Free The Dying Game by Beverly Barton Page B

relaxed his battle-ready stance.
    Observing Judd’s withdrawal, Griff spoke to Lindsay, “Carson will take over and get him out of here. You’ll fly home with me.”
    When Rick Carson came forward, Judd backed away, and Lindsay feared another confrontation. But Rick made no move to touch Judd, who seemed more than ready to cause an even worse scene in the hospital corridor.
    Lindsay moved closer to Griff in order to speak privately with him. “Let me take care of Judd. He’s less likely to resist going with me than he is if you try to send him with Rick.”
    “It’s obvious that Judd’s emotional and mental stability has worsened,” Griff said. “He’s dangerous now.”
    “I know,” she replied. “But he’s more dangerous to himself than to anyone else.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “I’m sure.” She had never lied to Griff, and she wasn’t actually lying now. She wanted to believe that Judd did not pose a physical threat to her, despite knowing that he still possessed the power to destroy her emotionally.
    Griff nodded. “Be careful.”
    “I will.”
    Griff then turned to Barbara Jean Hughes, bent down on his haunches, and clasped the woman’s hands.
       
    Meek as a lamb, Judd left the hospital with Lindsay. His submissive attitude worried her far more than if he’d been openly belligerent. She tried to think of something to say to him, but she came up blank. When they walked outside, the cold night air blasted them the minute the hospital doors closed behind them. She paused long enough to button her coat before heading to the parking deck.
    Judd lifted his face to the wind, as if he liked the feel of the bitter cold. “So, what now, my little savior?” he asked, the tone of his voice strangely amicable.
    Looking over the parking lot in front of them, an area reserved for doctors and VIPs, Lindsay succinctly explained her plan. “We’re going to find a decent restaurant and eat supper. Then we’re getting a couple of rooms at a local motel for tonight. Come morning, we’re going back to Tennessee.” She removed her gloves from her coat pocket and slipped them on. “I can either drive you back to the hunting lodge and dump your sorry ass off, and leave you to drown in self-pity …” She paused, expecting a snide remark of some type. When he didn’t respond, she continued, “Or if you can behave yourself, I’ll take you to Griff’s and you can be part of our investigation again, the way you were in the beginning.” “Either or, huh?”
    “Take it or leave it.” Uncertain what Judd would do, she headed toward the two-level parking deck on the west side of the hospital.
    He caught up with her before she reached her Trailblazer parked on the bottom level. “I’d like a big, juicy steak for supper. How about you?”
    Lindsay released a deep breath. She hadn’t known for sure how he would react to her issuing orders and giving him an ultimatum. Relieved by the normalcy in his voice, she replied, “A steak sounds great.”
    When she clicked the unlock button on the remote device attached to her key chain, Judd came around to the driver’s side and opened the door for her. His gentlemanly action surprised her, so much so that she gasped and then glanced over her shoulder.
    “I’m just showing you that I can be a good boy,” Judd said, smiling. But his smoky topaz eyes remained void of any real emotion.
    She nodded. “If I take you home with me to Griff’s place—”
    “I’ll behave myself.”
    “If you don’t …” No, don’t issue him another warning. Just tell him exactly what’s what . “Griff’s your friend, or at least he’s tried to be. But you haven’t made it easy. If you screw up this time, it will be the last time as far as Griff is concerned. You’ve used up all your second chances with him.”
    “What about you? Are you ready to wash your hands of me, too?”
    Lindsay got inside her SUV, slid behind the wheel, and glanced up at Judd, who stood by the open