Savior in the Saddle by Delores Fossen Read Free Book Online

she doubted he believed her. For one thing, she was still breathing so fast that she was close to hyperventilating, and she was trembling from head to toe. It might be part of Brandon’s job to be on the business end of gunfire, but until the hostage situation at the maternity hospital, Willa had never known what it was like to face real danger.
    Well, now she knew.
    And it couldn’t continue.
    Somehow, she had to find a safe place for her and her baby. If there was such a thing as a safe place. This was the third attack in four months. Four attacks if she counted being taken hostage at the hospital. Part of her was furious that time after time someone or something had endangered her precious baby. She wanted answers. She wanted justice.
    But another part of her only wanted to run and hide.
    Willa looked back at the broken glass and damage the bullets had done to the seats. She also looked out at the sidewalk that was zipping by. No sign of Shore, thank God. Maybe they had finally lost him.
    She listened while Brandon gave an update to whomever he had called. He also asked about Lieutenant Bo Duggan, and then about Martin Shore. Brandon’s forehead bunched up when he apparently got a response.
    “We’re on our way,” Brandon said to the person on the other end of the line, and he snapped his phone shut.
    “They got Martin Shore?” she immediately asked.
    He shook his head. “But they’re looking. Backup arrived, and there are officers fanning out all over the area.”
    The hopeful tone was tinged with doubt. And Willa knew why. From what Brandon had told her, Martin Shore was a professional killer, and he probably knew how to evade the police. He was no doubt on the run so he could regroup.
    And come after her again.
    “Bo Duggan was shot,” Brandon added, his voice practically a whisper. He closed his eyes a moment but not before she saw the flash of anger mixed with pain. “He’s on the way to the hospital.”
    “I’m sorry.” Not that it would probably help, but Willa reached out and touched his arm.
    That touch brought his eyes open, and he met her gaze. “So am I. Sorry for the lieutenant and sorry that I didn’t get to you sooner so I could stop this attack.”
    Willa didn’t intend to take the blame for this, but it certainly wasn’t Brandon’s fault, either. The problem was she didn’t know where to place the blame.
    “You were trying to talk me into leaving with you and Lieutenant Duggan,” she reminded him. She groaned softly. “And I was trying to figure out a way to escape.”
    He glanced back at the street and shook his head. “I wish to hell you had gotten out there before Shore arrived.”
    So had she. But here they were. Seconds after nearly being killed. Willa wondered if she would ever have peace of mind again, or if she would have to stay on the run for the rest of her life. It was possible that she could never give her precious baby a normal life.
    “The police station’s just around the block,” the driver told them.
    Willa had to take a deep breath. A police station filled with people she didn’t trust. But she couldn’t very well jump off the bus. Shore could still be out there. And besides, she didn’t even have a house to return to. Other than the meager items in the messenger bag, the only things she had were Brandon and her memory.
    Both were somewhat suspect.
    “Don’t trust the cops,” Brandon mumbled, repeating what he’d seen on her computer screen and notes.
    “Yes. But as you can see, I had my reasons for that distrust.”
    “And you still do?” he asked.
    It wasn’t a simple question, and there seemed to be a Texas-size amount of emotion behind it.
    “I think I can trust you,” she admitted. “Because I believe you truly are my baby’s father.”
    Other than his word and the DNA results that could be fake, she had no other reason to believe him. But she did. Willa only hoped that didn’t turn out to be another mistake.
    The driver took a left turn