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The movement was quick, threatening, dangerous. The shock of it took her stumbling backward
toward the wall. On the way, she grabbed a chair and held it, trembling, legs out, toward him while
she cursed herself for her stupid runaway tongue.
He stopped suddenly. He realized, belatedly, that she was afraid of him. Her face was chalk-white.
The chair she d suspended in midair was shaking, like her slender young body. She was gasping for
breath. Wheezing. Coughing.
He frowned.
 Don t...! she choked, swallowing, coughing again.
The door opened.  What in the hell...?
 Stay with her, Carson said curtly, running past Cash. He made a dash to his car, grabbed his
medical kit and burst back in the door just as Cash was taking the chair from Carlie and putting her
firmly down in it.
 Grab her driver s license, he ordered Cash as he unzipped the kit. He pulled a cell phone out of
his slacks.  Who s her doctor?
 Lou Coltrain, Cash replied.
Carlie couldn t speak. She couldn t even breathe.
She heard Carson talking to someone on the other end of the phone. She heard her boss relaying
statistics. Why did they need her weight? She couldn t breathe. It felt as if the air was stuck inside her
lungs and couldn t get out. She heard a weird whistling sound. Was that her?
Carson tore open packages. He swabbed the bend of her elbow and pulled up a liquid from a small
bottle into a syringe. He squirted out a drop.
 This may hurt. I m sorry. He drove the needle into her arm. His face was like stone. He was
almost as pale as she was.
Her breathing began to ease, just a little. Tears sprung from her eyes and ran, hot, down her cheeks.
 Call the emergency room, Carson told Cash.  Tell them I m bringing her in. She needs to be
checked by a physician.
 All right, Cash said tightly.  Then we ll have a talk.
Carson nodded curtly. He handed Carlie her purse, picked her up in his arms and carried her out the
door.
6
OUTSIDE, A PATROL car was waiting, its lights flashing like mad.
 Chief said for me to lead you to the emergency room, the patrolman called to Carson.
 Thanks, he said. He put Carlie in the passenger seat, strapped her in and threw himself behind the
steering wheel.
He ran two red lights, right behind the police car. It was only a short drive to the hospital, but he
wanted to get Carlie there as quickly as he could. Her color was still bad, although she was breathing
a little easier.
 Damn...you, she cursed, sobbing.
 Yes, he rasped. He glanced at her as he pulled up at the emergency entrance.  God, I m sorry!
He got out, unfastened her seat belt and carried her right past the waiting gurney with its attendant,
past the clerk, back into a waiting room, trailing irritated people.
 Dr. Coltrain is ready for her, we called ahead, he said over his shoulder.
 Is that Carlie? the clerk exclaimed.  Is she all right?
 Not really, Carson said in a rough tone. He carried her into a treatment room. Seconds later, a
blonde woman in a white lab coat came in, a stethoscope around her neck.
 Are you the one who called me from her office? she asked, glancing at Carson.  You said that
she was upset and having trouble breathing.
 Yes, Carson said quietly.  I d bet my left arm on asthma.
 Asthma? Dr. Lou Coltrain frowned at him.
She turned to Carlie, who was still gasping.  Epinephrine. You said on the phone that you were
giving her epinephrine.
 Yes, Carson replied tersely. He reminded her of the dosage.  I checked her weight on her driver s
license first.
She nodded.  Fran, bring me an inhaler, she said to a nurse nearby. She gave the name brand and
the dosage.  Hurry.
 Yes, Doctor, the woman said, and went to get it.
Lou examined Carlie, aware that she was glaring at the man who d brought her in. He had his hands
shoved deep in his pockets and he looked as if somebody had cut the life out of him. She didn t have
to guess what had prompted Carlie s attack. Guilt was written all over him.
 She has no history of asthma, Lou said.
 Allergies to perfume, difficulty breathing after exertion, coughing fits, Carson said.
Lou frowned as she glanced at him.  Sporadic?
 Very. Difficult to diagnose without proper equipment. I d recommend an allergist.
 Yes. So would I.
She finished her examination. Fran was back with the inhaler. Lou instructed her in its use and
waited until she d taken several puffs.
 You re lucky that you had no underlying heart conditions, like a sinus node issue, Lou said as she
watched Carlie suck in the meds.  Epinephrine can kill someone with a serious arrhythmia. She
glanced at Carson.  You knew that.
He nodded. His face was solemn, still. He didn t add anything to the nod.
 One more puff, and then I want you to lie there and rest. I ll be back to check on you in a minute. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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