Sidney Sheldon's Reckless by Sidney Sheldon Page A

She’d never stepped out of line or been in trouble at school.
    I was the archetypal good girl. And look how my life turned out.
    For all Blake Carter or anyone else knew, Nick might grow up to be a missionary or an aid worker. Rebellious boy didn’t necessarily translate into rebellious man. Did it?
    Still, she shouldn’t have said what she said to Blake. She’d apologize as soon as he dropped Nick home. And thank him for tonight.
    Tracy looked at her watch. 10:15 P . M . They were very late. Most restaurants in Steamboat stopped serving at nine. Tracy pictured Blake ensconced in a booth somewhere, haranguing Nick about moral responsibility until the poor boy’s ears melted.
    I hope he’s OK.
    A banging on the front door broke her reverie.
    They’re back!
    Blake must have forgotten his key. Tracy flew to the door. Pulling it open, the first thing she noticed were the lights of the squad car, blinking blue and white in the darkness. Then she focused on the two cops standing in front of her.
    â€œMrs. Schmidt?”
    â€œYes,” Tracy said cautiously.
    One of the cops took off his hat. He gave Tracy a look that made her knees start to shake.
    â€œI’m afraid there’s been an accident.”
    No, there hasn’t.
    â€œIt seems Mr. Carter ran his truck off the road up at Cross Creek.”
    No, he didn’t. He didn’t. Blake’s a very careful driver.
    â€œI’m so sorry, Mrs. Schmidt, but I’m afraid he was killed instantly.”
    Tracy clutched the doorframe for support.
    â€œWhat about Nick? My son?”
    â€œYour son’s OK. He’s been taken to the hospital. Yampa Valley Medical Center.”
    Tracy’s legs gave way beneath her. Blake was dead—her Blake, her rock—but all she felt in that moment was relief. Nick was alive! It shamed her to admit it, but that was all that mattered.
    â€œHe had to be cut out of the truck. But he was conscious going into the ambulance. We’ll take you to him now if you’d like?”
    Tracy nodded mutely. She started walking towards the squad car, stumbling through the snow like a zombie.
    â€œDo you have a coat, Ma’am?” the cop asked. “It’s pretty cold out tonight.”
    But Tracy didn’t hear him, any more than she felt the cold.
    I’m coming Nick. I’m coming my darling.
    EVERYONE AT YAMPA VALLEY Medical Center knew Tracy Schmidt. She was one of the hospital’s most generous local donors.
    A nurse led her to Nick’s room. To Tracy’s immense relief, he was awake.
    â€œHi, Mom.”
    His face was bruised and his lower lip was trembling. Tracy wrapped her arms around him like she would never let go. He started to cry.
    â€œBlake’s dead.”
    â€œI know.” Tracy held him. “I know, my darling. Do you remember what happened?”
    â€œNot really,” he whimpered. “Blake thought someone was following us. A woman.”
    â€œWhat woman?” Tracy frowned. “Why would he think that? ”
    â€œI don’t know. I didn’t really see her. But Blake was kind of distracted I guess. One minute we were driving and the next . . .” He started to cry.
    â€œShhhh. It will be all right, Nicky. I promise.”
    Tracy stroked the back of his head. Beneath her palm she could feel a lump the size of a hen’s egg.
    Forcing herself not to panic, she asked, “Do you feel OK?”
    â€œSort of. I feel dizzy. And super tired. The doctors ran some tests.”
    â€œOK,” Tracy said brightly. “You get some rest. I’ll track down that doctor and see what’s what.”
    She didn’t have to go far. Dr. Neil Sherridan was already walking down the hall towards her as she closed Nick’s door behind her. Tracy knew Dr. Sherridan from the hospital fund-raiser she’d been to with Blake last summer. She remembered she’d worn a red ball gown and the diamond earrings Jeff had