SEVEN

Garrett’s senses returned in a whoosh of panic in the hospital room.

Catherine...where was she? Pinky? His cell phone was missing, he was garbed in a ridiculous hospital gown and his skull throbbed. He grabbed for the blanket to toss it off, but someone stopped him.

Chase.

His brother said something, but Garrett didn’t catch it so Chase grabbed his chin, leaned close and began speaking, presumably in a louder volume.

“Catherine is okay. Pinkerton is okay. You are okay, even though you look like you’re circling the drain. Did I cover all your immediate questions?” Chase asked.

The relief was sweet. Catherine and Pinky had not been harmed. Garrett sagged. “I’ve got bongo drums playing in my ears.”

“Yeah, that’s probably why you’re using your outdoor voice. Take it down a notch, would you?” He pointed to Garrett’s skull and enunciated in an exaggerated fashion. “Mild concussion from your fall, abrasions. If you’re nauseous, that should go away soon. Flash-bang grenades do a number on a person. Am I right?”

He would have nodded if his cranium wasn’t about to explode. “Catherine...?”

“Mostly the same as you, but no concussion. Doc says your ears will recover sooner or later.”

“Where’s Pinky?”

Chase winced and Garrett tried to adjust his volume before repeating the question.

“Steph hustled him to the vet while I stayed with you. Doc Buzzy said he’s okay, but he’s probably got a headache and he’s really annoyed that she wouldn’t let him stay with you. Silly dog actually refused to get out of Steph’s car at the animal hospital. Took Steph, Doc Buzzy and a vet tech to drag him out.”

Garrett gaped. Pinkerton was the most relaxed, obedient dog he’d ever trained. The thought of him throwing a fit at being separated from Garrett made a lump form in his throat. Dogs were incredible, a lesson he relearned every day. “But he’s not hurt? You’re sure?”

“Totally.”

The next question he already knew the answer to, but he asked anyway. “Hagerty didn’t get Stone?”

Chase shook his head. “Nope. Took off in Orson’s car a moment before Hagerty arrived, but we’re thinking he must be hiding close by. Has to be if he’s concealing Orson and the cops have the highway buttoned up. We’re working that angle.”

Garrett sorted through his muddied brain. “So I’ve been here...”

“Overnight. It’s Thursday morning.”

“I was under that long?”

“On and off. You don’t remember our sparkling conversation?” he said with a yawn. “I’ll go over it again when you get sprung from here.”

Garrett tossed off the covers. “I’m springing myself. Now.”

Chase shrugged. “Yeah, I figured. Mom said I was to threaten you with disinheritance but that seems like a waste of effort.”

Garrett forced his thoughts to attend. Thursday, a very important day. “She’s checked in for surgery?”

“Yes. Good thing we were able to report that you and Catherine were completely fine, otherwise she’d have canceled. Believe me, it took all of us to prevent that happening. She’s actually at the end of the hallway, on the other side of Catherine’s room. She will be displeased to hear of your self-discharge.”

“I’ll see her after I check on Catherine.”

“Try not to shout, huh? Women don’t like that.” Chase handed him his cell phone.

Garrett lowered his volume again. “I’ll remember. Is my car still in the garage?”

“Yeah. Undamaged. Cops finished with it while you were still in here napping. I’ll have the valet park it out front and I’ll follow along behind back to the ranch. Just in case.”

Just in case. The ranch would be the safest place, the only place, for Catherine to be. He wasn’t sure he could convince her, but maybe after the flash bang, she’d be more willing.

I’ll take Catherine... Antonia will come to me to save her sister and her uncle. A nice tidy package. Better than all this chasing. Stone had gotten away, but there was no question in Garrett’s mind that he hadn’t abandoned his goal.

Chase tossed Garrett’s clothes on the bed, along with his phone. “Wait for you downstairs.”

It felt strange getting dressed and leaving the room without Pinkerton. The nurse tried to discourage him from going but he simply patted her arm and thanked her for the care, then walked to Catherine’s room, trying not to jostle his splitting skull any more than necessary.

Catherine was sitting on the chair, fully dressed, fingering the scrape on her cheek. His heart lurched when she looked at him, eyes like agates. She stood slowly.

“Are you okay?” they said at exactly the same moment.

They both laughed and clutched their heads, which made them laugh more.

“Ugh. No more laughing.” She gestured for him to sit on the bed. “You look worse than I feel.”

“And here I thought I was Mr. Stoic.”

“Mr. Stoic, I owe you. Are we shouting at each other?”

“Possibly.”

Her grin brought out the dimple next to her mouth. She tipped her chin, the smile fading away. “You tried to shield me.”

“Not enough, was it?”

“Best anyone could have done.” She swallowed and he saw the delicate muscles of her throat contract. “Pinky?”

“Is fine, from what Chase tells me.” He felt suddenly awkward, sitting like a little kid on the hospital bed, so he stood. “You should...”

She held up a palm. “Please. If you’re going to tell me I should stay here overnight again, you’ll be a massive hypocrite since you’re obviously leaving. I would have left earlier but...”

“But...?”

She shrugged, cheeks pinking. Because she’d been worried about him? Not likely.

“If you want to change your mind and stay, I will too. But I’ll be sitting right outside on an uncomfortable hallway chair.” He’d meant for a joke, surprised at how much vehemence he’d infused into the words. His soul felt attached to her in that moment, as if her departure might cause him physical pain. He blinked hard to refocus. “Er, my mom’s having surgery in the morning so I could kill two birds by staying, so to speak.”

“Bad choice of words.”

He sighed. “Yes. I’m not at the top of my game.”

“Me neither.” She looked past him, out the window. “Tony texted me. Apparently, she got out of the cab somewhere close. Probably she didn’t have enough cash on her to go any further.” She held out her phone to show him the exchange.

Catherine sighed. “Why won’t she listen to reason? I have no idea where she’s headed.”

“We’ll talk it over with my sibs. They know the area inside and out.”

“But you’ll want to be with your mother.”

“There are four of us, five when Roman gets back. We can do both. Besides, I know my mom would never condone leaving you after everything that’s happened.” It felt easier to hide behind his mother at that moment. Hiding? Really, Garrett? He took a breath. “Come stay at Security Hounds, at the ranch.”

She was shaking her head when he added, “Please. We need to plan, which is going to take time. My head is killing me and if I’ve got to worry about you, it’s only going to get worse.”

She squirmed and drew a hand through her wavy hair. The tiny furrow in her brow tugged at him and he plowed on. “If you need your own space, Roman’s trailer is empty. He moved out after he got married. Bought a house in town for him, Emery and his lug of a dog, if you can believe it. Something about wanting privacy. As if we’re a nosy clan or something.” He added an elaborate eye roll, which sparked a whole new wave of pain.

She lifted her chin, wincing. “All right. I’m too uncomfortable to argue. Only for a night.” She gripped the chair to get up and he offered his arm before he could second-guess it.

She took it and squeezed him close for a moment. “Thank you, Garrett. I really mean that.”

His insides tumbled around and he wondered at his reaction. Happiness at being able to right his mistakes by helping her? The concussion playing with his emotions? “My pleasure.” Why did it feel like he really meant that too?

They made their way to his mother’s room. Catherine expressed her intention to wait outside while he checked in, but Beth called them both in.

“I want to lay eyes on you.” Her own eyes were shadowed with pain and worry. “Tell me what the doctor said. Both of you. Full report, right now. I’ve badgered the charge nurse but she’s standing on patient confidentiality.”

They each offered an overview until she was satisfied. “And the case?”

He explained about Antonia’s departure. “Stone’s at large. We’ll search for Antonia. Help locate Orson too if the opportunity arises.”

Beth frowned. “But Antonia is the first priority because Stone intends to abduct Catherine to force Antonia’s hand?”

Garrett nodded. “He said as much.”

His mother was silent for a moment before fixing her gaze on Catherine. “I know you’re independent, and you have a lot at stake, but you need to let Security Hounds take the lead.”

Catherine met her gaze, shoulders squared. Two forceful, determined women. Beautiful, he thought.

“Respectfully, Mrs. Wolfe, I will do what I have to for my family.”

“The logistics are best left to the experts. It’s what we do.”

“To you it’s a case. To me it’s everything. Would you trust your everything to someone else?”

Beth tilted her head, quiet for a moment. “What you’re implying is you’ll do what you have to do, even if it’s contrary to the team’s direction.”

Catherine’s silence spoke eloquently.

After another beat, his mother continued. “You’re willing to take risks, dangerous risks, to rescue your people. I’m asking you not to, for the sake of mine.”

“That’s an easy ask because you have your family safe right now.” Catherine’s tone was brittle. “Mine is either dead, abducted or on the run. Imagine how that feels.”

Beth sounded sorrowful when she answered. “I won’t even try. I am so sorry for what’s happened.”

Catherine swallowed audibly. “Thank you, and I won’t ask your family to risk their safety to help me.”

“Garrett will whether you ask or not.”

A flush warmed his cheeks.

Catherine’s mouth tightened. “I won’t let him, or anyone else.”

“Mom, it’s time for us to go.” Every moment they lingered, Antonia might be slipping farther away.

Catherine reached out for Beth’s hand. “I’ll pray for your surgery to be a success.” The words sounded tentative, as if she hadn’t known she was going to say them.

Beth smiled. “Thank you. I’ll count on that. And you know we are all praying for your uncle and sister.”

Catherine ducked her chin and walked out of the room.

He kissed his mom on the brow, banishing the worrying thoughts that crept into his mind when he considered her upcoming surgery.

She touched his hand. “You’ve made peace with what happened at the arraignment, son. You aren’t a cop anymore because God had other things in store. Don’t forget it.”

Her words pricked at him. He’d fought long and hard to forgive himself, to remember that he was not a failure in God’s eyes or his family’s. But the nagging ache bubbled up before he could brace against it. He’d let down Catherine and any others Stone had hurt. He’d failed them all.

“I love you, Mom,” he said.

“Love you too, Garrett. Keep me posted.”

He agreed, but he knew he and his siblings would all be curating what information they provided his mother, so she could finally focus on herself. It would be a juggling act for sure.

The nurse came in and Garrett moved to the door.

“Just one more thing,” Beth called. “I don’t need, or want, to be babysat here. Finding Antonia and Orson, and protecting Catherine, are the most important things right now. If I hear that any of you is performing a vigil at this hospital for me, I will personally call Security and have you escorted out. Do you hear me?”

“Loud and clear, ma’am.” He blew her a kiss and caught up to Catherine at the elevator.

She rounded on him.

“I’ve changed my mind. I’ll stay at Uncle Orson’s place. I just need to clear it with Linda.”

He huffed out a breath. “There’s no need—”

“Your mother is right, Garrett. I’m going to do what I need to for my family, whether or not Security Hounds agrees. I don’t want you risking yourself or your siblings.”

He clasped her forearm. “We are investigators, not untrained laypeople. We’re all expert dog handlers, licensed to carry weapons. It’s what we do.”

She pulled away. “I don’t... I don’t want you to get hurt.”

He hid the surge of emotion with a flashy smile. “Then we’re in agreement. I don’t want me to get hurt either.” Wrong, to cheapen the moment with humor, to derail the sincerity of what she’d said. He hadn’t known how to react so he’d defaulted to the familiar. Way to go, Garrett.

She didn’t return his smile. “I don’t need you taking care of things because you feel guilty about what happened.”

He felt a flicker of anger. She thought she knew him well enough to read his motivation? He wasn’t the younger version of himself and he knew God had more in store for him when he put down the badge. He resisted the urge to laugh it off. “Maybe I’m involved because it’s the right thing to do and it’s my business as an investigator. I’m here to do what I can for other people who need me. Right now, that’s you. I don’t see anyone else around waiting to step in.”

He regretted the statement immediately. Pointing out her vulnerability was mean. There had to be a middle ground between laughing things off and hammering people with the truth. They stepped onto the crowded elevator. He scanned each occupant closely. It would be brash for Stone to double back and infiltrate the hospital again to snatch Catherine, but he didn’t rule it out.

After discussion with the other people, he kept his neck on a swivel as they exited the lobby into the overcast morning. She was silent as they walked to the front to find his car.

Chase leaned against his own vehicle and gave them a lazy salute.

Her gaze flicked around and he knew she was recalling their terrifying encounter with Stone, wondering where her sister was and if she was safe. He’d no right to condemn her feelings, her desire to act independently, not after what she’d experienced.

He stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. “Look. At least come to the ranch and let us make a plan to assist with the search. Four of us with our obsessive bloodhounds can track much more efficiently than you can. If you want to stay at Orson’s, I understand, though it will blow your cover. We can make sure the security system is operable, at least.”

She hesitated. “That might work. I’ll need to check with my aunt Linda. They’re separated, but it’s still her home too, but... I can do that later. Is that enough of a compromise?”

His smile was sincere now. “Yes.” He offered a palm. “Partners for the moment?”

She didn’t exactly smile, but the corners of her mouth did quirk as she shook. “Partners for the moment.”

They buckled in and peeled away from the curb, Chase following. Catherine stared resolutely out the window. He knew what she must be thinking.

Where was her sister? Her uncle?

And where was Stone?