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Their eyes met Amy bit her lip and took a deep breath, the shine of unshed tears visible in her eyes ‘Exactly how far away is Pelican Cove?’
CHAPTER ONE
LINCOLN burst through the doors to the adjoining office and wrenched the scarlet tie from his throat The force popped the button on his shirt and sent it flying across the floor
David Fairgreaves strolled in behind hirey eyebrow He took off his suit jacket, hanging it on the chair behind hiuely amused, another irritation to add to Lincoln’s list
Lincoln stalked over to a nearby shelf and pulled down a pair of green scrubs—he wasn’t wearing this daer
Washington’s finest shirt lay in a crumpled heap at his feet as he pulled the scrub top over his head and turned to face David ‘How can they ask questions like that?’
David gave a little shrug of his shoulders, picked up an apple fro his feet up on the desk ‘They’re animals’
Lincoln shook his head ‘How can you stand it? How can you sit there and smile at those idiots?’
‘You’ve got to give it some perspective I’ve just looked after the First Lady It’s news that they’ll report all around the world And they’ll all be looking for their own spin—their own edge to make them stand out from the pack Truth be known—I really don’t care what any of the I care about is my patient’
Lincoln stared at him David was the only reason he’d come here in the first place The chance to ith the ood an opportunity toold fool but was probably theclinician Lincoln had ever met
David caught hiaze ‘What’s with you anyway? You’ve been like a bear with a sore head all afternoon’
Linc sighed The ht from someone I haven’t seen in years—at least, I think that’s who it was froht now, so I don’t know if she’s replied’ He held his cellphone up near theand turned in various directions Still no signal
David gave hi look ‘I take it this was a female someone?’
Linc nodded and smiled ‘Let’s just say it was an unexpected blast from the past’
‘A good one?’
‘She certainly wasn’t that easy to forget so I hope so But with everything that’s happened in the last two days I’ve just not had a h his dark brown hair ‘I can’t remember the last time I actually slept’
David nodded ‘Having the head of White House Security turn up at your door at three in theand tell you to pack up to deliver the President’s baby would flatten most men’ He frowned ‘Your text Was it from a real friend? Or a fair-weather friend? I’ve experienced lots of those—people who the minute you appear in the media have apparently been your “best friend” or “closest colleague” for years—even though they don’t knohen your birthday is or what car you drive Fas to folks—you need to be careful, Lincoln This is a whole new ball game for you’
Lincoln looked thoughtful He gestured towards the door ‘Well, that was my first official television appearance, so she can’t have known anything about it She sounded—I don’t know—in trouble’
‘Just what every man loves—a damsel in distress’ David flashed hio and look
after our girls’ He tossed his apple core into a trash can on the other side of the room
‘I told you to stop calling me that It’s Linc My friends call me Linc’
David looked aghast ‘Linc? Certainly not You, my friend, are named after the finest President we’ve ever had and you should wear that name with pride’ He put his hand on the doorhandle as a frown puckered his forehead ‘Just don’t tell Charlie Taylor I said that’
Lincoln laughed ‘I may well use that as blackmail material’
Alanced at her watch as the cab seemed to meander up the coastal road The traffic was alot through the cordon in front of them The rest were directed to turn and head back down the hill Her stomach churned This had to be the worst idea she’d ever had
A uniformed officer approached the cab and rapped sharply on theHe glanced in the back seat towards Amy ‘Where are you headed?’
The taxi driver gestured behind hinant lady to drop at the hospital’
The cop gave a little start He looked like a man who had heard every line in the book today but he leaned forward a little to get a better look He obviously hadn’t heard this one yet ‘Can you step out the car please, ma’am?’
Amy fumbled for the doorhandle and stepped out into the warm sea air She pulled some money from her purse and handed it to the driver ‘Thanks very much’
The cop ran his eyes up and down the length of her body It was alnant Her white tunic and expanding trousers flapped in the wind, exposing every part of her body, including the currently out-turned umbilicus She pressed her hands self-consciously over her stomach
‘Your name, ma’am?’
‘Excuse me?’
‘You have to give me your name—and the name of the doctor you have an appointment to see’