December Frost (A Southern Romance Monthly) by CJ Hockenberry Read Free Book Online Page A

Carr."  
    "Yes. Apparently Cecelia's gut was right—this is your house and you are Thomas Carr. Finger prints don't lie. Especially when I do them myself."  
    He refocused on her. "You do them?" He started to move but she put a hand firm hand on his chest. "Ow…again."  
    "You were shot through your shoulder. Bullet went through you. Looks like it nicked your collar bone and tore a lot of muscle on the way out. Close range?"  
    "You could say that."  
    "You see who shot you?"
    "He was wearing a white mask."  
    "Kinky." She held up a syringe and pushed some of the clear liquid up through the needle. When she pointed it at him, he protested. "Sshh, ya big baby. It's just tetanus. I was able to access your medical records." She slipped the needle in.  
    Thomas didn't feel a thing. Awesome? "What are you?"  
    "Medical Examiner. Dekalb County."  
    He took stock of his condition as he raised his head—only as high as he could without pain. He was in his bed like he thought. He was also nude beneath the sheets and his right shoulder was bandaged and his right arm was strapped to his side. This was going to make shooting difficult. "Did you take my clothes off?"
    "No." She stuck her tongue out at him. "Cecelia did."  
    "She—" his eyes widened. "She did?"
    The blue woman Medical Examiner smiled down at him. "You like her."  
    "That obvious, huh?"  
    "Yeah. But before you put any moves on her, you'd better help her solve this. Cause she's putting a lot on the line."  
    Thomas tried again to struggle into a sitting position. This time she helped him. But of course, he got a little dizzy. "Whoa."
    "Blood loss. Happens." She pursed her lips. "So did you shoot Officer Maddox?"  
    "Officer…" then he remembered the uniformed cop. "Oh no…no. The Phantom did."  
    "So it was the Phantom that shot him, and you."  
    "Yes."
    "And you got out."  
    "Yes. I followed the Phantom. There's a…small access conduit in the back of the lockup. It was tight…but I got into it and then sort of slid down to the bottom." He winced with memory. "Abrupt stop."  
    "Explains the bump on your head."
    "Is Maddox all right?"
    The blue woman Medical Examiner stood up. She was dressed in a nice pants suit with a pass key and ID on a lanyard around her neck. "Yes. He'll be okay. He was lucky. This Phantom actually split ribs, missed the back bone. No vital organs but one hell of a recovery period."  
    "Good, good." He narrowed his eyes at the badge. "Deborah Proctor. Nice to meet you."  
    "Hold up the friendly till Cecelia gets back." She turned and started cleaning up the nightstand.  
    He recognized his First Aid kit next to a black bag. "You come prepared?"
    "Always. Cecelia's my best friend. And she's always getting hurt. Hates hospitals." She laughed. "Last time she was put in one was after she was shot. She woke up and they caught her outside trying to get a taxi—in her hospital gown—exposing her ass to the world."  
    Thomas laughed and then tried not too— oh man that hurt . Why would laughter hurt his shoulder? But the question was replaced with the vision of Cecelia Inzmann in anything backless.  
    Oh, bad thought. All that did was make a pup-tent.  
    Deb noticed it and snickered. "You really do have a hard on for her—literally."  
    Thomas grabbed a pillow and put it on his crotch. "Where is she?"
    "Precinct. They called her in after you escaped. She and I were proving that this was your address and she was going to go see who would have access to change the picture of you in the database. Those kinds of things can be traced pretty easy."  
    "Did she find my car?"
    "Not yet. That was our next move until you fell into the kitchen." She had her bag packed and picked it up. "I'll leave you to get dressed."  
    Before she left the room the front door opened and Cecelia called out. "Hey!"  
    "I'm coming down!" Deb said and then looked around. "I think I left my coat in your spare bedroom. Excuse me." She left the room and