Off the Grid (2 page)

“I’m trusting you.” Marnie choked over the words. She lowered the gun until Sophie worried she’d shoot herself in the foot. “But I’m not taking any chances. Not with her safety. Or yours.”

There was only one way to deal with Marnie——head on. Again the wind picked up around them, Sophie leaned in to try and block Kellie from the worst of it while staring down Marnie. “You can’t bring the gun into the clinic. I mean it, get rid of it.”

She waited. Marnie glared. Kellie groaned.

“Stop being stupid and get rid of the gun. I don’t move until you do.” Now Sophie meant every word. And Marnie knew it. They had the same granite sense of stubbornness in common. Marnie’s lip curled but she gave a slight jerk of her head.

“Dispose of it while I get her settled in the clinic.” It would give her an opportunity to call for assistance away from Marnie’s interference.

“No. You wait here.” Marnie stuck her hand out, her expression adamant.

“Then hurry up.” A shudder went through Kellie and Sophie rubbed her arm. “I’ve got you. You’re safe now.”

Despite her assurances to the contrary, she worked on getting the door open and Kellie through it while keeping Marnie in her sights. The snow pelted down on them. By now road conditions had to suck eggs. The temperature plummeted. Their list of complications grew.

Sophie hoped it didn’t come down to praying for a miracle. Marnie inched her way along the outside wall of the clinic. Sophie propped open the door. Marnie stuffed the gun down into the space between the wall and the dirty, ravaged dumpster. Sophie gritted her teeth and tried to get Kellie moving and inside.

“Come on, I’ve got you. You’re safe now,” she whispered. They were halfway in when another contraction rippled through Kellie’s slim body. Sophie whispered more words of encouragement. She caught Marnie’s approach out of the corner of her eye. Opportunity lost, she rubbed a hand over Kellie’s back.

The echoes of Kellie’s efforts ricocheted off the walls of the empty back entryway. Sophie didn’t suffer from lack of confidence as a physician, but success required the proper surroundings. If the storm worsened and they lost power she’d have a disaster on her hands. Her priority was Kellie and getting her to a hospital, whether Marnie agreed or not.

****

Caleb Quinn was smart. His new letterhead, business cards, and prime parking spot proof of how hard he worked. He was ranked one of Canada’s top lawyers under forty. He’d made partner at the unheard of age of thirty-two. He was charming. Ask anyone. Women enjoyed his company. He was discreet. Generous. In bed and out of it.

He was attracted to Dr. Sophie Monroe, wanted to get to know her better. So what? Sexual attraction wasn’t a crime. It was the second decade of the twenty-first century, people hooked up. He picked up a scarf, tossed it back, tuned out the most annoying Christmas song ever recorded. An over-crowded department store at closing on Christmas Eve? How much lower could he sink? Like the gift of a scarf was going to improve her opinion of him. He’d probably have more luck if he showed up with a package of tongue depressors.

Yep, he had brilliant future written all over him. Disgusted, he grabbed up the blue cashmere scarf set and headed for the endless checkout line. The cashier spotted him and beamed in his direction. He offered a polite smile and she gave him a little finger wave. Caleb reciprocated, anything to get her moving faster. People turned to stare. He ignored them and thought of the night ahead. Of Sophie.

Dinner and dancing in the decadent Four Seasons Park Ballroom. His law firm was pulling out all the stops. Safe Night’s Refuge needed tonight’s proceeds. He wanted to see six figures on the cheque they handed them. He met with broken families in his office every day. It was refreshing to help families struggling to stay together.

His pretty, black-haired pixie with her intelligent green eyes and quick wit would have Carson Cooper’s clients throwing cash at her. Honest, engaging, and passionate, she captivated. Her smile was a hint too wide and just this side of mocking. She was an irresistible combination of temptress and warrior. Too bad her cute little nose turned up at the sight of him.

The line inched forward. A harried customer shoved past, bags in hand, on his way to the doors and freedom. Caleb checked in with the blond cashier. He sighed. Glanced at his watch. Rotated his shoulders. She scanned items, instructed customers to insert their card, bagged their items with agonizing slowness. No wonder, her fingernails were purple talons.

Not Sophie’s. Hers were short and unpainted. He supposed doctors didn’t do manicures. Not that she looked like any doctor he’d ever met, in her faded jeans and leather jacket. The thought of her in a dress and high heels had him reaching up to loosen his tie.

He’d set out to charm her, instead she’d challenged his ideologies. Had accused him of being in denial. Worse, biased in favor of the privileged. It had stung, and wound him up enough to challenge her to a date. She would accompany him to the Silent Night, Safe Night Gala. One night to prove their agendas weren’t at odds. A chance to show he wasn’t the ass she assumed he was. She’d agreed. Because she wanted to prove him wrong.

Then Tiffany had walked in and given the impression they were involved. Not true. Never would be. But office politics were his problem, not Sophie’s. The atmosphere in the room had gotten a lot less friendly, but it had been too late for Sophie to back out.

So, he may or may not have a date for tonight, which meant things could get a little awkward when he arrived to pick her up.

The customer in front of him glanced over her shoulder, a questioning look on her exhausted face. Caleb realized he was talking out loud. Further proof Sophie was already making him the kind of crazy he tried to avoid.

“Sorry.” He offered a shrug and a smile. “Just going through last-minute lists in my head.”

With a no-comment kind of eye roll, she turned to face the front of the line and the cashier who was taking a timeout to check her phone. He glanced at his watch again. They weren’t due at the fundraiser for an hour and a half. Plenty of time. His pocket vibrated. He pulled out his cell phone.

Sophie calling.

He put his phone to his ear. “Sophie?”

“I’m sorry. An emergency at the clinic has come up. I have to cancel tonight.”

“Cancel? You can’t cancel.” She had to be kidding. Didn’t she? “500 people are expecting us for dinner.”

“It can’t be helped. Please give everyone my apologies. I have no choice. I have to deal with this. There’s no one else.” She sounded distracted, and although he didn’t know her well, worried. She rushed through the words so fast Caleb scrambled to keep up. Someone yelled in the background. “Look, I have to go. I’m going to text you the number of Amanda Brine. She runs Safe Night. She’s filling in for me.”

“Wait a minute. You can’t blow this off. People are counting on you.” He was counting on her.

“Caleb. If there was any other way to handle this situation, I’d take it. Believe me…emergency…help.” A muffled clanking noise masked most of her words.

He strained to listen. Gave up. “I can’t hear you.”

More noise in the background. “…to go.”

Dial tone.

“Unbelievable. Shit.” This time the woman in front of him turned to glare. He held up his phone, tried for sheepish and sorry. He was neither. “Sorry. Bad connection.”

What the hell? This evening meant everything to Sophie and Safe Night’s Refuge. The size of the donations depended on her wooing some very important, insanely wealthy people. After dinner the evening was spent garnering further support and hitting up the who’s who of Vancouver for donations. She wouldn’t shrug off the loss of funds. Something was wrong. He didn’t know how he knew it but he did. He hit redial and listened to her phone ring and ring and ring. His decision was no decision at all. There was enough time left to check things out. He rushed toward the big glass doors. The pull on his arm stopped him in his tracks.

“You plan on paying for that, pal?” The skinny pimped out security guard regarded him with zeal in his eye, one hand flexing over his portable radio.

“Excuse me?”

The guard shot a pointed look at his hands.

“This? Changed my mind. Not her style.” He shoved the scarf still clutched in his hand at the scowling mall cop and hustled through the huge doors and into the worst snowstorm Vancouver had suffered through in decades.

Back at his office he spared a few minutes for damage control. He filled the other partners in before contacting the Executive Director of Safe Nights. By the time he pulled his Range Rover out of his private parking spot the streets were next to impassable.

The half hour drive to Sophie’s downtown clinic took him two hours. He slid his way into the all but deserted parking lot next to a vehicle buried in snow. To celebrate his safe arrival he lowered his throbbing head to the steering wheel and closed his eyes. His hands still welded to the wheel. There was no way either of them were getting back to the Four Seasons in time for anything.

Outside the Rover the waves of shifting snow appeared undisturbed. His shoe clad feet disappeared in a freezing bank of snow. Wonderful. He tugged the collar of his overcoat closer. Chances were the good doctor was going to be pissed to see him here. But he’d learned the hard way to trust his instincts.

The front door was secured but he hit pay dirt at the backdoor. It was unlocked, which worried him. The odor of disinfectant assaulted his nose. He paused. Lights on up ahead suggested activity. A hoarse cry stopped him in his tracks then sent him rushing forward.

“Sophie.” He reached a bank of closed doors. Another cry pierced the air. “Sophie. Are you all right? It’s Caleb.”

The second door from the end flung open. A woman charged out. Sophie pushed past her into the hallway.

“Caleb.” Confusion replaced disbelief. Her amazing green eyes narrowed. “What are you doing here?”

A low groan filled the room behind her and Sophie disappeared again. Caleb’s view was blocked by the mystery woman. Her dark hair hung in strings around her weathered face. She pushed the strands back behind her ears. Wrinkles fanned out from narrowed, staring eyes. The stench of body order and stale cigarettes filled the air. She barely reached his shoulder yet she had the upper hand. They both knew it.

Then Sophie was at the door again. “Marnie, it’s okay, he’s with me.”

“You told someone we were here?” demanded the older woman.

Sophie scrubbed a hand over her face. “No. Of course not.”

“Then what’s he doing here?” Marnie stabbed a finger in his direction.

Sophie’s tone was guarded. “I’m supposed to be at a fundraiser. Caleb is sort of my date.”

Marnie curled her lip and subjected him to a full body scan. “You have a date? With him?”

Caleb inhaled, slow and silent. He let her sarcasm slide. In his line of work keeping your head was part of the job description. “I came to check on Sophie.”

The exhaustion cleared from Sophie’s eyes. “Excuse me?”

Caleb backtracked. “Okay, not the best choice of words, but—”

“Is this guy for real?” demanded Marnie.

Sophie rolled her eyes. “Unfortunately, yes.”

“I don’t like him. Get rid of him.” The older woman crossed her arms and gave her best impression of a brick wall.

“Charming.” To Sophie, he asked, “Can I have a moment?”

“Marnie, relax.” Sophie stepped around her. Marnie flinched but didn’t budge. “I need you back in the room with Kellie while I speak to Caleb.”

It worked for him. He wasn’t going anywhere until Sophie explained what was going on. He waited until her eyes were back on him. “Are you okay?”

“Why don’t you go to hell?” Marnie pushed forward. Sophie put an arm out to block her path. Caleb tensed, ready to defend Sophie. Or himself.

“Sophie, I need an answer. Now.” He inched forward.

“I’m fine.” She put out a hand to ward him off. “Just kind of in the middle of something right now.”

He moved closer until the tips of her fingers pressed against his chest. “You’re sure everything’s all right? It doesn’t look all right to me.”

“Why don’t you back the fuck up, buddy?” Marnie fought to push past Sophie’s arm.

Caleb met her glare for glare. “Someone better tell me what the hell is going on before I call the cops.”

“That’s enough. Both of you.” Her voice lowered. “Keep it down.”

“Then start explaining.” He was past caring it was a demand he had no right to make.

Sophie turned to Marnie. “Marnie stay with Kellie. I’m going to talk with Caleb.”

“No cops.” Her demand hung in the air. She shoved her hands under her armpits and rocked on the balls of her feet.

“No cops.” Sophie took a step back, her tongue did a quick swipe over her lower lip. “But you have to know I’ve called for an ambulance and—”

“What?” Marnie’s scarred face twisted. “I trusted you.”

Sophie’s chin went up. “You brought her to me. She’s my patient. It’s my call.”

“You had no right—”

“I had every right.” Sophie shoved a hand through her short, dark hair. “Anyway, it’s irrelevant. According to the dispatcher, it’ll be hours before they can get here. There’s a storm outside, remember?”

Caleb didn’t want to add to the bad news but he had no choice. “It’s a mess across the city. Accidents everywhere. Marine Drive is closed. So is the Trans-Canada Highway at Memorial Bridge. Huge accident. Lots of smaller ones. The authorities are asking people to stay home.”

“So, right now I need you to go sit with Kellie while I talk to Caleb.”

As soon as the door shut behind Marnie, Sophie leaned back against it and brushed a hand across her forehead. “You practice family law, right?”

“Right.” Not sure where she was going with it, Caleb nodded at the unexpected question. “Why?”

“I have a patient in labor. I’ve only managed to get a bit of her story. But…it seems she’s on the run and terrified of the father finding her. Marnie is frantic I don’t call anybody. I don’t know what’s going on, other than its messy. And I’ll be honest. I’m worried. We’re trapped here.” She shook her head, her beautiful eyes showing signs of fatigue. His fingers clench into fists.