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"Just once before last year" She stared down at her hands "That hen he sers"

The doctor sucked in a breath but didn’t speak

A muscle twitched in the cop’s cheek as he looked down at his notepad After a second, he asked, "So today, you have a cut-up back Anything else?"

Nolan spoke for her again "From today, she also has a slice across her stoot there and stopped hiun, tried to shoot ed to kick hi look that she warh "The bullet went into the floor We fought" He touched his cheek and chin froainst the wood stove"

"How do you know Mrs Stanton here?"

"She does yard service for Zachary I was going to hire her forher instead" He kissed her pal to have to landscape the place, sugar"

She actually h her fingers trembled "I think I owe you that now"

"Looks like a pretty clear case of self-defense," the cop said "Give me your name and address and all that"

Nolan took out his wallet and fished out a card

The cop glanced at it "King Construction? You built the office complex down the street from our station"

Nolan nodded

The cop studied Nolan for a minute "You’re military too, aren’t you? Like your buddy, Zachary A vet?"

Nolan nodded again

"No wonder Nice work," the cop said "And you didn’t hear me say that I’ll be in contact if I havehis head

"Questions They always have questions, always need more evidence" The doctor scowled and raised his voice "Marilee, bring me the camera"

The nurse popped in a second later

"Stay here as a witness, Marilee," he said "Let’s go ahead and document this clearly, just in case there’s any question down the road" The doctor’s face was grim He snapped pictures of Beth’s back, then taped up the whip lue shut More pictures on her front, and he sewed up the slice across her stoh, and he took a picture of every scar, froh it all, Nolan sat quietly, holding her hand, andhurt

As the doctor wrapped her wrists with gauze, Master Z walked into the cubicle

"What is this, Grand Central Station?" the doctor snapped "Who the hell are you?"

Beth actually giggled "It’s all right He’s the other one who saved rurinned and looked frouys, and I don’t care who hearsyou Con of infection I’ll give you a prescription for pain--"

"I don’t want one," she interrupted "I won’t take theht" He rubbed his chin "Tylenol or ibuprofen Avoid aspirin for a couple of days The nurse will be in to get you unhooked froive you instructions about the stitches"

Shooed out by the nurse, thelot for her When the nurse wheeled her out, they helped her into Nolan’s truck