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

had been paranoid since the attack in her apartment, and followed a carefully laid out security protocol prescribed by Agent Hunt. She routinely looked over her surroundings and nearby shrubbery before walking away from the clinic.

He should be here. She punched Dick’s contact number and heard the telephone ring on his end of the line, a moment before her eye caught movement.

“Hi, beautiful, is everything OK?” he said.

“I’m not sure. Perhaps I’m being overly cautious, but someone’s squatting down behind a hedge I have to walk past. Where are you?”

Dick said, “I see the man you’re looking at. I’ve been watching him for the last half hour. Don’t take any chances. I intend to confront him and see if he takes off running or has an answer for following you. I’m in position to act quickly. Walk away slowly, toward your place. I want to be sure he’s tailing you. Detour out around behind the hedge and pick up the sidewalk at the other end of that row of high shrubbery.

Samantha kept her eyes glued to the spot where she believed the man would appear, assuming he was a threat. She walked through ankle high grass and stopped halfway down.

She had heard it all, including Dick’s swearing. He said, “Everything’s OK. The guy chickened out and headed back in the other direction. Stay on the line until you see me, then we’ll call and report the incident to your friend at the sheriff’s department. He was definitely up to no good, spreading the hedge to locate your position on the other side. He caught sight of me running toward him, jumped up and ran. He now knows what it feels like to have his face slammed into the dirt by a fast moving two-hundred-and-forty-pound linebacker. He’s damn quick though. He jumped to his feet, stepped off the trail, tumbled down a brush covered hill, and disappeared.”

Sam said, “We should also report this to Agent Hunt. You have his number on your phone and so do I. Were you able to get a description?”

“Hell no! You were set up from the beginning, somehow. I’m afraid the whole thing will lead to nowhere again.”

“Why do you think they are after me again?”

“That’s the sixty-four-dollar question. We’ll discuss it with Agent Hunt.”

Samantha knew her paranoia was of concern to Hunt. Nothing he said eased her mind. Then, he advised Dick, again, to stay by her side, day and night, while they determined a motive and finished running down several new developments relating to the undercover operation. She felt somewhat better.

Hunt said, “We don’t think your doctor had anything to do with this incident, Samantha, but I’m not ruling out a connection to your mother’s death. Only you can work out your personal problems with Doctor Peyton. I may be forced to share some additional information with you about your family, a little later. I must tell you, the more you know, the more dangerous the situation could become.”

“Commander McGowin!” he roared through the telephone. “Are you in a position to stand by Samantha without failing, and remain there, by her side, until we know more about the danger she’s facing?”

“I have a month’s leave and certainly can’t see myself ducking out on her now that I know for sure she needs me.”

Hunt said, “I’m going to set up a meeting, immediately, with someone close to Samantha and her mother’s assassination. I haven’t felt it all that wise getting you both so deeply involved, Samantha. Nevertheless, it seems, you’re going to end up in the middle of it anyway. I wanted to avoid placing more stress on top of that you’re already burdened with. We’d better get together and clear some things up. Meet me at Commander McGowin’s hotel suite in one hour. Be prepared for the unexpected.”

She didn’t know whether she should be thrilled or scared to death. She’d spent her whole life waiting for information like this and now it could lead to her demise. She wanted to scream. She looked at Dick. He looked cramped up in deep in thought. “A penny for your thoughts,” she said.

“Hunt likes to keep everybody off balance.” He stood and stretched. “I believe he’s right. We should avoid spending nights here at your cottage. Make them search for us if they’re determined to cause you harm.” Dick curled his arm around Samantha’s waist and stared at the early evening sky. “Just when I was looking forward to a cold beer and another moonlight swim in the ocean with you this evening.”

“I’m frightened, Dick. I need to gather some things from my place, for sure.” She met his concerned look. “You don’t have to assume responsibility for my wellbeing, unless you’re sure you want to share all the baggage, I may have heading my way.”

“Bad things often happen to good people. We’ll go through this together, babe. It’ll make us stronger together or we’ll know the reason why it hasn’t. Let’s get to my hotel and wait for Hunt.”

Dick set out two wine glasses and opened a bottle of cabernet. “This is stressful for you, honey, but it fires up my adrenalin, like combat. I’m thoroughly pissed off. It makes me want to do bodily harm to the coward that hides behind his minions to attack the defenseless.”

Samantha put her glass down and answered the tapping at the door. She stepped aside and stared at the man standing behind Hunt. “I don’t understand.” she said.

“Well, do you mind if we go inside?” Hunt said.

Dick said, “Come in, gentlemen.” He grabbed two more wine glasses.

Hunt said, “I believe everyone’s acquainted, right?” He accepted a glass of wine. “Grant Davis is your uncle, Samantha. Now I want you to sit back comfortably while he tells you his story.”

She sat down with her mouth open and stared at Grant. “What the devil took you