Found Missing (Decorah Security Series, Book #14): A Paranormal Romantic Suspense Novel by REBECCA YORK Read Free Book Online Page B

expression wary. “Do I know you?”
    “No. We just met. I’m Lily Wardman,” she answered. She could have said, “Dr. Wardman,” but she’d made the split-second decision not to make him worry about that immediately. So much for full disclosure.
    “Where am I?” he asked in a thick voice, his eyes darting around the small room, then back to her.
    “Somewhere safe.”
    He looked like he didn’t believe her.
    As she gave him a little more space, he made a moaning sound. “The boxes. I saw the boxes falling. I felt . . .” His voice trailed off.
    “It’s okay. You’re safe,” she repeated.
    “I don’t think so.”
    He pushed himself up, keeping his gaze on her as though he was prepared for some kind of unexpected—and dangerous—move on her part. When she stayed still, trying to project a nonthreatening aura, his focus shifted to Mack.
    “Who are you?”
    “I’m Mack Bradley.”
    “Are you a security guard?”
    Mack looked to Lily, and she gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head.
    “I’m Lily’s husband,” he said.
    “Oh yeah. Well I can tell from your expressions there’s something fishy going on. What are you hiding?”
    “Nothing. You need to know what happened and where you are now.”
    “I know where I’m am,” Corker shot back. “I’m in hell, and you’re trying to get me to relax so you can torture me.”
    “No. Of course not.”
    “I’m dead.”
    “No.”
    Ignoring her reassurance, he plowed on, “I know all those heavy boxes hit me. And you can’t fool me. I know where I ended up.”
    “You’re not dead, and you’re not in hell,” Lily said in a voice that she hoped was reassuring.
    Corker sat up, glancing around the small room as though he was looking for an escape route.
    “We’re here to help you,” Lily said, glad that she had thought to prepare this room, “You were injured, and you’re . . . better.”
    “You’re lying.”
    At that moment, the door flew open, and Shelly burst into what was supposed to be a private encounter. The little girl had a gleeful expression on her face as she ran toward Lily.
    “See, Anna was right. You’re here. She told me you were here.”
    Lily felt her face go rigid with shock. Obviously the computer program knew that she was coming with a new patient, but she hadn’t expected her sister to find out about it and rush to see her. Behind her, she could see Anna, the simulated nursemaid who kept the rambunctious child from getting into too much trouble.
    Before Lily could react, the man on the couch leaped up. “Demon,” he shouted as he launched himself at the little girl.
    “No,” Lily screamed as she leaped into his path, trying to block him.                                                                     
    Mack jumped up as well, putting himself between Lily, Shelly and the maddened patient. The guy came out swinging and hit him in the chest.
    Trying to keep from getting socked in the jaw, Mack shoved the guy away. He bounced back, colliding with Lily, who came down hard on the floor, banging her back painfully against the edge of the sofa. For long moments, she lay stunned.
    The scene of chaos gave the new patient an opening. Pushing himself up, he shoved Mack out of the way and made for the door again. The frantic series of attacks and responses might have been a scene from an action comedy movie, except that none of it was funny.
    “Anna, take Shelly out of here,” Lily cried out as Mack grabbed for Corker.
                  oOo              
    In the lab, Jenny heard Grant make a startled sound. Something was happening, but she couldn’t see what it was because Terry Montrose had crowded in closer, their bodies blocking her view of the monitor.
    Obviously things weren’t going the way anybody had expected.
    “Mack, what do you need?” Grant called out.
    Jenny didn’t stay to hear the answer. Thinking that she