Chapter 4
FOUR
The weight of the baby in his arms added extra significance to a case already layered with complications.
Dawson had never been fond of Lilia. As a teenager, he’d found her shallow and petty and unruly.
During the years he was married to Peyton, he grew to have more sympathy for her wayward cousin, but Lilia’s addiction and manipulative ways made her destructive.
She hurt Peyton. Repeatedly. So much so, it’d strained even Dawson’s patient and forgiving nature.
But for all Lilia's faults, she was Peyton's family.
Chief Garcia's arrival sent a cascade of dread through Dawson. His boss wouldn't be here unless the news were bad. And Peyton—who'd already survived more loss than most people endured in a lifetime—would have to, once again, weather more pain.
“Have you found Lilia?” Peyton’s voice came out strong, but there was a slight tremble in her fingers before she pressed her hands to her sides. Her posture was rigid, shoulders back. She was close enough that Dawson could take her hand, but he resisted.
She wasn’t his wife anymore. He needed to remember that.
Chief Garcia glanced at Dawson before settling back on Peyton. “No, ma’am. We haven’t found Lilia yet.”
Peyton’s exhale of relief was audible, and matched Dawson’s own. She crossed her arms. “But you found something.”
“Signs of a struggle and blood near the back fence, close to the woods. Our search-and-rescue dog picked up a trail, but it ended abruptly, as if Ms. Morrison was taken away in a vehicle. A search of the area yielded little evidence, although my officers will try again in the morning.” Chief Garcia rested his hands on his duty belt.
Despite the late hour, his uniform was crisply pressed, but shadows darkened the skin under his eyes and the lines bracketing his mouth were more pronounced.
It made him seem far older and wearier than his years.
“Does your cousin have any connection to the Iron Serpents?”
A crease formed between Peyton's brow. “The Iron Serpents? I'm not familiar.”
“They’re a local biker gang.” Dawson rose and gently placed the still-sleeping Grace into the bassinet.
“On the surface, they’re a social club, but we’ve linked them to drugs, prostitution, and weapons.
” The Knoxville PD had been trying to shut them down for years to no avail.
It was like playing whack-a-mole. For every member they arrested, two more were recruited to replace him.
“And you think Lilia was involved with them?” Peyton directed the question to Chief Garcia.
“We recovered a bandana with the Iron Serpents logo in the woods, near the site of your attack. It’s a lead we’re following.”
Peyton sighed and then sat back on the edge of the bed.
“I’m not sure who Lilia has been involved with.
We haven’t spoken for the last three years.
Given her troubled past, I wouldn’t rule out the possibility though.
” She glanced at the baby, concern darkening her hazel eyes.
“Whatever happened, Lilia was scared. And judging from the way she hid Grace, she was desperate to protect her daughter. So desperate, in fact, she called me. I have to believe she was trying to do the right thing.”
Dawson looked down at the sleeping infant in the bassinet.
Grace's tiny chest rose and fell with each peaceful breath, completely unaware of the danger that had surrounded her hours ago.
Peyton was right. Whatever else Lilia had done wrong in her life, tonight she'd been trying to save her daughter.
“My aunt may be able to tell you more about who Lilia was in contact with lately.” Peyton addressed Chief Garcia. “And if she had any connection to the Iron Serpents.”
“That’s Lilia’s mother?” the chief asked.
Peyton nodded. “Sandra Morrison. She used to live off Budde Road in a trailer, although I haven’t seen or spoken to her since my grandmother died six years ago, so I don’t know if that’s still the case.”
Dawson wasn’t surprised Peyton had cut all contact with her aunt. Sandra was a long-time alcoholic, and a mean one to boot. She and Peyton had never been close, and Lilia’s continued contact with her destructive mother had been a sore spot between the cousins.
“We’ll find her.” The chief scribbled a note on a pad of paper he’d unearthed from his front pocket. “What about Lilia’s father? Or any other close relatives that might provide more information?”
“Lilia’s dad was never in the picture, and there are no other close relatives. It’s her mom. And me.”
“Friends?”
Peyton shook her head. “I have no idea, Chief. Sorry. I can’t even tell you where Lilia’s been living since I last saw her.”
“That’s all right. You’ve given us a place to start.
” The chief offered an understanding smile.
“I understand the doctors are releasing you and little Grace. I’ve already spoken to the caseworker and sent her the guardianship paperwork.
She’s agreed to allow Grace to stay with you for the evening, but you should touch base with her tomorrow morning—”
“Me?” Peyton blinked in shock. “I’m sorry. You want me to keep Grace?”
Chief Garcia’s brow crinkled in confusion. “Forgive me, I just assumed, given the guardianship paperwork, that you wanted Grace to stay with you.” His gaze swung toward Dawson. “Was I misinformed?”
“Actually, sir, I haven’t explained.” Dawson turned toward Peyton.
Her wavy locks framed her face, falling around her shoulders, brushing against the deepening bruise on her right cheek.
The hospital staff had found her a pair of scrubs to wear, but they were two sizes too big for her slender frame.
“This is what I started to discuss with you before the chief came in. Along with the birth certificate, we found guardianship paperwork tucked in the carrier. Lilia named you as Grace’s guardian. ”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
He crossed the room and picked up a sheaf of papers tucked in a folder before handing them to Peyton.
She flipped through the legal documents.
Her hands trembled as she scanned the pages, and Dawson watched her face drain of color.
When she looked up at him, there was something raw and panicked in her expression before she quickly shuttered it.
“Is this why she called me? To take Grace?”
“It’s possible. Until we find her, we won’t know for sure.
But these guardianship papers make things a lot easier for everyone because they allow you to take Grace now.
The caseworker will alert the court in the morning, and there may be a hearing, but there’s no reason to believe the judge won’t allow Grace to stay in your care.
” He paused, letting that sink in, and then continued softly, “Lilia called you because she believed you’d protect her child. This baby needs you.”
She looked up at him. Steely determination replaced the shock. “You think Grace is in danger.”
He shrugged. “We can’t know for sure, but those guys already had Lilia, and they still came back.
For what? We’ve looked through the backpack Lilia hid with Grace.
There’s nothing in it besides baby supplies.
” Dawson rubbed the back of his neck. “The probability that Grace is in danger is minimal, but it’s something we can’t rule out yet. ”
“Dawson’s right,” Chief Garcia intervened. “But Ms. Hughes, taking Grace is your decision. If you don’t want the responsibility, I’ll keep her location secret and do everything in my power to protect her. Would you like a few minutes to think about it?”
She straightened her shoulders. “No. I’ll take her.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Hopefully, Lilia will be found within the next few hours, and this nightmare will be over.” Her fingers brushed against her temple, near her head wound, as if it was aching.
“I’ll need transportation back to the train depot to collect my vehicle.
And I guess I’ll stay in a hotel nearby.
The Limestone Inn near the highway should do. ”
“You can’t drive with a concussion,” Dawson interjected.
His voice softened as he took in her exhaustion and the blood still matted in her hair.
She’d been through the wringer tonight. “I’ll take you to the hotel tonight and arrange for some officers to drop off your vehicle there after the crime scene is processed. ”
Peyton offered him a smile of gratitude. “Okay.”
Chief Garcia tilted his head toward the door. “Dawson, may I have a moment, please?”
His tone was polite, but there was no question that the chief had given an order. Dawson dutifully followed his boss to a small alcove. Voices from the nurses' station filtered down the hallway, and the brightness of the fluorescent lights hurt his eyes. He braced himself for the discussion.
When Chief Garcia faced him, there was no judgment in his gaze, only concern. “I’m not one to insert myself into the personal lives of my subordinates, but it’s no secret this case is personal to you. You don’t need to drive Peyton and Grace to the hotel. I can have Liam do it.”
Logically, it might be smart to wash his hands of this here and now. Let Liam take Peyton and Grace to the hotel. His colleague would ensure they got there safely, and Peyton was an armed law enforcement officer, more than capable of handling herself.
And yet…Dawson couldn’t bring himself to take the out. He was in this, and had been from the moment Peyton called. No matter their history and the hurt between them, he would never abandon her.
“I appreciate the offer, sir, but it’s unnecessary.” Dawson straightened his shoulders. “She called me for help, and I want to see this through.”
The chief studied him for a long moment and then nodded. “If that changes, you’ll let me know.”
“Of course, sir.”
As his boss walked away, Dawson took a moment to breathe.
Doubt niggled as he second-guessed his decision all over again.
It’d take a long time to heal the wounds Peyton had carved in his heart, and already, he could feel her wriggling past his defenses.
The history between them was complicated, as were most things in adulthood, and some inner wisdom—maybe faith, maybe just age—urged him toward grace.
Peyton had been thrust into a difficult situation, and she was facing it alone.
He couldn’t let her do that. Not when she reached out for his help. So he’d stay. Protect her. Solve this case, and then say goodbye.
For good this time.