Shirlee McCoy - Running Blind

Too much time. There’s no way she’s still alive.

The thought flitted through her mind and lodged there, the words repeating over and over again until Jenna wanted to scream.

Magdalena was not dead.

She was alive and waiting to be found.

Jenna refused to believe anything else.

Refused to, but the thought was still there, echoing through her mind, chasing her out of the bed she’d been brought to just a few minutes before.

She swayed, the IV needle in her arm pulling a little as she grabbed the bed railing to keep from falling. The throbbing agony in her head intensified as she crossed the room and pulled open a heavy curtain, letting in bright sunlight that seared its way into her skull.

She winced, pulling the curtains closed again, sweat beading her brow, her body shaking from the pain. It didn’t matter, though. Nothing mattered except finding out what had happened to Magdalena. She wanted to pull out the IV, walk out the door and search for her friend, but she knew she wouldn’t make it out of the hospital parking lot. She had no car. No other means of transportation. Even if she had, how far would she get with severely limited vision?

Jenna scowled as she paced back across the room, grabbed her clothes from a pile on a chair and pulled on her jeans. Her T-shirt wouldn’t go on over the IV, so she tossed it back onto the chair. She’d never been one to give up easily, and she wouldn’t give up now. There had to be a way to get back to Mexico.

But was going back the right thing to do?

God had brought her safely out of a dangerous situation. Should she throw herself back into it?

She didn’t know, couldn’t concentrate enough to figure it out.

I wouldn’t mind a clue, Lord. Some hint as to what You want me to do. She prayed as she paced to the chair in the corner of the room. A small table stood beside it, and Jenna could see something lying on top of it. She reached out, felt soft leather. Her purse. It had to be. She opened it, checking for her passport and wallet. Neither were there. Nikolai must have brought the purse into her room and left it while she was down in radiology.

Nikolai who had found his way into a drug cartel’s stronghold and freed her. He’d said he’d done so as a favor to her brother, and he’d said he would go back for Magdalena as soon as he got Jenna to safety. Had he? Jenna grabbed a blanket from the bed and tossed it around her shoulders, determined to find out. It seemed to take too much effort to open the door, and she swayed as she stepped out into the hall.

“Going somewhere?” The deep, gruff voice was so unexpected, Jenna jumped, whirling to face the speaker and regretting it immediately. Lights flashed in front of her eyes, the world spun and she was falling. Firm hands wrapped around her upper arms, supporting her until it settled back into place.

“Thanks.” She took a step back, looking up into a rugged, handsome face. Nikolai’s face? It had to be. The voice, the gentle strength of the hands—those were things she’d never forget.

“You can thank me by sitting down. I don’t think a woman with a fractured skull should be walking around.”

She didn’t argue as she was urged down into a chair against the wall outside her room.

“Better?” Nikolai crouched in front of her, and she could just make out dark hair and striking features. High cheekbones. A strong jaw.

“Yes. Thanks.”

“You’re supposed to be in bed resting.”

“And you’re supposed to be on your way back to Mexico to find Magdalena.” Even as she said it, she knew how ungrateful she sounded. He’d saved Jenna’s life, and she had no right to ask him for more. “I’m sorry, that wasn’t what I meant to say.”

“No apology necessary. I said I would go, and I would have, but Border Patrol won’t let me back into Mexico.”

“Then, I’ll go.” She started to rise, but he put a hand on her arm, holding her in place.

“You know that won’t work, Jenna.”

“It might. I just need my passport. Do you have it?”

“Yes.”

“Good. I’ll get a nurse to take out this IV, and I’ll be on my way.” She struggled to her feet, and this time he didn’t try to stop her.

“To do what? Border Patrol isn’t any more likely to let you cross the border than it was me.” His voice was gentle, and Jenna blinked back tears she’d been refusing for hours.

“If they won’t, I’ll find another way to get across.”

“Do you really think I’m going to let you make an attempt at an illegal border crossing?”

“You did your job, Nikolai. You got me out of Mexico. What I do now is up to me.”

“Not if you aren’t thinking clearly.”

“I’m thinking plenty clearly.”

“Telling yourself that won’t make it true and throwing yourself back into danger won’t save your friend.”

“I have to at least try.” She stepped to the door, her stomach roiling, stars dancing in front of her eyes.

“You’ve got a fractured skull and you can’t see…”

“My vision is coming back. The doctors said it should be completely normal in a few hours.”

“Jen, you can barely walk.”

“I’m fine!” But she wasn’t. Not fine enough to take another step let alone attempt to walk across the border into Mexico.

Nikolai must have sensed her defeat. He slid an arm around her waist, supporting her as they walked back into the room.

She dropped onto the bed, blinking hard to bring Nikolai into sharper focus. “I just want her to be okay.”

“I know.” He pulled a chair over and sat across from her.

“If she’s not—”

“You’ll go on. That’s how life is.”

“You make it sound as if it’s a done deal. Do you know something I don’t?”

“All I know is that your friend is still missing. I called the Mexican police less than an hour ago, and they still haven’t located her.”

“But they’re looking?”

“Of course.”

“And?”

“They’ve searched the building where I found you, but it’s empty. The Mexican Panthers cleared everything out before the police arrived.”

“You’ve mentioned them before.”

“Who?”

“The Mexican Panthers. I’d never heard of them before today.”

“Consider yourself fortunate. They’re one of the most notorious drug cartels in Mexico, and they don’t believe in letting their enemies live.”

“I don’t understand what that has to do with me or Magdalena.”

“Neither do the Mexican police or the DEA. It’s what they’re hoping to find out.”

“What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said. The Mexican Panthers are quick to murder enemies, but they’re not known for taking out innocent people.”

“You’re not implying that Magdalena and I were involved in the drug trade, are you? Because if you are—”

“I’m not implying anything. I’m telling you what the police are probably thinking.”

“Then, they’re thinking wrong.”

“Maybe. Or maybe there’s information that you know nothing about. Something that might have led the Mexican Panthers to you and your friend.”

“Like?”

“It’s possible Magdalena—”

“No way.” There was absolutely no way that Magdalena was involved in drug trafficking.

“Hear me out, Jenna.” He leaned close, his dark eyes staring into hers. Were they brown? Dark blue? She couldn’t tell, and she was tempted to move closer, look more deeply.

She leaned back instead, unsettled in a way she hadn’t been in years.

She didn’t like the feeling.

Didn’t like it at all.

“Say what you need to say, Nikolai, but it won’t change what I know about Magdalena.”

“It’s possible your friend wasn’t the person you thought her to be. She may have had secrets she couldn’t share with you.”