In the Blink of An Eye by Jerry Baggett (ebook reader for surface pro TXT) 📕

resist. Certainly, we’ve known each other long enough for a first kiss.” He placed his hand lightly over her mouth to prevent any objection. “You are going to make room for me on your sofa, aren’t you?”

She poked her tongue out at him and laughed. “You deliberately set me up so it would be difficult to refuse, didn’t you! Besides that, it wasn’t our first kiss.”

“No! It was a long drive, and tiring boat ride back. I had a difficult time deciding if I should break into your pleasant little playhouse. We have a lot to discuss.”

She shouldered her purse. “I’ll lead the way home. Grab your ditty bag, fly boy.”

He latched onto her arm. “A beautiful evening for a walk in the moonlight.”

She stopped underneath a light, “You should have called, Dick. Now’s a bad time to tell you this. I must attend a medical conference in Newport tomorrow. That could ruin our time together.”

He dropped his duffle. “How long is the conference?”

She hesitated. “It really doesn’t matter. Steven may be there. He’s always taken this kind of opportunity for us to spend time together.”

“Damn. Of all the luck, it has to be bad luck. How long’s the conference, I mean, how many days does the damn thing last?”

“Only two full days, two nights. I’m booked at the Newporter Inn.”

He wanted to yell. “Call the Newporter to see if reservations are for two people under Doctor Peyton’s name. Would you do that? If he’s booked in with you, I’ll say goodbye as we leave the boat in Long Beach.” He wrapped his arms around her. “I hate to say this, Sammy girl. The stars controlling our destiny may not be in proper alignment for two ordinary people standing here in the moonlight. The random order of things has turned out to be our enemy. I know we would be so perfect for one another, under better circumstances.”

Dick waved his hand at the traffic. “This drive back from Newport to Long Beach must cause ordinary working stiffs to pull their hair out. Maybe that’s why Doctor Peyton didn’t make the conference.” He glanced over at Sam. “At least we can use the diamond lane.”

“I told you. He had to be in court. Something to do with his ex-wife and the children. All kidding aside, Dick, these last few days have been wonderful. We agreed, didn’t we, to take some time, and let things work themselves out with Steven. He’s hurting right now.”

Dick became distracted. They’d exited I-405 onto a service road near Long Beach only minutes before two vehicles passed at high speed. He braked hard. A heavy four-wheel drive pickup swerved into the rear of the lighter sedan, while entering a curve. The lighter car spun out of control, rolled over several times, and slid upside down into heavy shrubbery. He punched on the emergency lights and pulled onto the shoulder. “We have to offer aid to the occupants of that car.”

He yelled back as she lowered her window. “Stay there in the car and call 911. Wait for my signal before you join me. There may be an explosion. You’ll be needed.”

Dick jumped a narrow ditch and ran through ankle high ice plant to the smoking automobile. The driver’s door was wedged shut; the glass shattered. He could see the lone driver hanging upside down in the seat harness, his head resting against the sunroof, neck bent slightly. The air bag had inflated, then rapidly deflated, with shards of glass from the windshield protruding in several places. He ran to the other side and tore open the warped door. He picked up the strong smell of gasoline, quickly released the man’s seat belt and forced his legs free from the collapsed steering column.

He dragged the heavy man through thick ice plant to where Samantha waited with her first aid kit. “We have to get him across that drainage ditch before the gasoline ignites into a fireball.”

She stepped across the narrow crevice. “I have 911 on the phone. How many occupants, and what can you tell them about the man’s condition? We need more light, to examine him.”

“Grab him under his left arm and let’s get across this ditch and up to the grassy area before that thing blows. He’s unconscious but breathing.”

He gently moved the man’s head. “His neck seems to be uninjured. He may have had the breath knocked out of him when the steering column collapsed in on him. Wait, there’s blood on his head. He slammed his head against the roof of the car.” She jumped when the gas tank exploded. “We have more light now. His pulse is fast and steady. His neck isn’t broken, could be sprained. The head wound’s only superficial. This guy’s a very lucky man. He’s regaining consciousness. Clean some more of that blood off his face. I think we may have saved the life of DEA Agent Hunt.”

“I agree,” she said. He’s even dressed like before.”

The paramedic returned to where Samantha and Dick were in deep conversation with a highway patrol officer. “You folks were right. The victim is Agent Hunt. He wants to talk with you before we move him to the hospital for further examination.”

“You two are night owls. What’s your story this time?” Hunt said.

Dick said, “I’m teaching Samantha to run with the wolves. She’s had a sheltered life.”

“Well, whatever you’re doing, I’m grateful for your assistance. The paramedics tell me you just saved my life. Thank you.”

“We just left a late happy hour in Newport where Samantha attended a medical conference,” Dick said. “We saw that big jacked up four-wheel vehicle run you off the road. You must have known he was chasing you.”

“Should have been better aware of my surroundings. Too many things on my mind. That bastard could have been behind me for several miles. Now, they