Edge of Midnight (McClouds & Friends #4)(127)

And that he loved her, madly, till the end of time. Why hadn’t he said that last night, instead of all his macho, blustering bullshit?

Strawberry Red discreetly turned her back so she wouldn’t have to see his apologetic smile. Classy chick. He appreciated her delicacy.

He had his cell out before he was out the door. Liv’s phone rang, and rang, and rang. He got into Davy’s SUV, tossed the briefcase onto Con’s lap and ignored the questions while he pulled up Tam’s number.

She picked up instantly. “Sean,” she said crisply. “Brace yourself.”

“What?” he yelled. “What happened? Where is she?”

“I have no idea. She deactivated my alarms, took the car and left.”

“When? Oh, f*ck. No. When?”

“Stop yelling in my ear. My alarm was deactivated almost four hours ago. Leaving me wide open in my studio, wearing head phones. I’m going to have a talk with her about that.”

“You were supposed to keep an eye on her!” he bellowed.

Tam snorted. “I was her host, not her jailor. If you’d asked me to confine her, I would have told you to go f*ck yourself.”

“I do not have time for your crap, Tam—”

“So don’t call this number. I bet you were oh-so-masterful last night, right? Put your foot down, did you? Liv’s a real woman, not a dance club sex doll. A real woman has her own agenda. Get used to it.”

Sean hung up on her, tried Liv again. No luck. “Shit!” he hissed.

“Don’t you just hate it when they do that?” Con slanted a sympathetic glance over his shoulder.

Davy let out an eloquent grunt. “Tell me about it.”

Sympathy was not what he needed. He needed to see Liv, scream at her for scaring the shit out of him, and kiss her until she passed out.

“Is she wearing a beacon?” Davy inquired.

“There’s one in her cell,” Sean said through his clenched teeth, drumming his fingers. “Where’s the nearest X-Ray Specs set-up?”

“I’ve got an old Specs receiver Seth told me I could mess around with in my folk’s basement,” Miles offered. “I think I can make it work. I’ve got the software, too. I can install it.”

“Good,” Sean said curtly. “Let’s go.”





Chapter 25



I t went against her good girl instincts, leaving a car in a tow zone, but Daddy was on life support, a killer was hunting for her and she’d been running on fumes for miles. It was a miracle she’d arrived at all. She parked the car outside the sliding glass doors, and bolted. So she’d pay the fee if they hauled it away. Um, yeah. Right. With what?

Ah, what a happy dream, to be capable of dealing with her own parking violations again. She scurried into the bustling lobby, looking for signs for the north wing. Wondering if Daddy was…no. Stop.

One thing at a time. One thought at a time.

She started out walking, but anxiety kicked her into a clumsy lope, and by the time she hit a straight stretch, it was a dead run.

Everyone shrank away from the crazy blonde sprinting down the hall in spike heels and the scanty, sexy red halter dress. She was too anxious to wait for the elevator. She dove for the stairs. Screeched to a halt outside the nurse’s station when she saw Dr. Horst, her family doctor from Seattle. Oh, God. His being here could not be a good sign.

“Dr. Horst?” she called out, gasping for breath.

He frowned, no recognition in his eyes. She yanked off the diva sunglasses. “It’s me. Liv. How’s Daddy? Is he—is he—”

“Liv. My dear.” He walked towards her, giving her a gingerly embrace. The grave look on his face terrified her.

“Tell me quick,” she begged. “Say it, if it’s bad news.”

“Come on in here,” he said. “Try to calm yourself. We have to talk.” He towed her towards the doorway of a small waiting room.

“Please, just tell me if Daddy…” Her voice trailed off.

Her father was standing right there. Fully clothed, looking very much as he always did. No life support, no IV drip, no oxygen mask. He looked fine, but for the nervous, hangdog look on his face.

Her mother stood beside him. Her chest was puffed out, chin high, her face flushed. Blair stood there too. Wearing his pompous face.

“Mother?” Liv looked around at them. “Daddy? What’s going on?”

“Lord,” Amelia said. “You look like a hooker in that silly wig.”

Her father mumbled something inaudible, and stared at his feet.

“I’m sorry it came to this, Livvy, but you left me no alternative,” her mother said.

Hot anger flooded through her. “No alternative but what? To put me in danger for nothing? To put me through hours of hell thinking that Daddy was dying? You think you can actually justify that?”

“Try to calm yourself, Liv,” Dr. Horst soothed. “Your mother truly does have your best interests at heart.”

“As if.” Liv looked around. “I don’t see any policemen here. You didn’t take me seriously. Why am I not surprised?”

“Liv, please,” Dr. Horst said gently. “I promise that you will be absolutely and completely safe where we are taking you.”