Close To Danger (Westen #4)(50)

“Great. It won’t start.”

“Freezing weather can be hell on batteries and cars’ electrical systems. Let’s go check mine.”

“I should probably stay with my car and call the auto service,” she said, pulling out her phone.

“Suit yourself doc, but between the weather and the bad roads, I doubt anyone will get her for a while, maybe hours. I prefer to spend that time buried in my bed, eyes clamped shut.” He stepped back, still holding the door. “I can have you over at your sister’s place then home if you want before I hit the wall and pass out.”

Dylan considered his words. He was probably right about the auto service getting here any time before midnight. Exhaustion was taking its toll on her body and mind already.

“Okay. But you let me buy you breakfast tomorrow,” she said, grabbing her bag from the passenger seat where she’d tossed it. Out of the car, she manually locked it again and went arm-in-arm with Steve to his Jeep. Hopefully there wouldn’t be any more surprises tonight.





CHAPTER EIGHTEEN


They parked outside Chloe’s condo. Dylan hated to admit it, but given how treacherous the roads had been, despite the efforts of the Department of Transportation’s crews, she was glad Steven had done the driving. He’d handled the Jeep on the skids like a man used to driving on icy roads.

“This the place?” Janowski asked, staring up at the converted Victorian.

“Yes. It was built at the turn of the twentieth century and was once a one family home of some industrialist. A few years back it was converted to four two-bedroom condos. Chloe said it reminded her of the old place where Bobby raised us, only more up-to-date.”

“So your sister raised you and Chloe?” he asked as they climbed out of the Jeep.

She shoved her hands into her coat pocket and carefully met him at the front of the car. “After our parents died. Bobby was twelve years older than Chloe, fourteen ahead of me. She quit college, got her associate teaching certificate to teach pre-K for a few years and then finished her BA in teaching all while raising Chloe and me.”

“That’s a good big sister. Steady there.” Grasping her arm as she started across a slick spot on the sidewalk, he kept her steady until they were on an area still covered with snow, but not slick. “The last thing either of us need is a trip back to the ER, this time on a stretcher.”

“Especially with Cardiff covering surgery tonight,” Dylan said and they both laughed.

They carefully made their way up the steps and inside the lighted vestibule.

“Looks like the power’s back on if it was out before,” Steven said as she took the key she had to Chloe’s place and let them inside the security door. “That’s a good thing.”

“Well, yes. If she’s here, then she’s not freezing to death…” She let the statement hang.

“But if it’s not a power outage?”

“Then she better have a damn good reason for not answering Bobby’s or my calls.” And the little niggle of worry she’d been pushing to the back of her brain all day while busy in surgery, suddenly grew into a warning bell.

She led him up the stairs to the second floor where Chloe’s condo took up the right half of the floor. At the doorway, the stopped cold.

It stood slightly ajar.

Dylan reached for the knob, but Janowski grabbed her hand, shaking his head to stop her. Reaching into his coat, he suddenly pulled out a gun, stepping between her and the door. “Stay behind me, Doc.”

Hell yes, she was staying behind him. The man had a freaking gun in his hand.

At some point she was going to have to address the fact that her new co-worker had a concealed weapon, but as she inched her way into Chloe’s apartment and saw the savage chaos of the usually neat and tidy space, she was very glad Janowski was armed.

“Look,” she said, pointing to the alarm system by the door. Someone had pried it open and cut the wires.

Janowski nodded.

“Oh, my God,” she whispered as they moved deeper into the condo.

“I take it this isn’t your sister’s usual decorating style?” Steven asked over his shoulder.

“You mean modern-trashed-by-tornado-and-tagged-with-spray-painted-obscenities? Not Chloe’s thing. If anyone’s place would look like this, it would be mine—well except for the spray paint part.”

He gave her a one-eyebrow lift and half a smirk.

She shrugged. What could she say? Neatness only counted in surgery to her.

“This room is clear. You stay here and I’ll check out the rest of the place. Okay?” he said, all teasing gone from his voice.

She nodded.

The way he held the gun and moved through the condo reminded her of all those action/adventure movies she used to watch with her sister Bobby, especially the ones with SWAT or Navy Seal heroes. Despite the chaos surrounding her, Janowski’s obvious training reassured her that she was at least safe with him here. She just prayed he didn’t find Chloe in one of the other rooms.

“It’s all clear. No one here,” Steven said as he came back in the room, putting his gun back into the holster under his armpit.

Dylan slumped down on the arm of the sofa. “At least Chloe’s not here dead or injured.” She paused, fear gripping her heart. “What if whoever did this has her?” She reached for the bag slung on her shoulder to get her phone only to see Janowski had his out, pushing buttons. “Are you calling the police?”