“Now you’re jumping to conclusions,” Grimm said, walking over to her bed and sitting down on it. He tested the springs out. “Nice and firm like mine.”
“What did you expect?” she asked.
“You never know.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t come in here and check the place out before you let me enter. After all, you are my bodyguard.”
He snapped his fingers. “That’s right. I guess I’m failing at my job. But what are the chances anyone would know we were coming here, or that we’d get these two rooms?”
“Good point.” She sat down beside him. “I just hope that we have better luck at the brewery and with the Lewistown PD tomorrow.”
“If not, we at least got away from Altoona for a few hours, that has to be a plus after what you’ve been through lately,” he said.
She nodded and looked away, yawning. “Sorry. Not sure why I am suddenly feeling tired.”
“We better go to dinner then. Do you need to freshen up?”
“Let me tidy up my hair from the jeep ride over,” she said.
“Sure.” He leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. “I’ll go down and put the top back on.”
She blinked and sat there for a few moments after he left, running her fingertips over her lips. It had been such a chaste kiss, but a kiss nonetheless, and it had caught her completely off guard she didn’t even have time to react. She smiled and took her toiletry bag into the bathroom, brushing her long brown hair until it shined, then touched up her makeup because she thought she was looking a little pale, despite the tinge of pink coloring her cheeks. She grabbed her purse and room key making sure her door closed securely behind her before going to the elevator.
When she stepped off at the lobby level, Grimm was talking to someone at the bell stand. She joined him.
“Any of those restaurants that I mentioned you shouldn’t have trouble getting into. But if you wanted more local flavor then going on out to the Sky Bear Brewery would be a good choice.”
“We had planned on that tomorrow, but you recommend it?” Grimm said.
“Definitely. The food is great and the entertainment is excellent. They have a different lineup weekly.”
“Okay, thanks.” He handed a few pamphlets to Quinn and they headed out the door. “Take your pick.”
“It’s tempting to want to go to the Sky Bear tonight, but I have a feeling it would be crowded. I’d rather go tomorrow, during the day when it wouldn’t be so busy and we can talk with the owner more easily. Plus, getting something to eat and crashing tonight sounds more like what I need to focus on after last night’s trip to the ER.”
“No problem,” he said.
They selected one of the restaurants and drove there, parking in one of the public parking lots before walking down the street to the establishment. The foot traffic was moderately heavy, and they had to walk one in front of the other so those coming in the other direction could pass them. Even doing that in some spots of the sidewalk pathway, it was a tight squeeze, and someone bumped into Quinn and she felt something sharp stick her in the side.
She gasped in agony, clutching her side, and doubled over and fell to the ground. She pulled her hand away and saw it was covered in blood. She’d been stabbed.
Someone screamed.
Grimm was by her side in an instant. “Lie still. I’m calling for an ambulance. Did you see who it was?”
“No. Someone bumped into me. Were we followed from Altoona?”
“We must have been,” he said as he dialed his cell. “Although I didn’t notice us being tailed,” he paused. “Yeah, I need an ambulance fast. My friend has just been stabbed on E Market Street. We were walking toward the Downtown OIP and Grille from the public parking area. Not sure who did it. She’s a reporter from Altoona and she’s been getting death threats so we think someone may have followed us here. You better send the police too.”
Quinn opened her eyes and looked around them. A crowd had formed. She wondered if whoever stabbed her was among those looking down on her. Never had she felt so helpless and weak as she did right then, but she was cold, and her legs were going numb.
“I can’t feel my legs,” she whispered.
“What?” he said.
“My legs. I can’t feel them.”
“Ma’am. She just said she can’t feel her legs. What is the ETA on the ambulance? She’s losing a lot of blood here.”
