CoyoteWhispers (16 page)

They’d spent the morning at the clinic with the sheriff.
He’d insisted she walk through each of the rooms looking for anything that
Marcus may have left behind. Unfortunately there was nothing new to discover
and it seemed pointless to fingerprint when there must be hundreds of different
prints throughout the building, but Dale did anyway. There was nothing in the
roof space to suggest Marcus had been there either. After they’d finished Steve
had wanted to go back to her parents house and check the roof in daylight to be
sure there were no broken shingles or clues that may lead to Marcus’
whereabouts. Rather than go with him she’d opted to stay here.

Kat came through the swinging timber half doors from the
kitchen and placed two steaming bowls of soup in front of them. She walked down
the counter and pulled two fresh bread rolls from a basket and brought them
back to Gordie and Tatum.

“Eat. It’ll warm you up and fill your bellies.” Kat eyed
Tatum’s nonexistent waist. “Not that your belly needs any more filling.”

Tatum laughed. “You’re right, but I expect to be filled out
more before this pregnancy is over.”

“How are you feeling? No cramping or sickness?” Gordie asked
as she spooned up a mouthful of soup.

“No. Although, if you don’t mind, can I pick up a blood
pressure kit from the clinic before you leave town? My feet are a little swollen,
but I think that’s normal. And the usual backache but again, that’s the same as
it’s been the whole pregnancy.” Tatum dipped her roll into the bowl and took a
bit. “Mmm…” She spoke around the mouthful. “This is delicious. Can I get some
to take home with me?”

“Sure, I’ll make you up a Christmas feast pack for three.”
Kat grinned and headed back to the kitchen again.

“God, your sister can cook.”

“I know. She got all the domestic skills in the family.”

“You can’t cook?”

“I won’t poison anyone but I can’t make heaven the way Kat
can.”

“Damn. That sucks.”

“Not really. I just stop by here every night I’m in the mood
for something delicious.”

“I think I’m going to be doing that. I can cook, not as well
as this but I do all right. It’s just lately I can’t find the energy to walk,
never mind stand around and cook. I fall asleep at the drop of a hat.”

“That’s to be expected, you are carrying twins.”

“Yes, but I can’t believe how easily I tire. Take the other
night at Steve’s. I’d walked from my car and by the time I reached the driveway
I was exhausted. I could have literally slid to the ground asleep if I’d let
myself. As it was, I knew I couldn’t go any farther. Lucky Dale and Steve found
me when they did. That never would have happened before I got pregnant.” Tatum
rubbed her belly. “I’m starting to get tired now so I’ll need to head home
soon. I’ll finish this yummy soup first though, not passing this up for sleep,
that’s for sure.”

“We’ll walk over and grab that kit before you go.”

“Thanks.”

They finished their soup without another word spoken. Gordie
let Kat know where they were going and what they were doing.

“Don’t you want to wait for Steve to come back?” her sister
asked.

“I don’t know how much longer he’ll be and Tatum needs to
get home soon so she can rest. It’s just across the road. Kat, and Steve and
Dale went over the place this morning so I know there’s no one lurking around.
Besides, we’ll only be a couple of minutes at the most.”

“Okay, but if you’re not back in ten minutes I’m coming
after you.” Kat came around the counter to walk them to the door.

Gordie helped Tatum into her coat before pulling on her own.
Kat handed them their gloves and hats.

“Watch the sidewalk. It’s bound to be icy.”

Taking each step with care, Gordie held onto Tatum’s arm as they
traversed the slippery footpath. There was no traffic on the road so they
crossed over at a leisurely stroll to be sure they didn’t trip. Gordie led them
around the rear of the building.

“We have to go in the back way. The front door has two slide
bolts on the inside that you can’t open from the street.” Gordie pulled her
keys from her pocket as they walked up the back lane. “Careful, there are a
couple of potholes beneath the snow near that fence.”

“I’m watching. Believe me, after the first few times of
finding myself flat on my ass I take every step with care. I was never clumsy
before I got pregnant.”

“I won’t ask because it’s none of my business but you have
to know everyone in town is going to be curious about the father. You ought to
think about what you’re going to tell everyone before the questions start.”

“By the time I see the rest of the pack I’ll have an answer
ready. For now though I’d rather stay quiet on the subject.”

“Okay.” They reached the back door and Gordie slid the key
into the padlock and then the two deadlocks. “Let’s get in out of the cold.”

The clinic was dark and freezing, no warmer than outside but
at least they were out of the wind. Gordie flicked the light switch and the
gloom vanished. She pushed the door closed behind them and led Tatum through
the building, giving her a brief rundown of what each room was used for.

“I’ll give you the full tour on your first day but for now
let me grab that kit.” Gordie started back to the storeroom.

“Mind if I just sit here for a minute? I’m suddenly tired
enough for my legs to shake,” Tatum said.

“No, that’s fine. If it’s okay with you I might just give
you a quick once-over before we head back to the café.”

“Sure.” Tatum covered a yawn with her hand. She smiled.
“Sorry, really tired.”

“Why don’t you come into the exam room and lie down for a
bit?”

“No way. I do that and I won’t get up until I’ve had at
least an hour’s nap.”

“I’ve got nowhere to be in a hurry.”

“Thanks, but no. I want to get home and curl up in a nice,
warm bed.”

“I’ll be back in a second.”

Gordie left Tatum to rest while she went to the supply room.
She was occupied scanning the shelves for the new kit she’d recently ordered in
preparation for her nurse starting work when the hair on the back of her neck
stood on end as though a cold wind had blown across her skin. She’d shut the
back door hadn’t she? Locked it? Footsteps echoed behind her and her stomach
clenched. Leaning out the door of the storeroom she glimpsed a flash of black
disappearing into the reception area where she’d left Tatum.

A shiver rattled her spine and her heart sped up. Gordie
stepped into the hall as Tatum’s cry of distress reverberated off the walls.
Her feet moved before the thought formed and she ran the length of the
corridor.

“No!”

Gordie could hear Tatum’s struggles before she entered the
waiting room. She skidded to a halt at the sight of a familiar-looking man in
black. Every hackle rose and sweat popped out of every pore as she remained
frozen in place while the two figures fought.

“Gordie, run!” Tatum’s shout got Gordie moving again.

Her heart pounded against her ribs and her lungs refused to
take more than small gulps of air. She would not let him win this time. There
wasn’t much in the way of weapons in the clinic but she could improvise. Gordie
picked up the bundle of magazines on the corner table and threw them at the
mass of wrestling bodies. It was enough to draw the masked attacker’s attention
away from Tatum.

With a growl he shoved Tatum aside and came at Gordie.
Spinning on her heel she ran toward the room most likely to hold some kind of
weapon. The morgue. Moments ago the hallway had seemed short, now it appeared
to go on forever before she reached her destination. Trays of sterile surgical
implements sat to one side of the large room and Gordie headed straight for
them. Scooping up a handful of plastic-covered steel, she darted around the end
of an exam table, putting the slab of cold metal between her and Marcus.

She had no doubt who hid behind the ski mask. Gordie would
never forget those eyes. He’d been wearing the same clothes two days ago so it
was obvious who had returned. Tatum hadn’t made a sound after he’d flung her
against the wall and the doctor in Gordie wanted to go check to see if the
other woman was all right but she couldn’t afford to let her guard down or
neither of them would be okay.

“You can’t hide from me, non-blood bitch.” His shout echoed
down the hall.

Gordie crouched down behind the table and peered around the
pedestal base to watch the doorway. If he kept going she could sneak out of the
room and back to Tatum. His heavy footfalls grew closer.

“I’ll kill you when I get my hands on you.” He was moving
from room to room, searching for her.

Fear sliced into her. He outweighed her by at least one
hundred pounds, probably more, but Gordie knew the soft spots, knew where to
strike to inflict the most damage if she had to.

“You can’t hide and that bitch out front isn’t going to save
your sorry ass from what I’ve got planned.”

His words chilled her blood, the venom in them unmistakable.
She also couldn’t miss the slight tinge of madness ringing in his voice. Gordie
knew he’d checked most of the other rooms, knew it was only a matter of time
before he reached this one and she needed a plan. Two plans. One for when he
found her and one for if he passed on by.

“You’re going to pay for all the trouble you’ve caused.”

Trouble? What trouble? Gordie had no idea what he was
talking about. She’d never had much to do with Marcus. He’d always considered
her beneath him because she was human and then after Anthony had died he’d
never even glanced her way. He hadn’t even come to her for medical treatment
once since she’d taken over the clinic from her stepfather.

“You think you’re so smart hooking up with that McKenna
bastard.” He was in the next room, moving closer with every breath.

She fingered the plastic packets in her hands, glanced down
quickly to see exactly what she had. Three scalpels, two sets of forceps and
two pairs of scissors. What would she do with the forceps? A sound in the
doorway drew her gaze. Black boots and jeans up to the knee were visible. She
wasn’t game to move for a better look. Gordie watched those boots intently. The
second he came toward her or left she’d be ready.

He turned and went back into the hall. Air rushed from her
chest, hissed through her teeth as relief filled her. Gordie carefully removed
the plastic from the instruments and counted to one hundred before standing and
tiptoeing toward the door. She couldn’t hear anything and that worried her more
than having him in the doorway in front of her would have. Soundlessly, she
made her way across the room.

Her skin prickled and instinct made her jump back seconds
before he charged into the room. He reached for her throat, his hands wrapping
around her neck and hooking in her jacket as she tried to spin away. The zipper
on her coat dug into her skin and she gagged as her airway was crushed. Gordie
brought her hand up, scissors extended and drove them into the nearest body
part. Cloth tore and skin broke as she pushed with all her strength. Marcus
howled in pain and his grip loosened, allowing her to twist free of his hold.

“Bitch!” He’d removed his mask, his gaunt face skeletal in
appearance and a mere impression of his former self.

Marcus lunged for her, the scissors protruding from between
the fourth and fifth ribs near the center of his chest. His fingers caught her
sleeve and he wrenched her back against him. The steal handles of the scissors
dug into her shoulder and she applied pressure to drive them deeper. A curse
filled her ears and he shoved her forward, sent her tumbling to the floor. Pain
exploded in her back as she went down and she rolled away just before he kicked
out a second time.

“Not so fucking tough now are you?” He lashed out with his
foot again, grazing her hip with the toes.

Gordie grabbed at his pants, tangled her fingers in the
fabric and pulled. He teetered above her so she gave the jeans another yank and
sent him crashing to the ground beside her. She clambered for purchase but she
slid on the slippery tile beneath her hands and feet. Steal glinted next to her
and she realized she’d dropped her makeshift weapons in their struggle.
Reaching out, she wrapped her fingers around the nearest one.

“Fucking bitch!” Marcus crawled after her.

With desperation she lashed out, but he dodged to the side
and the blade of a scalpel glanced along his cheek, barely leaving a scratch.
He kept coming, managed to pin her beneath him, his body crushing hers. She
kicked and punched, bucked and thrashed in an attempt to dislodge him. Marcus
tangled his fingers in her hair and used his grip to slam her head into the
ground repeatedly. Stars burst before her eyes and Gordie’s arms flailed about
without purpose.

He was going to kill her. There was no way she could throw
him off, he was too heavy. Tears burned her eyes and throat as he once again
wrapped his hands around her neck and began to squeeze. The back of her head
pounded but the pain had begun to go numb. Her arms and legs wouldn’t work
properly, their weight too much to move. Her vision blurred, blackness creeping
in around the edges and she thought she heard someone call her name.

Steve.

“He’s too late.” Marcus laughed above her, his face a
grotesque, distorted image. “You’re dead, bitch, and he’s next.”

“No.” The hoarse cry hurt her throat but she couldn’t let
him get Steve. With the last of her energy Gordie lifted her arm, the scalpel
still in her hand, and slashed out at his face. At first she thought she’d
missed. Marcus stopped squeezing and his mouth fell open. Everything happened
in slow motion. For seconds neither of them breathed and then blood began to
bead in a long line down the side of his neck. The beading quickly turned to a
flow.

The flow increased rapidly until blood pumped from the slice
in gushing waves. She’d hit his carotid artery. Marcus let go of her throat and
grabbed his neck but he couldn’t stop the surge. He fell to the side and Gordie
used her hands and feet to scramble backward. She slipped and slid in the pool
of blood forming on the floor, the slick warmth made her move quicker in a bid
to get away. But it was all around her, over her. His hands fell from his body
as he collapsed with the gurgle of his final breath in his throat.