Mac's Angels : Sinner and Saint. a Loveswept Classic Romance (9780345541659) Read Online Free PDF Page B

sent bubbles spiraling into the air.
    It was no different from a hundred other buildings,tired, yet trying to hang on to the idea that people still wanted literary enlightenment. In truth, the homeless enjoyed the warmth in the winter and the air-conditioning in the summer.
    Behind the checkout counter, a woman whose face was as weathered as the carpet looked up. “May I help you, sir?”
    â€œYes, I’ve come for some information.”
    â€œAre you familiar with our computer system?”
    â€œNot that kind of information,” he corrected her. “I’m a doctor at Mercy General. I’m treating Karen Miller.”
    â€œI don’t suppose you have any identification, do you?”
    â€œWell, I have a driver’s license and my hospital ID tag.” He smiled. He might as well exude some of that charm that Mac accused him of using to raise funds. Niko knew it was there, in spite of his protests. He just didn’t often care enough about anything to go to the trouble.
    He didn’t know why he cared about the woman back in the hospital, nor could he explain the power of his attraction to her.
    She just arouses you sexually, he told himself. Maybe it was time he looked in his little black book of society matrons on the make. That would satisfy his urge and stop his preoccupation with the woman in blue.
    The librarian glanced at him shyly, examined his identification, then nodded. “Okay, I guess. How is Karen?”
    â€œShe’s still in a coma. I think she’s afraid to wake up.”
    â€œI always thought she was afraid too,” the woman responded, concern more evident in her eyes now.
    â€œOh? Afraid of what?”
    The woman moved closer, smiling now, as if they had their own private conspiracy. “Don’t know. In the three months she’s been here she never spoke about herself. No friends. Never even had anybody call her—until the day she walked in front of that cab.”
    â€œSomebody called her that day?”
    â€œYep. Answered the phone myself. Somebody wanted to know if there was a Karen working here. Called her last name wrong, said it was Middleton.”
    Niko felt a sense of unease sweep over him. “How’d you know it was her the caller was looking for?”
    â€œHe told me exactly what she looked like. Tall, thin, blond hair, and bluebonnet eyes. He said he was an old friend from Minnesota.”
    Minnesota. He hadn’t been far wrong on guessing her background. “What happened then?”
    â€œShe answered the phone, then just laid it down and walked out the door. Didn’t even take her purse. Next thing I knew, old Mort—he’s one of the street people who comes in and out—ran in here and said she’d been hit by that taxi. We called the ambulance and they took her to Mercy.”
    â€œWhere does she live?”
    â€œThat seems to be a popular question. The policeasked first, then this very morning that same old friend from the phone turned up looking for her. She lives in a boardinghouse.”
    â€œWhat old friend?”
    â€œWell,” she said in a can-you-believe-it voice, “turns out he wasn’t an old friend after all, but a reporter for a newspaper. He didn’t tell me he was the one who called, but I recognized his voice.”
    â€œA reporter? Damn! That’s just what she doesn’t need.”
    â€œDon’t worry. I didn’t tell him. Not going to. So far as I know, he doesn’t even know she’s in the hospital. I believe in a person’s right to privacy. Tell Karen we miss her, but I don’t know if we can hold her job.”
    â€œI will. And if that reporter calls back, I’d appreciate it if you’d find out where he is staying, in case Miss Miller wants to reach him.”
    The woman who identified herself as Agnes Feeback agreed, taking Niko’s private number and tucking it into her pocket.
    â€œYou don’t think that