Vanished In The Night. Lynette Eason

Vanished In The Night - Lynette  Eason


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there today and take look at who’s been in to see him.”

      Kaylee cleared her throat. “So, you think that was him at the hospital today? You think he’s the one who was shooting at us?”

      “Shooting at you?” Olivia asked. Her eyes widened. “The hospital shooting? They were shooting at you?”

      Kaylee gave her a short nod and waited for Clay’s answer.

      “We’re not sure,” he said. “We’ve pulled the security footage from the cameras in the garage, but haven’t been able to get a good look at the shooter’s face. The angles just aren’t working to give us that clear shot, however they’re still working on it.”

      “What about the black roses?” she asked.

      “Those we know were from Talbot. We got him on camera entering the hospital with the box in his arms. He’s also on camera entering your room with them.”

      She shuddered. “So,” Kaylee breathed, “what do I do now?”

      Clay placed his hat back on his dark head. “You watch your back and don’t go anywhere alone.”

      Joshua stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll make sure of that.”

      Olivia raised a brow, but Kaylee didn’t care at the moment.

      “Has he used credit cards or left any kind of indication as to where he might be headed?” Joshua asked.

      “No. Nothing. Whoever is helping him knows how to keep him under the radar. He’s using cash wherever he is.”

      Kaylee gave a short, humorless laugh. “Wherever he is? I know exactly where he is. He’s in Wrangler’s Corner, and y’all know it.”

      Clay rubbed the back of his neck and looked at Joshua. “Yep, I believe you’re right about that.”

      Duncan let out a cry and Kaylee hurried to unbuckle him from his seat. She held the baby in the crook of her arm and turned to Clay. “I don’t know why Patrick Talbot is so taken with me or why he thinks black roses would endear him to me.” She scowled. “Sometimes being different isn’t all that great of an idea. But I’m so sorry for all the trouble he’s caused and probably plans to cause it in the future.”

      “The reasons behind his actions might help catch him,” Clay said. “Then again, maybe not. It really doesn’t matter. All that matters is that we catch him.”

      “Yeah,” Joshua said. “And soon.”

      * * *

      When Kaylee headed for her bedroom to nurse the baby, Joshua went out to catch Clay before he climbed into his cruiser. “Hey, Clay, wait up.”

      Clay turned. “Yeah?”

      “You think she’s okay here?”

      His cousin shrugged. “I don’t know. Her dad’s not here very much. I know he’s a workaholic. What about Aunt Liv? How often is she here?”

      “A lot when she’s not at the boutique. Remember, I haven’t exactly been in town to keep an eye on things.” More’s the pity. “But from our biweekly phone conversations, I’ve gathered that while she hasn’t moved in and she never stays the night, she’s here pretty much on a daily basis, cooking meals and cleaning.”

      “Thought he had a cleaning service.”

      “He does.” Joshua raked a hand through his hair. “I mean, I know they’ve been friends forever. I know they’ve helped each other out through some hard times.” Like his father’s death. “But I didn’t realize she was telling herself she was in love with the guy.”

      Clay quirked a brow. “Huh. Okay.”

      “Never mind all that. I want to know it’s safe to leave Kaylee here. Do you have someone you can put on the house?”

      “I can get Trent and Lance and the new deputy to take shifts.” Trent Haywood and Lance Green. Joshua didn’t know the new deputy.

      He nodded. “As long as they understand what’s at stake and they’ll keep an eye on her.”

      “They will. I agree that she definitely needs some kind of police presence here. Maybe the sight of a vehicle in the drive will deter anyone who’s thinking she’ll be an easy target now that she’s home.”

      Joshua nodded. “All right, that should work.”

      “But if this guy is determined to get to her, she can’t be alone. He’s already taken a shot at her. That doesn’t leave much room for escalation.” Sometimes offenders would start out with smaller crimes and slowly make their way to the bigger ones.

      “No,” Joshua said, “he’s definitely already escalated.”

      “And he’s had a lot of time to think about her, to plan his escape and, depending on his end goal, how he’s going to either get even or just plain get her.”

      “And how to find someone to help him.”

      “What are your plans while you’re here?” Clay asked.

      With a raised brow, Joshua let out a low laugh. “Originally, my plans were to come home and talk some sense into my mother about her upcoming wedding.”

      “You don’t approve.”

      “Are you telling me you do?”

      “It’s not my business, frankly.”

      His cousin’s unspoken words rang loud and clear. “You think it’s not mine, either.”

      Clay sighed. “Look, man, I know you were devastated when Uncle Don died. We all were. But according to Dad, he encouraged her to find someone else when he passed.”

      “But it’s only been a year!”

      “Sixteen months.”

      Joshua waved a hand and Clay tilted his head, his brow furrowed. “I know it’s hard, but like you said, Kaylee’s dad and your mom have been friends since they were kids. It’s not like they had to go through the whole process of getting to know one another.”

      Scowling, Joshua sighed. “You’re not helping.”

      “Nope,” Clay said. “I’m staying out of it. What I’m not staying out of is helping with Kaylee. I’ll get Trent out here for now, and we’ll make sure Mr. Martin understands the seriousness of the situation.”

      “See, that’s the thing. His daughter’s in danger and he’s nowhere to be found. I don’t like that quality in a man my mother wants to marry.”

      “Come on, Josh. Cut him some slack. Have you called to tell him what happened?”

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