Dead Aim Read Online Free PDF Page A

I can't do it now. I have to get her well first. Leave it to me."
    She shook her head.
    He drew a deep breath. "Think about it. Reconsider. I'm taking Sarah to our place by the ocean. When she gets well enough to ask questions, I want to be able to tell her you're absolutely safe."
    "I'm sorry. There's no use talking anymore. I can't do it."
    A multitude of expressions flitted over his face as he watched her open the door. "Believe me, I'm sorry too."
    He turned and strode toward the policeman standing guard down the hall.
    That had almost sounded like a threat, Alex thought. Logan clearly liked his own way and was terribly concerned about Sarah. Well, so was she. She had been terrified all the way to the hospital until she'd gotten the word that Sarah was going to be all right.
    Sarah's eyes were closed as Alex approached the bed. But she must have sensed a presence, for her lids lifted. "Hi."
    "How do you feel?"
    "Blurry. They've got me doped up." Her voice was slurred. "I think . . . Was John here?"
    "Yes."
    "Good. Always wanted you to meet him."
    "I'd rather it not have been like this."
    "Where's Monty?"
    "He's curled up beside your bed. I raised hell until they let him stay. It helped that they knew you were one of the search-and-rescue teams. You and the other rescue workers are their heroes."
    "Bull. But thanks for Monty. . . ." She yawned. "Sleepy."
    "I'll get out of here. I just wanted to see-- I wanted to make sure you were okay."
    "Fine . . ." Her eyes were closing. Then she suddenly came awake. "Who was it? Who tried to hurt you?"
    She shook her head. "I don't know. He was gone by the time the fire department came."
    "Tell John. You could be . . . Might happen again."
    "Hey, I'm fine. Leopold called in the FBI and I'm going to be positively surrounded." She brushed the hair from Sarah's face. "And you were the one who got shot."
    "Bad aim?"
    "He probably aimed for you because he wanted the car to go off the cliff and explode. There wouldn't have been much evidence left." She leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "Now stop worrying and go to sleep. Everything will be fine. I'm going to go now. Leopold wants me to talk to Bob Jurgens, some FBI agent."
    "Good. But tell John." She was dozing off again. "He'll fix it. He's good at fixing things."
    Alex had a sudden memory of Logan's grim expression when she'd told him that she wasn't going to do what he wanted. "I'm sure he is," she murmured as she headed for the door. "And I imagine he's pretty good at breaking things too."
    Sarah was sleeping.
    Logan sat down in the visitor's chair and covered her hand with his own. God, she looked fragile.
    Don't panic. The doctor said she was going to be fine.
    He'd better be right. Logan wouldn't be able to stand it if Sarah was taken from--
    Stop it. She was going to get well.
    Monty whimpered, got up, and put his chin on Logan's knee.
    "Shh." He stroked the dog's head. "We've got to let her sleep. We have to take care of her, boy."
    And he would take care of her. This wasn't going to happen again. He couldn't take any chance of Sarah being hurt. He would stay here beside her for a little while, holding her hand and celebrating the fact that she was alive and still with him.
    And then he would phone Galen.
    .
    The White House
    3:35 A.M.
    "Could I speak to you for a moment, Mr. President?"
    Andreas leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. God, he was tired. He must be getting old. "As long as you're not here to tell me there's been another bombing, Keller. I'm not up to that right now."
    The Secret Service man smiled faintly as he shook his head. "I beg to disagree. I've known you too long, sir. In an emergency you bounce right back."
    "Your confidence is gratifying," Andreas said dryly. "If totally misplaced. Why are you here, Keller?"
    "It's the trip to Arapahoe Junction, sir. There have been some developments that make me uneasy. I want to cancel your visit."
    Andreas stiffened. "What developments?"
    "I told you about the