“Dr. Knight.”
Julia’s breath left her in a rush. “Dr. Knight, this is Julia Washburn. I’m with Secret Service agent Miguel Rivera. We’re in some trouble, and Miguel needs your help. Are you at the clinic?”
“Yes.”
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
“Turn out the lights and lock the door. I assume there’s an entrance in the back?”
“Yes.”
“Good. We’ll meet you there in…” she gazed at Miguel.
“Ten,” he gasped.
“Ten minutes.” Julia pulled up the address on her cell phone. “Drive.”
As she cradled Miguel’s head in her lap, Julia guided them to the clinic. Juan drove around to the back and jammed the gear shift into park. He and Alfredo jumped out first and opened the side panel door.
Dr. Knight waited for them. The sight of two men pointing their guns at him didn’t faze him. He assisted Miguel out of the van and into an examination room. Dr. Knight didn’t waste any time asking unnecessary questions but focused on Miguel’s injuries. He removed Miguel’s sweatshirt and adjusted a powerful lamp to illuminate the wound in his side.
“How long ago were you shot, Miguel?”
“Over a week ago, I think.”
“Okay. These staples are ready to be removed. I’ll clean the area first, take the staples out, then see what we’re dealing with.”
Dr. Knight allowed Julia to stand on the opposite side of the examination table and hold Miguel’s hand. With careful precision, he gently removed the staples and more blood flowed. The pressure he applied to stop it caused Miguel to buck from the pain, and he tightly squeezed Julia’s hand.
“Miguel, there are a couple of places that have broken open, but you don’t need stitches. Butterfly bandages will be sufficient until they close again. You also have some cracked ribs. I’ll wrap your midsection to keep them in place. Do you want me to fix your broken nose?”
“No,” Alfredo interjected. “We have to get moving. This detour has already cost us too much time.”
Julia noticed Dr. Knight slowly wrapped Ace bandages around Miguel’s midsection which agitated Alfredo and Juan. They waved their guns in a threatening manner and urged him to hurry, to stop delaying. When he’d run out of tactics, Dr.Knight handed Miguel his bloody sweatshirt and helped him off the table.
“Thanks, Doc. I feel better.”
Dr. Knight stared at Alfredo and Juan. “You won’t make it out of Laguna Beach once I call the cops.”
Juan released the safety on his gun. “Well, then, you’re a dead man.”
Julia rolled her eyes and hissed in Spanish, “Estupido!” She forced his arm down. “Dr. Knight, Brielle McQuaid already knows that we’ve been taken. Everything will work out. Trust me. Thank you for treating Miguel.”
He nodded. “Godspeed.”
Back in the van, Julia and Miguel huddled together. With his face cleaned of blood, he looked better, but the area around his eyes was turning black and blue, his nose was swollen and slightly off center, and his lips were split. She placed a gentle kiss on them.
“We underestimated the General and the Andersons,” Miguel whispered.
“Yes, but I’ve got some power as his granddaughter.”
“I noticed.”
His wry tone brought a smile to Julia’s face. “You’re not intimidated or feeling inferior, are you?”
“Hell no! Watching you handle Alfredo and Juan is a huge turn-on.”
