Chapter 14
Cody’s pulse raced faster with each barreling footstep down the wide, hospital hallway. He was looking for a man who could have slipped into Ollie’s room unnoticed. Someone Ollie thought worked for the hospital.
A doctor at the end of the hallway turned in the opposite direction, and Cody picked up his pace. He ignored an irritated gasp from a female nurse who pushed an older woman in a wheelchair. He couldn’t worry about proper etiquette right now.
He rounded the corner and closed the distance between him and a tall man dressed in blue scrubs. Reaching out, he grabbed the back of the man’s shirt and yanked him backward.
“What the hell?” the man yelled and spun around, fists raised high.
The familiar face of Dr. Manning met him, and Cody took a step backward, shoving a hand through his hair. “Sorry. I’m looking for a guy pretending to work here.”
“Sorry. I actually do work here and have a patient to see.”
Cody glanced up and down the hall and spotted a janitorial cart abandoned by the wall. He ran to it, peeking into the room beside it to see if anyone was inside.
Empty.
He studied the cart. A black-tipped marker rested on top of a crumpled sheet of waxy paper—the kind of paper peeled off the back of a name tag.
Shit.
A quick scan of the hallway showed a camera mounted in the far corner. He needed footage, and he needed it fast. He sprinted to the security office by the emergency waiting room.
Gus sat at the desk and kept an eye on the screens in front of him. He dipped his fingers into a glass dish and plucked out peanuts, popping them into his mouth as he watched.
“I need you to pull up footage of the south hall.”
Gus turned around with a frown, his hand halfway to his mouth. “What?”
“South hall. Footage starting two minutes ago. Now.” He moved into the room as he spoke.
Gus didn’t ask another question, just pulled up what was requested.
A man dressed in a dark blue button-up shirt and matching trousers kept his head down and pushed a janitorial cart down the hall. He maneuvered it up against the wall, placed his hands in his pockets, and walked toward the exit.
“Just a custodian leaving his cart unattended. Probably had to use the bathroom or something,” Gus said, continuing to munch on his snack.
Cody glanced at the time stamp than the clock on the wall.
Less than ten minutes separated the moment the man walked away and now.
Adrenaline pushed through his veins as he dashed back outside and headed for the exit the man had used—a side door that led to a smaller lot opposite the emergency room.
A black truck sped out of the lot seconds after he rushed through the door. “Shit.” He reached for his communicator to call in the truck, but he was dressed in civilian clothes.
He nabbed his phone from his pocket just as Owen appeared in the doorway.
“What the hell’s going on? Katherine’s frantic, and Gus said you took off after seeing something on the security screen,” Owen said.
“He was in Ollie’s room. He just sped out of the lot.” Cody jabbed a finger in the direction the truck had fled. “Where are you parked?”
“Other lot. I’ll call it in and get more deputies to pursue. Tommy and I will jump in my cruiser. Get Katherine and Ollie to your house.”
Cody followed Owen back inside, peeling off in the opposite direction. He jogged to Katherine’s room, needing to be near her in case there was something he was missing. In case her attacker hadn’t just fled the scene and still lurked nearby.
Katherine met him in the doorway, blocking Ollie from the conversation. “Did you find him?” she whispered.
He shook his head. “No, but Owen and Tommy are going after him.”
Mike stood from a chair dragged up to the bed and marched their way. “Well?”
Cody repeated what he’d told Katherine.
“How the hell did this guy slip through the cracks?” Mike asked.
“Dressed as a janitor. He pushed a cart into the room, which is why Ollie thought he worked for the hospital.”
Katherine pressed a hand to her stomach. “I think I’m going to get sick. He just walked right in here. He could have done anything to Ollie while he was alone. I can’t believe I let this happen.”
Mike snaked an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to his side. He kept his gaze locked on Cody. “It’s not your fault, honey.”
The implication was loud and clear. But he didn’t need Mike’s accusing glare to make him feel bad. He already knew he’d let Ollie down, let Katherine down.
He swallowed hard, keeping his emotions from his face. “If Ollie’s ready, we should leave.”
“I still think they should come to my place,” Mike said. “Especially now.”
Katherine leaned against her dad, exhaustion clear on the contorted lines of her face.
For a second, he worried she’d agree. That she’d take her dad up on his offer and whisk Ollie off to stay with him.
Another part of him feared she wouldn’t. What if he made another mistake? What if he let his guard down again and something else happened—something worse?
“Dad, we’ve already been through this. It makes more sense for us to be with Cody.”
Mike worked his jaw back and forth. “I’ll come with you then.”
Cody tensed. He wasn’t sure if Mike wanted to tag along to keep Katherine and Ollie safe, or to keep him away from Katherine. Either way, the idea of Mike sitting in his home, staring daggers at him the whole time, was less appealing than setting his own hand on fire.
“Yay! Grandpa’s coming to Cody’s house,” Ollie chimed in from behind them. “He can meet Bailey.”
So much for keeping the conversation away from the little guy’s ears.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Katherine whispered. “Don’t you want to be out there with Owen?”
“Being with you right now is the only place I want to be,” Mike said.
Cody bit back a sigh. Having Mike in his house might not make him the most comfortable, but the older man needed to be with his child right now. He couldn’t be the reason to separate him from his family.
“Your dad and I can do some more leg work while Owen and Tommy are out in the field. It’d be good for me to pick his brain a little. Maybe over some lunch.”
“Yeah, I’m starving,” Ollie said.
The exaggeration Ollie put on the last word made them all smile.
“How about I pick up your favorite meal at Lulu’s, as well as food for the rest of us, and bring it over,” Mike said. “Send me your address. I’ll make sure I’m not being followed.”
Katherine locked eyes with Cody, an unspoken question passing between them.
He gave a subtle nod. This might not be how he’d hoped to spend his day, but it was the right decision. Besides, maybe speaking with Mike about the case could shake loose some information because sooner or later, something had to give.
It had to, because Katherine’s life hung in the balance.
Katherine picked at the soft bun on the top of her burger.
She should be hungry, and the smell of her favorite sandwich from Lulu’s tempted her to take a bite, but she feared her stomach would revolt.
Between her frazzled nerves and lingering fear from knowing Ollie had been in the same room as a monster, food was the last thing she could handle.
“Not hungry?” her dad asked, frowning.
“Not really.”
Cody carried a bottle of water to the kitchen table and took the seat across from her.
“How can you not be starving? We haven’t eaten in hours.” Ollie shoved a fistful of fries in his mouth as he spoke.
She mustered a smile for Ollie. No reason for him to learn how close he’d come to danger today. “That breakfast you and Cody made earlier must have filled me up.”
Mike’s bushy eyebrows shot up. “Ollie cooked?”
Ollie’s chest puffed. “Yep. I’m a big help, right Cody? I even fed Bailey.”
At the sound of her name, the dog’s ears perked up, but she kept her head in Ollie’s lap.
Mike snorted out a laugh. “Your dog seems pretty attached to Ollie.”
Cody settled back in his chair, his own meal untouched. “The two have formed quite a bond. I’m pretty sure I’ve fallen to her second favorite person.”
Ollie giggled. “Yeah, she definitely likes me more than you. She even slept with me last night, Grandpa. But that might have been because she couldn’t fit with Mom and Cody.”
Humiliation scorched Katherine’s entire face. She might not care what her family thought, but that didn’t mean she wanted her father to know where she’d slept last night.
Especially since that had been snuggled in Cody’s arms.
Cody choked out a cough. “Hey, Ollie, I think Bailey needs to go outside. She was cooped up for a while. Do you want to finish your lunch on the deck? I don’t think she’ll go out if you stay inside.”
“Sure. Come on, Bailey.” Ollie braced his hands on the edge of the table to push himself up. “Can you help me?”
“Sure can.” Cody retrieved the wheelchair they’d brought back from the hospital and pushed it to the table. He looped one arm around the little boy’s back and helped him shift onto the chair then handed him the rest of his fries. “We’ll be on the deck if you need us.”
She waited for them to disappear on the other side of the glass door before meeting her dad’s blank expression.
“What are you doing, Kat?”
She bristled at his hard tone. Her choices might be suspect to those on the outside, hell the things that had happened between her and Cody the last couple of days made her own head spin, but she wouldn’t let anyone make her feel badly.
“I’m figuring out how to get on with my life,” she said. “I’m not sure why that’s so hard for everyone to understand.”
“By letting your kid see you in bed with another man?” Mike threw his hand toward the door where Cody had disappeared with Ollie.
“First of all, we fell asleep on the couch watching a movie last night. Second, what I choose to do is none of your damn business. And if this is how you plan to act around Cody, you can leave.” She shoved her burger to the side and crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not a child and I refuse to be treated as one.
I’m also a damn good mother and won’t stand for you questioning my parenting. ”
Mike’s face fell, and he rubbed the back of his neck.
“Damn it all, that’s not what I meant. It’s just…
this is all so out of the blue. I didn’t know you and Cody were even friends and now this?
And on top of everything else? How do you know it’s not just a rush of emotion steering this ride?
Shouldn’t you slow down and wait until things go back to normal before making any big decisions? I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
Her heart softened. “I don’t want that either, and neither does Cody. You’re right. This thing between us is out of the blue, but it feels right. Feels easy and natural and I don’t want to question it. I want to live it.”
“And Ollie?”
She shrugged, wishing she had all the answers. “So far they get along. Ollie loves it here—Bailey might have more to do with that. But Cody’s great with him. Theo would want us to be happy.” Tears filled her eyes at the mention of her deceased husband.
The side of Mike’s mouth shifted up. “I know that, honey. We all do.”
“Then what’s your beef with Cody? Because you, Owen, and Tommy have kinda been assholes.
It’s not fair. Cody’s been great, taken all of your shit, and is still standing on that deck entertaining my son.
If this progresses the way I hope, I don’t want to be afraid to bring him around.
At this rate, I think Pappy’s the only one who’s given him a fair shake. ”
Mike snorted. “I’ve really shit the bed if that old man is making me look like the bad guy.”
Katherine grinned. “Something to think about.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just worried about you and took it out on Cody because, well, I’m not really sure why. He’s a good guy. A good deputy. I’ll do better.”
She reached across the table and grabbed his hand.
“Thanks, Dad. I don’t know what the future holds.
Maybe it won’t include Cody. But I want it to include happiness and joy and laughter.
I didn’t realize how much I missed that.
Cody’s brought that back in my life, in Ollie’s life. I hope that continues.”
Releasing her hold, she picked up her burger and took a bite. Melted cheese and tangy ketchup combined in her mouth, making her want another.
“After we finish, I’ll take off,” Mike said. “See if Owen needs a hand.”
“I think you should stay.”
“Really?”
She nodded. “Get to know him better. See him with Ollie. Plus I think he’s getting antsy not diving into this investigation. Maybe the two of you can work together. As long as you promise to be nice.”
“Not too nice.” He shot her a wink. “You’re still my little girl, even if you don’t like it. I’ve got to make sure he’s worthy.”
She rolled her eyes. “It took you years to think Theo was worthy.”
“He proved himself, and if Cody’s the right man for you, he will too. Eventually.”
Chuckling, she took another bite. Cody had no idea what he’d signed up for. Facing off against her father would either set them on the right path or send Cody running for the hills.