Page 38 of Savage Peril

Lori rubbed her temples. “It worked. I am scared… I could have died.”

Gunner gave her a moment to process things. It had been damned fortunate that he’d been on the scene. He cringed at the thought of Lori alone.

“Should we call the police?”

“That won’t do any good,” Gunner said. “I didn’t get the plate on the vehicle. It was all I could do to save you.”

Lori stared at her drink. “What should I do? What if it happens again?”

“I’ll be here,” Gunner said. “I won’t let anyone harm you.”

That seemed to reassure Lori, but she was shaken up. When she drained her glass, Gunner order a refill for her. He didn’t like what was happening. While Lori waited for the autopsy to proceed, the enemy was getting antsy. He needed to find out who wanted Lori out of the way.

“Do you have any idea who is after me?” Lori said.

“Clearly, you pose a threat to someone.”

“Do you think that was a warning?” Lori said. “Maybe endangering my life was a message to back off, to call off the exhumation.”

“That could be,” Gunner said.

“But we don’t know that for sure. It could be something else,” Lori said. “But what?”

Gunner didn’t want to frighten her more, but she had to know what she was up against. “The mob is way too interested in you.”

“But I only treated the boss that one time,” Lori said. “I refused the connection.”

Gunner let her work it out.

“You think I got on the wrong side of the mob?” Lori said. “That they won’t let me walk away?”

Gunner filled her in on what he had learned about the drug business. “And every single oxycodone pill that left the premises of the pharmacy that was involved was the highest available dosage. Drug dealers wearing lab coats conspired with street dealers to flood the community.”

Lori’s eyes widened. “And you think the mob expects me to write prescriptions so they can profit.”

“I’m sure they’d give you a cut.”

“That’s a bad joke,” Lori said. “I wouldn’t do such a thing anyway.”

“Then you’re a problem to them,” Gunner said. “You own the largest pain clinic in the city.”

Lori’s expression showed that she realized what she had gotten involved with. “It’s terrifying. I lost my father and I’m just trying to do the right thing. I don’t need the mob breathing down my neck.”

“I know, honey,” Gunner said, and squeezed her hand. “Let’s get out of here…what do you say?”

There was no way that Gunner was going to leave Lori alone. Eating out had lost its allure, since Lori didn’t have much of an appetite. The best option was Gunner’s place. It was smarter to go somewhere other than Lori’s house, the place where she would be expected to show up.

Gunner took Lori’s hand. “I have a house not far from downtown. How about if I make dinner for you?”

“That’s the best idea I’ve heard all day.”

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