Catherine shifted and wiggled in the hard waiting-room chair, palms sore from rope burn. Garrett brought her a bottle of water and Pinky sprawled at her feet, a fleshy puddle on the cool linoleum. “Has Stephanie called?”
Garrett sighed and she braced for bad news. “Yes. It would appear Stone stole a motorcycle. Chloe lost him at that point. Chase and Tank caught your sister’s trail, which continued on back to the campground. A witness heard her bumming a ride off someone who was leaving.”
She groaned. “Why does my sister have to behave like some sort of commando? Doesn’t she realize she’s putting us all in a terrible position? She’s been wild since my dad died. Uncle Orson tried his best to set limits, but he doesn’t have father skills and I don’t think either one of us would have accepted him trying anyway.” Pinky nuzzled her knee and she patted him.
“I’ve heard that people can occasionally get psychologically stuck at the age when a terrible trauma occurred.”
“I hate to think of that since Tony was a rebellious sixteen at the time. Dad always said she was a hurricane in a cute little bottle.” She examined Garrett, noted the bruise forming at his temple. “Are you sure you’re okay? If you need to go home...”
“I don’t.”
His expression was so genuine, almost as if he felt like he was home, with her. Imagination, she scolded. But still, her heart beat a tick faster. Simple gratitude? she wondered. But nothing felt simple about her feelings for Garrett Wolfe.
A nurse gave her permission to enter her uncle’s room.
“I’ll wait right here,” Garrett said.
Uncle Orson looked frail in the big hospital bed, pale and depleted from his ordeal. She kissed him and he squeezed her hand. “Awww, Cathy. What a muddled mess, isn’t it? Any word on Tony?”
She didn’t want to alarm him any more by revealing that Antonia had hitched a ride to parts unknown. “She’s still on the loose somewhere and so is Stone.”
“She won’t give up until she gets what she’s after. This is all a complete nightmare.” He shook his head. His eyes went damp and he blinked hard. “After your father was killed, I just wanted so badly to protect you girls, to keep you from any more wounds. I did things wrong.”
She reached to console him but he waved off her touch.
“I shouldn’t have bought those IDs but I was terrified after Stone escaped that he’d find you both. Tony’d told me how obsessive he was, and she was determined to move away and stay with the family she knew and finish her schooling online. Made sense, after what happened, but she didn’t have us around to keep her in check.”
Catherine remembered those tortured conversations with her sister...
“I’m going. You should too,” Tony had said.
“I don’t want to leave Uncle Orson,” Catherine had replied.
“Stay if you want, but I don’t have a choice. Porter will never leave me alone and anyway I can’t stand the way everyone looks at us now,” her sister had explained. “I want to go live where nobody knows what happened.”
She’d felt it too, how the people whispered to each other when she passed. Their furtive glances were full of pity. In the aftermath of the murder her identity had changed to “that poor girl.” She would forever be seen through that new lens.
Catherine sagged, suddenly exhausted, but forced a fortifying breath and raised her chin. Everything was spinning out of control again, but she would never let Orson feel guilty. “You did your best. No one could have asked for more.”
His laugh was bitter. “Linda doesn’t think so. She’s divorcing me, you know.”
“I, uh, I did know that.” She had to tell him about her last encounter with Linda. “Uncle Orson, do you know that she’s in a relationship with Tom Rudden, your security service guy?”
His lips thinned and a rosy flush crept into his cheeks. “No surprise, really. I had a suspicion. Saw them together a time or two, whispering and laughing as if I was too dense to notice. He doesn’t have many scruples, but that’s worked to my advantage upon occasion. Has she been busy swiping whatever she wants from the house while I was trying to stay alive?”
Catherine had to nod. “I’m really sorry to ask, but you don’t...?” She swallowed. How could she verbalize it? But how could she not? With so much at stake? “Do you think Linda and Rudden had anything to do with your kidnapping?”
He quirked an eyebrow and she hurried on.
“Like maybe they conspired with Stone for him to abduct you? They made some sort of dirty deal to get you out of the way? Rudden might have disabled the security system himself.”
He grinned, swiping at his sweaty forehead. “Nah. That’s a clever theory, but Linda wouldn’t bother with a plan that might possibly get her hands dirty. She’s going to take me to the cleaners for every dime. She’s already got the lawyers lined up. That’s her strategy.”
The suspicion still nagged at her. But wouldn’t it be easier for Linda if Orson was dead? Pressing the point did not seem beneficial at the moment. He looked worse than when she’d found him in the cabin—his skin had an unhealthy gray tint and his forehead was glossed with perspiration. “Do you want some water, Uncle Orson? Are you too warm?”
He ignored her questions. “You’re in town until Stone’s arrested and Tony’s back?”
She nodded. “And until you’re completely better and out of here. Yes.”
“Where are you staying?”
“At the Security Hounds Ranch, temporarily.”
His eyes narrowed. “No. Go stay at the house. I’ll send someone to take care of the security system and hire a bodyguard. You’ll be safe there.”
“Security Hounds is taking good care of me.”
His brow furrowed. “You realize you’re staying with the guy who let Stone escape?”
Catherine’s cheeks went hot. “Garrett feels terrible about that.”
He snorted. “Oh, sure he does. I can tell he’s all over broken up about hurting our family. A real stand-up guy, that Garrett Wolfe.”
His sudden anger confused her. “What’s wrong, Uncle Orson?”
“Nothing.”
“It’s not nothing. What aren’t you telling me?”
“Wolfe couldn’t protect you back then. The cops were useless, so I took matters upon myself and now he’s trying to make me pay for that.”
“Pay how?”
He rubbed at his chest. “This Security Hounds outfit tipped off the cops that I broke the law in acquiring those IDs. Two officers have already been here and asked me a couple of questions before the doctors shooed them out. They’re coming back this afternoon. They want to know my source, but I won’t divulge it because they might uncover other things I’ve paid this individual to do. Nothing terrible. Nothing like abduction or murder. Nice of the cops, huh? That’s what I’ve got to look forward to as I recover from being kidnapped? Jail?”
Fury flashed through her. The cops were badgering her uncle? When there was a killer running loose? “That’s terrible.”
“It sure is. Treating me like I’m the criminal here.” His face flushed, then turned ashen. He began to gasp for air.
She shot to her feet. “Uncle Orson?”
He grimaced in pain and alarms began to beep. Frantic, she pressed the button for help but there was already a nurse rushing in and urging her away from the bed and out of the room. Several more raced up with a cart, their expressions grave.
Catherine went dizzy. This could not be happening. Garrett and Pinky hustled up and eased her into a chair. Garrett held on to her arm.
“I think...he’s having a heart attack,” she said.
“The medical team’s the best here. They’ll help him. I’m so sorry.”
Nerves prickling, she yanked her arm free. “Are you? Sorry?”
He frowned at her acid tone. “Yes, of course. I know how much you love your uncle and he’s been through a lot.”
“Yes, he has. The man was held captive until today and yet your Security Hounds couldn’t wait to inform the police that he’d broken the law, could they?”
Garrett raised an eyebrow. “This is about the social security numbers? We looked into that, as I told you we would. Once we found that they were stolen, we had no choice but to turn over the info. We can’t conceal knowledge of a crime from the police.”
She wanted to scream, to slam her palm into the wall. “What does it matter, a couple of numbers?”
Garrett’s calm demeanor infuriated her further.
“He paid someone for the social security numbers of deceased children. It’s called ghosting. I know this comes at a bad time.”
Her mouth trembled with anger. “A bad time? You think? What my uncle did was wrong. He shouldn’t have paid for stolen numbers, but he did it to protect us after our father was murdered and Stone went free. He knew we’d never be safe and he was right.”
Garrett flinched. “I absolutely understand, but it’s still a crime and Hagerty’s got to take a look at that and turn it over to the FTC. It would have been better to wait until your uncle was feeling better, but he has to examine everything, follow each lead to track Stone down and he can’t wait for an opportune moment.”
She felt like laughing at the absurdity of it. One man was a killer and Orson was merely a loving, grief-stricken uncle. “Uncle Orson’s not the criminal here, Garrett. He was abducted, could have been killed, and now that he’s been interrogated and possibly had a heart attack, I could lose him...” She was annoyed that her voice wobbled.
“Catherine, I’m sorry this is all happening. I...”
She stood, wishing she’d never returned to Whisper Valley, never laid eyes on Garrett Wolfe again. “Why don’t you go visit your mother?” she snapped. “I’d like to be alone now while I wait for word on my uncle’s condition.”
He rose and Pinky whined uncertainly. “Is there someone I can get to sit with you?” he said quietly.
She could barely get the answer out. “Who would that be exactly, Garrett? My dad’s dead and my sister is risking her life by tracking his killer. I have no one.” Her voice broke on the last word.
“Catherine...”
The hurt storming her muscles left her reckless. “I’ll come by the ranch and grab my things from the trailer when I can.”
“I understand you’re angry, but please don’t make a rash decision.”
“I’ll make whatever decisions I need to for myself and my family, what’s left of it. I’m going to stay at my uncle’s house.”
He started to shake his head. “That’s not safe.”
“I’ll lock all the doors and call the police if I need help.” Her words felt incendiary, like each one burned as it came out of her mouth and sizzled into Garrett. “I can at least protect his property while he’s in here. Maybe my sister will show up there and I can help her too, unless you think she should also be arrested for trying to protect us.”
He looked suddenly battered and exhausted. She felt a flicker of guilt but it did not dampen her fiery rage.
“If that’s what you want,” he said finally.
“Nothing that’s happened since I was seventeen is what I wanted,” she choked out. Furiously she blinked back tears. “Go back to your family, Garrett.”
And she was left alone to pray that God would spare what was left of hers.
In a daze, Garrett found his way to his mother’s beside on the next floor up. Though she appeared tired and tentative, her examination was as sharp as ever.
“Are you going to tell me what’s happened?” she said.
“Everything’s fine.”
“No, it’s not.”
He kissed her. “Glad you’re feeling better, Grand Inquisitor.”
“Better enough that I can tell you’re upset. I heard what happened at the cabin already, but what else don’t I know?”
He sighed and repeated some of the conversation he’d had with Catherine, her decision to leave Security Hounds. “She blames me.”
“She’s hurt. Scared.”
“That’s what kills me. It’s just like she felt ten years ago, Mom. Hurt. Scared, and I couldn’t help. In fact I made it worse.”
She reached for his hand and Pinky intercepted by shoving his wet nose in first so she scrubbed him between the ears. “I don’t understand what the cop job is like, Garrett. I never wanted to be a cop. But what I am certain of is that you are a man who follows God, tries his best, always does the right thing, even if it’s painful. That hasn’t changed.”
His gaze dropped to the floor. “I’m not sure I did the right thing all those years ago with Stone.”
“Yes, you are. Your gut is still telling you there’s something off, even if your heart is screaming that it’s not worth the pain to listen.”
“Preach it, Mom.” Garrett turned to find Chase leaning against the doorway.
“I know it’s only one visitor at a time, but I’m going to kick little brother out so we’ll be in compliance,” Chase said. “’Cuz they’re all uppity about the rules in this place.”
“But I just got here,” Garrett protested.
Chase pointed to the door. “Bring it outside. We’re not supposed to argue in front of our mother.”
She laughed. “Like that ever stopped you before.”
In the hallway, Chase spoke first. “I heard you say Catherine’s leaving. I wasn’t eavesdropping, you were just blabbing too loud to notice when I cleared my throat to signal you I was there.”
“Things fell apart.” Completely. Utterly.
“I got that impression. So you have work to do. I’ll stay here with Mom.”
Garrett opened his mouth to protest but Chase shrugged him off. “Your instincts are telling you the same thing mine are. We’re not done with this and Catherine isn’t safe until Stone is captured again. Now that she’s not under our immediate purview and too angry to accept our help, she’s even more at risk.”
It felt good to know that his brother shared his concern, that he wasn’t being buffeted around by paranoia or past guilt. There was something strange happening that he could not pin down, an uneasy electricity cascading through his gut. “Thanks. I’ll go arrange security at her uncle’s. Someone other than Tom Rudden’s company.”
“Nope. You do it.”
“Do what?”
“Stay there, at Orson’s.”
He blinked. “She won’t want me there.”
“So don’t tell her. Watch from afar. Do your sneaky undercover thing and keep an eye on the place.”
“You think something’s going down.”
“I don’t know, but you’ll never forgive yourself if you aren’t there for her and I don’t want to hear you whining for the rest of your life.”
He’d ended with the jab, but Garrett saw through the glib tone to the pain that his brother carried around since he’d lost the woman he loved.
“Chase...”
“No offense, but I’m pining for some coffee. Good talk. I’ll brief Stephanie and Kara. Catch you later.” He walked away, posture straight and chin up so only someone who’d known Chase for a long time would detect the slight hunch, as if there was a tender place he was trying to protect. Trying and failing.
Catherine’s words cut him deeply.
My dad’s dead and my sister is risking her life by tracking his killer. I have no one. He’d had fleeting daydreams that he’d become her ally, friend and maybe more. Was there anything left of the fragile stitches that had connected them? Unlikely, but he’d find out for sure, and keep her safe in the meanwhile.
Pinky flapped his ears and Garrett bent to caress him. “We’re going to help get her life back, Pink.”
And the first step was making sure no harm came to her at Orson’s house.