Page 111 of Off Plan

I tore through the tree break and around the side of the Goodmans’ yard, through the market path and past the sign that said Mayor’s Office, to Rafe’s office bunker, which was standing wide open… and I skidded to a halt.

The entry to the bunker was so fucking dark. Dark as atomb. And whatever I’d told Fenn about how stupid the story was, my fear of the dark and being entombed was very,veryreal. How fucked-up was it that I was more afraid of aman-made dwellingthan the woman struggling to breathe inside?

Fenn’s words from the other night came back to me.“You’re strong as fuck, and you know the past can’t hurt you anymore…”

I swallowed, huffed out a breath, and ducked inside.

Gloria was lying on the big mahogany table in the middle of the room with Big Rafe standing next to her, wearing one of his goofyMAYORT-shirts, holding her small hand in both of his. Her other hand was clasped to her chest as she labored to draw erratic breaths.

“Doc!” Gloria said, trying to summon a smile when she saw me. “H-hey. I’m. Fine. Just. H-hurts. A bit. To. Breathe?”

“Help me sit her up, Rafe,” I instructed, feeling for her pulse, which was steady but weak. “Beale’s bringing my bag, and then we’re gonna help you out to the car, okay? Gonna get you to the hospital.”

Gloria shook her head as she swung her legs to one side of the table. “N-no! No. Hospital. I’m…” She heaved a breath. “Fine!”

“Gloria, you remember those important tests I wanted you to get? There’s no delay now. You need them immediately.”

“Tests?” Rafe scowled at both of us. “What tests?”

“I. S-stopped. Wearing the. H-heels.It h-helped!”

“Your feet were symptoms of the problem, Gloria, not the whole problem. Whatever’s going on with you is serious—”

“R-rafe. Needs me. H-here!”

Rafe’s forehead drew down in an impressive frown. “Christ alive, woman! I need youwell.”

She shook her head again, sending her red curls bobbing around her ghostly pale face. “Y-you have plans! F-for the.” Another deep breath. “Extravaganza.You said. No time to delay. You’ll. Be damned. If. You miss. This.Chance.”

Rafe’s expression was stricken. “But not at the expense of the people Ilove. Damn it, Gloria, if you knew you needed tests, why wouldn’t you—”

“Mr. Goodman.” I caught his eye and shook my head slightly. “There’ll be time for that later, okay? For now, we’re going to the hospital, and we’ll focus on getting you well.”

Beale arrived and handed me the black backpack where I kept my supplies. I removed my stethoscope and listened to Gloria’s heart. There was a murmur there I hadn’t heard before.

“We need a car,” I said, removing the earpieces. “The pickup has a flat. Who can we call?”

“Fenn’s Charger’s in the lot,” Beale said. “He and Young Rafe took the Jeep to the dock today.”

“That’s it,” Big Rafe agreed. “Keys are hanging in the utility closet off the kitchen, Mason. The keychain shaped like an alligator.”

“You grab them,” I instructed. “Beale and I will get Gloria to the car. Grab her purse, too.”

Rafe nodded and left.

“Gloria,” I said, leaning down to speak to her. “This is the smart thing. I promise you.”

She nodded mutely and focused on her breathing.

Beale lifted Gloria in his arms as easily as I’d lifted Topaz and strode out of the bunker while I trailed behind them. Big Rafe met us halfway to the parking lot.

Beale laid Gloria in the back seat of the Charger and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You feel better now, alright?”

Gloria patted his hand weakly.

“I’ll drive while you sit in the back with her, Mason,” Big Rafe instructed, rushing to open the doors. “Beale, you ride shotgun.”

Beale shook his head. “Nah. Someone needs to stay here to make sure the house gets locked down for the storm. I’m on it. And I’ve got my bike, so I’ll ride up and make sure Rafe’s place is all battened down, too.”