Page 23 of Broken Wheels

Doc stared at the remains of his car. “This is crazy.”

Crazy didn’t even begin to scratch the surface.

Chapter 8

At eleven o’clock, Dix peeked around his bedroom door to check on Doc. He was out like a light, which wasn’t surprising. He’d blustered and growled at the idea of meds to help him sleep, but in the end, he’d caved. Anyone could see he was running on fumes, what with the mall bomb, the deaths he feared he was responsible for, the revelation that someone might be after him, and then his car being destroyed—again.

Dix crept into the room, moving closer to the bed. Even in sleep, Doc seemed troubled, his brow creased. Dix resisted the urge to stroke Doc’s red hair, to trace the lines on his forehead with a fingertip to smooth them away.

I like having you in my bed.

If Dix had his way, Doc would stay there. Dix liked taking care of him, making sure he ate, watching him sleep, even watching him each morning while Doc’s pad reminded him of everything he needed to do that day.

There was so much to learn about Doc, and Dix was pretty sure he could never get tired of it.

His phone buzzed, and Dix slipped it out of the holder on his belt. He frowned to see Grayson’s name. At this hour? He swiped his finger over the screen and brought it to his ear.

“Grayson? Where are you?”

“In the lobby.”

He scowled. “Your shift finished at five. What are you doing here at this hour?”

Grayson sighed. “The second shift guy called out. We didn’t have anyone who could cover, so I said I’d work the double. I need money for school anyway. Mr. Kennedy didn’t like that, but there was no other option, so he said fine.”

“I don’t like it either, but needs must, I guess. So what’s up?”

“I have a man down here who wants to speak to Dr. Malone. He says he’s a friend.”

Dix stilled. Who the hell would show up at CrossBow and say they were friends with Doc? At this hour of the night?

“How do they know he’s here?”

“Oh, he doesn’t. He’s asking for us to get in touch with him.”

Dix’s senses went on alert. “Tell me about this guy.”

There was a pause. “To be honest? I’m getting weird vibes.”

“Can you be more specific?”

Another pause. “He’s a little too… forceful, if that makes sense. It’s almost as though he’s not asking—he’s expecting us to jump when he speaks. Like an entitled Karen, if you know what I mean.”

Dix had heard enough.

“Okay. Send two guys down to escort him to a meeting room where he can talk to me. He’s not getting anywhere near Josh until I know who he is and what he’s after.”

“I demand to know where Joshy is!” The voice in the background was loud and strident, and Grayson went quiet for a moment. Dix waited.

Then Grayson was back. “Sorry about that. The guy was making a fuss, saying that Dr. Malone’s parents had sent him, and that we had no business keeping him waiting like this.”

Doc’s parents? Why would they?—

Dix was sure they wouldn’t, not after the way Doc’s mom had spoken on the phone. But that one word, Joshy, gave him an idea as to the identity of the person in the lobby.

“Make sure the guys are armed. Have them take him to meeting room five and stay there with him until I arrive. Does he seem violent?”

Grayson chuckled. “Nope. He’s just a loudmouthed ass in my opinion. He’ll be fine until the guys get here.”