29

The throbbing in Aidan’s head paled in comparison to the heat that shot through his shoulder. He groaned and opened his eyes. The smell of antiseptic and cleaning supplies made his stomach roil. He tried to push up with his good arm, but fell back, panting, when pain seared him.

“Let me help you.” A tall nurse pushed a button to raise the head of the bed and rearranged the pillows behind him. “How are you feeling this morning?”

His face ached, fire burned his throat, and his head spun in dizzying circles. “I could use another dose of pain meds.”

“We’ll give you something after I take your vitals.” She recorded something on a chart at the end of the bed. “If you’re up for it, you have a couple of visitors.” She handed him a small cup with pills and some water.

Chloe. Anticipation had his pulse roaring. He took the meds in a daze, his mind moving to last night. Hazy memories of her hand on his forehead, her lips brushing his, flitted across his mind. Did he dream it? “Send them in.”

Moments later, Maxi’s elfin face appeared in the doorway. Her hazel eyes clouded with concern as she leaned over to kiss his cheek.

Aidan winced even at that feather touch and tried not to let his disappointment show.

“You gave us all a scare, mister. What were you thinking? Charging into that building with only a teenager for back-up?”

“I know. Dumb move.” A sickening thought hit him. “Matt wasn’t hurt, was he?”

“He’s fine. And Lindsay has some bruises and broken bones, but she’ll be OK.”

Broken bones? An image flashed in his memory. The inert form of Lindsay on the warehouse floor, her dress covered in blood. Broken bones wouldn’t have caused that.

A light knock drew his gaze across the room.

Chloe stepped inside. “Can you handle one more visitor?”

The pleasure of seeing her eclipsed his pain for the moment. “Sure. Come in.”

She looked like an angel in a white frothy blouse with her hair caught in a loose ponytail at the nape of her neck. In the morning light, her eyes appeared almost golden. She moved in beside Maxi. “How are you feeling?”

“I’ll feel a lot better when the pain meds kick in.” As much as he loved his sister, he wished she would leave him alone with Chloe. He had a lot he wanted to tell her. Like his last thought before blacking out had been of her. And the one regret he’d had was that she’d never know he loved her. He planned to remedy that fact before the end of the day. Studying her, he noted her pinched features and the sadness in her eyes. “How’s Lindsay?”

“She’s stable. I’m going to see her after you.”

“And Matt?”

“Physically, he’s fine. But he’s feeling incredibly guilty. I couldn’t get him to leave Lindsay last night.”

Their gazes locked. He longed to take her hand, but not with Maxi there. Instead he tried to convey comfort with his eyes.

Maxi cleared her throat. “Well, I’ll leave you two alone. Don’t wear the man out, Chlo.” She leaned over to kiss him again. “When they let you out of here, Jason and I want you to come and stay with us. Mama’s frantic, so I’ll go over now and reassure her.”

“Tell her I’m fine. And thanks for the offer. I might take you up on it.”

“You will take us up on it.” She shot Chloe a mischievous look. “Unless Chloe wants you all to herself.” Chuckling, Maxi swept out of the room.

Chloe pulled a chair over. He reached through the metal bars and entwined his fingers with hers. “What’s Lindsay’s real condition? Everyone’s been so vague.”

“She has a broken arm, cracked ribs, and her face…” Chloe’s voice wavered and she swallowed hard.

The air whooshed out of Aidan’s lungs. Those animals had beaten her. If only he’d gotten there before the damage had been done.

Cool fingers touched his jaw. “You and Matt saved her life, Aidan. Be happy things weren’t worse.”

The raw emotion swirling in the golden depths of her eyes mirrored his own unsettled feelings. “I saw a lot of blood on her clothes. Was that from the beating?”

The fingers gripping the metal bar of his bed turned white. “Indirectly. Lindsay had a…miscarriage.”

“Lindsay was pregnant?” His voice nearly failed him.

“Yes.”

Realization slowly dawned. “You knew about this?”

Misery shone in Chloe’s eyes. She nodded.

“And you never told me?”

“Lindsay didn’t want anyone to know. Not even Matt.”

“You had a responsibility, Chloe. Did you at least make sure her mother knew?”

“I did.” She wouldn’t meet his gaze.

Warning bells rang in his head. Before he could question her further, a knock broke the silence.

Chief Hillier entered the room, his expression grim. “Sorry to interrupt, but I need to talk to both of you.”

“Come in, Mike.”

The chief pulled out a small notepad and pencil. “I guess you heard we have one of the perpetrators from last night in custody. So far he’s not saying much. I took Chloe’s statement, but I need your version of what happened.”

Quickly, Aidan relayed the events of the previous evening.

When he finished, Mike looked up. “What can you tell me about these alleged gang members?”

“Not much. It was dark and they were wearing hoods.”

“Matt Brown knows more than what he’s saying. I want to lean on him a little more, but I’ll need to talk to his mother first. To make sure she’s OK with it.” Mike turned his steely gaze to Chloe. “That’s where you come in.”

The color drained from Chloe’s face. “I—I don’t understand.”

“I believe you’ve been in recent contact with Mrs. Brown. In the Lucky Times Tavern.”

****

How could Chief Hillier know about that? Chloe licked her dry lips, trying desperately to come up with a suitable answer. “Could we talk outside? I don’t want to tire Aidan.”

“Actually, I’d like to hear the answer.” Aidan’s suspicious gaze shot to her.

Chief Hillier watched her with unflappable calm.

Short of fainting on the spot, she could see no way out of this. Lord, give me the words to make them understand. She squared her shoulders. “Yes, I’ve spoken with Mrs. Brown.”

“So you were aware the Brown kids were living on their own for months now in decrepit conditions?”

Chloe felt the noose tightening around her neck. “Yes,” she whispered.

The only sound in the room was the whir of machines monitoring Aidan’s vital signs.

“May I ask why you failed to report this to anyone?” Mike’s scowling demeanor did not give Chloe much hope of sympathy.

“I…I didn’t want Matt and Lindsay to be forced into foster care. Not with Matt’s gang connections.”

“Is that why you asked Mrs. Brown to let the kids to move in with you?”

“What?” The disbelief in Aidan’s voice sent chills of regret down her spine.

Mike was toying with her. Obviously he’d spoken with Mrs. Brown if he knew all of this. “I’m sure Mrs. Brown told you it’s a temporary measure until she can find a job in Rainbow Falls.”

“I take it you knew nothing about this?” Mike asked Aidan.

Aidan’s face seemed chiseled from rock. “No.”

Chloe hated the coldness in his voice, the return of his anger and disdain.

Mike snapped his notebook closed. “I could charge you with child endangerment, you know.”

Chloe bit back a gasp. “But I was only trying to protect them.”

“That’s not how it looks from where I stand. Did you also know about Lindsay Brown’s pregnancy?” His steely eyes pierced hers with no hint of softening. The fact that Mike was Nick’s best friend wouldn’t help her today.

“Yes.” How had this all gone so terribly wrong? She’d wanted to help Lindsay and Matt, not bring more trouble to their lives.

“Miss Martin, I’m afraid you’ll have to come with me for further questioning.”