Page 34 of Target Acquired
The door opened and a man Eliza had never seen before stepped inside. His eyes landed first on her, then Betsy. They widened and lingered until Dr. King cleared his throat. “Dr. Stephen, I’m in a session.”
“I see that.” His eyes roamed the trio before him. “Are we now allowing visitors to join in the sessions?”
“If I think it helps the patient, then yes.”
The man sighed, but he continued to gaze at Betsy. Finally, he turned his attention back to Dr. King. “You and your modern ideas. I’ve arranged for Miss Crane’s electric shock therapy sessions to begin today. The staff will be expecting her in twenty minutes.”
“What?” Eliza nearly screeched the word and Betsy’s fingers tightened around hers. “I don’t need that.” Fear nearly strangled her.
“It was suggested by your father, Miss Crane.” To the others, he said, “He’s even purchased the latest machine to make sure Eliza gets the best care. It was delivered today. Bring her down when you’re finished.” He tilted his head toward Betsy. “Miss.” Then he was gone.
Eliza turned her gaze to Dr. King, then Betsy. “You can’t let them,” she whispered. “Please . . . I must go to William. I . . . What do I do?”
Dr. King pulled in a ragged breath and rubbed his chin. “Stay here. I don’t know how he can do this. He’s overstepping his authority. I’m your doctor, not him.”
He swept from the room and Eliza wilted on the chair.
EIGHT
PRESENT DAY
Two hours later, back at headquarters, Kenzie pressed a hand to her head. A tension headache gnawed at her temples, and she tried to remember whether she had any ibuprofen anywhere. The shooter had managed to get away in spite of law enforcement pulling out all the stops.
Buzz and Greene were at the hospital, but both would make full recoveries. She hadn’t been worried about that. Much. Not Greene anyway. His vest had done its job. But Buzz had been a concern, and she’d been glad to get the confirmation he’d be fine.
They’d both demanded to FaceTime in on the debrief, but Buzz probably wouldn’t be out of surgery in time. He’d be mad, but he’d get over it. Thankfully, Cowboy had been discharged and sent home and would join them from there.
She shut the locker and twisted the combination lock, wishing she could ride the adrenaline crash in front of her television.
After the meeting, she promised herself. If she could stay awake that long.
When she arrived at the conference room, she noted the remaining team members already gathered at the back of the room, heads close together. All at once, they nodded in unison at something Cole said. Once again, the feeling of being left out stung. “What’s going on?”
The men separated, turned to face her, and began clapping one by one. James, Cole, Commander Judson Hill, and Magic Man. Butler simply stood there, eyes narrowed.
Kenzie blinked and met Cole’s gaze, then the others’. “Uh, what?”
James laughed. “You’re a hero, Kenzie. You waltzed right into the line of fire like the dude was shooting potatoes, not bullets, grabbed Buzz like he was a toddler, and got him to safety.”
Cole didn’t look nearly as thrilled with that, but he did have a small smile on his face.
“Oh,” she said. “Well. I mean, I couldn’t just stand there while he was lying there wounded with a chance of a more deadly bullet headed his way.”
“Exactly,” Cole said. “Brave and heroic. Well done.”
Kenzie didn’t think her face could get any redder or hotter, but at Cole’s praise, she was proven wrong. “Uh, thanks.” She cleared her throat, desperate to stop stammering and turn the attention elsewhere.
The commander shook her hand. “I know there’s been some question about your presence on this team. I hope this proves the decision to put you here was the right one. I know I have no doubts whatsoever.”
“Thank you, sir, I really appreciate that.” Kenzie’s throat tightened briefly and she drew in a deep breath. This was not the time for emotions. “So, what else did I miss?”
Thankfully, Cole let her redirect. “I was just asking the guys what they thought about taking up a collection for Micah’s family.”
In the almost six months she’d been on the team, they’d done this a few times. It was always the kids who triggered it. Kids trapped in situations they had no say about. “I’m in.” She had about fifty bucks in her wallet. She pulled it out and passed it to Cole, then leaned back, willing herself not to yawn.
Cole tucked the money into his wallet. “I’ll go by there when we get done here. Want to go with me, King?” Butler snorted and Cole raised a brow at the man. “You want to go too?”
“Naw, just wondering why she gets the invite.”