“Yeah. We both work for Carpenter Security Services, hired to do bodyguard duties for a client who’s had credible threats. And I just screwed up and now our client is in trouble.” Ranger leaned back against the pillows, his head feeling like it had been used as the football in the latest Cowboys game. “I need you to keep everything you heard to yourself, doc. The whole doctor patient confidentiality thing needs to kick in right now. If word of what you overheard gets out, not only my client but others could be in danger.”
“My lips are sealed, on one condition.”
“Name it.”
Dr. Kirk grinned. “You’ve got to tell me what happens. I couldn’t help hearing the names you mentioned, and those folks are pretty big deals in Dallas. This is going to hit the news like an avalanche, and I want to hear all the things the reporters won’t know. Deal?”
“Deal.”
“Excellent. Now get some rest. They’ll be in to move you to a room soon. If you need anything, push the button on the side of the bed, and somebody’ll come and help.”
“Thanks, Doc.”
Ranger settled against the pillows, fighting against his throbbing head and silently prayed they’d find Suzanna before it was too late.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Suzanna struggled toopen her eyes, fighting against the weight of drowsiness swamping her. It was important she wake up, though she couldn’t remember why. Her head felt heavy and hung forward toward her chest. It took a second to realize that she was sitting upright in a chair—and that she couldn’t move.
Forcing her eyes open, she expected to be sitting in Elizabeth’s parlor. Instead she found herself in more familiar surroundings—her own home. Specifically, her dining room. Hands and legs secured to the chair with massive quantities of duct tape, wrapped around and around, sticking to her skin. She wasn’t able to budge it, not even a centimeter.
She heard talking in the other room, sounded like it was coming from the kitchen. As the voices drew closer, she recognized Elizabeth and Donald. Watching them enter through the opening between the two rooms, the one the cook used to serve meals to her and Steven, felt wrong.
“What are you doing?” She barely got the words out, her tongue feeling swollen and too big for her mouth, her throat as dry as the Sahara. Then she remembered drinking the tea at Elizabeth’s house. Which was the last thing she remembered. “You drugged me?”
“Yes, and that stupid bodyguard.” Elizabeth still wore the black silk pantsuit she’d had on earlier, though it wasn’t as pristine and pressed. There was actually a tear in the stitching of the shoulder, where it had torn, and a small smudge of dirt decorated her cheek.
“Ranger? Is he okay?”
“Stupid question. You shouldn’t be worrying about the bodyguard, you should be concerned about what’s happening to you.”
“This doesn’t make sense. Elizabeth, Donald, what have you done?”
“We did what needed to be done. I got tired of people lying to me, controlling me, using me and then tossing me aside like I was yesterday’s garbage.” Donald slammed a large knife onto the table, across from where Suzanna sat, and her heartbeat raced in her chest at the look in his eyes. It was like the Donald she knew, the one she and Steven had spent years with, wasn’t in there anymore and somebody else, a stranger, had taken his place.
“What are you talking about?”
“I’ll explain everything, but I need you clearheaded. Elizabeth gave you a much milder dose than she did that behemoth with you. He weighed a ton. I almost left him lying there in the parlor, but that would have led to all kinds of questions, ones I don’t want to answer.”
“Where is Ranger? Did you kill him?”
Donald laughed, the sound sending goosebumps up and down Suzanna’s skin. “Of course I didn’t kill him. My lovely wife simply drugged him with enough ketamine and cocaine to drop a full grown elephant. He might live through that, though I have my doubts. I moved him to a location where he will be found. Eventually. If he’s lucky.”
A sickening feeling was building inside Suzanna, one she didn’t want to acknowledge. It wasn’t possible that Donald was responsible for everything. He was Steven’s best friend, his partner. They shared everything, all their hopes and dreams from the time they were in college. Steven brought him into the company, gave him part ownership. No, she had to be wrong.
“Donald, get on with it. We don’t have a lot of time. I think that Gage Newsome person keeps tabs on Suzanna, and when he doesn’t hear from her, he’s bound to start snooping around. I’m sure she told him she was meeting me for lunch.”
“They were supposed to meet you at the restaurant, not at our home. He’ll be chasing his tail, looking everywhere for her. When we’re finished, we’ll simply go home with him none the wiser.”
“What if he checks with the restaurant? They’ll tell him we never showed up there.”
“Did you give anybody the name of the restaurant?” Elizabeth shook her head. “They we’re in the clear. They’ll have to search dozens of restaurants before they realize they’re chasing their tails.”
Suzanna watched their back and forth conversation, trying to make sense of everything. She’d never suspected Elizabeth, not once. When she’d claimed Donald was cheating and she wanted to talk? Looked like it had all been a lie meant to lure her back to Dallas. But why?
“Steven was your friend.”
“Steven was a liar and a thief.” Suzanna jerked back at the vehemence in Donald’s tone. “Though he wasn’t solely to blame. I could have turned him back around, made him do what he promised, if he hadn’t become besotted with you.”
