I'm Watching You by Mary Burton Read Free Book Online

of plywood."
    Lindsay smiled. "You carry too much stress in your shoulders, but
if you keep at it, your body will open."
    Jennifer held up her hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay, I
promise to be there Wednesday night."
    "Good. Hey, I'm here to see Sam."
    "He's just finishing up rounds. He should be passing by in
just a second."
    "Great."
    Jennifer leaned forward. "I hear you and Sam had a date last
week."
    Color rose in Lindsay's face. Jennifer knew everyone and their
business. Hospital staff jokingly called her "Jenni-dot-net."
"I wouldn't call it a date at all." The idea that Jennifer
and likely now everyone else was calling her evening with Sam a date
didn't sit well.
    Jennifer wagged thin eyebrows. "What would you call it?"
    Lindsay shoved fingers through her hair. "A
friendly night out."
    "Friendly?" A smile twitched the edges of Jennifer's
full lips, made her eyes spark. "I've seen the way Sam looks at
you."
    Since Lindsay was a child, she'd been careful to keep her private
life private. Her home life shamed her and she didn't want anyone to know
about it. But the days of hiding a violent home life had long passed and there
was no need to keep secrets. Yet the habit of hiding persisted.
    Her evening out with Sam wasn't shameful or dark, just fun, and it
had been exactly as she'd described it--friendly. "Movies. Dinner at a burger joint. Home by
nine. Very pleasant."
    Jennifer looked disappointed. "That can't be it."
    "It is."
    "Ah, come on, there must be more details," Jennifer said.
    "Nope. Sorry."
    Sam's voice drifted down the hallway as he gave orders to a nurse.
    Lindsay sighed her relief.
    Jennifer laughed. "The cavalry has arrived."
    "See you around. I've got to run." Lindsay tossed
Jennifer a grin and hurried down the hallway toward Sam.
    Sam stood in front of a curtained cubicle wearing his green scrubs, a
patient's chart in hand. An inch taller than her, Sam was trim but not
muscular. He looked like a tennis player who belonged at a country club. Blond
hair curled at the edges above his ears. Horn-rimmed glasses accentuated
intelligent brown eyes.
    "Sam."
    He peered over his glasses and smiled warmly as he closed the chart.
"I was beginning to think you'd forgotten me."
    Her smile came easily. "Sorry, we had some trouble at the
shelter."
    Worry creased his forehead. "What?"
    She lowered her voice and leaned close to him. "This is not for
anyone else to hear right now, but Harold Turner's body was found in the
shelter's alley this morning."
    "What?!" His voice raised in shock.
    Lindsay glanced around and noticed several nurses staring at them.
"I don't have many more details than that. The cops were at the
shelter this morning interviewing me. In fact, they'll be there for
days."
    "No one else was hurt?"
    "We're all fine."
    He let out a long breath. "Damn. Harold Turner. His wife came
through here two months ago with a sprained arm and bruised ribs."
    "I know. She cornered me at a charity party two weeks ago and told
me about her marriage. I offered her a bed at Sanctuary but she refused."
    Sam shook his head. "Sanctuary is a big step down from a mansion
on River Road."
    "Yeah." I can handle
Harold . Jordan's words replayed in Lindsay's head. "I
can't imagine her sleeping in a bunk bed or sharing kitchen
duties."
    "I'd say your morning ranks high on the stress meter."
    "You've no idea."
    Sam laid his hand on her shoulder. "You look like hell."
    Lindsay couldn't help but smile as she leaned into him. "You
know how to make a girl feel good."
    He grinned. "It's a talent."
    She rubbed the back of her neck.
    Sam studied her closely. "What gives with your neck?"
    "I fell asleep on my couch last night. I must have slept
crooked."
    Sam captured her elbow in his hand. "Exam room three is
open."
    "I don't need to be checked out. And I need to see that
woman you called me about."
    "You've got a minute or two to spare."
    Aware Jennifer hadn't missed a second of their exchange, she
hesitated. "Sam, we are quickly becoming