Chapter 7
Crash couldn’t believe his eyes. A beautiful couple died because of a stupid car accident. He didn’t think the amount of damage done to them was possible from a car accident.
The phone call from Wyatt played repeatedly in his head as Crash stared down at his friend. They’d been through so much together, but Wyatt sounded terrified on that call.
“What happened to you, buddy?” Crash whispered.
Crash wished he could shake Wyatt and get the answers he wanted. None of this made sense. Why had Wyatt warned him to be careful? What did he mean when he said he’d fucked up and trusted the wrong people?
“Jesus, Ellie. Why the fuck are you both here? You shouldn’t be gone. You should be home with your babies.” Crash took a shaky breath. “I promise they’ll never forget either of you. Damn… Keep watch over me, you two. I need all the help I can get.”
He bent down, kissed Ellie’s temple, and said goodbye one last time. Then he turned to Wyatt and grabbed his hand.
“Who the fuck did this to you?” Crash hissed.
“We’ll find out,” someone said behind him.
Crash turned and noticed a police officer inside the room. The guy looked familiar, but it was hard for Crash to think with his brain in a spin.
“Who’s looking after the investigation?” Crash asked.
Crash was sure the young officer was qualified, but he didn’t want a rookie investigating his friends’ case. He needed experienced police to handle this, and several officers, including all four of his boss’ brothers, fit that bill.
“Inspector O’Connor is on the way,” the young officer said.
“Which one?” It didn’t matter which one.
“A.J.,” the officer told him.
“What’s your name, kid?” Crash asked.
“Constable Ray, Dillon Ray. I’m from Hopedale as well.” Dillon told him.
“I thought you looked familiar. I want the best to look after this case,” Crash explained.
“I understand.” Dillon met Crash’s eyes.
“Good. No offense.” Crash turned back to Wyatt and Ellie.
“None taken. This is my first year with the department, and I know I don’t have enough experience to deal with this, but for what it’s worth. I don’t believe they got all these injuries from the accident. Neither does A.J.”
Crash hated to leave his friends, but he was now responsible for two lives that didn’t deserve to experience this loss at such a young age. He’d ensure they knew everything about their parents and how much Ellie and Wyatt loved them.
“I’ll never let them forget you,” Crash murmured.
Crash pulled the sheets up over both his friends and then slowly walked out of the room, swallowing down the colossal lump threatening to strangle him.
He stepped outside the room with Dillon behind him. The young officer stood guard outside the room as Crash walked away. Obviously, the police didn’t believe this was a typical car accident. Crash tried to get the picture of his friends’ battered bodies out of his head, which was why he was frantically looking around the ED for the one woman who could help him get through this, whether she knew it or not.
He spotted her talking to Aaron next to the main desk. He stomped toward them, trying to control all the anger raging inside. He was not upset with them; the itch at the back of his head told him he needed a drink to deal with this. It was the first time he had felt that urge in a very long time.
“I want to know who the hell put them here and find out why. They shouldn’t be here. I want to know every fucking step in this investigation.” Crash shook as he looked Aaron in the face.
“I know, Crash, but you need to let me do my job,” Aaron replied.
“Well, do it.” Crash snapped.
“It’ll be okay, Brent. A.J. will get answers,” Allyson said, using Aaron’s nickname.
Allyson placed her hand on his shoulder, which shouldn’t have affected him, but he couldn’t control how he felt, so he stepped away and pulled out his phone. He was sure she winced but tucked her hands into her pockets and turned away.
“I need to call my family. I don’t know where the kids are,” Crash sighed.
“I called your dad, and he said Megan doesn’t have them,” Allyson told him.
“Megan is going to be devastated. Ellie is her best friend…” Crash stopped when he heard a familiar voice.
“Brent.”
Megan sprinted down the corridor, followed by his father, mother, brother, and sister-in-law. All of them had the same shattered expression on their faces.
Ryan and Nancy stopped beside him, but Megan practically threw herself into Crash’s arms. She sobbed into his chest as he held her, but while she cried.
“Is it true? Is Ellie and Wyatt…” Megan gazed up at him with tear-filled eyes.
“I’m afraid so.” Brent hugged her.
“What the fuck happened?” Ryan asked as he wrapped his arm around his wife.
“Their car went over a cliff.” Crash tucked his sister under his arm.
“I can’t believe this,” Nancy whispered.
“Where are the kids?” Crash asked.
“I don’t know. Lacey called Ellie’s regular babysitter, but she doesn’t have them either,” Ryan told him.
Lacey was Crash’s nineteen-year-old niece. She recently started university to study Marine Biology, and his brother couldn’t be prouder.
Allyson stood next to him and helped keep him from completely losing it. Although, the asshole doctor talking to her when he arrived was back in the reception area pretending to scroll through his phone. Crash didn’t miss how he glared and was about to ask what the problem was when he spotted Ellie’s nanny running toward them.
Very few people knew who Sidney was, and with her rainbow-colored hair and tattoos, nobody would guess. She was a sweet girl and knew what she’d escaped as a child. The people who adopted her made sure she was never in any danger.
“This can’t be true,” Sidney whispered as she stepped beside Nancy.
“I’m afraid so, sweetheart,” Crash’s mom murmured.
“Where are the kids, and what will happen to them?” Sidney broke into tears.
“I’ll be their legal guardian. Wyatt and Ellie made wills when Mila was born, and the police are checking the house,” Crash assured the weeping girl.
“I’m glad they’re going to be safe.” Sidney took a deep breath. “If you need anything for the kids, please let me know. I love those babies.”
She pulled a piece of paper from her purse and wrote on it. She handed it to Crash and then shoved the pen into her bag. For a moment, she stood there staring at the floor. When she finally lifted her head, tears were streaming down her cheeks.
“I can’t believe this. Wyatt and Ellie were family to me,” Sidney whispered.
“They loved you, Sid. We all do.” Crash hugged the young nanny.
Sidney was brought to Newfoundland when she was little, and Ellie’s former foster parents took her in. They had special skills for caring for high-risk kids. It didn’t matter what kind of situation the child came from; they did everything to keep all the children safe.
“I’ll keep in touch,” Crash told Sidney.
Before she could respond, Aaron joined them. His jaw clenched, and his eyes narrowed. He had his phone to his ear, and whatever he heard wasn’t good news.
“Thanks. Please make sure I have the full report as soon as you’ve got it.” Aaron ended the call and put the phone back in his pocket.
“A.J., was that about Wyatt and Ellie? Did you find the kids?” Crash asked.
“They weren’t at the house, and the neighbors weren’t home,” Aaron said as he glanced at the group around Crash.
“They may be out of town for the weekend. I can try to call them,” Sidney offered.
“I’d appreciate it,” Crash said before making introductions.
“I’m so sorry about your friends, Crash.” Aaron gently squeezed Crash’s shoulder.
“Thanks.” Crash hugged his sister tighter.
Sidney walked away with her phone to her ear as Aaron stepped next to Crash. It wasn’t difficult to see the man didn’t like what he’d heard.
“That call was from the team recovering the vehicle. It’s all preliminary, but they believe someone pushed the car off the cliff.” Aaron explained. “If the car hadn’t gotten tangled up with the trees, we probably wouldn’t have found them for a long time. They would’ve dropped down into the ocean.”
“Whoever pushed them off the road didn’t want them found,” Crash mainly said to himself.
“Probably, but we’ll have answers after the autopsies and the forensics team take a better look at the car,” Aaron explained.
“Both their phones are going to voicemail. Service is not great at the cottage.” Sidney sighed. “I’m sorry I couldn’t help.”
“It’s okay, Sid.” Crash squeezed her shoulder gently.
“I’ve got to get back to my dorm. I’ve got a paper due. Please let me know when you find them.” Sidney wiped the tears from her cheeks.
“We will,” Megan hugged the young girl.
When she walked away, Megan tucked herself into her father’s side. Crash’s mind was racing. He needed to find the kids and pray they were okay.
“Thanks, A.J., but where the hell are the kids?” Crash was worried.
“I’ll let you know the minute I know something.” Aaron turned to leave but then stopped. “Again, I’m sorry about your friends, and we’ve already put out an amber alert for the kids. I’ll make sure whoever did this ends up behind bars.”
Crash looked around and found Allyson talking to a man in the reception area. He couldn’t see his face but clenched his fists when the guy touched her shoulder. He had no right to be jealous, but he couldn’t help how he felt.
“What happens now?” Crash asked Aaron as he turned away from Allyson.
“You take care of yourself, and I promise we’ll find out what happened,” Aaron promised.
“I can’t sit around and do nothing, A.J.,” Crash whispered.
“I know it’s hard, but you need to trust us,” Aaron told him and looked behind Crash.
He followed Aaron’s line of sight and saw Allyson leaning against the wall with her head resting against it. The man from a few seconds ago was nowhere to be seen. Her eyes were closed, and she looked exhausted.
“She should’ve gone home a while ago,” Crash muttered.
“She’s staying for you,” Aaron informed him.
“I don’t think so. She probably has paperwork to do.” Crash sighed.
“She cares about you, Crash,” Aaron told him.
“We’re friends, A.J.,” Crash replied.
“Bethany thinks Allyson is afraid to admit her feelings for you, but she doesn’t know why.”
“She says I’m too young for her.” Crash rolled his eyes.
“For the love of God, what is it? four or five-years difference?” Aaron snorted.
“I’m four years younger,” Crash explained.
“Bull is six years older than Kristy, and you never met a happier couple,” Aaron said.
Kristy was Aaron’s cousin, and she married Keith’s best friend and business partner, Dean ‘Bull’ Nash. Bull. Crash remembered that in the beginning, Bull had issues with the age difference, but mostly, he didn’t think he was good enough for Kristy.
“Age doesn’t matter to me, but right now, I need to give all my energy to finding the kids,” Crash said.
“You’re not alone. You know that, right?” Aaron stepped in front of Crash.
“Thanks. That means a lot.” Crash shook hands with Aaron.
He was now responsible for two lives and didn’t even finish his house. It was liveable enough for him but not for small children. He’d probably have to stay with his parents and ask for help to finish the other bedrooms and the other bathroom. He ran his hand through his hair and blew out a breath.
“Where the hell are the kids? The only people they trusted were my family, the babysitter, and their neighbor,” Crash said.
“We’ll try to get in touch with the neighbors,” Aaron told him.
Crash nodded as Aaron shook his hand again and then walked over to where the other police officers waited. What was he supposed to do now? His mind was going a mile a minute with images of what could’ve happened to three-year-old Caleb and one-year-old Mila. He needed to remain hopeful before putting himself into a pit of despair he couldn’t escape.
Crash turned to his father and mother.
“I need to find Caleb and Mila,” Crash told his family.
“I hate to say it, but do you think the people who did this could have them?” his dad asked.
“I can’t go there, Dad.” Crash plowed his fingers through his hair.
“We’ll find them,” his father assured him.
“I’m going to drive by their house and see if the neighbors are there,” Crash said. “When I find them, I’ll need a place to stay until I finish my house. It’s not ready for small kids.”
“We’ll worry about that when we have those babies in our arms,” his mom hugged him.
“I know, but it’s going to be a priority when I find them,” Crash said.
“You can stay with me until you finish the house,” Allyson said from behind him.
When he spun around, her lips pressed together as if she hadn’t meant to say it. She shifted from one leg to the other before pulling out her phone as if she were about to make a call.
“I’ve got to go.” She practically ran down the corridor.
Did he hear her correctly?