Betrayal
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Karen Cogan
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18.7K
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24
Bethany never asks for trouble, yet it finds her anyway. After a shocking loss shakes her world, she becomes the keeper of something powerful enough to turn fear into a weapon. Suddenly, every step feels watched and every silence feels loud. Luke sees the danger instantly and knows protecting her means returning to a life he worked hard to escape. As tension tightens and trust becomes their strongest currency, an unexpected bond grows between them. Together, they navigate shadows, deception, and the hum of technology that never sleeps. The closer the threat creeps, the more everything feels at risk. How do you survive when the next move is already planned?
Chapter 1
Luke carried the limp woman across the street and cradled her in his lap while he called 911. A crowd gathered while he checked her quickened pulse. What could have happened to her? His thoughts were interrupted as a man leaned toward him.
“I’m her brother.”
Luke evaluated the man and made a quick decision. “She told me to keep her briefcase safe. It’s fine with me, for now.”
The man didn’t insist, yet continued to stand by, expressing none of the concern Luke would expect of a brother while Luke focused on the woman, making sure she continued to breathe.
The steady shrieking of an ambulance preceded its arrival at the curb. Luke moved back to allow the attendants to administer to the fallen woman. They took her vitals and loaded her onto a stretcher. “Where will you take her?” Luke asked.
Not only did he need to know where to deliver the satchel, but he was also curious about why it was important enough to protect.
“Mount Sinai.”
“I’m a friend. Can I come along?”
The attendant nodded. “You can ride upfront with the driver.”
Luke held onto the briefcase as he strode to the passenger door. What possessed him to care about what happened to this stranger? He should send the attaché with her and forget the whole thing.
He glanced into the crowd and saw the man who claimed to be her brother watching from the outskirts of the bystanders. If he had to bet, Luke guessed the guy knew what was inside that case and had a reason for wanting it. Perhaps he had injured or drugged the victim to steal it. The possibilities ran through his mind as he climbed aboard.
He thought about going after the suspect. Yet he doubted he would catch him, given the distance between them. If he didn’t stay with the victim, it would be harder to locate her and return her property. He shut the door and buckled his seat belt. Whatever the outcome, he was along for the ride.
Luke’s curiosity about what was in the case burned as they drove to the hospital. When they arrived, he waited for the paramedics to lift the woman from the ambulance and wheel her into the emergency room. “How’s she doing?” he asked the small blond attendant pushing the cart.
“She’s stable.”
Once inside, he was asked her name.
“You’ll have to get identification from her purse. Please let me know when she’s able to have a visitor.”
The rigid vinyl chair in the waiting area poked against his shoulder blades. He resigned himself to the discomfort and the television comedy that spewed raucous laughter. His thoughts were on the woman who’d passed out in his arms.
He turned the briefcase over in his lap. If she was protecting something illegal, he refused to be any part of it. He studied the lock and knew it would be no problem. He fished in his pocket and withdrew the knife set he’d carried all through his stint in the military. With a few quick twists, he had it open.
He peered inside the bag to see two bloody gloves staring back. If she didn’t have a good explanation, he was going straight to the police.
***
Bethany awoke in a narrow bed. She squinted at the bright ceiling light and struggled to remember why she was hooked to an IV. What had happened? She moved to sit up, and her head throbbed. Then it all came back. He had wanted the gloves. Had he gotten them?
She fumbled for the buzzer as a nurse entered the room. “I need to see them,” Bethany said.
The nurse moved swiftly to her side. “Don’t try and get up. I’ll hand it to you.”
Bethany knew from the weight of the bag it didn’t contain the attaché case. She fought rising panic. “My briefcase is missing. Where is it?”
“There’s a man in the waiting room. Perhaps he has it.”
The woman’s calm manner as she adjusted the fluid bottle agitated Bethany. “What happened to me?”
“You were injected with a powerful sedative. Do you know how?”
Bethany shook her head. “I assume I passed out.”
“I’d like to see the man in the waiting room. Since I don’t know him, could you stay in the room?”
“Sure.” A few moments later, she opened the door and admitted a tall, dark-haired man.
The cotton T-shirt stretched over his shoulders didn’t hide his powerful build. He nodded to Bethany, then scanned his surroundings before moving closer to the bed. “You asked me to hold on to this.” He held up the attaché case.
She breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn’t the man who’d whispered in her ear. “Thanks so much. It has important papers and I didn’t want to lose it.”
She noticed his narrowed gaze. “It has more than papers. I looked inside.”
Bethany stared at him and felt her mouth go dry. “It was locked.”
“I’m very mechanical.” She didn’t blame him for being suspicious. “I can explain.”
“I hope so.” He glanced up at the nurse. “I’ll be right outside, Miss Parker.” The sweet-faced woman nodded. “Buzz if you need anything.”
When she was alone with Luke, Bethany said, “I was attacked with an injection. Did you see the man walking beside me?”
“I’d guess he was the one who claimed to be your brother. He asked for your satchel.”
Anger flashed in her blue eyes. “I’m glad you didn’t give it to him.”
“Unfortunately, we’d have no proof he was the one who drugged you.”
Bethany shivered at the memory. “I’m sorry I involved you, but I was desperate.”
“How did he know you had the gloves?”
“A neighbor tipped me off this morning that she saw someone in a ski mask toss something into the dumpster on the night of the murder. He must have been watching when I took them out and put them in my briefcase.”
“Who was murdered?”
“My roommate’s boyfriend.”
“Whose blood is on the gloves?”
“I’m pretty sure it’s Jordan’s.”
Luke frowned. “If the murderer used gloves, he wouldn’t leave prints. He used a knife that already had her prints on it.”
She paused, out of breath. “I have to get the evidence to the police, but now I’m scared. I’m not safe until I’m rid of them.”
Luke thought over her story. If it was true, the man who’d followed her was likely the killer. He might tail her until she delivered the gloves. Then they’d know that if Bethany’s roommate was smart enough to use gloves, she would have wiped the knife. At least it would cast reasonable doubt. Perhaps she’d cut an apple and left the knife on the counter.
“I’ll go with you to the station. When will you be dismissed?” Luke asked.
She glanced at the clock, appalled to see it had been three hours since she’d set off that morning. “I’m sorry to take up so much of your time. You’re probably missing work.”
Luke shrugged. “I let my boss know I’ll be late.”
“What do you do?”
He was rugged and clean-cut. She’d thought he might own his own business and spend his free time at the gym. She wasn’t prepared for his answer.
“I’m a short-order cook. I flip burgers and chop onions and potatoes.”
After a moment of silence, Bethany said, “I’d be glad to pay you for the time you’re missing.”
He shook his head. “No need. I’m not hurting for money.”
This surprised her, though she didn’t argue. She thought she might at least treat him to lunch—the least she could do for a man willing to escort a stranger to the police. In truth, she wanted to learn more about him. He appeared smart and educated and carried himself with confidence. Whatever his past, she would feel safer having him with her.
A doctor breezed into the room. “Your vitals are looking better. You’re good to go, though I’ll warn you—another shot of this could kill you.”
Bethany bristled. “I didn’t do this to myself.”
He cocked his head. “Why would someone else inject you?”
“Attempted robbery. I’m going to the police when I get out of here.” She wasn’t sure he believed her. It didn’t matter.
Luke chastised himself for offering to accompany her. Was it because she looked small and fragile, staring at him with wide blue eyes too large for her pale face? Her shoulder-length blonde hair curled about her countenance, giving her an angelic appearance.
He would have to watch himself. For all he knew, she could be a murderer. Nonetheless, he had an obligation to see that the evidence got to the police. Then he would forget this woman and her odd story and go back to his life.
The nurse came in to remove the IV. “Do you feel like you can stand?”
“Yes. I don’t feel separated from myself anymore. I didn’t like the feeling.”
“Ketamine can give you strange reactions,” the nurse agreed.
Bethany met Luke in the waiting room. He studied her. “Are you steady? We can’t have you falling and banging your head.”
“I’m fine.” In truth, she still felt a little dizzy. The fresh ocean air would do her good.
Luke hailed a taxi. Bethany dropped in the back seat, not yet fully recovered from the drug. Yet his presence made her feel better. He tried to ignore the vanilla fragrance of her feathery hair. The less he knew about her, the easier it would be not to think about what would become of her.
