Chapter 38
Tori slowly pulled her gaze away from Scott, whose face had turned a bright shade of red. What had just happened? The better question was, what would’ve happened if her sister hadn’t come into the room?
Nothing. Liar. Tension still filled the room. Scott had been about to kiss her, and she’d wanted him to. Thank goodness she wasn’t hooked up to a heart monitor. Was her face as red as his? She grabbed the ice pack and laid it back on her cheek.
Tori didn’t know which was worse: the pain in her face or dealing with a man she wasn’t certain she could trust. She swallowed hard. It wasn’t only Scott, it was dealing with feelings she’d shut down since Michael died. Did she even want to open her heart again?
“I’m waiting for an answer,” Erin said.
“I’d kind of like to know that myself,” she said, glad for the distraction.
Scott muttered something as he stood by her bed with his arms folded across his chest.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t understand you.”
He had the decency to look uncomfortable. “I might’ve walked in with another person. And it’s all the more reason you don’t need to stay overnight.”
“Would someone tell me what’s going on?” Erin said. “What happened?”
Scott turned to her. “Ben told me she was walking from the Japanese restaurant to his parking lot, and someone tried to run over her.”
“What?” She jerked her head toward Tori. “Why? Did you see who did it?”
“I don’t remember the car, much less the driver, and I don’t know why.”
Erin slowly sat in the chair by her bed. “I don’t understand . . .”
“I told you earlier today that someone had tried to run me off the road last night . . . I thought it had something to do with one of the podcast cases I’m working on, but now I’m not so sure.”
“Then what were you doing walking down the street by yourself?” Erin looked up at Scott. “I’m assuming she wasn’t with you.”
“You got that right.” Scott glared down at Tori. “Care to explain yourself?”
Tori glared right back at him. Where was the guy who’d been about to kiss her? “First, would one of you raise the head of the bed so you’re not towering over me? It’s manual—I can’t do it myself.”
His features relaxed and he did as she asked. “Is that better?” he said.
She nodded. “Thank you, and now, sit down—you’re still towering over me. It’s intimidating.”
He huffed but pulled a chair beside Erin and sat down.
“Look, I’m sorry if I sound abrupt, but when you called and all I heard was a scream, and then I couldn’t get hold of you .
. . Well, I probably lost a good three years off my life.
What were you thinking, strolling around Logan Point by yourself? ”
“I didn’t mean to worry you, or anyone else,” she said, glancing at her sister.
“And I wasn’t strolling. I’d had lunch with Donna Curtis, Richard’s secretary, it was a pretty day, and I tried to call Ben, but he didn’t answer.
I never dreamed it wouldn’t be safe to walk back to the sheriff’s office parking lot where I left my car.
I was in downtown Logan Point in the middle of the day, for Pete’s sake. ”
He leaned toward her. “But it’s Friday, and the businesses near that restaurant close at noon if they open at all. It’s practically deserted.”
“What kind of business closes on Friday?”
“An IT company bought up several of the office buildings,” Erin said. “They have a four-day week. And there’s a clinic there that closes at noon.”
“No wonder the restaurant wasn’t busy.”
Erin’s phone rang, and she glanced at the screen. “It’s a client. I better take this.”
“Go, you have work to do. Scott will be taking me to Oak Grove, anyway.”
Erin stood and held up her finger as she answered her phone.
“Can you hold, please?” She muted her phone and leaned over the bed, giving Tori a hug.
“Be careful.” Then she winced. “The skin around your eye is already turning black, but don’t worry, I have concealer that will take care of it.
” Then Erin turned to Scott. “Take good care of her—I don’t have another sister. ”
Tori could tell that her sister was shaken up. “Don’t worry. The doctor said the CT scan showed no brain bleed, and X-rays showed no broken bones in my face.”
“But you’re an adrenaline junky, always have been,” Erin said. “Please, think before you do something.”
“Okay.” Enough lecture. “Go take care of your client.”
“Call me later, once you get settled.”
The timer she’d set on her watch dinged just as Erin walked out the door, and Tori removed the ice pack again. From the way Scott looked at her, the bruising must be worse. “You already told me it looks awful.”
“And it’ll probably look a lot worse before it gets better.” Scott chewed his bottom lip. “It’s a wonder you weren’t killed.”
“Thank you for being concerned, but it’ll heal. And I’ll definitely be more careful anytime I’m out alone.”
“That won’t be happening anytime soon.”
“You’re not my keeper.” Tori said it as gently as she could.
An emotion she couldn’t identify crossed his eyes. “I know that, but I will protect you.”
The implication was “or die trying.” Tori took her time replying and mustered as much confidence in her voice as she could. “You can’t put me in a gilded cage. I have a job to do.”
“I understand that, but you’re not doing it alone. I’ll help you, but first you have to get over this.” He waved his hand toward her face.
“There’s nothing to get over. I’m fine.” This was not the time to tell him her plans to search Jenny Tremont’s house.
“You are not fine. Your eye is swollen shut, and tomorrow you’ll probably be so sore you won’t be able to move.”
She didn’t doubt that, not that she would let him know. A hesitant knock on the door kept her from having to respond. “Come in,” she said.
The door opened, and her dad stuck his head inside the room. “Okay if I come in?”
“Might as well, it’s like Grand Central around here.”
“What?”
“There’ve been a lot of people in and out,” Scott said.
“Gotcha. I won’t stay long, but I wanted to see for myself that you’re okay.” He glanced toward her face and cringed. “Does it hurt very much?”
At least he didn’t tell her how bad it looked—she was getting tired of that. “Probably not as bad as it’ll hurt tomorrow.”
He approached the bed. “Can I get you anything? You can stay at my house if it’s too noisy at Erin’s.”
“Dad, you have a one-bedroom apartment.”
“You can have the bedroom—I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
Unshed tears stung her eyes. Tori rubbed her hand over the thin sheet on the bed. She’d have to be blind not to see how hard he was trying. Could they start over? Build a relationship?
“Thanks, but I’m not putting you in danger. Did you see Drew?”
“I did, told him I’d take him home when I left, but he said he wasn’t leaving until you did.”
Scott’s cell phone rang. “It’s Amy.”
Amy! She’d forgotten to call her. Tori hoped she wasn’t at Oak Grove looking for her. “Can I talk to her?”
While Scott answered, her dad said, “I’ll go, but if you need anything, just call me.”
She connected with his gaze and nodded, swallowing hard at the hope in his face.
He gave a little wave and walked to the door. Suddenly the good memories of the dad she’d grown up with bombarded her. They’d been the all-American family. She’d believed her dad hung the moon until . . .
Her stomach clenched. If he hadn’t relapsed, her mom would still be alive. But was that true? “Thanks,” she called after him.
He stopped. “You’re welcome.” He looked as though he would say more, but then he turned and closed the door behind him.
Tori twisted the sheet in her hand. Why did life have to be so complicated? She heard Scott say her name and shifted her attention to him.
“She’s right here.” He handed Tori the phone.
“Where are you?” Tori asked Amy over the phone.
“I’m at this huge house and no one’s home,” Amy replied. “When will you get here?”
“As soon as the doctor releases me.”
“What?”
She quickly explained what had happened.
“You want me to come to the hospital?”
“No. I should be there soon.”
“Good. I’ll tell Caleb.”
“Caleb?”
“Scott’s friend who followed me from Knoxville?”
Tori would’ve head-slapped herself if she wasn’t so tender. She’d totally forgotten Scott had arranged for his friend to escort Amy. Maybe she should stay for observation. No. Not after the way Scott got into her hospital room so easily.
Besides, she had too much to do, and that included recording the podcast tomorrow night. Tori looked up as the doctor entered the room. “The doc’s here—maybe they’re about to release me.”
She disconnected and handed Scott his phone. The doctor walked to the bed and pressed a button on the monitor, and the cuff on Tori’s arm inflated. She focused on breathing in and out slowly and mentally lowering her blood pressure. It was a trick she’d learned a long time ago.
“That’s much better,” he said as the cuff deflated. “It looks like you’re good to go, but if nausea or headache occur, don’t wait to see if it gets better—return immediately.”
“Don’t worry, we will,” Scott said.
A few minutes later, he went to get his pickup while the nurse wheeled her toward the lobby, where Drew waited. “You don’t have to stay with me,” she said to the nurse. “My nephew is here, and Scott will be right back.”
The nurse nodded. “If you need anything, see the aide behind the desk.”
“I will.” She turned to Drew. She wanted a few words with him before Scott returned, but before she could say anything, he took one look at her and said, “You look awful!”
“Thanks.” She gave him a black glare with her good eye. “Just what I needed to hear.”
Eli Livingston stepped from behind a column. “Drew’s right. You do look awful.”
Her jaw dropped. He was the last person she expected to see at the hospital. “What are you doing here?”
“I had a meeting with the hospital CEO about the fuel contract for the ambulances and saw Drew when I was leaving. He said you were being discharged so I waited with him to make sure you were okay.”
“Thanks. As you can see, I’m fine.”
“I don’t know about that.” Eli moved her wheelchair away from Drew, then he knelt until he was even with her. “I didn’t expect to see Sinclair with you.”
She flinched at the accusation in his voice. “It’s complicated. And it’s none of your business who I’m with.”
He looked over his shoulder toward the door before speaking.
“While he’s gone, I want to tell you what I found out,” he said as if he hadn’t heard her.
“I got my dad to call some of his drug enforcement sources—that motorcycle gang Scott was a part of? They’re involved with the cartel. You have to get rid of him.”
Evidently Eli didn’t know everything, since he didn’t know Scott was an undercover FBI agent. “Listen to me.” She waited until he focused on her. “You don’t have a clue about what’s going on, so drop it. Scott’s a friend, and I don’t appreciate you bad-mouthing him.”
“Are you involved with Scott Sinclair?”
“No. It’s none of your business even if I were.” They weren’t teenagers anymore, and she wasn’t walking on eggshells around him, dreading an interrogation if someone of the opposite sex talked to her. He’d even been jealous of her friendship with Amy. “He’s helping me with security.”
From the look on his face, it was the wrong answer. “You could’ve asked me for help.”
“It isn’t that simple.”
“It never is with you.”
She crossed her arms. “I appreciate your concern, but just go.”
Eli stood and jammed his hands in his pockets as he narrowed his eyes at her. “I heard you were poking around in Jenny’s office. Did someone try to run you down because you’re looking into her murder?”