Alana Candler, Marked for Murder Read Online Free PDF Page A

and had spent all night trying to ignore the one protruding from her arm. Turning her head, she closed her eyesas he carefully withdrew the needle and placed a tiny bandage over her wound.
    “There we go. As good as new.”
    That was easy for him to say!
    The nurse threw the paper in the trash as he walked out the door and told her with a smile, “The doctor will be in shortly. I think he might let you go home today, if you’re feeling up to it.”
    Alana nodded and slumped down in the bed, pressing a hand to her forehead.
    “Hey there, munchkin.”
    Alana dropped her hand and looked up in satisfied pleasure. The first smile of the day spread across her face.
    “Brad! You’re here! After being here so late, I thought you might not get here until this evening.”
    “Sure, sis! Nothing could keep me away. That’s what brothers are for. How are you feeling?”
    Alana didn’t answer but watched him amble across the room and perch on the edge of her bed. Dark circles from lack of sleep framed his eyes, and worry lines painted wrinkles in his usually smooth complexion. More gray than normal tinged the edges of his dark brown hair.
    A shaft of guilt stabbed her heart. It hurt—knowing she was causing her brother added stress. Being police chief was a demanding job. Constant worry over the latest string of murders and robberies caused him enough stress to last a lifetime. Now the assault she had suffered added to the burden. Not only was it another case to solve, but this one was personal.
    Brad reached over and touched her tenderly on the arm—studying her pale face. “You still look a little white to me.”
    Alana blinked her eyes to hide the strain her headache was causing. “I’m just glad to be here.” She paused before adding quietly, “I almost wasn’t.”
    Brad’s brown eyes met Alana’s, and they shared a warm gaze. He reached over and rubbed her cheek. “I’m glad too.” Then, he playfully tweaked her nose. “Hey, I brought you something.”
    He flipped a brown sack onto the bed.
    After carefully opening the top, she smiled with delight. “Clothes!”
    Brad made a face and said, “Yeah, your old clothes still smell like lake water, and I figured the hospital wouldn’t let you leave with one of their gowns. So, Lisa loaned you those. They might be a little big, but I reckon they’ll do.” He smiled.
    Brad’s wife, Lisa, was a petite blond with a strong out-going personality and an athletic build. She was a little bigger than Alana, but the clothes she packed into the sack looked as if they might fit perfectly.
    Alana smiled at him warmly. “Thanks, Brad. Brandy promised she’d send me clothes from my apartment in Ross maybe tomorrow, but thanks so much for these. And tell Lisa I said thanks too.”
    “You’ll have a chance to thank her yourself in about thirty minutes. She’s coming to take you home with us for a few days. That is, if the doctor says it’s okay for you to leave.”
    “I hate to make her come all the way up here with the kids, but I’d love to get outta here.”
    “The kids wouldn’t miss it! You’d think they hadn’t seen you in years instead of just a few weeks.”
    A little stab of guilt pierced Alana’s heart. “I’m sorry I haven’t been around lately. It’ll be good to see those ragamuffins again. How old is Timmy now?”
    Brad closed one eye thoughtfully. “Tomorrow . . . he’ll be ten months old.”
    “You’re kidding! It seems like yesterday I babysat Rob and Jan while you and Lisa rushed to the hospital.”
    “They grow up faster than tadpoles in a freshwater pond.”
    “Please! Don’t mention the word pond.” Alana closed her eyes, laid her head back on the over-stuffed pillow, and frowned through the pain.
    Brad’s voice held a grimace. “Sorry. You sure you’re okay, Lane?”
    “Just a few bruises and a little bit of a lingering headache.”
    “The doc says you’ll be sore for a few days, but soon you’ll be as good as new. Did you get