Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he inwardly grimaced at the antiseptic smell that seemed to permeate the air. The hospital reeked of rubbing alcohol, bandages, illness, and fear, and he didn’t like it one bit. It brought back memories of the night his parents had died. After a nasty car accident, they’d been behind a similar but different set of hospital double-doors, except that time the doctor had come out with horrific news. He’d rather be anywhere else but there was no way he’d leave Bailey to face this alone. She was a strong woman but she’d been through so much since she’d come to town. How much was one human being supposed to endure?
The elevator door slid open and Josh and Ellis spilled out, their gazes darting in every direction until they landed on Chase sitting in the waiting room, one arm around Bailey, her head resting on his chest.
Ellis didn’t waste any time. “Any word on Peyton’s condition?”
Chase nodded toward the double-doors. “None. They’re working on her right now. Any news on what happened? Was it an accident?”
A muscle ticked in Ellis’s jaw. “No accident. It was a package bomb delivered to the front desk. The two clerks are dead and the four people in the lobby are injured enough that they’ll be admitted to the hospital. Luckily, most people were in the restaurant or farther away and their injuries were much less severe. The worst damage was within a ten to twelve feet radius.”
Chase’s gaze rested on the butterfly bandages on Bailey’s forehead where a flying piece of glass had caught her. The cuts on her arms had only needed cleaning which the EMTs had quickly accomplished at the scene.
“She got a call.”
All eyes went to where Willow was standing just behind the two men. She’d been unable to stay still and she’d offered to get everyone a decent coffee from the shop in the lobby downstairs.
Ellis took the tray of scalding drinks from the woman’s shaking hands. “What was that, honey? Peyton was on the phone?”
Willow nodded, her demeanor still dazed from what had happened. Sheer exhaustion probably wasn’t helping the situation either. “She was going to join us in the restaurant but her phone rang. She said it was her dad. If she had just let it go to voicemail…”
Bailey shook her head, tears gathering in her eyes. “Don’t think like that. We can’t torture ourselves with those thoughts.”
“This wasn’t supposed to happen,” Willow’s voice choked. “We were supposed to eat breakfast and then get some sleep. No one else was supposed to die.”
Chase had already brought Josh and Ellis up to date on the swim coach and their meeting with Guy Eckley. He desperately wanted to believe this was only a bizarre coincidence but at this point in the investigation, he was beginning to believe this was no accident.
Ellis was giving him a look and Chase nodded, extricating himself from Bailey’s clinging limbs and beckoning Willow to take his place. “Can you stay with her for a few minutes? I need to speak with the guys.”
Nodding, Willow sat down next to Bailey and reached for two of the coffees Ellis was carrying, handing one to her friend. “We’ll be fine. Go do what you need to do.”
Ellis led them farther down the hall so they were out of earshot before speaking. “This was deliberate. We don’t know the target for sure—”
Josh scoffed, shaking his head. “Come on, we know the girls were the target. I think I speak for all of us when I say I’m getting damn tired of using the word coincidence. This was no coincidence. Someone is trying to keep them and Chase from finding Gwen’s killer or any connection to the men’s deaths as well. They want them – and us – to run away with our tail between our legs. I don’t know about you but that doesn’t sit well with me. In fact, it pisses me off.”
“It’s nothing we can prove,” Ellis replied. “So for now we can only make assumptions.”
“Assume they want the women and probably Chase dead,” Josh hissed, his fingers running through his hair and making it stand on end.
Chase rubbed the pounding hammer that was beating against his temple from the inside. “Christ, can both of you keep it down? My ears are still ringing from the explosion and I have a doozy of a headache.” He turned to Josh. “You’re right. The women were the target, I guarantee it.” Then he turned to Ellis. “But you have a point. We can’t prove it. What we can do is keep everyone safe and protected until we can. To that end, I’m going to take Bailey and Willow back to my place to watch over them. They can’t stay at the hotel any longer anyway. Ellis, is there a way we can get some police to guard Peyton? If not, I’ll hire private security.”
Those double-doors that had stayed stubbornly shut for the last hour now swung open and a stretcher was pushed into the hall. Peyton lay there, pale and small against the blue sheets. The wound on her head had been bandaged and the blood cleaned from her face and arms. She looked peaceful and serene as if she were simply taking a nap to refresh herself.
Ellis stepped toward the unconscious woman, his gaze glued to her impassive features and his fists tightening at his side. He said something that Chase couldn’t quite make out but it sounded like “… get who did this to you.”
Bailey and Willow rushed down the hall to meet the doctor, who had paused even as the stretcher kept on moving.
“Is she going to be okay?” Bailey asked, her voice quivering as the two women huddled together for strength. “Is she going to live?”
Chase held onto Willow and Bailey as the doctor explained Peyton’s injuries and what they were planning to do. From what Chase could translate into layman’s terms Peyton had some bleeding on the brain and they were putting her into a medically induced coma along with medication to relieve the pressure. The doctor hoped that surgery wouldn’t be necessary. If she improved, they would slowly bring her out of the coma in a few days but until then she would be in the ICU. He advised them to go home and get some sleep. They could come back and visit tomorrow.
They were lucky that the hospital was being so accommodating. In the beginning, they’d balked at giving Bailey and Willow any information but then had relented when the women explained that Peyton had no family in Williamsburg.
Chase thanked the doctor and turned back to the women. “You’re staying with me, no arguments. I’ll go get your things from the hotel and Josh will stay with you while I do.”
Willow seemed to have snapped back to reality and the determined female Chase had first met was back in full force. “Actually, Chase, I am going to argue. I need to get back to Midnight Blue Beach. Someone has to deliver the news to Peyton’s family and then fly them back here. This isn’t something that should be told over the phone.”
That pounding in his head was getting stronger. He hadn’t thought about how her family would be informed. “I can call them. You need to get your rest. You’re practically falling asleep on your feet.”
Shaking her head, Willow pulled her phone from her purse. “How would you like to get the news about your daughter over the phone? No way. I’m going to tell them in person and then I can bring them right back here. Besides, I have Peyton’s phone and I’ve been trying to call them since the explosion. No answer. I think the best way is to go to them.”
Chase sighed, reluctant to push, but the need to keep these ladies safe overrode his sensitivity.
“I can’t let you go,” he finally said. “You need to be protected.”
Bailey’s mouth fell open in shock and even Willow looked surprised.
“Are you saying you think that explosion was meant for us?” Bailey asked faintly. “Are we in danger?”
“I think that the safe way to proceed is to assume that theory is a distinct possibility,” Ellis smoothly interjected, the cop in him coming out. Chase was impressed by how well his friend was doing. He hadn’t pissed anyone off in hours. “It’s imperative that we keep you all safe and that means no going off by yourself. I’m sure you understand.”
Willow’s finely arched brows flew up. “I’m sure I don’t. I can hire a phalanx of bodygu
ards if I need to but frankly, I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it for years.”
There went Ellis’s record.
Chase was about to interrupt when Josh shocked them all. “I’ll go.”
What?
Frowning, Willow shook her head. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
“That’s exactly what you need,” Ellis said, oblivious to Willow’s or anyone else’s mood. He was like a bull in a china shop.
She opened her mouth to tell him off but Chase placed his hand on her shoulder to get her attention. “Would it be so bad having Josh along? Just humor us, okay?”
Bailey reached out for Willow’s hand, tears spilling down her cheeks.
“Please take Josh with you. I don’t want to have to worry about you when you go. I understand why you’re making this trip but I’m not going to sleep right until you’re back.”
Bailey’s plea seemed to do the trick. Willow surrendered, if not graciously, at least quietly.
“Then we need to get cleaned up and go as soon as possible. I need a shower and some new clothes.” She pressed a few buttons on her phone. “I’ll call and tell them to get the plane ready. Josh, do you want to pack anything before we go?”
“Josh has a key to my house so he can take you there to shower after you stop at the hotel to get your things.” Chase turned to Ellis. “Are they going to be able to get inside?”
“They can for a few minutes to pack.”
“What about Peyton’s and Bailey’s clothes?” Willow asked. “Should I get them too?”
Josh held up his hands. “I’ll get them while you’re getting your things. Then Chase doesn’t have to make a trip later. I’ll drop everything off at his place. Everyone agree?”
No one dissented so it was a plan. Willow and Bailey hugged again and said their emotional goodbyes, the bond between them easy to see despite not having known each other long. If Peyton didn’t pull through it was going to hit them hard.
Chase took the empty coffee cup from Bailey’s hand and tossed it into the trash can. “I should get you home as well. You need a good night’s sleep.”
She was shaking her head before he’d even finished the sentence. “I can’t leave Peyton.”
Stubborn. “There’s nothing you can do for her right now, sweet. Besides, she’s in ICU and they restrict visitors. You can’t just sit with her all night. You need a meal and some sleep. Badly. Tomorrow morning I’ll bring you back here, I promise. But you aren’t going to be any good to her unless you take care of yourself.”
Her chin quivered and for a moment he thought she was going to give in. “Wait, I can’t leave her. She needs protection too, right? If we were the intended victims, her life is in danger as well.”
So this tiny little miss was going to bodyguard Peyton?
“I’ll call in a private team. We’ll have someone on her twenty-four-seven.”
“No need. I’m going to protect her myself.”
For a moment, Chase thought he heard Ellis say he was going to guard Peyton. The ringing in his ears was affecting his ability to comprehend words. Apparently, Bailey had no such affliction.
“That’s so sweet, Ellis. But are you sure? What about when you’re on duty?”
So Ellis had said it. That was…unexpected, to say the least.
“I have so much vacation saved up that the chief will be thrilled that I’m finally taking some time off. I’ll sit right out here and watch over her. I can get some of the guys from the station as well when they’re off duty. They’ll be thrilled with some extra pay. She’s in good hands, I promise you.”
This was a development Chase hadn’t seen coming. What was Ellis up to?
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Bailey had soaked in a hot tub, eaten as much food as she could choke down, and even drank a glass of wine so she’d fallen asleep rather easily, despite how keyed up her body was. The problem was she didn’t stay asleep. The illuminated red numbers on the bedside clock said eleven-thirty. She should be catching up on her rest but instead she was staring up at the ceiling of Chase’s spare bedroom and replaying the last several days like a movie in her head, all culminating with the explosion this morning.
Peyton in the hospital. A coma. All because Bailey couldn’t leave well enough alone. She’d had to dig through the past and now look where they were. Beaten, bloodied, and unsure where to turn. Stephen thought that the swim coach was the killer but now she was dead. Did someone kill her to silence anything she might say? What secrets, if any, had she been carrying all these years?
Tired of lying there, Bailey threw back the covers and climbed out of bed. Pulling on a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt, she combed her hair into a ponytail and headed out to the kitchen, her stomach telling her it was time to eat. When she entered the living room, Chase was sitting on the couch paging through the case file again.
“I thought you’d sleep through the night.” He folded the file closed and set it on the cushion next to him. “Are you hungry or thirsty?”
“No such luck. My brain won’t let me go back to sleep. And in answer to your question, yes and yes. Is there anything to eat?”
Chase chuckled and led her into the kitchen, his hands on her shoulders. The warmth was comforting even as everything was going to shit. She hadn’t objected when he’d moved her into his home because she felt the safest when she was with him. He was strong, dependable. A man she could count on when things got tough. She’d always been quite independent, proud of how she could take care of herself and stand on her own two feet, but there was something about Chase. He didn’t make her feel weak or less than if she leaned on him, whether for a few moments or several hours. She was there for him too, after all.
“I’m the king of frozen food. Toaster pizzas, chicken strips, burritos. You name it, I’ve got it. Pick out anything you like and I’ll nuke it for you.”
“You’re such a gentleman.” Bailey took a seat at the table. “Have you heard anything about Peyton by any chance?”
Chase opened the freezer and held up a personal size sausage pizza and she nodded. “I called them around dinner time and there was no change. She’s resting comfortably and her vital signs are strong. It’s all good. We’ll go see her in the morning. The nurse said that visitor hours are a little different in the ICU but we could get in as early as eight.”
It was a relief to hear that Peyton was stable but she shouldn’t have to be there at all.
As if he’d done it a million times – and perhaps he had – Chase popped her pizza into the toaster oven and grabbed a water bottle from the refrigerator, sliding it in front of her.
“Thank you for calling. I can’t get what happened out of my mind. The killer must be desperate, Chase, to go after us like that. And that poor woman in New York too. None of this would have happened if I hadn’t come here. This is all my fault.”
Chase pulled out a kitchen chair, the legs scraping loudly against the wood floors. “Hell no, sweet. You’re not going to do this to yourself. Even if Willow and Peyton hadn’t come here that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t have been targeted. The killer simply would have done it back in your hometown.”
“What about that coach?” she countered. “What about those two innocent people who lost their lives today? My. Fault.”
“No.” Chase shook his head, placing his hands on her knees. “You are not responsible, the killer is. Everything that has happened is on them. They decided to do this, not you. You’re simply looking for answers and so am I. If it wasn’t us, it would be someone else eventually. They couldn’t keep this all dead and buried forever.”
She wasn’t so sure about that. They had so far and quite well too.
Tears stung the back of her eyes and she blinked rapidly, not wanting to give into the wave of emotion that threatened to swamp her well-being. She’s always relied on hard work and drive to get the things she wanted, but this might be one situation where all of that didn’t matter.
“I can’t
let this all be for nothing,” she said quietly. “It’s even more important now.”
“That’s my girl,” Chase smiled. “I’m more determined than ever to give them hell and I’m glad to hear you are too. Let’s show them that we’re not scared.”
She hoped that’s how she looked outwardly but inside she kind of was. There was a person out there that didn’t care if innocent people died. Ruthless and cunning, they were determined to take their secrets to the grave. Hers or theirs was the only question.
He kept her company as she ate her late dinner. They talked about the case file that he was rereading and they postulated on how Willow and Josh were getting on together. Chase seemed to think they’d be fine and based that on how laidback and relaxed Josh was. Bailey wasn’t as convinced, knowing how upset Willow currently was about what had happened to Peyton. She hadn’t known Willow long but Bailey had the feeling her friend could be difficult at times, especially when she was emotional.
It was easy to be with Chase, hang out and be herself. She didn’t have to be anyone or anything for his approval. He was okay with her just as she was and what a relief. She didn’t want to think about carrying the right handbag, wearing the right shoes, or liking the right books. She simply wanted to be Bailey Jean Harris Scott. Lover of sweets, chocolate, old movies, and cute puppies. And weren’t all puppies cute?
They were cleaning up the dishes when she couldn’t resist asking any longer. “What are we going to do now? Where do we go next? You said you’re more determined than ever and so am I but we’re at a dead end.”
“I’ve thought about that all day and I think we should go back and speak to Daniel Ford. Guy was a hell of a lot more forthcoming than Danny was and I still think our friendly senator was holding back on us. He was too damn happy to get us out of his office.”
Wicked After Midnight (Midnight Blue Beach Book 1) Page 18
