Dead Wrong by Susan Sleeman Page A

let it control him and keep him from getting too close. Still, despite the need to protect himself, he cared. No matter how much he fought it, he cared. About Angie, Tommy and now Kat. More than he wanted to admit.
    Just like his mom always hoped he would. She’d begged him to let go of his worry and live again. Quoting the Bible to him, and reminding him that worrying can’t add a single hour to his life. So give it up, she’d said. He’d tried and succeeded for a while, but then she’d died, bringing all of his worries to fruition, and he’d chalked up that piece of advice as meaningless. But he was starting to think he’d been wrong. At least Kat was making him reconsider his stance.
    A hand touched the shoulder he’d slid across the porch on, and a searing pain shot down his arm. He knew it had to be Kat, but he didn’t want her to know how bad his shoulder hurt so he took a few deep breaths to keep the pain at bay before opening his eyes.
    “Trying to catch a quick nap?” She smiled down on him and no matter his recent thoughts, no matter his dread at telling her what he’d done, he smiled back, taking a few moments just to enjoy her good mood before he dropped his bomb.
    “Everything okay?” he finally asked.
    She lifted her arm with a cut-off shirtsleeve and a bandage circling her bicep. “I’m good to go.”
    “Then let’s get out of here.” He got up and led the way to the door. She tried to slip into her jacket and fumbled. He grabbed the back and helped her shrug into it. Then, instead of walking away as he should do, he freed her hair and let it settle over her shoulders, the silky strands curling around his fingers.
    “Thanks,” she said and looked up at him again, her gaze was as soft as a caress. “I seem to be thanking you a lot lately.”
    “No thanks needed.” His eyes clung to hers, not wanting to break away, but he forced himself to pull free. “Wait here. I’ll go get the car.”
    He rushed outside and jogged to his car, letting the cold air wash away the emotions she’d brought to the surface. He had to stop this. He couldn’t let a simple thank-you make him go all weak in the knees.
    He pulled the car under the hospital awning, and before he could open the door, Kat was climbing in. She slid in slowly and with great care, a pained expression on her face that helped douse any positive feelings he had.
    All of this was his fault. He’d let a killer get close to her, and he had to live with the thought that she was hurting because he’d failed her.
    “You get any pain meds?” he asked as he put the car in gear and headed for the exit.
    “I have a prescription, but pain meds always make me sleepy so I’m not going to take any.”
    “We should get it filled for tonight, though, or you may not sleep well.”
    “I guess. If we have time.”
    They had time. Plenty of time to make sure she got a good night’s sleep. They were at a hospital so there had to be a pharmacy nearby. He merged onto the main road, making sure they weren’t followed and searched the strip malls for a drug store.
    “Where are we going?” she asked.
    “First the pain meds.”
    “That can wait.”
    “It can, but I won’t let it.” His words came out more forceful than he wanted, but he’d let her get hurt and was going to do the only thing he knew to make it better. At least physically better for her.
    She eyed him up for a long moment then seemed resolved to do as he wanted. “Then where?”
    “I thought you might like to stop by your place to pick up some clothes for tomorrow.” His tone was free from the guilt and deception eating at his gut, but he couldn’t look at her. If he told her that her family was waiting for them, he knew she’d figure out a way to avoid going to her house. Besides, he wasn’t exactly lying about the reason for going there. He was just omitting the fact that her whole family would be waiting for them.
    Right, Elliot. Keep telling yourself that and maybe