Beyond the Call of Duty (3 page)

“Like I was beaten up and shot as I watched my friend and his family killed in front of my face, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.”

Lexi saw the look of powerlessness cross his face. She understood that. She’d seen it a lot in the cases she’d worked since starting with the DOJ. “I’m very sorry for your loss. I know how it feels to lose family, but we’ll get through this. I promise.” She motioned to the bag she’d put on the floor. “I’ve brought you some clothes. We’re going to get you dressed and outside to my car. You’re dying today, Mr. Elliott.”

She laughed at the confusion on his face. “I know you’ve just been shot. You’re hurting, and the last thing in this world you want is for me to push and prod you, but your injuries are no longer life threatening, and the doctor says you can be moved. Faking your death here in the hospital will be a lot easier than blowing you up in a car or something equally horrific.” She reached out, taking the tube taped to his arm and quickly pulling it away. She eased the needle out and pushed a cotton ball on the hole in his arm.

She reached around him, helping him carefully to a sitting position. He flinched and moaned as he moved, making Lexi feel even worse about how much more he would hurt before they reached the safe house and the other agents that would be helping her protect him. “Just let me do the work, Gabe. I’ll be as careful as I can.”

He nodded, though his face was slowly turning white and his lips a pasty gray color. He remained sitting up, helping her take his arms out of the gown and exposing his chest and the white bandages around his abdomen and arm. She left the gown on his lap as she reached into her bag and pulled out a buttoned-down shirt and a zippered, hooded sweatshirt.

“One arm at a time, Gabe, let’s do this nice and slow.” She got the shirt on him and buttoned it, feeling the heat of his skin and a brush of his chest hair before reaching for the washcloth that had been left on the bedside table. She dabbed at his face, carefully getting the sweat away from his busted lip and blackened eye. His face was swollen, giving him a lopsided look. He took the washcloth from her and wiped his face just a bit harder.

She helped him with the hoodie, zipping it up. “Okay, now that was the easy part. She pulled out a pair of boxers. “I wasn’t sure which you preferred.”

“Those are fine,” he said with a moan.

“Okay, then just like the shirts, one leg at a time, and you let me do most of the work.” She knelt at his feet as he stared down at her.

“You don’t seem old enough to be a fed.”

“That’s what my boss is constantly telling me. I keep threatening to go find some gray hair dye so he’ll get off my case.”

“Oh, no,” Gabe said softly. “That would be a shame.” He reached out and touched her silky black hair, wrapping his fingers around one of her curls. “Your hair is beautiful, Lexi.”

“Thanks,” she said. She stood and put an arm around his waist. “Ready for this?”

He closed his eyes, taking as deep a breath as he could with his ribs all taped up. Blowing it out, he moved to stand, leaning against her until he caught his balance. He grabbed hold of the IV stand, using it as a brace while she pulled his shorts up and finished untying his hospital gown. She helped him sit again as she handed him the washcloth.

“I know this is a lot, Gabe, but you’re doing great. We’ll get these sweats on you, and then I’ll get you a wheelchair out of here.”

“How are you staging my death?” he asked, watching her pulling the sweats over his bare feet.

“It’s always easy to stage a death in the hospital. There are certain places visitors aren’t allowed to meander into, like the morgue. As long as we have a body, and we have that body cremated, how will anybody know the difference?” She smiled, wrapping her arm around his waist again. He stood up, his legs shaking as she tugged up the sweats and got him sitting again so she could put on his socks and shoes.

She was almost done with the second shoe when there was a noise from the door. She whirled, still crouching, a huge .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol pointed at the person in the doorway.

“Whoa, I’m a friendly,” the small nurse said, blowing out a sigh when Lexi holstered her weapon at the back of her waist. The nurse pushed the wheelchair inside and walked toward the bed, a couple of bottles in one hand and a little cup containing two pills in the other. “Doc wants you taking these until your pain is gone. One is a painkiller and the other is an antibiotic. The antibiotics are to be taken until gone, no matter how you feel. If anything shows sign of infection, bring him back immediately.”

Lexi nodded, though she’d be calling their doctor if he needed any more care. She took the pills from the nurse. She recognized the big white pill immediately and moved the blue one until she could see the front. “Vicodin and Valium?”

“Yes,” the nurse said.

Lexi handed the small cup to Gabe and gave him a cup of water to take them with. Then, with the nurse’s help, she got him from the bed to the wheelchair. Everything he came in to the hospital with was to be left there; nothing could be brought with him in case something was recognized, giving away who he was.

“Wait, Lexi. My earring studs. They’re in the drawer.”

“I can’t allow them, Gabe. I’m sorry. Anything that might possibly be recognized from your old life can’t come into the new. If they were recognized, it could mean your life.” She was adamant, and didn’t slow her pushing, handing him the huge bouquet of flowers. “Keep your face hidden,” she said, pulling up his hood to hide his hair.

“It’s just they were from Tony. It’s the only thing I have left of him.”

She cocked an arched brow at him. “Your friend bought you earrings?”

“Yeah, I know it sounds a bit strange...”

“No, Gabe, it sounds a lot strange.” She stopped at the elevator, nodding at the cops who stepped off to head down to his room. She pushed him in, turning his chair so they could make a quick getaway when they reached the lobby floor. “I’m sorry that I have to say no. Your safety is in my hands, and I can’t let emotion or feelings change what I have to do to keep you alive and kicking.”

“I know,” he said, moaning a little when the elevator jerked to a start. He yawned and leaned back on the wheelchair, pressing his hood-covered head into her stomach. “Can I say something without getting slapped?”

“You aren’t going to try to come on to me, are you?” she asked with a chuckle. “I’ve had cases try that before too.”

“What did you do?” He looked up at her, eyes still drowsy, and she knew the pills were working.

“I kicked their asses,” she said mildly, “and I asked for Lulu as a back up. Lulu Sawyer would scare even the worst of the worst. So, what did you want to say?”

“Nothing.”

“I didn’t think so,” Lexi said with a laugh. She patted his shoulder as she pushed the wheelchair out of the elevator and headed out toward the doors.

“Shit,” Gabe said softly, his gaze on the men coming through those same doors.

“What?” Lexi asked.

“Those are Traeger’s men. They’re the ones that killed Tony and his family.” He put his hand to his chest. “I need a piece.”

“No, you need to keep your head down and your mouth shut.” She kept pushing as she shoved his head down a bit further. She didn’t give the three men more than a passing glance, but she saw the bulges in their jackets, and two of the men had ankle pieces as well. “Honey, Debbie is going to be so happy to see you when she gets home from school. I didn’t tell her they were letting you come home today. I thought you might like to surprise her.”

Gabe mumbled something, but she didn’t hear what it was. She smiled at the three men as they moved to the side to give her the room she needed to wrangle the wheelchair past them. Lexi didn’t breathe again until she and Gabe were out the doors and next to her car. Hitting the unlock button on her key fob, she managed to get him inside and then pushed the wheelchair closer to the hospital.

“I can’t believe you’re going to let them get away,” he said as she opened the driver’s-side door.

“They are not my problem; keeping you safe is.” She pushed the key into the ignition and fumbled in her purse for her cell phone. She dialed a number and spoke quickly into the phone. “Monroe City Hospital, three men all headed for the eighth floor. The Elliott case.” She listened for a moment and clicked the phone closed.

“Someone is coming. Now buckle up.”

She fastened her own seatbelt and turned the key in the ignition, backing carefully out of the busy parking lot. She moved over when three cop cars, lights and sirens blaring, pulled into the long driveway and headed toward the hospital.

Lexi barely looked at him as she drove back onto the road. “Keep your head down, Gabe.”

“Thank you,” he said, sinking down in the seat until he could barely be seen. “Will they let you know―”

“―if they’ve got them? Yes, and I will let you know, but remember, the only person that will know who they are exactly is you. They want you dead, Gabe. They know you survived the attack. You have to remember that they will be looking for you, and it’s my job to make sure you don’t get found. That means you can’t argue with me. When I tell you to duck, you duck. If I tell you to run and not look back, you do it.”

He stared at her for a moment. “Wait a minute, Lexi. You expect me to just run? I’m not that kind of guy. Give me a gun, and I can protect myself.”

“Not happening.” She glanced over at him. “So get over it and shut up. This is my job, and I’m damn good at it.”

“I’m not doubting you or...that, but dammit, Lexi...”

“No.” She reached down and turned on the radio, hitting one of the preset buttons and turning on the local country station. Turning it up, she allowed herself one last look, casting him a gloating smile. Carrie Underwood hit a high note, and Gabe reached down, changing the radio station and turning down the volume.

“How can you listen to that?” he asked.

“This is any better?”

“It’s Nickelback.”

“And that means?” She glanced over at him, smiling at the look on his face. “You’re too easy, Gabe. You need to learn when someone is trying to get to you.”

“Where are we going?” he asked after a few minutes. “Are you taking me to a safe house or something?”

“Or something,” she said with a smile. “Why don’t you sit back and relax, sleep. I’ll wake you when we get there.”

Gabe shifted uncomfortably. Lexi reached out, hitting the lever on the seat that would let the back recline. “Thank you,” he said, closing his eyes.

Chapter Three

Lexi pulled the car over and turned into the driveway, reaching up to hit the button that would open the garage door. Pulling in, she shut off the car and closed the garage door. Turning toward Gabe, she reached out and touched his shoulder.

“Gabe, we’re here.”

He groaned, opening his eyes and staring at her with confusion written all over his face. “What?” he asked huskily.

“We’re here,” she repeated.

“Where’s here?” He sat up, groaning at the strain on his injuries.

“Home-sweet-home.” She got out of the car and went to the passenger side, opening the door for him and helping him out. “You stay behind me.” She waited until he nodded. “Good.”

* * * *

He watched as she walked toward the door leading inside the house. She held that monster .45 in her small hands as she followed police procedures to clear a room. Her movements were clean and sharp, almost like a dance, as she checked out each corner and behind each door. He followed her, peering into the house before going in.

The house wasn’t bad, he thought, and it smelled better than his apartment. Mrs. O’Reilly and her corned beef and cabbage; she lived in the apartment above his and smelled up the entire building every Thursday night. Gabe found he actually missed the smell.

The garage door led into the kitchen, and he stepped onto the linoleum, peering curiously into the rest of the house he could see.

There was a large living room, furnished with garage-sale furniture. Nothing matched, though that didn’t bother him. It made it almost seem homier. Before he had a chance to explore any further, Lexi walked back into the kitchen, two men in suits following her. He could see the telltale bulge under their arms and knew them for what they were; cops.

“This is Gerald and Joe,” she said, nodding at each of the men as she introduced them. “They are going to be here when I’m not, Gabe. If you have any problems or questions, you can ask them and they’ll be happy to help you.” She reached into the pocket of her jacket and pulled out the two bottles of pills the nurse gave her. “I’m going to run to the store and pick up groceries. Is there anything specific that you want?”

“A bottle of Jack?” he asked, seeing the stubborn look come over her face.

“Not with the drugs you’re on. We’re trying to keep you alive, not put you back in the hospital with an overdose. Stay away from windows and get some rest, Gabe. I’ll be back in a bit.” She nodded at the other two men and headed back out the way she came in. She went through the door, glancing back at the two suits. “Lock this.”

Then she was gone.

Gabe sighed heavily. He moved slowly into the living room, pushing the heavy curtains to the side just enough so he could watch her move out of the driveway.