“Character is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live as well as think.”
RALPH WALDO EMERSON
“And I haven’t a clue how deep the corruption goes, but to get away with murdering a federal judge, I’d say whoever’s calling the shots with Hartlock and Devane has to be pretty high on the food chain.” She finished telling him the whole story and laid her head back against the pillows.
Rafe could only stare at her, a bit in awe. This woman had single-handedly evaded not only a very cunning ASAC, but also a bureau-wide search. Her story was incredible, which made it hard to believe, but because it was so, that’s why he did.
“She’s not making this up,” Hayden interjected.
“I know.”
The hospital had calmed down after the excitement. Barely any sounds infiltrated the double-guarded room. Only the nurses’ hourly checks interrupted the wee hours. Rafe didn’t like hospitals. They reminded him of when his parents died, when Georgia died, and every time little Savannah had another heart surgery.
“We figured out which case links Daniel to Hartlock and Devane. We just didn’t have the resources to follow up and see who else was involved.” Considering what she’d been through tonight, Remington’s voice came out surprisingly steady.
“I can.” He’d have to be discreet. Maybe he could get Darren to help. Scratch that—Savannah’s surgery was scheduled for Friday. Rafe would have to go it alone.
“If we could just find the witnesses that came forward to Daniel, confessing Hartlock and Devane had made them lie . . .”
Hayden stood. “I’m going to interview the nurses and check on my officer.” He kissed Remington’s forehead. “I’ll get that file for you and be back in a bit.” He met Rafe’s stare. “Don’t leave her alone. Wait until I come back.”
Rafe nodded.
“I’m sorry for being such a snot earlier tonight. I just didn’t know if I could trust you or not.” She smiled.
“And you know now?”
“Not really, but I don’t have much of a choice, now do I?”
At least she was honest. He chuckled, then sobered. “You’ve put me in quite a sticky situation.” If he played this wrong, any chance he ever had of promotion would be gone. Possibly, even his job as an agent could be in jeopardy.
“I know, and I’m sorry.”
“You realize you can’t stay hidden now, right? You can’t pretend to be Bella Miller any longer. You have to come back to Little Rock and tell the truth.”
“Who do you think will believe me, Rafe? If we can’t find those witnesses, it’s my word against Hartlock’s and Devane’s. I fled a murder scene. And if Jackson’s in on this, he’ll make sure no one believes a word I say. I have no proof.” She hit her hospital bed with her fist. “Don’t you think if I had proof I would’ve given it up to see my godfather’s murderer punished? I hated walking away and letting Hartlock and Devane and whoever their boss is get away with Daniel’s murder.”
“I don’t think Jackson’s in on it. He sent me an e-mail today that Hartlock would be here tomorrow. If he was involved, I don’t think he’d have sent me the message.”
“Unless he was setting the groundwork to cover for his agents. So it would be documented that Hartlock didn’t arrive until Monday, so my murder would be unrelated.”
That was a reach, but considering everything that’d happened, it was possible. “We have to do something.” But what, he didn’t know. He could protect her, of that he was certain. He’d keep her safe.
“We?” She shook her head. “It’s still my word against theirs.” She held up her hand. “Even if you speak up for me, you weren’t there. They were. They were the agents handling the case.”
But Hartlock had made a mistake tonight. “It’s not just your word anymore. Hartlock spoke to the officer on duty here. That officer can recognize him.”
“That officer might not live. I heard the nurses talking while the doctor was working on him. They think he’s been given something. Even if he lives, he’ll probably be in a coma. Not able to confirm anything.”
“We won’t know that until Simpson gets back.” But what if she was right? “Security cameras.”
“What about them?”
“Hospitals have them. We can probably find Hartlock on one. That would back up your story.”
She slumped back against the pillows. “Or he could say he’d found me and was coming to arrest me.”
He let out a sigh.
“Look, I’ve had three years to run every possible scenario—they can twist and turn almost anything to their advantage. Without any proof at all, I’m the one who ran. I won’t be believed, and you know it.”
She was right, of course, which made him all the more irritated. “The bullets recovered from your house. They can be matched to Hartlock’s gun.”
She laughed. “Do you really think he’d be stupid enough to use his service firearm? He had to use a throwaway.”
He hated this.
“As long as Jackson’s still the SAC, I can’t risk coming in.” She took a sip of water from the cup on the tray beside the bed.
Nick. “How about coming in to a different SAC? Mine in Memphis? I can assure you, Nick Hagar is as clean as they come.”
“Will he believe me?” Her eyes were wide.
“If you’re with me, yes. He trusts my judgment and instincts.”
Her gaze flitted over his face, as if she was searching, debating. “Okay.”
He didn’t know if the emotion rolling through his gut was relief or not, but his heart skidded as he realized she’d at last put her trust in him. “Once I get the file you and Simpson dug up, I can get a couple of agents from Memphis to start looking into things.”
Her brow furrowed.
“Don’t worry. These are guys I trust with my life.”
“It’s just going to take me a while to really trust agents. No slight against you or anything.”
“I understand.” He’d be leery too.
“Nurse Cheryl!” She sat upright.
“Who? What?”
“Hartlock knocked her down when he ran from my room. Maybe she can identify him. We need to let Hayden know so he’ll be sure to question her.”
“I will. You just sit tight.”
“Rafe! Don’t leave me.” Panic hung in her expression as well as her voice. The way she said his name . . . like a breath. Well, it did some mighty odd things to his insides.
“I’m not. Just sticking my head out the door to talk with the officers there. Okay?”
She nodded. He told the officer to tell Simpson about a nurse named Cheryl, then returned to Remington’s bedside. “Any idea when they’ll release you?”
“Doctor said he’d see me in the morning. Guess I’ll know more then.” She shifted on the bed. “It doesn’t really hurt.”
“It will. Tomorrow, it’ll be sore as all get-out.”
“You’ve been shot?”
“Twice.” And neither time had been a walk in the park. “Want to compare scars?” He grinned, hoping the teasing would break some of the tension.
“I think you’d win.” She yawned. “Sorry.”
“Am I boring you?” He laughed.
“I’m just so tired.”
That was his cue. He stood. “You need to get some rest.”
She bolted upright in the bed and grabbed his arm. “You can’t leave me alone.” The terror in her voice came through loud and clear.
He held her hand. “I wasn’t. I was just going to sit outside the door.” He squeezed her knuckles. “I won’t let anyone hurt you. Never again.”
She flashed him a weak smile. “Just stay in here. Do you mind?”
He pulled the chair closer to the bed and sat. “Not at all. I’ll be right here. You get some shut-eye.”
“Thanks.” Already sleep thickened her voice. She snuggled down in the hospital bed.
Rafe stood and pulled the blanket up around her shoulders. She murmured softly. Strange sensations shivered in his gut. He stared down at her, taking in her delicate features.
With her eyes closed, her lashes looked longer and darker. He could make out little freckles across the bridge of her nose, just like Riley had. “A dusting of fairy kisses,” his mother used to say.
With a sigh, he sat and studied Remington. In sleep, she looked as angelic as Savannah.
Lord, please help me keep her safe. Lead me to do what’s best for her. Please.
No longer able to resist, Rafe leaned over and planted a feathery kiss on her temple. The scent of her shampoo filled his senses. He breathed her in, letting the heat wash over him. He returned to his watch in the chair beside her.
If Hartlock, Devane, Jackson, or anyone else wanted to harm her, they’d have to come through him first.
His officer might not make it. His best friend had endured three attempts on her life. His sister was under mental evaluation. And the father he’d adored all his life wasn’t really his father. Hayden decided it just wasn’t his week.
He headed back down the hospital wing, two folders tucked tightly under his arm. One contained the information on the Cason Moore case that linked Daniel Tate to Hartlock and Devane. The other contained photographs of Hartlock and Devane for him to show Nurse Cheryl, who’d been more than willing to pick the man who’d flattened her out of a picture lineup.
The two officers he left guarding Bella’s room still sat at the ready in the hall. They’d better—after what happened to the last officer, everyone was on full alert and in pairs.
Bob Travis rounded the nurses’ station. “I have two officers sitting in a conference room with nurse Cheryl Lee and the hospital attorney and chief of staff. If you’d like, I can do the photo lineup.”
Hayden handed him the file. “Thanks, Bob. I appreciate it.”
“No problem, Commish.” He took the folder and headed down the hall, another officer by his side.
If Hartlock was in this hospital waiting for another chance at Bella or any of the Hopewell police officers, he was in for a rude awakening.
Hayden headed to Bella’s room. He nodded at the two officers, then eased the door open and silently slipped inside.
He froze at the sight before him.
Bella lay sleeping peacefully. Rafe sat in the chair beside her bed, facing the bed, holding her right hand. His head rested on the bed beside her.
Tranquil.
It was a couple scene if ever Hayden had seen one. He didn’t know what to think. She was his best friend, but at the moment Hayden felt like an intruder. He took a step back to leave.
Rafe’s head shot up and he twisted, hand on the butt of his holstered gun.
“It’s just me,” Hayden whispered, moving toward them. He nodded at Bella. “How’s she doing?”
“Good. Finally sleeping.” Rafe eased his hand from her grip. She mumbled in her sleep. Rafe smoothed her blanket.
The intimacy slammed against Hayden. He held out the folder. “Here’s the case Bella and I found that Daniel presided over and Hartlock and Devane were witnesses.”
Rafe took the folder and flipped through the notes. “And this was the only one you could find that involved the three of them?”
Hayden nodded. “For the six months prior to Daniel’s murder.”
“I’ll get some of my buddies in the Memphis office to look into this. No one in Little Rock will have any idea things are being checked.”
“Good. And talk to the government witnesses. Two of them talked to Daniel, which is what got him killed.”
“Don’t worry, the Memphis agents are good.”
Hayden waved toward Bella. “She needs whatever security we can provide her.”
“She’s agreed to go with me to my SAC in the Memphis office.”
Hayden’s heart sunk to his toes. “When?”
“As soon as the doctor releases her. There’s no sense in staying around.” Rafe turned from her. “Did you talk with that nurse Remington mentioned? Cheryl?”
His calling her Remington made it all real. That he was losing his best friend. “Uh, yes. We’re conducting a photograph lineup right now.”
“Good. If we can get a corroboration of it being Hartlock, it’ll make my job that much easier.” Rafe turned back to her and took her hand. His thumb rubbed her knuckles. “And that’ll keep her safe.”
Hayden struggled not to be jealous. Bella was too wonderful not to eventually have someone in her life other than him. He just thought the transition would be slower . . . that he’d have time to adjust to her having another man in her life and heart.
“I’ll stay with her.”
Rafe lifted his head. “I’m okay. I told her I’d stay.”
Hayden moved closer to the bed. “It’s going to be a long night. Why don’t you grab a cup of coffee and stretch a little? I’ll stay with her in case she wakes up.” He needed privacy to say some of the things he needed to say to her.
“Coffee does sound good.” Rafe released her hand and inched back. “Can I get you a cup?”
“No, but thanks.”
“I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Rafe headed to the door.
“Take your time.”
The whoosh of the door indicated they were alone. Hayden sat in the chair and took Bella’s hand. Dear God, help me give her peace for the journey she needs to take. Don’t let my own wants come out and influence her. “Bella, honey.”
Her eyelids fluttered open. She blinked, then focused on his face. “What’s wrong?” She struggled to sit.
“Nothing’s wrong. I just need to talk to you for a minute.”
“Okay.” She managed to get in a semi-sitting position.
“You know I love you, right?”
“Yeah.” She frowned. “Hay, you’re scaring me. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” He forced his emotions to remain in check. God, help me get my point out right. “I just wanted to tell you I’m glad you decided to trust Rafe.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I told you he was a good guy.”
She grinned and relaxed. “You woke me up just to be able to say you told me so?”
He smiled and squeezed her hand. “Well, that too, but not only that.” He inhaled deeply, held the air in his lungs for a long moment, then slowing released. “I wanted to tell you that I want you to be happy.” Lord, please help her understand.
“What’re you talking about?”
“With Rafe. In Memphis. Or Little Rock. Or wherever.” Far away from him.
“I don’t understand.”
He kissed her hand. “You’re going to leave Hopewell, and me. And I want you to know that it’s okay.”
“Oh, Hay . . .”
“I’m serious. Once you don’t need to hide out here anymore, you’ll need to get on with your life. Using your education, your degree. It’d be a waste for you not to, once everything’s cleared up.”
“Are you trying to get rid of me?” Tears pooled in her eyes.
“Not at all. But I wanted you to know that you’ll always be my best friend, and no matter where you go, you won’t get rid of me.”
She smiled and opened her right arm. He stepped in and gave her a hug.
“I love you, Hayden Simpson. And you’ll always be my best friend too.”
Except that he wouldn’t.