“Annie.” Eric’s whisper had her leaning over him. “Leave him alone, blondie. It was an accident.”
“He ran you over—”
“He caught me with his bumper.” His hand closed over hers. “I saw him just before we collided. He was trying to turn the wheel to avoid me.”
“Damn it.” She closed her eyes briefly, took in a breath. “You’re going to let him go.”
“I won’t press charges.”
The cop cleared his throat. “We will see to his punishment, miss. And his wife will be informed, her car impounded until we find a better solution. I promise you, Lester will not sit behind the wheel again.”
He stood, gentle as he pulled Lester up, leading him to the car. Sirens announced the ambulance, and Eric was moved to a gurney, strapped in and transported to the ambulance so fast Annie had to run after the paramedic as he opened the driver’s door.
“I want to go with him.”
“Sorry, miss. No civilians in the ambulance. He’ll be taken to Briarton Clinic.”
Before she could argue he slammed the door and the ambulance took off. Annie sank to the curb.
“We’ll take you.” Penn crouched next to her, touched her arm. “He will be well tended, Annie. Briarton is one of the best private clinics in the area. Chelle, can you lock up? I’ll bring the car around.” She rubbed Annie’s arm, and the warmth of healing energy spread through her. “He’ll be fine. Just hold on to that, and wait here.”
Annie covered her face, shaking as her adrenaline faded. Penn’s gift helped her keep steady. She got her feet under her, slowly stood. She wanted to be ready when Penn showed up with the car.
If Eric had less than a full recovery, she would go after—
God help me, he’s just a harmless old man. She let out her breath, pulled her phone out of her jacket pocket. It took three tries before her shaking fingers let her punch in the number.
“Please be there, please be there . . .”
“Annie?” Claire’s sleepy voice had her choking back a sob. “Are you all right?”
“Eric,” she whispered. Clearing the tears out of her throat, she tried again. “Eric’s been in an accident.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” She heard rustling. “How is he?”
“I don’t know—the ambulance just took him to the local clinic. God, Claire—the thought of losing him nearly broke me.”
“Annie.” She recognized that tone. It was the “I know you can get through this” voice she used every time Annie wanted to give up on her spell craft. “Go to the clinic, be with him. If it was serious, he would be headed to a city hospital right now, and not the local version. Zach and I will be there tomorrow morning, your time. Just hang in there, and call me when you need to.”
Annie clutched the phone. “Thanks. I wish you were here.”
“Are you alone?”
“No.” She moved to the street when a zippy little two seater pulled up next to her. “I met a couple of witches. Get this,” she felt better already, hearing Claire’s voice, feeling her calming presence. “They run a New Age store, here in Briarton, they’re Americans, and they could be us.”
“I look forward to meeting them.”
“I have to go. Penn just got here with her car. She’s the me of the team.” Claire’s laughter eased the weight on her heart. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then. You sure you don’t want me to meet you at the airport?”
“Positive. Especially with Eric hurt. You stay put—we’ll find you.”
“Call as soon as you get here.”
“The moment I can. He will be all right, Annie.”
“Yeah, I know.” She blinked, tears stinging her eyes. “I love you, Claire—you know that?”
“Always have. I love you, Annie. Now go take care of your handsome hunk.”
Annie smiled, just like Claire probably intended. “See you tomorrow.”
She ended the call, feeling better, and moved around the hood to climb in the passenger seat.
“Everything okay?” Penn studied her, brown eyes dark with sympathy.
“Yeah. I’ll be better once I know how Eric is.”
“Then let’s get you to him.” She revved the engine and took off, squealing from zero to fifty in the time it took Annie to blink.
“Oh, hell.” Annie held on. “I was right—you are me.”
NINE
“Is Annie okay?” Zach stood in the doorway, his hair flat on one side, rubbing his face.
“She’s fine. Come here, sweetheart.” Claire held out her hand, twined her fingers with Zach’s, and gently told him about Eric.