength to kick out at him. He grunted and lost his grip for a second. I tried to scramble away, but I couldn't get anywhere.
Through the recesses of my mind, I heard a shout. The man tried to pick me up. I made myself as heavy as I could. And then someone came up behind him, and he let me go. My head hit the ground as I was finally released from his grasp.
I tried to roll away, but I could barely move. Each new breath was a struggle, a fight to stay awake. Through my blurry gaze, I realized there were two men now, and they were fighting.
Kade slammed the guy against the car, so hard the glass shattered, raining down all over me.
And then there was a scream, more shouts, people rushing toward us. Their faces swam before me. They were asking me questions, but I couldn't make out the words. And then Kade barreled through the crowd surrounding me, his dark hair falling over one eye, a darkening bruise on his face.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"Think so," I said, still having trouble focusing. "Is he dead?"
"No. I just knocked him out," Kade said. "Did he drug you?"
"Smelled something."
I saw Kade grab something white off the ground. "Don't worry," he told me. "It will wear off. You'll be okay."
I heard sirens as I fought to keep my eyes open. Minutes later, the police arrived, along with an ambulance. The EMTs strapped me onto a stretcher. "Kade," I said, not wanting to be alone again.
"I'll meet you at the hospital. I have to talk to the police. You'll be safe."
"I don't trust anyone but you."
"Then trust me." He gazed into my eyes. "They're just going to take you to the hospital and get you checked out. I'll see you soon."
I hoped he wasn't lying, but his face was blocked by the EMT and then they loaded me into the ambulance. I closed my eyes, tired of the struggle. I really hoped I was safe because I couldn't stay awake any longer.
* * *
After a blurry ride to the hospital, I was taken to the ER and put through a series of tests by a young male doctor, with a reassuring older nurse standing nearby. With each passing minute, my mind became clearer, allowing me to answer questions to the doctor's satisfaction. At the end of the exam, I was told I had a mild bump on the back of my head but no evidence of a concussion. The effects of the drug I'd inhaled would be short-lasting, and I should feel better by the morning.
As the doctor and nurse left to get my release papers ready, Inspector Greenman and Kade entered the room.
"We have to stop meeting like this," I said.
He gave me a brief, tense smile. "I agree. How are you feeling, Ms. Landry?"
"I'll feel better if you have the guy who attacked me in custody."
"We do. Thanks to Mr. Beckham. The man's name is JR Beatty. He's muscle for hire, takes assignments off a dark web app. Said he was paid two thousand dollars to try to run you over earlier today. He was then paid another five thousand to grab you tonight. He was supposed to drive you to Golden Gate Park and drop you off by the windmill. He claims he has no idea what was supposed to happen to you next."
My stomach turned over at the thought of being dumped in the park, unconscious and helpless. "Who hired him?"
"He doesn't know anything other than the name on the app, which was Jerdog27. We're getting into it."
"Did he shoot my mother, too?"
"He says no," the inspector replied. "We'll continue our interrogation when he's done getting his face stitched up."
