They turned the keys simultaneously, and the box slid out. It was dusty, and he blew on it, before opening the lid. Inside, there was a journal. As long as Chase could remember, she’d kept a diary, but he had no clue why Faith would keep one at a bank.
When he’d gone through her room, shortly after her disappearance, Chase hadn’t found her most recent diary. Noah always bought her a new one for her birthday. They were all leather bound and engraved with her name on the front, just like this one. He flipped open a page, and sure enough, it was dated a few months before her disappearance. Chase also recognized his sister’s flowing handwriting. Hers was neat as a pin while he had a messy scrawl.
“Recognize it?” Thorne asked.
“Yes, it’s her journal.”
Thorne’s brows rose. “The detective never found it.”
“Probably because she stashed it here.”
“If you don’t mind, I should head back upstairs, I have an appointment.” With a smile, Ms. Baker walked back down the hall.
They took the box over to a desk in the center of the room. Nobody else was around, so they had privacy.
Chase flipped through the dog-eared pages with Thorne at his side. He’d rather read her words by himself, but he knew the agent wouldn’t agree.
“Flip to the week just before her disappearance.”
“Okay.” Chase paged through the diary until he found the right entry.
The passages didn’t make much sense. For one thing, the writing was almost illegible, and she didn’t use full sentences either. Faith jumped from topic to topic. Normally, they read like a book report. Faith even recorded what she ate and how long she’d slept. As a kid, he’d snatched one, hoping to find something juicy, but he’d been bored to tears after a few paragraphs.
“It happened again today.” It was a one line entry on the top of the page, with no elaboration.
“What happened?”
Chase shrugged. “I have no idea.”
Thorne narrowed his eyes.
“Look, I know you don’t believe me, but I’d never hurt her under any circumstances and I don’t know what she’s talkin’ about.” What the hell happened to her?
For a long time, the agent didn’t reply as he mulled over Chase’s words and then he nodded.
“I believe you.”
“You do?” Chase was astonished.
“You might be a mafia prick, but you loved your sister. It’s plain to see.”
“Gee, thanks.” Chase sighed. “I had no idea she was so scared.” He paged through a few more entries, and she talked about staying safe, spending nights at her friend’s houses, instead of home.
Chase tried to remember back, but most of it was a blur. After high school, he’d joined the Marines and went to basic training, and then he’d shipped out. Faith had been left behind, and since their mom was gone, it was just her and Noah.
“So you two didn’t talk much?”
“Quite the opposite, actually, at least I thought we were close, until now.” Faith had been afraid of something or someone, and he didn’t know a damn thing about it.
“What kind of relationship did she have with your father?”
Chase thought it over.
When she was younger, the two of them were close. Unlike Chase, Faith wasn’t a troublemaker and didn’t test Noah’s patience. Instead, she was his little girl. He often took her to the movies and the park, while Chase stayed home. His mother said Noah would’ve taken Chase as well if he’d only behave, but somehow Chase doubted it. They just didn’t get along.
“They got along pretty well. For the most part, he doted on her.” Although, Faith had been horrified to learn of Noah’s criminal activities and she hated the way their father treated Chase.
“Then why was your sister so scared? Why’d she want to leave the house so damn bad?”
“I have no idea.” Maybe Faith witnessed something she shouldn’t have. Was this about his father’s mafia activities? Did one of his enemies threaten her? Like Tucker Cobb? Or was it somebody else? And more importantly, was Noah holding out on him? Covering something up?
Chase had come here for answers, but the diary had only generated more questions.
“Dammit.” Thorne slammed a fist down on the counter. “I thought for sure I’d get a lead out of this.”
He seemed awfully worked up. Chase thought back to the first night they’d met. Again, he suspected Thorne wasn’t merely a professional doing his job.
“Why are you handlin’ this, instead of the Las Vegas FBI office?” Thorne said he wasn’t one of the locals.
“I got my reasons.”
“Which are?”
“None of your business.” A muscle jumped in his jaw. “And we both know you ain’t been straight with me.”
Chase didn’t even bother to deny it.
“Since we’re on the subject, is there anythin’ you wanna confess?” His eyes bored into Chase, as though he knew every damned thing he’d ever done, including kidnapping Mary.
Fuck no.
“Do you know somethin’ I don’t?”
He smirked. “Yeah.”
“Tell me.”
Thorne shook his head. “Just remember actions have consequences.”
“You wanna hurt the Lone Star boys, don’t you?” Chase could sense the aura of barely leashed violence coming off of Thorne. This was intensely personal.
“I’m only lookin’ for justice.”
“What did those guys do to you?” Chase asked.
“What makes you think they did anythin’?”
“Because I can read people really well. It’s kept me alive this long.”
The agent stood there for the longest time, pondering his questions, as though lost in his own thoughts, or maybe he was contemplating what he could share with Chase.
“Somebody important, somebody who can’t be replaced, and they don’t even know it.” With that, Thorne sauntered away.
Chase didn’t have a clue who the man was talking about, but he knew Tucker Cobb better watch his ass.
A day of reckoning was coming.
***
“Did you find anything?”
Mary was waiting for him when he walked in the front door.
He shook his head. “No, I’m more confused than ever.” After Alan left, Chase walked her through what they’d discovered in the safety deposit box. Before he’d left this morning, Chase told her where he was going, and he was glad to have someone to share this with, make sense of it.
Chase suddenly realized he’d gotten used to having her here, in his home. At the end of every day, Chase looked forward to seeing her. Somehow, she’d become a vital part of his life, in a short time.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks for carin’.” Mary wanted to know about the case just as much as Chase did. Although, she was hoping her grandfather would be exonerated.
“And I’m sorry you got dragged into all of this.”
“I know.”
Her gaze dropped to the floor. “I have something to apologize for, as well.”
Chase tugged at his shirt collar. “You don’t owe me an apology.”
“Yeah, I do. I shouldn’t have come on so strong. I don’t know what came over me the other night.”
“It’s okay, believe me, you have nothing to be sorry for. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.” Chase screwed his eyes shut and willed himself not to think about it. He’d come so close to tasting her, taking her, and he was barely holding onto whatever little control he had left.
“Then why’d you push me away?”
Because I’m trying to be a better man. The kind of person she deserved.
“This thing between us, whatever it is, is pretty damn complex already, and I didn’t want to add another layer. Besides, you’ve been through enough.”
“What is going on between us?” She looked up at him with those soulful, lost eyes, and he fought the urge to take her in his arms, comfort her.
“I don’t know.” It was a lie. Chase knew he was in over his head. They both were.
What if Chase had to take matters into his own two hands? Mary would never forgive him for punishing Cobb, even if she was horrified by her grandfather’s actions.
It was a classic no-win situation.
If he killed Tucker Cobb, Mary would be all alone in this world, and it would be his fault. Chase didn’t know if he could live with it and he was hoping somebody else, anybody else had harmed Faith.
Against all the odds, Chase cared for Mary.
No, more than that. God, help me.
Chase was falling in love with her.
Chapter Eleven
Nearly a month passed.
Chase hadn’t heard any more from the FBI agent, so there probably weren’t any new leads. The outfit hadn’t contacted Tucker Cobb yet either. Chase couldn’t even pretend to understand Noah’s evil plotting.
Although, now Chase was relieved.
Once Noah called Cobb, events would be put into motion, and his relationship with Mary would never be the same again. For now, he relished what little time he had left with her and tried not to think about the future.
Chase wanted Mary so badly it made him ache, inside and out, but he refused to abuse his position of power. Or maybe this was just some bullshit loner crap, designed to protect himself from a broken heart.
While they hadn’t made love yet, they slept together every single night.
It was a special kind of hell but Chase wouldn’t have it any other way. Being at Mary’s side felt right. They hadn’t spoken about their newfound sleeping arrangements either. Chase knew he should send her back to the guest bedroom, but he couldn’t even make himself say the words.
On the way home from work one night, Chase got a frantic call from Alan.
Harry had been shot while they were collecting protection money, and the doctor they used for this kind of emergency was out of town at a medical conference. Whenever the hospital handled a gunshot wound, the police were notified as part of regular safety protocols so they were forced to seek care elsewhere.
Fuck it all.
He was tempted to tell Alan that Harry was shit out of luck and it wasn’t Chase’s problem, but he had an obligation to the outfit.
“Take him to my place. I know somebody who might be able to help if she agrees. And if she doesn’t, Harry can deal with the cops showin’ up at his bedside, or let his arm rot off, for all I care.”
And then he hung up so he could call Mary.
***
“Who’s hurt?” Mary asked.
Chase had called her from the car, saying one of his coworkers had been shot and they didn’t have any other options. She didn’t ask for particulars because Mary didn’t want to testify about it later.
There was a long pause on the phone.
“Harry.”
Of course. Dammit.
Mary wished she could say “no.” That animal didn’t deserve her pity or her help, but doctors didn’t get to choose their patients, based on merit, at least according to her instructors. Doctors had a sacred duty to provide care. Physicians operated on everybody, from serial killers to nuns, and no one got special treatment.
“I’ll help him.”
“I had to ask, but you don’t have to lift a finger, Mary, he doesn’t deserve it.”
“You don’t want me to do this.”
“I want you to say ‘no.’ Is that so wrong?”
“No, but patients get treated whether or not they deserve it, so I’ll do my best, but I’m not a real doctor. I’ve taken first aid, and I’ve observed some medical procedures in the hospital, but I’m not even an intern yet.”
“Well, you know a lot more than me.”
“I guess, but you don’t have supplies.” While he’d been talking, Mary had raided the medicine cabinet and had only found a few Band-Aids and some rubbing alcohol.
“Tell me what you need, and I’ll get it.”
Mary paced back and forth, trying to think straight. “Disinfectant, bandages, gauze, medical tape, and some tweezers.”
A twisted part of her was sort of thrilled, actually. She’d never had a patient of her own, and in this circumstance, Mary wasn’t nervous about the outcome. If Harry didn’t make it, she wouldn’t be broken up about it or anything.
“Tweezers?”
“You said he’s been shot, so I’ll need to pull the bullet out of him.”
“Right. Anything else?”
“Something to sterilize the wound.”
After Chase hung up, Mary got ready. She put some water on the stove to boil, so she could disinfect the equipment and gathered up some clean towels.
Chase arrived twenty minutes later, and he had a fifth of vodka along with the goods. After plunking the tweezers in hot water, Mary thought about taking a swig of the liquor, to steady her hands, but decided against it.
Alan and Chase dragged Harry inside.
“Put him on the couch.” Mary had laid out towels over a layer of newspapers so the couch wouldn’t be stained.
After they put him down, Harry gaped at her. “Oh, fuck.” His face had gone ashen, and his shirt was soaked with blood. He’d evidently lost a lot of it.
“My sentiments exactly.” Mary placed her hands on her hips and scowled at him, daring him to turn down her assistance. Blood flowed down his right arm. She was relieved he didn’t have a chest wound, because it would require more medical know how than she possessed.
He turned to Chase. “This bitch is gonna kill me.”
“The good news is, if I do nothin’, you’ll die anyway.” Mary sneered. “And it won’t be an easy death. Nope, the wound will get infected, and you’ll develop a high fever, which will make you delirious. You could linger for days, in pain and out of your mind, and then your organs will start shutting down, one by one but—”
Harry groaned. “Stop!”
“Do you want my help or not? Because I don’t give a crap, either way.” Mary loved having power over him. She was a bit drunk on it, actually. Mary held his life in her hands, and they both knew it.
Harry swallowed, and his Adam’s apple bobbed, and then he nodded.
“Say it.”
“Yes,” he gritted out.
“Yes…what?”
“Yes, please, help me.”
Mary gloved up. “Okay, then, let’s get started. Lie down.”
The young mafia soldier went outside, while Harry did as she said. It was just as well, as he kept clutching his stomach like he was about to barf all over the carpet.
Chase stayed with her. “I’ll be right here if you need me.”
“Thanks.”
Mary retrieved the tweezers from the hot water and set to work on the injury. It was still bleeding badly, so she needed to go fast. Luckily, the wound was shallow and she easily located the first bullet fragment. Mary pulled it out of him and tossed it into the trashcan.
“Why are you doing this?” Harry grunted as she seized another piece.
“Because I’m a better person than you. I won’t let you die, even though you’re a waste of space.” She concentrated on the wound. “All doctors take the Hippocratic oath. Do you know who Hippocrates was?”
Harry moaned. “No. Can’t you just help me? Do we have to do a pop quiz?”
“We’re doing this my way.”
Chase shook his head, a bemused expression on his face.
“He’s the father of Western medicine, and all doctors take the oath after they're sworn in. We promise to do no harm, even if the patient is a useless rapist. I have the knowledge to help you, so I will.” She scraped at the wound again, and Harry wailed.
She didn’t think of herself as cruel, but Mary enjoyed the sounds he made.
Maybe I’m Tucker’s granddaughter after all.
The thought made her queasy, and she focused on retrieving the rest of the bullet. On television they made it look easy, but it was hard to see with blood gushing everywhere.
>
Chase watched every movement and he seemed impressed. It was hard to resist the urge to show off.
Mary was exhilarated, flying high. It didn’t matter if she loathed her first patient. She was thrilled to be practicing medicine, and it made her long to get started.
But then you’ll leave Chase, and you’ll have to face your grandfather.
Concentrate, dammit.
After she retrieved the last bit, Mary splashed vodka over the arm. This wasn’t exactly a sterile ER with all the latest equipment, but hopefully, it would inhibit an infection from setting in.
Again, Harry moaned in agony.
“Don’t be such a baby, we haven’t even gotten to the painful part yet.”
He gasped. “We haven’t?”
“Nope. I need to elevate the arm and apply pressure to the brachial artery to slow the bleeding.” She grasped Harry’s arm and raised it over his head.
Harry screamed and she tried not to grin.
“But wait, it’ll get worse.” Then she set a knee on the wound and bared down on it, with all of her weight.
Harry bawled and then passed out, head lolling to the side.
Mary sighed in relief. “Thank God, he was gettin’ on my nerves.”
“What are you doing?” Chase asked.
“Closing the wound.”
Chase studied her face. “You seem like you’re having fun.”
“Because I am.” She shrugged. “Is that wrong?”
“No, it just means you were born to do this.”
“Yeah, I was.” Mary grinned.
“You’re gonna be a hell of a doctor someday.”
“Damn straight.” Mary glanced down at Harry, admiring her handiwork. She’d saved a man’s life. Granted, he was an asshole, but still, she’d made a difference.
After the bleeding stopped, she packed the wound with gauze and taped it up.
“There, all done.” She took off her gloves and pitched them in the trash, before washing her hands. “He should be okay, but the real doctor needs to take a look and get him some antibiotics, too.”
“We’ll pay him a visit.” And then Chase pulled her into a hug. She clutched him. Mary loved the feel of his strong arms around her. They stayed there for a long time, swaying together.
Bad Blood (Lone Star Mobster Book 5) Page 12
