Chapter Four
Smoke slid between the truck and the car and got in front of Kini before his uncle Terry could finish yelling at her.
The other man brought himself up short, glaring at his nephew. “What?”
That’s all he got after being away for two years—what? “Put the tool down.”
Terry rolled his eyes. “I wasn’t going to hit her with it.”
Smoke didn’t say anything, just stared and crossed his arms over his chest.
A second later, his uncle dropped it at his feet.
Smoke glanced at Kini over his shoulder, noted her slack jaw, and stepped out of the way.
She looked at him, her head tilted slightly to one side.
He nodded at her unspoken question, answering it the same way.
She hesitated, surprise fliting across her face, then looked at his uncle. “Your question?”
“I just got a call from Dave.” He glanced at Smoke. “Marlowe.”
Smoke nodded once.
His uncle frowned at Kini. “He said you wrecked his screen door.”
Both her eyebrows went up and her jaw dropped before she said, “If by wrecking you mean running for my life after his two dogs went through that door to attack me, then yes.”
Terry’s frown turned confused. “He said you wanted his blood.”
“I asked if I could interview him, obtain his medical history, and take a small sample of blood. I made it clear that his name wouldn’t appear on any of the material. This is a blind study. I collect the information, but the techs and research staff only see each person as a number in the study.”
Terry took a half step back. “It’s all over town that you’re making people sick.”
Kini’s expression turned insulted. “That’s ridiculous. To do that, I’d have to be sick myself and I’m not.”
Uncle Terry opened his mouth then closed it before saying anything.
“Where did Mr. Marlowe get his information?” Kini asked.
“He didn’t say,” Terry mumbled.
“You said it was all over town?”
“Yeah, the gals at the post office are talking about it.”
“That’s how you define everyone?”
“Everyone goes to the post office,” Smoke told her.
“Fabulous.” Kini threw her hands up in the air. “Attacked by dogs, slashed tires, and now confronted by a man with a wrench demanding answers, and it’s not even noon. What’s next? A knife-throwing circus performer who thinks I’m his target?”
Her sarcasm made him want to chuckle. No one had ever made him want to lose enough control over himself to actually laugh out loud, but she was managing it. Repeatedly.
“So you’re not the reason three people have shown up at the emergency room with some kind of freaky pneumonia?”
Smoke studied Terry’s face. Nope, the man wasn’t making that shit up. He glanced at Kini in time to see her face harden into the kind of determination he’d only ever seen on the faces of his fellow soldiers.
Target in sight. Go for takedown.
She headed for Terry, going around Smoke so fast he couldn’t catch her before she was by him.
Fuck.
Terry backpedaled fast with the air of a man a hair’s breadth away from running.
Kini stopped advancing. The look on her face could have started another ice age. “What did you just say?”
Terry looked at him with a now, what do I do? expression.
Smoke gestured toward her with an open hand. No sense in keeping the information from her. Out of practically everyone within a one hundred-mile radius, she should probably be informed.
“Three people showed up at the hospital with pneumonia today. The doctor won’t say what he thinks it is, but people are saying hantavirus,” Terry said in a much nicer tone than he’d used so far.
Kini’s small hands clenched into tight fists.
She looked ready to commit murder.
Smoke sidled up to her and laid one hand on the small of her back. Not doing anything, just offering comfort. “Terry isn’t the one you want to strangle.”
She spun to glare at him. “Just who is it you think I should strangle?”
“Whoever started the rumors.”
“Something tells me that wringing all the necks of the post office employees won’t go over with the local law enforcement.”
“They didn’t start it. They’re just the delivery system.”
She reared back a little and searched his face. “That’s…perceptive.”
He shrugged.
“I never asked before. What did you do in the army?”
“Whatever I was ordered to do.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and let out a huff. “That’s not an answer.”
“Most of the time, that’s all I was ever able to say.” River had ordered him to look after her. To do that, he needed her to trust him, to count on him, to communicate with him. “Special Forces,” he added quietly. “A buddy of mine works for the CDC. He says he knows you. River.”
“You served with River?”
At his nod, she let out a huge breath. “He set up my homestay with your parents. You two were in some of the same deployments?”
“Same unit,” Smoke confirmed.
“So you’ve worked with dangerous microorganisms before?”
“Not directly, but protecting the people who were.”
“Don’t sell yourself short,” she told him, then glanced at Terry and raised her voice. “Most people actually believe everything the media says about bacteria and viruses.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Terry asked.
She snorted. “They blow some things completely out of proportion, like Ebola.” She shook her head. “Everyone was in a frenzy about it, but did they mention you have to be swimming in that stuff to get it? No, they made it seem like you could catch it easily.”
“But all those cases in Africa—”
“They were swimming in it. Those shanty towns have no sanitation, so they’re drinking, bathing, and washing in their own waste.”
“She’s right,” Smoke said. “If your water is clean, the chance of a disease spreading is a hell of a lot smaller.”
“How do you know that?” Kini asked.
“One of the first things you learn before you’re deployed: ensure you have enough clean water and food with you to last the mission.” He hesitated then added, “Though, when in doubt, always take additional ammunition and less food.”
Terry looked uncomfortable. “So, those people in the ER…?”
“I’d bet hantavirus, too. It’s endemic to most states west of the Mississippi and in this part of the country in particular.” She frowned. “It can cause a catastrophic pneumonia-like response in the body that can kill in less than two days. Basically, you drown in your own fluids. Mice and rats carry the virus, and it’s found in their droppings. If their droppings dry out and become part of the airborne dust, it’s all too easy for you to breathe it in. It’s not unusual for hotspots of infection to pop up from time to time.” She hesitated. “But three at once, that’s concerning.” She frowned. “The guy with the dogs said there was a death two weeks ago and two deaths one week ago.”
“That makes six,” Smoke said. That wasn’t good.
“That’s a significant number.” She turned to him. “I’ll check in with my boss and see if the CDC has been informed.”
He nodded, and she walked a short distance away before pulling out her cell phone.
Terry wandered over to stand next to him. “I fucked that up.”
“Yup.”
“I should have known better than to believe those harpies, but they had me and a bunch of other people convinced she was the source of some nasty shit.”
Smoke slanted an are you kidding me? glance at his uncle. “She’s not the serial killer type.”
“I don’t know, she looked like she was ready to fight tooth and nail with someone.” Terry looked over at the rental car. “Did she say someone slashed her tires?”
“Yeah. Two. Can you put some new ones on for me?”
“Sure. My cost plus a piece of your mom’s pie tonight.”
“Done.”
Terry headed into the shop to check the tires.
Kini closed her phone and came over. “There’s been no official reports of any hantavirus cases here. None. So my boss wants me to check in with the hospital to see what the story is.” She watched Terry mess around with the tires for a moment then asked Smoke, “Have you got a vehicle? I need a chauffeur until that’s fixed.”
“I’ve got a hog.”
She looked confused for a second, then understanding blossomed on her face. “You have a motorcycle?”
“No,” he said, leading her around the building and over to a big, black machine that looked like it ate the flashy type of motorcycles she saw in the city for fuel. “A hog.”
He swung one leg over the seat and kick-started the engine. A dragon’s roar came out of it, rumbling through the exhaust pipes until it emerged in a low growl of vibration and smoke.
She stared at him like he’d lost his mind. “I can’t ride that. Where am I going to put my collection case?”
“Leave it,” he told her, thrusting his chin toward the interior of the garage where Terry was busy jacking up her rental car.
She pressed her lips together but went to the car, mumbling something he couldn’t quite catch under her breath. She popped the trunk and stashed the box, then closed the trunk and came toward him with her jaw set and shaking her head.
“Do you have helmets?”
He snorted.
“Right. How silly of me to expect a soldier to wear protective equipment while driving this car-eating machine.”
“Stop procrastinating,” he said and revved the engine.
She sighed. He couldn’t hear it, but his eyesight was perfectly fine and her chest rose and fell the same way as any woman’s did when she was frustrated with a man.
She slung her purse over her head so it was across her body then swung her leg over the seat and settled behind him. One glance down showed him neither of her feet were touching the ground, and she was also sitting too far back. That would change as soon as he put his baby into gear.
“Hang on,” he said over his shoulder and injected the gas.
She squawked and threw her arms around his waist, and just like that she was plastered to him. Her breasts felt just as good against his back now as they did yesterday morning pillowed on his abdomen. He’d missed seeing her today. She’d managed to get up and off to work before he’d finished his shower.
He chuckled as they left the parking lot and headed at a sedate speed toward the hospital.
“Not funny,” she yelled into his shirt.
He patted one of her hands tightly gripping his waist.
She sighed again, but aside from snuggling up a little closer, didn’t complain.
They turned onto Main Street and drove past the two grocery stores, the hardware store, and three bars as people called out and waved when he passed. He waved back, but wasn’t tempted to stop and talk.
First, he was on the clock now and he didn’t have time for chitchat. Second, everyone knew he wasn’t much for talking anyway. No one was going to be surprised when he rolled on by.
The hospital came into view ahead, and Kini leaned around him to take a look at it.
Smoke rode into the parking lot and found a good spot for his hog, then cut the engine.
Kini got off so fast she wobbled.
Smoke reached out and snagged her with one hand, jerking her up against him.
She squeaked then froze, her face only a couple inches from his.
She smelled like lavender, clean and crisp, her breath hot as it caressed his lips. His cock was a fucking steel rod. Any more pressure and he was going to break his goddamn zipper wide open.
“Sorry,” she whispered, the word sounding more like a prayer than an apology.
“What for?” he asked just as quietly.
She gave him a little smile. “Clumsy.”
He let some of the lust racing through him bleed into his answering grin and drawled, “Anytime.”
He watched her pupils dilate and had to work hard to resist the urge to kiss the daylights out of her. Work really hard.
It did not help him when she sucked in a shaky breath and licked her lips. Was she trying to kill him?
She put her hands on his shoulders, took a half step back, and steadied herself.
He held on to her for a fraction of a second longer then released her slowly.
She stepped away from him, but still seemed awfully wobbly.
“Okay?” he asked, studying her.
“I’ve never ridden anything so…”
He raised one eyebrow.
A blush spread across her face, giving her a glow he wanted to stroke and pet.
She cleared her throat. “Loud before.” She shifted her weight from foot to foot and her teeth worried at her lower lip.
“Scary, too?” he asked, keeping his tone soft.
Her head came up at that. “No.” It was her turn to study him. “No, a little more thrilling than I’m used to is all.”
“I guarantee a safe ride,” he told her in that deceptively soft tone. “No matter how fast, hard, and loud it gets.”
She blinked and her cheeks turned a luscious pink. “Oh.”
Oh yeah, he’d given her plenty to think about.
“Ready?” he asked, glancing at the building.
Her expression lost its soft speculation. “Yes. Let’s get this mess figured out.”
Smoke flicked out the kickstand and pocketed his keys. He joined Kini on the sidewalk, and they went in the emergency room entrance. For a small town, there were a lot of people waiting to see a doctor. All the chairs in the waiting area were occupied, with a few standing or leaning against a wall.
Kini went straight to the admitting desk and leaned over it to speak to the receptionist quietly.
“No, I’m sorry,” the receptionist said, not looking away from her computer screen. She spoke loud enough for the entire room to hear every word. “We only have one doctor on duty right now. You’ll have to wait until tomorrow morning to talk to the hospital administrator.”
“Isn’t he working today?” Kini asked, matching the other woman’s volume.
Yup, she wasn’t happy with this chick.
“All I know is that he isn’t in the building.”
“What about your chief of staff?”
“The chief is on duty.”
Kini drummed her fingers against the desk. “I have to talk to him about the pneumonia cases.”
“Look,” the receptionist said, dropping the thin veil of politeness she’d been hiding behind. “Our exam rooms are full, our waiting room is full, and our ICU is full. He doesn’t have time for a chat about our programs or anything that isn’t an emergency.”
“I’m not here to talk about programs, I’m here to find out the facts surrounding your pneumonia cases.”
“Are you a reporter?”
“No, I’m a nurse.”
“Who do you work for?”
Smoke glanced around and noted how many people were listening in to this conversation. Things were about to get interesting.
Kini sounded pissed off when she answered, “I’m with the CDC.”