Page 73 of Last Date

Closing the door, Selena pressed her back to it. “Father, we need help.”

Uneasiness nudged me, and I frowned. “Is everything okay?”

“May I sit?” Captain Roscoe asked. Not waiting for my response, he lowered himself into the nearest chair with a grunt. His breathing was jagged, and when I looked closer, I noticed a red splotch of blood spreading across his shirt in the area of his stomach.

“You’re bleeding,” I rasped, moving toward him.

He held out his hand, looking wary. “Stay back.”

“But… you’re hurt.” I glanced at Selena. “What happened to him?”

Her mouth trembled. “We need your help, Kip.”

I turned back to Captain Roscoe. “Why are you bleeding?”

Captain Roscoe closed his eyes, his chest moving up and down roughly. I thought perhaps he’d passed out, but then he opened his eyes. “Water. Can I have some water?”

Grimacing, I moved into the kitchen. Selena followed me, looking suspicious. I got a glass of water for her father and returned to him. He took the glass, hands shaking so badly, half of the liquid ended up on his shirt. He gulped what was left, like a man who’d been in the desert for days.

“I don’t understand what’s happening,” I said.

Selena said quietly, “He’s been shot. I… I don’t know how to stop the bleeding.”

“Shot?” Shock rattled through me. “How. Why?” Spot started barking when I raised my voice slightly. Sucking in a breath, I said, “It’s okay, Spot. Everything is okay.”

Everything is definitely not okay.

The dog must have sensed my anxiety because he stood next to me, his huff up, growling softly.

I cleared my throat and repeated, “How did your father get shot?”

Avoiding my gaze, Selena stood beside her father. She looked like she hadn’t slept in days. Her face was gaunt and her eyes dull with worry. “The less you know, the better.”

“I’m not going to help you without knowing what happened.”

“Youwillhelp us.” Selena pulled a small silver gun from the waistband at the back of her jeans. She held it up, and it wobbled so much I was afraid she’d accidentally shoot me. “Don’t make me use this.”

“You’re going to shoot me?” I scowled. “Why would you shoot me?”

Spot whined, circling my legs agitatedly.

“I don’t want to. If you’ll just help us.” She started crying. “I don’t know what to do. He’s going to die if you don’t help us.”

“He needs to go to a hospital. You must know that.”

Captain Roscoe shook his head violently. “No. No hospital. They’ll call the cops.”

I pressed the palms of my hands to my forehead, feeling like I was in crazy land. “I don’t understand what the heck is going on. Of all the people—” I gaped. “This… this is nuts. I’m not equipped to handle a gunshot wound. I’m not a doctor.”

“You’ll do fine. I simply need you to take the bullet out,” Captain Roscoe growled.

I widened my eyes. “I can’t. I don’t know how to do that.”

Selena sniffed back her tears. “But you’re a veterinarian. You know how to do surgery.”

“I’m not a vet. I own a dog walking agency.” I blinked at her. “I have no idea how to extract a bullet. I could very easily kill him trying.”

“I thought sure you were a veterinarian.” She frowned.