Page 7 of Target Acquired
“Good. I think a firepit and s’mores were mentioned.”
When they stepped into the waiting room, the other team members stood, their concern palpable. Butler stood to the side, his phone pressed to his ear, a frown on his face. When he saw them, he said a few more words, then hung up.
Cole stepped away from her, distancing himself in a subtle action, all friendly camaraderie from just seconds before stripped away, leaving a hard-faced leader. “He’s going to be all right,” he told the team, “but he’s got a slight concussion. They did remove the bullet fragment, which surprisingly did very little damage. Thanks to Kenzie’s quick actions, the trauma was much less than it could have been.”
All eyes shifted to her and she thought she could detect a slight thawing in their gazes. For a fraction of a second anyway.
“Good job, Kenzie,” Greene muttered.
The others looked at him, then back to her and nodded, murmuring their thanks—including Butler, even though his frown deepened.
James gave her a thumbs-up. “You did everything right.”
She shot them a tight smile. “Just doing my job, but I’m very glad it wasn’t any worse and he’s going to be fine.” She pulled in a deep breath and snagged her phone from the clip on her belt. “Now, assuming you all want to stay here with Cowboy, I’ve got to call an Uber. I need to get back to headquarters and get my car.”
Cole shook his head. “We’re all ready to leave now.” He glanced at his phone. “Cowboy’s here for the night. His brother’s in town and headed this way. I’ll just go tell him to behave himself and see y’all at Dolly.”
“Well, I’ve got a friend who’s supposed to be coming to get me,” Butler said. “Personal errand.” He glanced at his watch and frowned. “If he ever gets here. I’ll meet you later at headquarters when I’m done.”
Cole gave him a thumbs-up while Kenzie processed Cole’s statement. He could have just waved her on and let her get the Uber, but he’d made a point to include her in the trip back to headquarters.
Interesting. She shrugged. “Okay.”
“Be there in a few.”
While he headed back to Cowboy’s room, Kenzie followed the guys outside and down the sidewalk.
The hospital entrance sat at the top of a U-shaped drive with brick pillars holding up the roof of the porte cochere that offered protection just outside the entrance. Across from that was the larger hospital parking area. The SWAT vehicle was parked outside the porte cochere—leaving the area under the roof and the entrance clear for any emergency vehicles that might need it—and appeared to be generating a lot of interest from a group of teenagers. Two young ladies eyed her and the others as they approached. One broke away from the group and walked closer to Kenzie. “You’re on SWAT?”
Kenzie smiled. “I am.”
“Whoa. That’s cool.” She grinned and silver glistened from her teeth.
“Daaaang,” one of the boys said, then gave a low whistle. “They let girls on SWAT now?”
The girl who had spoken to Kenzie popped the guy in the head. Not hard, but not exactly gentle either. “Shut up, JJ. You’re revealing what a moron you are.”
“Hey!” JJ rubbed the back of his head and glared at the girl. “That was a little harsh, don’t you think?”
She rolled her eyes at Kenzie. “Brothers are such a pain.”
“I can relate.” Boy, could she. “But just to be clear, they don’t let anyone on SWAT,” Kenzie said. “You earn it, it’s yours. I had to work for it like the other guys on this team.” She’d worked for it all right. She narrowed her eyes at the pouting sibling. “Hard work. Just like anything in life worth having. Set a goal and go after it.”
“Good for you,” the sister said. Apparently, the siblings were the only ones in the group interested in talking. “I admire that.”
“Come on, Missy, let’s go.” The disgruntled brother pulled on his sister’s bicep.
Kenzie fist-bumped Missy and shook her head. Then noticed Cross, Greene, and Crenshaw watching her. Even Otis studied her with his intelligent dark brown eyes. Unable to discern what any of them were thinking thanks to their poker faces, she simply held out a hand to indicate they should get in. She sure didn’t expect any special privileges just because she was a woman, and they didn’t bother to argue. Greene and Otis went first, then Buzz slipped behind the wheel.
Cross stopped and motioned for her to get in, but she held his gaze and tilted her head, indicating he should go first. She would not accept special treatment on the job. A flicker of a smile crossed his lips, and he climbed in.
She turned to follow and, out of the corner of her eye, caught Cole coming out of the building.
An engine revved behind her, then roared as the driver gunned the gas. She swiveled, intending to motion for the driver to slow down, only to see the car closing in on her.
“Kenzie! Move!”
Cole’s warning shout came at the same time she spun and dove into Dolly, landing partially inside on the hard floor. A hand on her arm jerked her the rest of the way in. A split second later, the vehicle whipped past and the wind buffeted her. Otis barked. For a moment, she lay there, trying to process what had almost happened. The hand squeezed and she looked up into Greene’s black eyes. His skin looked a couple of shades paler. “You okay?” Cross and Crenshaw also looked shaken.