Janet Evanovich - Full Speed

"You're just saying that."

"I'm telling you the truth."

Max punched a button on his cell phone. "Muffin, I found Dave. I need to get him to the hospital."

"I'm going to lose my leg, aren't I?" Dave said.

"You're not going to lose your leg, for Pete's sake," Max said. "Now be still so I can cut your bindings." He sawed through them with his knife and pulled Dave up so the man was sitting.

"I'm light-headed from losing half my blood," Dave said.

"Do you think you can walk?"

"Walk?" he repeated as if the thought were merely ludicrous. "Are you kidding?"

"I'll help you," Max said. "Muffin, can you get us out of here?"

"I can try," she said.

* * * * *

Jamie sat on the bed in Nick's guest room and pondered her next move. She'd been sent there to rest. And to make up her mind as to what she was going to do with regard to Nick's invitation to leave with him.

Invitation, her foot!

Fleas had his head propped on her knees. She could tell he was as anxious as she was. And she had thought him dumb. She leaned over and pressed her cheek against the top of his head.

"If only I could talk to Max," she whispered so softly that it was little more than a thought. She glanced around. It did not surprise her to find there was no telephone in the room. She desperately needed to talk to Max, warn him. Although Nick had promised no harm would come to Max, she knew Nick's men would shoot him if he came near the property.

Jamie realized she wasn't thinking straight. She had not slept in hours. She felt wired. Too much had happened in such a short period of time; her mind and body were still trying to adjust. "Lie down, boy," she told Fleas. He did as he was told, propping his head on his paws. He looked sad.

Jamie suddenly realized she was shivering. She hadn't quite grown accustomed to the cool mountain nights, and Nick obviously kept the air-conditioning low. She noted the quilt on a nearby chair and draped it across her shoulders. Her eyes burned. Finally, unable to fight the exhaustion, she curled up on the bed. Fleas scooted closer, as if he felt by doing so he could protect her. Jamie stroked his ear. If only she could close her eyes for five minutes. Just five minutes.

* * * * *

Max pulled up to the emergency entrance. "Stay put," he told Dave. "I'm going to get a wheelchair."

"Just ask for a body bag," Dave said.

Max ignored him and climbed from the car. He hurried inside.

"Oh, damn," Dave muttered.

"What is it now?" Muffin asked.

"I hope they take me right in. I don't like being around sick people. All those germs."

"You know what I don't understand?" Muffin said. "I don't understand why Max puts up with you. You're the biggest pain in the ass I've ever met. Now why don't you stop sniveling and cut us all a little slack?"

Max and an orderly were back in a matter of minutes. Max opened the passenger door. "Dave, this is Carter. He's going to help you inside, and the doctor is going to take you right in."

"Thank God. Where are you going?"

"I need to call Jamie."

Dave nodded and allowed them to help him into the wheelchair. "Don't worry about me, Max," he said, offering a tight smile. "I'll be all right. Just make sure Jamie's OK."

Max arched one brow but climbed into his car. Muffin was waiting.

"I've already tried Jamie twice," she said. "She's not answering her cell phone."

"Dammit," Max said. "She probably forgot to turn it on again."

"You probably scared the crap out of her when you called and told her to leave the cabin."

"OK, try paging her at Wal-Mart." He chuckled. "If she doesn't answer, tell them to try the mens wear section. She might be looking for a new victim."

"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that."

Max waited.

"She didn't respond to the page," Muffin said when she came back on. "They paged her twice. I told them it was an emergency, so they're still trying. I'm on hold."

Max rubbed his hand across his forehead. "Answer the page, Jamie," he muttered under his breath.

"Still nothing," Muffin said.

He sighed. "Tell me this isn't happening."

Max drove on. "Damned if it's not one thing after another." He waited. "Muffin?"

"She's not in the store, Max."

"Shit! Where would she be at this hour of the morning?"

"Maybe she met her friend Michael. I know she likes talking to him."

Max pondered it. "I can't believe she'd go off with him at this hour."

"Maybe Jamie was afraid to be alone."

He was silent for a moment. "What do you know about this guy? This Michael?"

"They met at Wal-Mart, had breakfast a couple of times, and then went to dinner. I know he drives a Jaguar because Jamie said it was really nice."

"Wonder where they went for breakfast?"

"I don't know the name of it, but it's not far from Wal-Mart."

"Shit." Max pulled from the hospital parking lot. He made good time for a truck that was on its last legs. He drove until he spotted the Wal-Mart store. At the light he took a right. He pulled into the first restaurant he saw. "Wish me luck," he told Muffin as he climbed from the truck.

A blast of cold air hit him as he stepped inside the restaurant. The lights were blinding, and the place smelled of coffee and bacon grease. A tired-looking waitress handed him a menu.

"Long night?" he asked her.

"Yeah. I'm filling in for somebody. Not used to these late hours. You want coffee?"

"Please."

She returned a moment later with a steaming mug and set it before him. "What'll it be?"

"This is fine."

"You're either out late or up early," she said.

"A little of both, I guess," Max told her. "Actually, I'm looking for somebody."

"Yeah?"

"I'll bet you could help me. I'll bet you know most of the customers who come in here."

She shrugged. "I work the breakfast and lunch shift."

"I'm curious about a guy named Michael. He drives a Jaguar. You know him?"

"Depends on who's asking and why."

Max raised his hand, exposing a $100 bill. "I think he's seeing my girlfriend. It's over between us, but I'd like to know. Pride and all that."

"Pretty blonde?"

"Yep."

The waitress reached for the money. "Sorry, I don't get involved in Mr. Juliano's personal affairs." She walked away.

Max sat there for a moment, his expression frozen in place. He stood slowly and made for the door. Muffin was waiting when he climbed inside the truck.

"That was quick. What'd you find out?"

Max opened his mouth to speak, but the words didn't come. He cleared his throat. "It's bad," he whispered.

"Max? What is it?"

"I know why Nick Santoni has been playing games with us. He wanted Jamie."

"Max, what are you talking about?"

"Nick Santoni has Jamie."

Jamie opened her eyes and discovered she'd slept almost three hours. She bolted upright, blinked several times, tried to clear her head. She got up and walked into the adjoining bathroom. She almost didn't recognize the woman in the mirror. Fatigue had painted dark shadows beneath her eyes, and she looked pale.

"If I live through this I'm going to have to start taking better care of myself," she muttered.

She turned on the cold water and splashed it on her face, but when she reached for a towel, she found none. Her face dripping, she opened the drawer beside the sink. It contained unopened bottles of shampoos, lotions, soaps, and toothbrushes. For overnight guests, she thought. Odd that a man like Nick Santoni would think of something like that. No, it probably was the work of a housekeeper.

Jamie opened the cabinet door and reached for a towel. Beneath the stack she saw a slender white telephone. She pulled it out, not at all surprised to find it there.