Page 5 of Too Old for Love

“I could have, I could have…”

“But you didn’t,” he said calmly brushing back her dark hair. She looked up at him and nodded with a soft smile.

“Thank you. Thank you, so much,” she said hugging him. He laughed, patting her back.

“My pleasure. Let’s rest here a minute and then we’ll walk down.”

He sat with her on the cold marble floor for almost twenty minutes, then stood, taking her hand.

“We’re taking the stairs,” he smiled. “Use me as support.”

She couldn’t do anything except nod at him. In one hand she held her heels, in the other, his fingers held so tightly she thought she might break them. When the door to the bottom floor opened, she’d never been so happy to see John in all her life.

“Miss Everest! Are you okay?” he asked.

“I am, John. Thanks to all these wonderful men.”

“Have a seat for a minute,” said the fireman. “The EMT’s are just going to make sure you’re okay.” He walked toward his team and frowned, giving a nod to them.

“The cable was tampered with. It wasn’t frayed, someone cut that shit. It was hanging by a thread. They would have had to have known she was the last one here or they didn’t give a damn who they killed,” said one of his men.

“Okay,” he nodded. “Investigators and NOPD on their way?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’m sorry,” said Everest walking toward them. “Is it okay if I call a taxi or an Uber?”

“No,” he smiled. “I’ll take you back to your house.”

“In that?” she frowned pointing to the fire truck.

“Smoothest ride in town,” he laughed. “Come on.”

Once she was settled in, he made sure she had a headset in order to be able to hear him. Their normal comms were on radio frequency five but he switched hers to two so she could only hear him.

She gave the driver the address and leaned back in the seat, closing her eyes. Then it started. She began to shake violently and he moved closer to her.

“Hey. It’s okay. Look at me. Look up at me, Everest. It’s all okay. You’ve had quite a shock. This is normal.”

“I-I heard the man. The cable was cut,” she said sniffling.

“We’ll worry about that later. For now, just relax and lay your head on my shoulder.”

It was the last thing she remembered before they woke her in front of her home.

“I can’t believe I fell asleep,” she said wiping her face.

“Adrenalin. It does it every time. Are you going to be okay?” She nodded, smiling at him. “Take a few days off. You’ll need it.”

“Thank you. All of you,” she said nodding. “I mean it.”

She opened the door to her small home, the timers for her lights already illuminating the living room. They watched until they heard the locks engage, then looked at their captain.

“Shut the fuck up,” he mumbled.

“She’s beautiful, Cap,” smirked one of the men. “And if we’re right. She’s in danger.”

CHAPTER THREE