Her dead weight landing on him forced his side into the shift handle. Nick cried out in pain and wondered if he had broken a rib.

Through the smashed window on the passenger side, the officer peered into the one-foot space.

“Can we get her out?” Nick asked.

“It’s not big enough.”

“Not for me,” he said, gagging on the gas fumes that filled the air. “But she might fit.” Grimacing at the pain coming from his shoulder and ribs, he shifted her closer to the window while using the sleeve of his new overcoat to wipe the blood off her ghostly pale face. “Babe,” he whispered, kissing her cold lips. “Wake up.”

“Is she breathing?”

Nick put his face down close to hers and went weak with relief when he felt a whisper of air hit his cheek. “Yeah.” In the distance, he could hear sirens. “I want to get her out of here.”

“The opening is too small. Hang tight, Senator. Rescue is almost here.”

His own head throbbing, he rested it on Sam’s chest, comforted by her faint but audible heartbeat. “What’s your name?”

“Montgomery. Officer Montgomery.”

“Did they get the guys that shot at us?”

“I haven’t heard yet, but I can check.”

“Yeah.” Nick’s chest ached from the effort it took to breathe. “Do that.” His eyes burned closed, but he fought the blackness, knowing if he had a concussion he should stay awake. “Samantha. Wake up, honey. Please wake up.” He wiped more blood from her forehead. “Montgomery, do you have something I could use on her wound?”

The patrolman handed him a clean handkerchief.

“Thanks.” He pressed the cloth to Sam’s forehead while talking softly to her. The gas smell seemed to be getting stronger, and Nick was convinced the car was going to explode any second. “You should back up. Get away from the car. Just in case.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Montgomery said.

“Lieutenant!”

“Who’s that?” Nick asked.

“Detective Gonzales. Are you all right, Senator?”

“I am, but Sam’s not.”

“Fire’s here,” Gonzo said. “They’ll get you out.”

“Someone shot at us,” Nick said. “That’s how this happened.”

“We got’em. They crashed on the bridge.”

“Good,” he said, relieved. “That’s good. Why were they shooting at us?”

“We think it might’ve been a gang initiation thing. Extra credit for shooting the famous lady cop. Triple extra credit for getting the senator, too. They’re still sorting it out.”

“Fabulous,” Nick muttered.

The fire department sprayed flame retardant foam on the car. Nick closed his eyes and mouth and covered Sam’s face with the handkerchief. In deference to the frigid cold, the EMTs passed a blanket in to Nick. He spread it out over Sam and snuggled up to her to share his body heat.