Free Saving Katya by Sandra Edwards Page A

could, then the paramedics hopped out and proceeded with what Alexei thought looked like an intricately choreographed dance. They pulled a stretcher out of the back and raced toward Kate, who was still lying on the bench. As they loaded her onto the stretcher and prepared to haul her away, fear reached down and settled in Alexei’s gut. Last night, he’d thought seeing Katya happily married was the worse thing that could happen. Today, he found out that wasn’t so.
    “We have room for one person in the ambulance.” The elder paramedic advised, searching their faces, naturally gravitating to Alexei’s—the man on the scene.
    “I should go with her.” Debra stepped in front of Alexei.
    “Miss Debra, please take me with you…” Katya sobbed.
    “There isn’t room for everyone, sweetie.” Debra’s voice saddened right along with her guilted and remorseful expression.
    Alexei stepped forward. “I’ll bring Katya and Angeline to the hospital in my car.”
    Debra’s blue eyes, full of uncertainty, darted in his direction. “Okay.” She gave him a deadpan nod. “Let me clear that with Kate.” She climbed inside the ambulance and instantly they began whispering with heated gestures.
    What’s the big deal ? Alexei slid his hands inside the pockets of his pullover sweater. He stepped back a couple of paces, assessing the scene inside the ambulance.
    The sight of Kate arguing with Debra suggested she had something to hide. The only thing lacking in this scenario was her husband, Katya’s father. But hiding him made no sense. Why would she do that?
    Alexei strode a few steps away, just out of earshot for those around him. He hit the speed dial on his cell phone and waited for Serge to answer.
    “Speak to me,” Serge said in a friendly tone.
    “Find out where Keith Carlson is,” Alexei said, wasting no time with idle chit-chat.
    K ate wanted out of the ambulance. The paramedics had other ideas. Debra was supporting them and that didn’t help. But Katya—she had to protect Katya. Even if it cost Kate her eyesight.
    “You’ve got to relax.” Debra laid an authoritative hand on Kate’s shoulder, insisting she stay on the stretcher. “We need to make sure your retinas weren’t damaged.” The fear in Debra’s voice hit a brick wall.
    “To hell with my damned retinas.” Kate tried to sit up, but her will was not as strong as Debra’s grip. “Where’s Katya?”
    “She’s with Alexei and Angeline,” Debra said in an ultra-calm tone. “He’s bringing them to the hospital.”
    “Oh, hell no.” Kate was half-way off the stretcher when the needle prick stung her arm. She looked down, seeing the medic and the syringe pulling away. “What the hell’d you do that for?”
    “Ms. Peterson, you’re too agitated considering the state of your illness.” The attendant had a powerful, resilient look about him…or maybe it was just the drugs clouding Kate’s ability to think. Either way, she knew she was done for. Damn Debra for spilling the beans.
    “You told them…?” she muttered.
    “Kate, it would’ve been irresponsible not to,” Debra said.
    “But Katya is alone with him.”
    “She’s not alone,” Debra said. “Angeline is with them.”
    “She doesn’t know. She might say something without meaning to.” There was a desperation in Kate’s voice, and Debra suspected it was pushing out the coherent, albeit slurred, words through the drug-induced haze that was quickly taking over Kate brain. “Katya is too smart.”
    Kate had a point. One slip of the tongue from Alexei, or an inquisitive observation from Angeline...and Katya would put two and two together.
    “All right then,” Debra said. “Would you feel better if I go with them?” Debra was willing to try anything at this point. She didn’t know why, but she wanted Kate going under peacefully, not worried about Katya.
    “Yes. Yes.” Hope seeped out in Kate’s fading voice. “You go with them.” She fisted her hand around