Читать книгу More Than A Lawman - Anna J. Stewart - Страница 13

Chapter 4

Had Eden’s body not been throbbing, she might have woken with a smile on her face. The drug-induced haze that welcomed her to the conscious world was almost intoxicating. Any other time, she might have actually enjoyed the ride.

The second she moved her head, however, her entire body screamed and she realized where she was. Monitors beeped, cords and tubes were attached to her, and the bars on either side of her bed may as well have been made of barbed wire for all the peace they brought her. That the dull, beige-colored walls, the scribbled-on whiteboard and the dingy sea-foam-green curtain gave her none of the privacy promised bothered her enough to shove herself into a sitting position.

Out. Out. Out. She dug at the IV in her arm. Not in the hospital. Never in the hospital. The walls seemed to close in and the weight of the past descended on her...

“Eden?” Cole’s voice drifted to her from across the room. Blinking sleep from his eyes, he leaned forward in his chair, and the mere touch of his fingers against her arm stilled the terror inside her. “It’s okay. I’m here. Just like I promised. Lie back. Be calm.”

He squeezed his hand around her arm, didn’t push, didn’t press, but shifted closer so she could see he was there and that he understood.

“I didn’t see you,” she managed and did as he’d said, collapsing against the flimsy pillows as the squeaky mattress eased under her. Her right shoulder both ached and burned. “Thought I was alone.”

“I told you I’d be here when you woke up,” Cole said. He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Since when don’t you believe me?”

“It’s been a rough night.” She searched for the humor even as she stared at her bandaged wrists. “A few things might have shifted in here.” She poked a finger against her temple. “What time is it?”

“Almost noon.”

“On Saturday?” Her brain and mouth felt fuzzy. The drugs.

Cole nodded. “Doctor Collins should be by in a little while with your test results. You hungry?”

“What?” He sounded weird, as if he were speaking under water. Her brain was not cooperating. She sighed and dropped heavy arms onto the mattress. “Yeah, actually.” The stent patch in her arm pinched and her stomach turned. Then again...

“They were warm when I bought them.” Cole pulled a paper bag from the counter beside her and handed her a cinnamon raisin bagel from Schofield’s Bakery.

She smiled, forgetting for a moment what had put her in the hospital in the first place. “My favorite.”

“I wanted to make sure you’d eat.” He gestured to the three containers of lime gelatin on her table. “I didn’t think those would do much for you.”

“Is that color even found in nature?” She broke off part of the bagel and popped it in her mouth, the spicy flavor exploding against her tongue as her stomach growled in eager response. “I owe you,” she mumbled behind her hand. “Thanks.”

“Don’t thank me yet.” Cole pulled his chair closer. “We have a lot to talk about.”

“Not here.” She could barely swallow at the thought of being surrounded by medical personnel and machinery. “Later.”

“Not much later.” Cole didn’t look surprised. “Fair warning. I called Simone and Allie.”

Eden choked, sputtering bagel onto her chin. She wiped the crumbs away and Cole passed her a cup of water.

“Why?” she squeaked. Her eyes teared, and she drank. “Why would you call them?”

“Because they’re your best friends and I didn’t want them reading about this on the front page over their morning coffee.”

“What front page?” Surely her own paper wouldn’t have featured— Who was she kidding? Of course they would. “How bad is it?”

“For you?” Cole shrugged, but Eden could see he was keeping his temper at bay. He was angry, frustrated definitely, and she must be in pretty bad shape if he was willing to hold things in check until a later time. “You’re breathing, so I’d say you’re in better shape than the other eight people they found in that locker.”

“Eight.” Eight lives. Eight souls. Turn eight on its side and it became infinity. Infinity... A killer like the Iceman would keep going unless he was stopped. Unless she stopped him. “Who were they?” She’d made them a promise. One she intended to keep.

“We should know in the next day or so. In the meantime—”

She shoved another bite into her mouth and jostled the railing. “In the meantime, I need to get out of here before—”

“Too late. I’m here.” The sharp feminine voice shot through the doorway and preceded Simone Armstrong’s pristine white form into the room. The woman wore white as effortlessly as a bride and more elegantly than a queen.

The bride she’d been for all of three months a few years back. A queen? It was probably on her list of things to do. Eden once considered submitting Simone’s photo to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary so they’d have a visual display of professional perfection.

“You didn’t have to come down,” Eden mumbled as she picked at a loose thread on the blanket. They might be the same age, but at twenty-nine, Simone was most certainly the eldest. “Aren’t you getting ready for the Denton trial in a few weeks?”

“Denton’s not going anywhere. He’s on ice.”

Cole snickered. Eden glared at him and he shrugged. “Tell me that wasn’t a little funny.”

Simone flicked a latch under Eden’s bed and lowered the bar before sitting beside her. Eden caught the familiar, comforting scent of Simone’s perfume. Some kind of flower. Eden didn’t do flowers.

“Thank you for calling me, Cole.” Simone took hold of Eden’s hand and squeezed, and only then did Eden feel the fear trembling through her friend. Eden had scared her. Again. Not that Simone would ever admit to such a thing in public.

“I wasn’t going to deal with her all on my own.” Cole’s grin didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You know the way she gets.”

“She is getting that way right now.” Eden felt a puff of relief as Allie Hollister flitted into the room like the dark-haired pixie she was. “Finally. Someone reasonable. Allie, please tell them— What. Is. That?” Eden angled her eyes to the sad-looking one-eyed panda bear tucked under Allie’s arm.

“Pathetic, isn’t he?” Allie walked over and plopped the bear on Eden’s lap. “Looks like he’s been kicked around a bit. Found him on the top shelf of the gift shop. Discounted by about a million percent and it still cost me ten bucks. He reminds me of someone I know. Can’t imagine who. I also stopped by your place and got you some clothes.” She dropped a plastic bag on the bedside table. “Ooooh, bagels. May I?” She snatched the sack and snagged the second one. “I missed breakfast. So, how was your night?” She fluttered her lashes innocently at Eden—as if she didn’t know.

“Okay, okay. I get it. I was stupid. I even told myself that when I was hanging in that meat locker.”

“Gah.” Allie’s mouth twisted as she dropped the bag. “Thanks so much for that image. At some point we’re going to have to discuss this annihilation wish you seem to have.”

“Stop analyzing me, shrink.”

“Criminal psychologist, please.” Allie held up her hand much like their fifth-grade teacher had when correcting a spelling error. “I worked hard for those degrees.”

“Excuse me.” An unfamiliar voice accompanied the knock on the door frame. Eden lifted weary eyes to the cautious-looking blond man wearing dark green scrubs. “I’m sorry to interrupt. I need to draw some more blood before they remove your stent, Ms. St. Claire.” He held up a plastic-handled container one might carry cleaning supplies in. “It won’t take but a minute.”

“Yeah, sure. Whatever.” Eden squinted to read his badge as he drew closer. “Glen.”

“Careful—she bites.” Allie grinned.

“Shut up.” Eden shifted and focused on Cole. The expression on his face seemed odd, caught between concern and confusion. But the smile he gave her was pure Cole and took her breath away. Where would she be without him?

“All done.” Glen gathered up his supplies.

“That’s some touch you’ve got, Glen.” Simone patted Eden’s knee in comfort. “She barely flinched.”

“Have a good day.” He gave them a quick wave on his way out.

“So which one of you is going to fill us in on what happened?” Simone asked as she looked between Cole and Eden.

“Didn’t you read the paper?” Cole asked.

“I only read the paper if I’m featured,” Simone said with a sly smile. A lie. Simone never read the paper, not even Eden’s articles. “You finally did it, then, Eden. You’re solidly in some maniac’s crosshairs just like you’ve always wanted.”

“No fair picking on the sick girl,” Eden said.

“She must be desperate if she’s playing that card.” The other railing went down as Allie perched at the end of the bed and rested her hands on Eden’s feet.

The monster inside Eden settled, curling up and falling into hibernation once more. She had her friends—her family—around her. She was safe. Even in a hospital, she was home when she was with them.

“Do you remember anything?” Allie asked.

“Creep got me in the parking lot at Monroe’s,” Eden explained and tried to clear the last of the cobwebs. “Thought I had time to get my Taser, but...”

“Wait. You were at Monroe’s last night?” Cole’s entire body tensed, and he came toward her.

“Of course. We had a meeting, remember?”

“I thought you’d ditched me. Because of our fight.”

“If I ditched you every time we fought we’d never see each other,” Eden teased him. “I got there right after seven. I was late, sure, but—”

“Hang on.” Simone squeezed Eden’s hand and addressed Cole. “What aren’t you telling us, Detective?”

Cole’s expression turned cold. “We found your car at your town house, Eden. Your purse and phone were inside. Your house keys were under the gargoyle.”

Whatever fear she’d managed to push aside roared back. “But I live more than a half hour from Monroe’s.”

“If you two didn’t meet up,” Allie said, and Eden saw the logic gears begin to turn, “how did you know she was missing, Cole? How did you know where to find her?”

“I meant to ask you that last night,” Eden said, and for the first time she could remember, she dreaded Cole’s answer. The silent seconds that ticked by only increased her apprehension.

“He contacted me. The Iceman,” Cole said, proving to Eden that no matter how bad things got, he would never lie to her. “He told me where to find you.”

“The Iceman has your phone number?” Simone frowned for a flash only, as if remembering they caused wrinkles.

“I thought it was Eden calling.” Cole locked his gaze on Eden’s. “He used your phone.”

Only a fraction of a second passed before she made the next connection. “He knows where I live, then.” Not to mention what else he’d have gleaned from her phone. Served her right for not using a passcode.

“So it would seem,” Cole said. “Which brings me back to that discussion we’re going to have. Now seems the right time. You’re going into protective custody, Eden. No arguments.”

“No arguments needed because it isn’t going to happen.” Whatever fear she should have felt didn’t materialize. Not under the anger, not under the triumph circling inside her like an eagle finally diving for its prey. “Don’t you see? It’s personal now.”

“Doesn’t get more personal than a serial killer having your address,” Allie said.

“No, I mean he’s messing up. I’m getting to him.” The adrenaline inside her surged. “I’m not about to run and hide when he’s afraid. We’ve got him cornered.”

“We do not have him cornered,” Cole said in too calm a voice. “We don’t have the first clue who he is. We don’t even know why he’s doing what he’s doing. And trust me, Eden, you’re either doing this my way or you’ll find yourself in the hands of the FBI under witness protection.”

Eden balked. “You wouldn’t.”

“Try me. Special Agent Anthony Simmons, our new FBI liaison, is more than anxious to help with the case. And talking to you is definitely on the top of his list of things to do. Give me a reason, Eden. One excuse, and I won’t hesitate to turn you over.”

“You do that, Cole, I’ll never forgive you.” He knew how important her work was, how she lived and breathed finding every last killer she could in order to bring them to justice.

“You’d be alive, though,” Cole said and pushed to his feet. “Guess which means more to me?” He kissed the top of her head. “I made a promise, Eden, to keep you safe. No matter what it takes.”

“Hold on. No, Cole, please—” She grabbed for him as he moved away. “We can talk about this. What about—”

“Eden, I’m wiped. I need a couple more hours’ sleep before I can even think about going to the station. I’ll be back later.”

“To take me home, right?” Eden asked.

“You can’t be serious,” Simone demanded before Cole could. “Eden, for heaven’s sake, a serial killer knows where you live. Cole? Tell her she can’t go back there.”

“I’m not putting anyone else in his sights,” Eden mumbled around gnawing on her thumbnail. That she barely flinched probably told Cole he had his work cut out for him with her. Independence was one thing. Reckless disregard for her own life, she guessed, was another. Which meant she needed to find a compromise. “I’ll get the locks changed,” she offered. “I’ll look into an alarm system. Maybe I’ll get a dog.”

As if she had time for a dog.

“Don’t worry, Eden, I’ll take care of it.” Cole squeezed Simone’s shoulder, brushed his fingers over Allie’s and gave them a silent smile goodbye.

“Take care of what?” Eden called after him. “What did he mean by that?” she asked.

“If I had to bet?” Simone said with a hint of frustration in her voice. “It’s that somebody’s getting a bodyguard. Oh, snap out of it, Eden. There are worse things than being put under house arrest by Cole Delaney.” Her attempt to placate Eden didn’t work. If anything, the idea of spending extended time in close quarters with Cole only made Eden’s stomach do giant Olympic pool–sized belly flops.

“He’s worried about you.” Allie reclaimed her bagel. “He has reason to be. I read your test results. Sedative aside, another few hours in that freezer, you’d be dead. As it was, you went in there with only two-thirds your normal blood supply. Not sure if that might help with the investigation or not.” She arched a brow.

Eden rubbed her arms and shivered. “The Iceman took my blood? Why would he do that?”

“The only person who can help you answer that just walked out the door.” Simone got to her feet and took Cole’s chair, crossed her legs and waggled her fingers at Allie. “Gimme. I’m hungry.”

“That’s what happens when you live on pea shoots and sesame seeds.” Allie handed over the last half of her bagel as Eden stared ahead.

“Uh-oh.” Simone nibbled on a raisin. “I know that look. Eden? What are you thinking? Do we need to buy Cole a flak jacket?”

“He already has one. And I’m not thinking anything. Yet.” But she was starting to. Something between her and Cole had changed. They weren’t wholly off-kilter exactly, but she could sense a difference in their relationship, as if something had become lodged between them. Or maybe dislodged. One thing was for certain.

It was time for her and Cole to come to an understanding.

About a lot of things.