Promises to Keep by Maegan Beaumont Page B

come and gone. The business card he left at the station was embossed with the insignia for the Russian Consulate. It looked official—just like the badge Michael had been flashing around the station earlier. A quick peek in the waiting room reassured her that Ben had taken precautions before he’d left. The Pip pretending to watch Maury barely glanced at her, but he knew she was there. His kind didn’t miss much.
    She glanced at her watch. It was just after three o’clock. How long did she think she could hide out here before she had to face Michael? Just the thought of him tied her stomach in knots.
    The door pushed open, letting a young female nurse in with a soft hiss and click . “How’s our boy?” she said, checking the level on the bag of fluid hanging from the pole.
    â€œPlaying possum.” Sabrina watched as she made sure the leather restraint cuffs that kept him in bed were secure.
    â€œCan’t say I blame him. He’s been through a lot,” the nurse said, brushing hair off the boy’s forehead. He flinched but managed to keep his eyes closed. “The doctor will be by in a few minutes to give you a full report.”
    The phone in Sabrina’s pocket buzzed against her rib cage. She smiled the nurse out the door before she reached for it. “This is Vaughn.”
    â€œHey, if it isn’t my long-lost partner,” Strickland said.
    Sighing, she closed her eyes for a moment. She’d known this was coming. “Hey, Strick. What’s up?”
    â€œOh, nothing much … just trying to solve this pesky murder.” His voice had that nasty bite to it that set her teeth on edge. “Were you planning on coming out of hiding anytime soon, or am I gonna have to do it on my own?”
    â€œI’m not hiding. I’m at the hospital; the boy’s awake.” She was still able to lie like a pro. Years of practice made sure of that.
    â€œUh huh … right.” Strickland wasn’t buying it. He never did. “He left about an hour ago, so it’s safe to come back.”
    She didn’t bother to ask who he was talking about. It would be an insult to her partner’s intelligence. Of course he’d recognize Michael, there was no use denying it. “Was there a reason you called?”
    â€œActually, yes. The house our victim was found in was a foreclosed property. I traced the paperwork back to a local bank. It hit the auction block about six months ago and was bought by a shell company. Among their list of business expenses are quarterly trips to Thailand, Cambodia, and Colombia. It’s a bit of a tangle, but I think I traced ownership back to a private investor. Walter Elm.”
    All of the countries he listed were well-known as sex tourism destinations, but the last one snagged her attention. “Colombia? When was the last time Elm went to Colombia?”
    â€œLess than a month about. I’m heading to his office now. Wanna go?”
    The hiss and click of the door told her that the promised doctor had arrived. “Yeah. Give me thirty to get back to the station. Look, the doctor is here. I’m gonna get the rundown from him and then I’m on my way.”
    Dropping the phone in her pocket, she looked up with a smile, but it died within seconds of realizing that, despite the white coat and stethoscope, the man in front of her wasn’t in the habit of saving lives.
    He was in the habit of taking them.

Twenty-Three
    In spite of the nagging knot in the pit of his stomach, Michael forced himself through Sabrina’s front gate and up the walk. He knocked on the door and waited, even though he knew she wasn’t home. Her car was nowhere to be seen … but there was a black Nissan Titan parked in the driveway like it belonged there.
    He told himself it was perfectly reasonable for him to be here. He was on an assignment and Sabrina was a part of it. He had every right to establish that whoever was