Joanna liked her mate’s style. He thought on his feet with good sound logic.
No wonder he makes such a good doctor, her wolf grinned…wolfishly.
“Samantha. Is he still in there?” Joanna asked quickly as she reached the nurse.
“Yes. At least I haven’t seen him come out. I haven’t checked on them because I didn’t want him to see me and run.” She put her hand over her mouth and her eyes widened in horror. “But what if he’s in there hurting Penelope?”
The nurse took a couple of steps forward, ready to move Joanna out of the way if necessary. However, Joanna put her hands on Samantha’s shoulders and pushed her back a couple of steps.
“I’ve got it from here. I need you to stay out of harm’s way in case we need you to help Penelope after we’ve challenged the guy.” Joanna cast a glance over her shoulder at Shawn.
“Okay.” Samantha nodded, her face pale as she swallowed down her nervousness. “Good luck.”
“Thanks.” Joanna let her hands drop to her sides and then she backed away from Samantha. “Stay there. No matter what.” She spoke the words as an order, not a request and Samantha nodded in response.
“Ready?” Shawn asked as Joanna approached.
“Yes. I’ll go in first and you follow. But I want you to wait in the doorway. Let me handle the guy. Okay?” Joanna gave her sternest look at Shawn who nodded in agreement. She didn’t tell him she wanted him out of her way so she could keep him safe. Joanna didn’t know if her mate’s ego could take it.
Joanna stepped forward, placed her hand on the door, and looked through the small window to check the room. Samantha was right, a male was sitting by the side of Yvette’s bed. With a quick look over her shoulder to check that Shawn had her back, as if she had any doubts, Joanna pushed the door open and went inside.
The man stood up abruptly and tipped his chair over. Joanna approached the bed, her eyes on Yvette for a moment before she fixed her stare on the unknown male. The relief was instant. Yvette was fine.
“Hello. I’m Detective Joanna Hargreaves. I’d like to ask you a few questions.” She placed her feet hip-width apart but relaxed her shoulders in the hope she looked nonthreatening.
I would like to threaten him, her wolf answered suspiciously. Who comes to visit a woman who has been in a coma for years in the dead of night?
The guy looked at Joanna and then at Shawn. Was he assessing them? Perhaps trying to figure out if he could get out of the room and run away.
“I’m Lance Highmore.” He stuck out his hand. “And I promise I am not here to hurt anyone.”
Joanna hesitated before she shook the guy’s hand. His grip was firm but not overbearing. “So why are you here?” Her forehead creased. Hadn’t she heard the name Lance Highmore before?
“I like to come and check on…Penelope.” He glanced back toward the bed. “I come and talk to her most nights.” Lance looked at Joanna once more, his eyes misted with tears. “I stupidly think if she hears my voice, she might one day wake up. One day soon.”
“There’s nothing stupid about that.” Joanna indicated the chair next to the side of the bed. “Sit, please. I’d like to ask you some questions if you don’t mind.”
“Questions?” Lance asked, his eyes flickering to the doorway where Samantha hovered. Watching what was happening. Not exactly what Joanna had in mind when she told the nurse to stay back.
“Samantha. Thanks for alerting us.” Joanna went to the door and smiled gratefully at the nurse. “We can take it from here.”
Samantha didn’t move. “Should I check on Penelope?”
“No, I think she’s fine.” Joanna nodded and then closed the door. With a deep breath, she crossed the room, flashing a smile at Shawn. “Will you go check that she’s all right?”
“Sure.” Shawn took one last look at Lance before he left the room.
“Okay, Lance. It’s just you and me. Let’s talk.” She took her phone out of her pocket and placed it down on the bed next to Yvette. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to record our conversation.”
“Oh.” He looked dubious but nodded. “Okay. Although I’d rather my name was kept confidential.”
“Confidential?” Joanna asked.
“Yes.” Lance placed his hand over Yvette’s. There seemed to be a connection between them. Or had Lance formed a creepy attachment to the sleeping Yvette? “I have my reasons.”
“Okay. You’ve been visiting Penelope for a few weeks.”
“I have. I worked a couple of security shifts here.” He glanced at Yvette, his expression filled with longing. “As soon as I saw her I…”
“I think I get it.” Joanna stared hard at Lance. She didn’t think he was a shifter. Yet his behavior reminded her of a man who had just found his mate.
“What do you want to know? I’ll tell you anything if you think it might help Penelope wake up. I heard that she’d spoken a few words. That’s good, right?” Lance asked hopefully.
“It is good. And since you have been visiting Penelope, I’d like you to tell me if she has said anything or if she’s made any movement. No matter how small.” Joanna watched Lance closely as he gazed on Yvette.
He’s in love with her, Joanna’s wolf said quietly.
He is. Joanna pressed play on her phone. Would Lance give them any new leads or was this just another wasted journey?
Chapter Nineteen – Shawn
“Did Lance say anything that might be helpful?” Shawn asked as he and Joanna sat drinking coffee from the vending machine. Lance had left the building after talking to Joanna. However, Joanna had insisted on staying by Yvette’s bedside for a while longer. She said it helped her think. To Shawn, it looked almost as if his mate was trying to establish a mental link with the woman in a coma.
“No.” She rubbed her eyes and shook her head. Joanna looked as if she might fall asleep where she sat. It was time they went back to the hotel and got some rest. “I don’t think it’s going to be helpful. He said Yvette’s fingers twitched the first time he came into her room. But that’s all.”
“Why did he come into the room?” Shawn tried not to sound worried or suspicious. However, Yvette was vulnerable in her comatose state.
“The first shift he worked here, when he was doing his rounds, he got to Yvette’s door and looked in. He said something compelled him to open the door and come inside. His second shift he sat by the bed. When her fingers twitched, he held her hand. He was smitten.” Joanna shrugged. “You know how it is.”
“He’s not a shifter. Is he?” Shawn took a swig of the coffee. It wasn’t awful but he’d drunk better from a vending machine. He swished the brown liquid around in the cup, his eyes fixed on it as if he might find a clue in its murky depths.
“No. But maybe Yvette is. Fiona never said but it would make sense.” Joanna leaned back in the hard plastic chair and stared at Yvette, her eyes out of focus for a moment. “But I can’t sense her. Can you?”
“No.” He pushed his senses out toward Yvette. “Maybe that part of her is hidden. When she comes out of her coma, her other side might wake up.”
“Possibly.”
Shawn nodded sagely. “The mating bond works no matter what.”
Joanna reached out and placed her hand on his arm. Wordlessly, she inclined her head toward the bed, her eyes trying to communicate a message. “She moved,” Joanna mouthed when Shawn frowned in response.
He stood up, his eyes fixed on the young woman lying in the bed. “I wonder when it happened?”
“When what happened?” Joanna’s frown deepened.
“When Lance first knew he loved Joanna.” He stared down at Yvette’s hands waiting for her fingers to move. “Is that what caused the spark in her brain that made her speak to Samantha?”
“Her eyelids,” Joanna hissed.
Shawn moved toward the head of the bed. “Yvette. Can you hear me?”
He watched intently. For a moment nothing happened and then slowly her eyelids moved as if her eyes
were circling around and around beneath them.
“Shall I call for a doctor?” Joanna asked.
“I am a doctor,” Shawn said in reply.
“You know what I mean. We should call one of Yvette’s doctors.” Joanna could not hide her own excitement.
“Not yet.” Shawn took his eyes off Yvette for a second. “This is nothing new. Samantha said that she’d seen movement once or twice before. This doesn’t mean Yvette is about to wake up.”
“Oh.” Joanna’s disappointment was plain but there was no use allowing his mate to believe she was about to witness a miracle.
“I’m not saying it won’t happen.” He caught his breath as Yvette’s eyes flickered open only to clamp shut. “Dim the lights.”
Joanna crossed the room and flicked the switch, knocking out the main light in the room. Only the two lamps by the side of the bed lit the room, casting long shadows across the floor. “How is she?”
“She’s coming in and out of some state of consciousness.” Shawn fixed his shifter senses on the patient lying in the bed. Each time Yvette’s eyes started flickering, it was as if a door was opening and he could see her, sense her. Then she’d slip away.
“Yvette.” Joanna placed her hand on the young woman’s arm and shook her gently. “Is it okay if I talk to her and touch her?”
“Sure. We should let her know we’re here for her. And that she’s safe.” Shawn placed his hand on Yvette’s cheek. “She’s not feverish. I’m certain she’s fighting to break free of her coma.”
“This is scary.” Joanna’s brow furrowed as she looked at Yvette’s face.
“For her, too.” Shawn sat down next to Yvette and took hold of her hand. “We’re here for you, Yvette. Just like you were there for the little baby you rescued. Do you remember her?”
Joanna and Shawn watched Yvette’s face closely, neither of them wanting to miss a single flicker of her eyes or movement of her mouth. “Baby.” It was the faintest of whispers.
“Did you hear that?” Joanna’s excitement grew and she inched closer. Shawn shot her a smile before he turned back to Yvette.
“I’ve taken care of her. I’ve raised her. And I want to thank you for saving her and letting me have the opportunity to love her.” He stroked his thumb across the back of Yvette’s hand.
“Her fingers moved.” Joanna pointed at Yvette’s hand as if Shawn couldn’t feel her fingers tickle his.
“She’s smart. So smart. And funny. Every morning I wake up knowing how blessed I am.” He gave a short laugh. “That’s not to say it’s always been easy. She’s a strong character. She has her own mind and her own opinions. One day she’s going to be a force to be reckoned with. And that’s all thanks to you.”
Yvette’s eyes flickered open and stared up at the ceiling. “Baby. Had to save baby,” she croaked.
“You did save her.” Shawn swallowed down the lump of emotion in his throat and focused on Yvette. “Do you remember that day?”
Yvette’s bottom lip trembled, and she mouthed, “Yes.”
“Can you tell us what happened?” Joanna asked gently. “Anything that might tell us who did this to you?”
“The baby.” A tear rolled down Yvette’s cheek and the monitor registering her vital signs sparked into life as her heart rate shot up.
“The baby’s safe, Yvette. You saved her,” Shawn said gently.
“He was…” Yvette’s forehead wrinkled. “Hurt her.”
“Who tried to hurt her, Yvette?” Joanna asked. “Can you give us a name? Any clue that you can remember?”
“Bad.” She closed her eyes briefly before fighting to open them again.
“You went to the club. Jester’s. That’s where the mothers were.” Joanna’s eyes darkened as she focused on Yvette and the story she was trying to tell.
“Yes,” Yvette whispered.
“And then what happened?” Joanna pressed her lips together.
“Angry.”
“Who was angry?” Joanna asked.
“People… They changed their mind.” Yvette’s breathing quickened.
“Did you see the parents?” Joanna asked.
“No.” Yvette turned her head and winced. “Save baby.”
“Who were you with?” Joanna asked.
“I…” Yvette closed her eyes.
“We need to call the doctor.” Shawn stood up and pressed the emergency button by the side of the bed.
“Just a few more questions.” Joanna looked up at Shawn. Her shoulders slumped forward as he shook his head. “I’m sorry. Yvette’s health is the most important thing. I just want a breakthrough. I should know better not to push it.”
Joanna got up as the sound of footsteps came toward them along the corridor, Shawn reached for her hand. “We can come back as soon as the doctors give Yvette a health check. We don’t want to push too hard too fast. She’s fragile.”
Joanna nodded. “I know.” She turned back to Yvette. “Thank you.”
Yvette’s eyes slid shut but she reached out and took hold of Shawn’s hand. “Baby.”
“When you’re strong enough, I’ll bring her to see you.” He locked eyes with Joanna who bit down on her bottom lip, her eyes misted with tears as she realized the truth in Yvette’s words.
Yvette has no idea how long she’s been in a coma, does she? his cougar asked.
No, I don’t think she does, Shawn replied. She has no idea that Jane is not a baby anymore. That the world outside this room has changed and moved on without her.
Sadness mixed with anger bubbled inside Shawn. This young woman who had tried so hard to protect innocent lives had paid a high price for her good deeds. Justice had to be done.
As the doctor entered the room with Samantha by his side, Shawn and Joanna slipped out of the room and waited in the corridor for news on Yvette’s health.
“I should call Trent,” Joanna said. “I want to keep him in the loop in case Yvette needs police protection.” She didn’t need to explain herself further. Yvette had been no threat while she was in a coma but that had changed the moment she opened her eyes and spoke.
“I’ll call Fiona.” Shawn noted the time as he pulled out his phone and added, “Maybe it can wait until morning.”
Joanna nodded. “A couple of hours won’t make that much difference.”
“I hope not.” Shawn grinned as nervous energy filled him, and his hands shook a little. “I’d hate to get on the wrong side of her.” He ran his hand through his hair and paced the corridor as his cougar snarled in his head.
I need to do something now, his cougar ground.
There’s nothing we can do other than protect Yvette until the police arrive. We still don’t have enough information to go after Gerald. Shawn went over all the new information they had gained from Yvette. There was little to go on. If Yvette had named the couple who had given up the baby that might have been a start.
However, without a clear memory and proof to back it up, they had nothing at all to go after Gerald with. No proof he was involved in what happened to Yvette. They didn’t even know if Comer was the bad man.
There must be something, his cougar hissed.
We’ll find something. We need to be patient. Neither side of Shawn possessed such patience right now.
“My boss is sending someone over.” Joanna went to Yvette’s door and peered inside. “She’s still awake. They’re propping her up and she’s drinking.” She turned to look at Shawn. “Can you imagine not eating or drinking for all of those years?”
“Not when my stomach is growling with hunger.” He rubbed his hand over his stomach. “When we get out of here, I think we should have breakfast and plan our next move.”
Joanna sighed. “I don’t know what our next move is yet.”
“My fists could be very persuasive.” Shawn ground his right fist into the palm of his left hand.
“Unfortunately, that is the kind of behavior that would help Gerald Comer. Beating information out of suspects is frowned upon
these days.” Her mouth curled up at one corner. “But I’d join you in ripping someone’s head off in a heartbeat if I thought it would help.”
“So, at present the only thing I can think of is infiltrating Gerald Comer’s business or personal life.” Shawn looked up as the door opened and the doctor stepped out of Yvette’s room. “Would Trent put someone undercover?”
“It’s a no-go until we get some poof. The hearsay of a woman who has spent so long in a coma just won’t be enough,” Joanna murmured as they walked back along the corridor to meet him. “Hello, Doctor, what can you tell us?”
“Very little at this point.” He pressed his lips together as he looked from Shawn to Joanna and back again. “May I ask what you are both doing here so late at night?”
“We wanted to see Penelope one last time before we left town,” Joanna omitted any information about Lance. “We got lucky when she opened her eyes.”
“You did.” The doctor’s expression softened a little. “What did you say to her? Something must have triggered this.”
“We were just telling her about the world outside. The feel of the sun on your back. The breeze in your face.” Shawn lied smoothly.
You are getting good at lying, his cougar complimented him.
“When will we be able to question her?” Joanna asked.
The doctor held up his hands as if to push her away. “Oh, that is not going to be possible for a while. We need to build her strength and check what damage remains in her brain.”
“Is she coherent?” Joanna asked.
We know she’s coherent, Shawn’s cougar stated.
She is covering our tracks. If everyone thinks Yvette hasn’t spoken to us, it would make her less of a target. Shawn looked around as a couple of other nurses walked along the corridor and entered Yvette’s room. She’s vulnerable.
Perhaps we should have told her to talk to no one but us about that night, his cougar suggested.
You’re right, Shawn agreed. But there was nothing they could do about it now. They were not getting back in her room tonight.
Shawn Spring Shifter Seasons Page 14
