Chapter 31
Shadow met them at the door. “We’re meeting in the kitchen.” Scarlett with Ice led the two men into the kitchen.
“Thank you for joining us, Scarlett,” Leo said as Ty pulled back a chair for her and sat beside her, leaving Rocker to sit at the end of the table with Patch.
“As you know, the officers went to speak with Jeremy. He claims he stayed home all evening, and Ben backed him up. Knight watched the house with Michael. Ben remained in the barn, and they watched Jeremy enter the house, and he never came out,” Leo paraphrased.
“Can you run us through the night again? We want to see if we missed anything,” Leo asked.
“Ty left the house. When I heard someone enter the kitchen, I believed Sledge had returned home. He called me ten minutes prior and asked if I needed anything. Ice growled and shielded me, giving me a warning. I almost made it to my room when he grabbed me and choked me,” Scarlett repeated.
“When did you recognize Jeremy’s cologne?” Knight asked.
“When I entered the hallway and made it almost to the kitchen,” she recalled.
“When you and Patch went into town and sat with the rubberneckers gazing at the building, did you smell anyone else wearing the same scent as him?” Shadow asked.
She shook her head. “We went for the sole purpose of my identifying the scent among the crowd. I only smelled it on Jeremy.”
“Ragu ran to the drugstore. We purchased every type of cologne they stock. My men will spread out through the building, and I want you to tell me when you smell it,” Leo ordered.
“Wait a damn minute,” Rocker protested. “She’s not some scent-sniffing dog.”
“Don’t insult my intelligence again,” Leo snarled before turning to Scarlett. “I’m attempting to put the police’s theory to the test. We believe you. To prove them wrong, I need to rule out their excuse.”
“I’m up for it,” she said confidently.
The men got up from the table and spread out.
“This seems ridiculous,” Rocker mumbled.
“No more than me listening for you to attack me from behind. Leo has to rule out everything. I’ll do whatever I can to keep Jeremy from hurting someone else,” Scarlett said, taking Ice’s harness.
Ty rose to follow, but Leo stopped him. “Let her go alone. I don’t want anything distracting her. The same goes for you, Rocker,” Leo ordered. “She has Ice.”
Scarlett started down the hall. She immediately spotted Saint. “You smell like your wife’s bakery. You must’ve come from the hospital,” she said as she passed him.
She gripped Ice’s harness, concentrating on the smells of the facility. The smell of gun oil and sweat grew stronger when she entered the next floor. Scarlett smiled. “I smell honey. You must be Bear. Ty says he only uses yours.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Scarlett,” he said as she passed by him.
A minute later, she stopped. “Come out, Shadow. I smell Afghan food. You’re married to Avie, I believe.”
“Damn, you’re good,” he said, impressed.
“Yeah, I know,” she replied cockily. Scarlett continued toward the gym, the scent of equipment and sweat tickling her nose. Then, she stopped. “You’re wearing it. I smell Jeremy’s cologne.”
“You got me,” Taco said. “Good job, Scarlett.”
“This may sound strange, but you smell like tacos, Taco,” she said, confused.
“Tess makes them for me. They’re the best. I’ll bring you some sometime,” Taco offered.
“You bring the tacos, I’ll buy the beer,” she said, turning Ice around and heading upstairs.
Taco let out a loud whistle, letting the others know to return.
“She spotted me, boss, like a pro,” Taco announced as they entered the kitchen.
Ty stood and pulled out her chair. “I not only nailed it, I caught Shadow, Bear, and Saint,” she told him.
“I never doubted you,” Ty said.
“Since we’ve proven their theory wrong, here’s what we got,” Leo said, standing.
“Michael and Knight reported Jeremy went to the grocery store, stopped at the hardware store, and picked up feed. Then he returned home. Ben came out of the barn two hours later, the night you were attacked. Do we have anyone who holds a grudge against the hospital or Chase and Kassie?”
“Kyle Carson didn’t appreciate Doc refusing his request for admission,” Saint volunteered.
“Do we know why he refused?” Leo asked.
“Because he threatened one of the nurses. He’s volatile when they refuse to date him. Doc won’t put his staff in jeopardy,” Patch explained.
“Does he have violent tendencies to the point of setting fire to a community center and killing a senior?” Leo questioned.
Patch shook his head. “I can’t see it. It’s more about him getting turned down by women.”
“Victoria put a stop to Kassie getting roped into the room mom activities, but I don’t see anyone getting upset enough to set fire to the place,” Shadow volunteered.
“What about the hospital? Have they turned down anyone for contracts who might benefit if the food delivery trucks refuse them service?” Leo asked his men.
“I checked them out, Leo,” Bear spoke up.
“They only refused one contract. The vendor has a reputation for adding on extra charges. They don’t have any other business in Serenity and obtained a sizeable contract in Seattle.
It doesn’t seem plausible to hold a grudge when they landed an even bigger contract two days after Kassie turned them down.
Plus, everyone knows they try to use the small businesses in town.
If anything, people stay loyal to them because they’ve boosted the economy in the area. ”
Leo frowned and rubbed his hand along his jawline.
“What about the community center?” Scarlett suggested. “Did anyone have issues with something there?”
“Good thinking, Sparky,” Ty encouraged her.
“I’ll check into it,” Bear said, jotting down his notes.
“Since the fire started on Ty’s side of the center, you might want to investigate his restaurant, too,” she added.
“How do you know?” Leo asked.
“I recall smelling Jeremy as he approached me. I didn’t smell the smoke until I walked closer to the bakery.
I ran around to the back and got Edie out first. I didn’t feel the heat of the flame until I reached Debbie’s apartment.
If it started near the bakery, I wouldn’t have had time to get the kids out or Barb. ”
“Where did you encounter Jeremy before the fire?” Leo asked.
“I planned to make it to the grocery store, but changed my mind. I turned around and caught his scent at the corner,” Scarlett informed them.
“Michael and one of my new employees, Archer, will stake out Jeremy’s house until 1500. Saint and Knight will take the next shift. I want to know when the old man farts,” Leo ordered.
“May I add something?” Scarlett asked.
“You have the floor,” Leo said, waiting for her.
“Did Sledge see Jeremy’s face? He rushed him. I know Sledge enough to know his moves. I didn’t see him, but Sledge should’ve identified him when he assessed the risk of putting me into danger.”
“Sledge doesn’t recall much of the attack except hearing you scream and bursting through the door,” Taco said.
“Since we’re this close, may I visit him?” she asked.
“Taco and Shadow will follow you over and will tail you until you reach home,” Leo said, dismissing them. “I’ll stop by in the morning. I’m on kid patrol tonight. Derrick has kept my wife awake two nights in a row, and she needs sleep before she tries to neuter me a second time.”
The men laughed as they dismantled.
“Thank you for coming, Scarlett. Have you considered my offer to come in for an interview?” Leo asked.
“What exactly am I interviewing for? I’m limited in my job skills at the moment, but I don’t need a pity job, sir,” she said.
“I respect your choice,” Leo said. “I don’t give out pity jobs.
You’ve recently returned from Iraq. Bear didn’t spend his time there.
The government has requested my services in the private sector.
Since I’ve heard your map memory can’t be beat, I’d like you to sit in on the meetings and alert me to any risks in the area.
We assume all jobs pose some, but I want first-hand knowledge, not some computer geek’s skills behind a desk.
Once I see how you work, I’ll have you partner with Bear and Whiskey.
He handles new employee training and contracts.
Local ones will go through him, and overseas ones will be assigned to you with a risk assessment and data on the area. ”
Scarlett licked her lips as anticipation ran through her. It seemed like the next best thing to analyzing the territories her teams entered. “I’ll take you up on the interview. I’m still a patient at the hospital, and I don’t know when I’ll get released.”
“Patch will stop by and speak with you on Monday. We hired him while he still attended meetings. Marcus came to us the same way. If I’m willing to hire you, I’ll wait for you to get your head on straight. We don’t risk anyone,” Leo informed her.
“Thank you,” Scarlett said as she reached for Ice’s harness and left with Ty and Rocker.
Ten minutes later, she entered Sledge’s room.
Kim stood in surprise and walked across the room. Scarlett inhaled her perfume as she neared. “Scarlett, I can’t thank you enough for saving his ass again. I swear, I’m taking him home and putting him in a cage,” she said, hugging her.
“He saved my ass, too,” Scarlett whispered. “I wanted to see him myself. Does he feel up to visitors?”
“I’m staring right at you and feeling all kinds of jealous.
You’ve got to hug my wife before I do. She seems happier seeing you than me.
When she first saw me, she leaned down in my face and said, ‘I’m kicking your ass.
’ Now she’s standing there hugging you like you did all the work,” Sledge grumbled.
Scarlett grinned. If Sledge felt good enough to bitch, he’d live.
“I see he’s whining like a baby as usual,” she teased.
“Remember when the bullet grazed his arm and he returned to base? I ran down the hall to see how badly he got hit, and the doctor put a bandage on it. I heard him caterwauling before I made it there. They might as well have given him a wrap with unicorns and pixie dust and a lollipop to match.”
“Hey, it stung like a bitch,” Sledge complained.
“If you think you heard him, try bunking in the same room with him. I almost held him down and put in an IV drip to shut him up,” Rocker added.
“Don’t listen to them, baby. You know your Sledge man has bigger kahunas than they’re saying,” Sledge said, slurring his words.
“Oh, would you look at that, I must’ve hit his morphine button instead of the call button. Nighty night, sweetheart, I love you,” Kim said.
Rocker chuckled. “I take it he’s whining again?”
“He hasn’t stopped. Sledge wants real food, not liquids.
He wants to sit in the chair and demands to see the baby, yet he can barely make it to the bathroom and back without panting hard,” Kim said.
“I’ve tried getting him to take the pain meds, but he wants to act like a tough guy. I only want him relaxed and healing.”
“I’m sorry, Kim. It happened very fast. I didn’t think Sledge planned to rush him until a second before,” Scarlett explained herself.
“Hush,” Kim said gently. “You’ve nothing to apologize for. You’ve watched his six many times and got him home safely. Don’t justify why my husband tried to save you.”
“How’s the baby?” she asked as Ty placed a chair beside her. She sat and smiled her thanks.
“She’s a miniature version of Sledge. She has blonde curly hair with the bluest eyes you’ve ever seen.
When she gets mad, she balls her fists up like her daddy and stiffens from head to toe.
When she sees him, she practically leaps into his arms. It’s why I’m limiting her coming here.
He’ll insist on holding her, and she doesn’t sit still these days,” Kim said proudly.
“I won’t keep you. When he wakes up, can you have him call me? I have some questions about the night Jeremy attacked me. I’m hoping he can fill in the holes,” Scarlett asked.
“I’ll have him call you in the morning,” Kim assured her.
“Get some rest while he’s out. I can’t leave unless Leo permits me. I hope you don’t think me ungrateful for coming to visit him now,” Scarlett said.
“Leo or one of his men has visited us daily and stays outside the door. They’re very nice and welcoming. Some of their wives dropped by. One brought me muffins and cookies, and the other gifted me spa soaps. Kassie stops by at least once a day to check on us.”
Kim hugged her goodbye, and Scarlett stopped in the middle of the hall. “Do you mind if I return to my floor? I want to visit someone for a minute,” she asked.
“We go wherever you go,” Ty said, following her.
She led the way to the room next to her old one.
She lightly tapped on the door and entered.
Ty and Rocker stayed in the hall. She encountered the bed first and found it empty.
Recalling one of the nurses mentioning Hannah sitting in a chair, she moved toward the window.
When she felt the padded arm, she reached out, searching for the person in the chair.
Her hand touched a sweater, and she moved downward until she found Hannah’s fingers and clasped them to hers.
“Hi, Hannah. It’s me, Scarlett. I know you’re scared and want to stay in your safe place.
I understand. I once felt the same way. You’re missing out on so much.
I didn’t think I’d ever see the light in the darkness, but I do now and I want you to find it, too.
The people here care about you. I don’t know your story, but I’m your friend.
You won’t see me here every day because I’m staying somewhere else.
But when I return, I’ll sit with you until you feel strong enough to talk about it.
You’re not alone, Hannah. You have a reason to live, but you may not know it yet.
Keep fighting.” Scarlett squeezed her hand, hoping her words helped her silent friend in some way.
She entered the hall. Ty and Rocker flanked her as they walked to his truck.
Ty drove them to the ranch, and Scarlett reached over, taking his hand.
His thumb gently caressed it as he held it in his lap.
Some of the insecurities and fears drifted into the background.
Her meeting with Leo filled her with excitement, and she realized she wanted to stay.
Her words to Hannah rang true. She did find a light in the darkness, and he sat beside her, holding her hand.