Hidden in Shadows by Hope White Page A

to the Garcia gang. Luke’s only lead.
    Yet something other than nailing Garcia made him rush out of the chief’s car and into the tea shop.
    Luke was worried, truly, genuinely worried.
    About Krista.
    â€œNot good,” he whispered as he parked in the clinic’s lot.
    He had to shelve the compassionate feelings he was developing for Krista. It was ludicrous to even go there, to consider the thought of Luke and Krista being friends, much less anything more. She needed a nice, Christian man devoted to God and family.
    Luke had given up on God a long time ago. About the time God took his mother and left Luke floundering in a foster care system that had no place for a teenager.
    He’d seen enough violence and death in Iraq to further destroy any belief in a loving God.
    He shook his head, snapping out of his analysis of his life and how Christ had failed him. Being around Krista brought it all to the surface. She glowed with the love she felt for God, her devotion to doing good deeds and caring for others.
    That kind of energy was foreign to Luke and made him uneasy. That very uneasiness would be his constant reminder not to let this case get too personal, not to let Krista Yates get too close. Or was it that he didn’t want her seeing all of his imperfections, especially the biggest one of all: that he couldn’t protect the people he loved most?
    He’d stay physically close but emotionally distant. Easy for a guy like him, at least he thought so until he saw them wheeling her into the hospital.
    Something knotted in his gut and he stormed ahead.
    Â 
    â€œYou can’t come in here, sir,” Nurse Ruth Rankin said on the other side of the curtain. Ruth and her sister often visitedthe tea shop and it was nice to see a friendly face at the clinic. But Ruth didn’t sound friendly, alarming Krista.
    â€œI have to see her.”
    Luke’s voice. Krista smiled, oddly relieved to hear the deep timbre through the curtain.
    â€œAre you her boyfriend?” Nurse Rankin said.
    â€œNo, absolutely not,” he said, panic edging his voice. “She’s a friend. I need to make sure she’s okay.”
    â€œWhy don’t you wait outside? The doctor will know more after the CT scan.”
    â€œWait,” Krista said. “Ruth?”
    Ruth pushed aside the curtain. Luke eyed Krista, concern etching his forehead.
    â€œCan he stay with me?” Krista said.
    Ruth sighed. “Okay, but just until we take you up for the scan. I’ll be right back.”
    Ruth disappeared and Luke stood there, waiting. For what, permission to step closer?
    Krista wanted to reach for his hand, but felt it was inappropriate. Still, she wished she had someone’s hand to hold on to. Mom. Gran. Someone.
    A wave of loneliness washed over her. She touched the silver charm at her neck and found solace.
    â€œHow are you feeling?” Luke stepped closer, within inches of her bed.
    She sensed his uneasiness. Why, because he didn’t like hospitals? Or was it something else?
    â€œMy head hurts, but otherwise I’m okay,” she said.
    â€œCan you tell me exactly what happened at the tea shop?” He pulled out a small notebook.
    Back to business.
    â€œA guy grabbed me, demanded my purse, then threw me to the ground. I hit my head on the counter as I fell.”
    He scribbled something, then pinned her with intense blue eyes. “Why did you leave the party? What were you thinking?”
    She was put off by his anger and critical tone.
    â€œThe alarm tripped and I figured the girls were having trouble setting it, so Natalie and I went to reset it. What did you expect me to do?”
    â€œBe smarter than that.”
    â€œExcuse me?” She’d never seen this rude side of him.
    He stepped closer. “You need to accept that this situation is dangerous, Krista. You have to…” His voice trailed off. He snapped his notebook shut. “Never mind.”
    He