Caught in the Crossfire (Otter Creek Book 15) Read online

  Anderson returned. “All right, my dear. Let’s numb your scalp and stitch you up. Once I examine Dawn, we’ll talk about your treatment plan.”

  Nicole frowned. Surely Dr. Anderson would release her tonight. She just needed an ice pack and over-the-counter pain reliever.

  The next thirty minutes weren’t ones Nicole wanted to repeat anytime soon. Once Dr. Anderson stitched her cut, Nicole turned her narrowed gaze toward Dawn as she climbed off the exam table. “Your turn.”

  Her employee held up her hands, shaking her head. “I just have a scratch and a few bruises. I’ll be fine.”

  “You’re already here.” The doctor patted the table and motioned for the groomer to climb up. “If you’re correct, you’ll be out of here in ten minutes.”

  With a scowl at Nicole, Dawn climbed on the table and answered all the doctor’s questions. When he finished his exam and agreed with her assessment, she asked, “Are we free to leave now, Dr. Anderson?”

  “You are. I want to keep you overnight, Nicole. Head injuries can be tricky.”

  Oh, no. Her stomach turned a nasty flip. “Aww, come on, Doc. I have to be at the grooming salon early tomorrow morning. We have dogs arriving at 7:00 a.m. I’m fine.”

  “You have ten stitches and will need pain medicine once the lidocaine wears off.” He pointed at her. “You also have a headache.”

  She huffed out a breath. “How did you know?” Nicole muttered.

  “You squint whenever you look toward the light.”

  “It’s bright.”

  “Not that bright.” Concern filled Dawn’s eyes. “Maybe you should stay overnight in case a problem develops, Nic.”

  A light tap sounded on the door and Grace slipped into the room. “You have another patient waiting in exam room six, Dr. Anderson.”

  “Very well, my dear. Prepare Dawn’s release papers. Nicole will be our guest for the night.”

  Nicole groaned. That was not what she wanted to hear. She wanted to sleep in her own bed. If she could sleep at all. Her headache was no joke. “Isn’t there another alternative, Doc?”

  “I’m off shift in three hours, Dr. Anderson. Nicole and Dawn can stay here under observation until then, then come home with me. Trent won’t mind. I’ll keep an eye on Nicole overnight.”

  Seeing the doubt on the doctor’s face, Nicole said, “I’ll do whatever Grace recommends.” Most of it, anyway. “If she thinks I need to come back, I promise I’ll come without arguing.” Much. She really did hate hospitals.

  Anderson watched her a moment, then slowly nodded. “Very well. Find a room for Nicole until you clock out, Grace. I’ll reevaluate her in three hours. If I’m satisfied that she’s doing well enough, I’ll send her home in your care.”

  Grace waited until Dr. Anderson left before she said, “I know you’re not seriously hurt, Dawn, but Linc and Trent will want you under their protection.”

  “Why? I didn’t see anything.”

  “The man who killed Riva doesn’t know that. He might want to make sure you and Nicole won’t be a problem. It’s better to be safe.” She smiled. “Consider it a grownup version of a slumber party. We’ll have fun.”

  Nicole wrinkled her nose. “The slumber parties I went to in elementary school didn’t include men standing guard. And how much fun will we have if we arrive at your house just in time to go to sleep. Slumber parties aren’t followed by a 14-hour work day.”

  Grace rolled her eyes. “Take it or leave it, Nic. The alternative is staying here all night.”

  She groaned. “All right. I’ll take it. I hope you don’t mind Mason staying because I have a feeling he’ll refuse to go home.”

  “Of course. We have plenty of room for Mason and Linc.”

  Dawn’s eyes widened. “Linc is staying, too?”

  “Fortress operatives take their responsibilities seriously. You and Nicole are officially under their protection now.” Grace turned to Nicole. “Sit tight, sis. I’ll find a room for you to rest in for a few hours. Is it all right if I send Mason in? He’s pacing the hallway like a caged tiger.”

  “Absolutely. Thanks for putting us up for the night.”

  “What are sisters for?” She flashed a sunny smile and left the room.

  Within seconds, Mason entered followed closely by Linc. “What did Dr. Anderson say?” Mason asked as he wrapped his hand around Nicole’s.

  “Ten stitches and I either stay with Grace overnight so she can watch me for signs of trouble or I have to stay here. I opted for Grace’s house. She’s trying to find me a room so I can lie down until she’s off shift.”

  “What about Dawn?” Linc asked. “She shouldn’t be alone, either.”

  “She’s staying at Grace and Trent’s as well.”

  When her employee protested, Nicole narrowed her eyes. “If you insist on staying at your own home, you’ll have a bodyguard watching over you, too. If you stay at Grace’s with me, fewer bodyguards lose sleep.”

  “I don’t need a bodyguard,” Dawn insisted.

  “I disagree,” Linc said, voice soft. “The man who killed Riva won’t have a problem taking out two women who might have seen too much and are a threat to his safety. It’s only for a few days, Dawn. As soon as the killer is behind bars, you’ll return to your normal routine.”

  “Trust Linc’s judgment,” Mason said. “A few nights of inconvenience is better than being injured or worse.”

  Dawn held Linc’s gaze for a few seconds, her cheeks flushing. She sighed. “If you think it’s best.”

  “I do. Thanks for giving me peace of mind.”

  A ghost of a smile curved her lips.

  Amusement spurted through Nicole. She could almost see sparks flying between Linc and Dawn. Although having to be watched around the clock wasn’t something Dawn wanted, the benefit of spending so much time with Linc could be interesting.

  Grace returned. “I found you a room. Follow me. Linc, Trent’s here to help with guard duty if you want to go to the cafeteria with Dawn. You must be starving by now. I imagine Mason might appreciate a meal, too.”

  “I could eat. Anything you don’t like, Mase?” Linc asked.

  He shook his head. “I’m not picky. Thanks for playing gofer.” Mason grimaced. “Lunch was a long time ago.”

  “I hear you. I’ll see what I can find. What room do we bring the food to, Grace?”

  “Room 3217.”

  Linc escorted Dawn from the room as Trent entered.

  “What did the doctor say about you?” he asked Nicole.

  “I’ll live. Ten stitches and a massive headache.” She glared at Trent. “Dr. Anderson already knows about the headache. You can use the information for blackmail purposes.”

  The operative grinned. “I’ll have to change my tactics. I’m becoming too predictable.” He looked at Mason. “You all right?”

  “What do you think?”

  “That the perp is lucky he’s not standing in this room or you’d pulverize him for what he did to your woman.”

  Nicole tightened her grip on Mason’s hand. “I’m fine.”

  “He could have killed you, Nicole,” Mason said.

  “Let’s get Nicole into a room for a few hours.” Grace opened the hallway door and returned a moment later with a wheelchair. “Don’t argue, Nic. It’s hospital policy. If you want, I’ll let Mason push you.”

  “This is embarrassing.” Nicole sat, surprised at how tired she felt. Must be the heavy dose of excitement after a 12-hour work day. Wouldn’t do to let Mason know, though. The knowledge would stoke his worry even higher.

  By the time she was in her room, Nicole’s stomach felt as though she would barf at any moment. Not good. “Any chance this high-class establishment has a soft drink for upset stomachs?”

  Grace eyed her sharply. “Nausea?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  “I’ll be right back.” Her sister thrust an empty plastic container into Mason’s hands and left the room. When she returned, Grace clutched a green can in o
ne hand along with a straw, and an ice pack in the other. After positioning the ice pack behind Nicole’s neck, she held the can for Nicole to sip the drink. “If the nausea doesn’t ease up, let me know, and I’ll ask Dr. Anderson about an anti-nausea patch.”

  “Only if he’ll still send me home with you. I don’t want to stay here, Grace.”

  “Matt is ten minutes away,” Trent said. “He stocks those patches in his mike bag.”

  Nicole breathed a sigh of relief. Good to know that Bravo’s medic was close if she needed assistance and Grace wasn’t available.

  “Call him.” To Nicole, Grace said, “If your symptoms worsen, have Trent text me, Nic. I’ll be back on my next break. If you need more ice or soft drinks, send one of the men to the nurse station. They’ll take care of you. The nurse will bring your pain meds in a few minutes. Do yourself a favor and take the medicine. The headache will worsen before it improves. I’ll have your prescriptions filled by the time we leave tonight.”

  “Thanks, sis.”

  After she left, Trent said, “I’ll send Matt a text about the patch. Concentrate on your girl, Mason. I’m on watch. No one will get past me or Linc. Nicole and Dawn will be safe.”

  Alone again, Nicole eyed the grim expression on the face of the man she loved. She scooted over and patted the bed. “Come here.”

  “You need to rest.”

  “I’ll rest better with you holding me.” Although reluctant to admit it, the close call had scared her. She didn’t know why the man didn’t finish what he started, but Nicole was grateful that he ran.

  “You’ll tell me if I hurt you?”

  That question reminded her of Dr. Anderson’s inquiry. She frowned. “You would never hurt me.”

  Mason’s brows knit. “What’s wrong?”

  Before she could answer his question, a soft tap sounded on the door and Trent peered inside. “Ethan and Rod are here. You up to talking to them?”

  Could she get by with saying no? Nicole sighed. That was a coward’s way out. She had to answer Rod’s questions. Any information might make the difference between the killer escaping justice or growing old in jail. Hopefully, Matt would arrive soon with the patch. She’d heard Trent mention several times how well the patch worked. She hoped he was right. “How far out is Matt?”

  “Five minutes. I can stall the cops until he arrives.”

  “Hey,” Rod protested from the hall. “Every second counts. I need as much information as Nicole and Dawn can give me.”

  Trent waited for Nicole to decide. She knew without a doubt that he would keep them out of the room at her request. She couldn’t do that to him or the policemen.

  “Send them in.”

  Her brother-in-law moved aside to allow the Otter Creek law enforcement officers to enter the room, then returned to his watch position.

  “What did the doctor say about you?” Ethan asked.

  “Ten stitches and I’ll live, although at the moment I’m beginning to wonder if Dr. Anderson is right. The headache and nausea are winning the battle.” Hope Ethan and Rod didn’t mind an episode of puking.

  “We wouldn’t be here unless we needed every detail.” Rod pulled out a notebook and pen. “Tell me everything you can remember.”

  Nicole ran through everything again. “I wish I could remember more, but everything happened so fast.”

  “What can you tell me about the man who hit you?”

  “He wore a black ski mask. His clothes were black, too. And he wore gloves.” Joy. No fingerprints.

  “Eye color?” Ethan asked.

  She closed her eyes and replayed the second her gaze had connected with the killer’s. “Brown.”

  “Did you see any part of his skin? Perhaps around his eyes or his hands.”

  “Yeah. He was Caucasian.”

  “You’re doing great, Nicole,” Rod said. “What about his height and weight?”

  “I don’t know. I was on my knees beside Riva.”

  “Guess.”

  Nicole swallowed a few more sips of the drink and prayed Matt arrived soon. She really didn’t want to barf in front of Mason or the tough policemen. “Taller than Mason.”

  “As tall as Ethan?”

  Her gaze shifted to the police chief. She shook her head and immediately wished she hadn’t. “Maybe your height, Rod.”

  “Any characteristics that stand out?”

  She started to say no, then remembered the cologne. “He wore spicy cologne.”

  Another tap on the door. This time, Matt entered. Nicole breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness.

  “I hear you need a patch.”

  “As fast as possible.”

  The medic skirted the two policemen and pulled a small white packet from his pocket. “Turn your head to the right,” he murmured and positioned the patch behind Nicole’s ear.

  “Please tell me this works fast,” she whispered.

  “At least half an hour.”

  She closed her eyes briefly. “Oh, boy.”

  Mason glanced at Ethan and Rod as Matt repositioned the ice pack to drape over Nicole’s forehead. “Finish your questions. Nicole needs to rest.”

  “I’m okay, Mason.”

  “No, baby, you aren’t. Undergoing intense questioning is making your symptoms worse.”

  “Just one more question.” Rod pulled out his phone, tapped his screen, and turned it around for Nicole to see. “Do you recognize this?”

  Mason grabbed the phone, color draining from his face.

  Ethan stilled. “Talk to me, Mason.”

  “That’s my pipe wrench.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “Are you sure?” Ethan asked. “Pipe wrenches are common. What makes you positive this one is yours?”

  Stomach twisting into a knot, Mason expanded the image on the screen and pointed to the marred surface of the handle. “I scratched the paint while fixing a leak on one of the sinks at Pet Palace last month. I’m sure the wrench is mine.”

  The police chief’s gaze bored into Mason. “How did your wrench end up at a crime scene?”

  “No, Ethan.” Nicole glared. “He wouldn’t hurt Riva or me.”

  The policeman’s gaze never wavered from Mason. “Answer my question.”

  Mason squeezed her hand in warning. “I must have left it when I fixed her sink.”

  A muscle in Ethan’s jaw twitched. “When were you at Riva’s?”

  He knew the suspicion his next words would spawn, yet he wouldn’t lie to the man who invested himself into Mason’s life over the past two years, and supported and mentored while drawing a hard line which Mason toed out of respect. “Around 2:00 this afternoon.”

  Nicole gasped.

  Rod’s eyes narrowed, suspicion glittering in the depths.

  Mason fought the bitterness threatening to well up from the depths of his being. When would the shadow of his past disappear? Rod knew him. He’d repaired several things around the Kelter home and as well as spent time there as a guest. He hadn’t broken any laws since he left prison. When would the debt he owed for a tragic mistake in judgment be paid in full? Weren’t his nightmares and unrelenting guilt enough?

  “Matt.” Ethan inclined his head toward the door. When the medic left, the chief said, “Tell us everything, Mason.”

  “Why? You and Rod have already decided I’m guilty.”

  Temper sparked in Ethan’s eyes. “Talk to us now or we’ll take you to the station for formal questioning as a person of interest in Riva’s murder.”

  If he was taken to the station for questioning, Mason wouldn’t be allowed in any Otter Creek or Dunlap County homes. Worse, he couldn’t protect Nicole. His gut told him that the man who killed Riva would view Nicole and Dawn as threats. Although Trent, Linc, and the other operatives with PSI and Fortress were skilled in protection, he loved Nicole. If staying by her side meant swallowing his pride and answering biased, insulting questions, he’d do it.

  “Make your choice, Mason. Do we question you here or at
the station?”

  “Mason, please,” Nicole whispered.

  He kissed her palm. “Riva called during lunch and asked me to meet her at her home to repair a leaking faucet in the master bathroom. I arrived at 2:00.”

  “She called you specifically?”

  A nod.

  “Why not call Elliott Construction to request a repairman?”

  “I remodeled her kitchen last year with Brian. From that point on, if she needed repairs completed around the house, she called me.”

  “Did Brian know you did repairs off the books for her?” Rod asked.

  His blood ran hot. “They were billed through Elliott Construction. Brian knew I planned to stop at her house.”

  “Brian will confirm you were at Riva’s on company business when we ask?”

  When, not if. He sighed. “Yes, sir.”

  “What did you do when you arrived at Riva’s?” Ethan asked.

  “Texted Brian to let him know that I was on site and knocked on her door. When she answered, Riva sent me to the master bath while she finished a phone call on her cell.”

  “Do you know who she was talking to?”

  “I don’t know, but it sounded personal. She seemed unhappy with the conversation. I went upstairs. Brian called a couple minutes later to request I check on another job when I left Riva’s.”

  Ethan motioned for him to continue.

  “The sink in the master bath was an easy fix. I used my pipe wrench to tighten a nut. While I was there, I checked the rest of the pipe and the faucet and found them in working order.”

  “When did you leave?”

  “Thirty minutes after I arrived.”

  Ethan and Rod stared. Yeah, he knew how that sounded.

  “You spent that long tightening a nut?” Rod’s disbelief rang loud and clear in his voice.

  “Riva had other quick maintenance projects.” Mason hated that he sounded defensive. He’d bet the detective would as well if someone questioned his integrity. “She’s a repeat customer of Elliott Construction. I was already there and the repairs didn’t take long. Once I finished her list, I drove to the Willow Run construction site and was there an hour before going to PSI to work on a sink in the kitchen. Nate will vouch for me.”