“You were shot,” the medic explained.

Her eyes flew open. “I was not.” Kate gaped down at her body and systematically started moving her limbs. Then she noticed the bandage on her left arm. Because she had fallen into the pie case, shattering the glass, she didn’t think anything of it.

But when she went to move her arm, searing pain radiated down to her finger tips. “Oh…”

“Excuse me.” The man from the doorway approached.

“Yes?” Kate peered up and into chocolate brown eyes that stared down on her with concern.

“I’m Richard Ritter, with Ritter Securities. Can I talk with you for a minute?”

Kate glanced at the paramedics. Her mouth twisted. “I’m kind of busy, going to the hospital and all.” “This will only take a minute,” he assured her.

The medics moved the gurney toward the door.

“You can question her at the hospital. She’s been here long enough.”

“I only have one question.” Mr. Ritter scrambled alongside the gurney. “There was a dog with the man that committed the robbery, right?”

“Yeah, I told the cops that.”

“Did the dog bite you?”

“What?” Kate thought the question odd, considering the fact that a bullet had passed through her body. Or maybe still was in her body… Damn, I’ve been shot! Somehow, a dog bite seemed trivial in

light of the circumstances.

“Bite? Did the dog bite you?” he asked again his tone a bit more brisk.

“No. Wait, I don’t know. I don’t even remember being shot.” Kate winced when the men lifted the gurney to the back of the ambulance. The burning pain grew more insistent. She moaned.

“You don’t know?” He tilted his head to the side, as if he didn’t believe her.

“That’s what she said, mister. Now if you don’t mind.” The medic closed the double doors, rounded the front of the van, and jumped into the driver seat.

“Where are you taking her?” Kate heard the man yell.

“County General.”

The sound of sirens filled the cavity of the van as it left the restaurant parking lot.

****

The Emergency Room buzzed with a whirlwind of activity when she arrived. Nurses rushed her into x-ray before she had time to think. From there she landed inside the tube of a Cat Scan machine. Everyone asked her the same frenzied questions over and over within the first thirty minutes of her stay. Yet, once the doctor came into the room and told her that her scans came out normal, and the bullet had gone through her body without touching the bone, everyone left her bedside. It was as if she no longer needed anything once the staff realized she wasn’t dying.

Kate noticed the time on the institutional-style wall clock, 3:30 in the morning. She still had a few hours before she needed to get home to relieve the babysitter.

Before she could think about that, she needed to find someone in the department who could clean up the hole in her arm and cuts all over her body.

She carefully draped her legs over the side of the gurney and eased her frame in a sitting position.

Her head swam. Gripping the sides of the gurney, she closed her eyes to gain her equilibrium.

What a mess.

At first glance, it appeared as if she had suffered a catfight instead of armed robbery. Her hands, scraped and crusted with blood, where the small shards of glass cut into them from the fall, still shook. Her head ached, and her arm oozed blood from the bullet wound. There was blood everywhere.

Even her legs didn’t go unscathed.

The medics, in all their infinite wisdom, had sliced her clothing off before she regained consciousness. She sat now in a hospital gown that covered very little and couldn’t help but wonder what she would wear home.

Standing on wobbly feet, she grabbed the overhead table for support. Big mistake, the thing moved. With a gasp, she found herself spiraling toward the floor without the ability to stop her fall.

Pressing her eyes tight, she tried to anticipate the crash when her body jerked to a stop mid-fall. Large capable hands encircled her waist, catching her before she had a chance to hit.

“Whoa, where are you going?”

Kate caught her breath and glanced over her shoulder. “Mr. Ritter, right?”

“Richard,” he corrected, while he guided her back to her bed.

She tried to ignore the fact that her gown gaped in the back, showing the stranger almost every asset she possessed. Heat hit her cheeks at the thought.

The same thought must have occurred to him, because he graciously pulled her gown closed behind her keeping her modesty intact.

“You didn’t answer my question.” Kate shook her head and waved him away.

“Where are you going?”

“Home, I’ve got to get home,” she muttered.

He glanced beyond the door of the room. “You

don’t exactly have the appearance of someone ready for discharge.”

Kate eased back against the pillow and tried to clear her head. “I was on my way to find someone to help me get cleaned up.”

“I don’t think the doctor will be agreeable to sending you home if you can’t stand on your own two feet.” He moved a comfortable distance away and folded his hands across his chest. The stance, along with the way he watched her, made her realize he was used to being in charge.

Well, so was she.

“Are you a doctor, Mr. Ritter?”

“No.”

“Good. Why don’t you be helpful and get one in here so I can go home.”

His smile took her by surprise. Straight teeth with a small cleft in his chin had her hiding her own grin. Whoever this Mr. Ritter was, he was cute.

Annoying, but cute.

“Why the hurry?”

Really annoying! “Who are you?” she asked.

“I told you already. I’m from Ritter Securities; we monitor the alarm system at the restaurant.”

“And you’re here… why?”

He unfolded his arms and placed one on his head, giving it a small scratch. “I, ah, we, are always interested in the welfare of the customers we service.”

What a crock of shit. “So you followed me to the hospital?”

“Yes.” He seemed pleased with his answer, which told Kate he held something back. He’s probably worried about being sued.

“Well, you’ve seen me. I’m fine. Now if you can just go get a nurse, I can go home.” Ritter made a grand gesture of scanning the room. “I don’t see anyone here to give you a ride, and from what I’ve seen you’re in no condition to walk.”