Chapter 43
Chapter forty-three
Rhys
Noah lies on the ambulance cot, breathing deeply. He has an oxygen mask over his face, supposedly resting. The two paramedics are checking him over, and I'm staying out of their way.
Well… doing my best while Noah keeps me surgically attached at the wrist.
He is determined not to let go of me.
His neck looks sore and angry; his eyes are bloodshot and damp with tears. But I am so incredibly proud of him. I may have gone into the barn to save him, but he saved me. He slapped my face, not across my cheek but the center of my face, right across my mouth and nose.
He didn’t hit the other guy like that. Noah hit him with the brick.
That wasn’t panic. That was intent.
I looked into his eyes as he stood above me, and I finally saw it. The fear.
The fear I wanted to see in his eyes was there.
He wasn’t afraid of me.
He was afraid for me.
Afraid of losing me.
As the brick connected, I knew Noah was the only man I could ever want.
A man in a suit climbs into the ambulance with us, and the tiny space gets even smaller. “Afternoon, I'm Detective Anderson. I've been investigating the puppy farm case from the start.”
“Thank you for responding so promptly,” I reply on Noah’s behalf.
“Mr. Humphries, would you mind telling me what happened now? We worry that the memory will fade after an ordeal like this. Best to get it over with, hey?”
“I'll do my best,” Noah whispers.
“We can assume he entered the building and crept up from behind. Put the lead around your neck.”
Noah nods, grateful to be spared those words. “He said I had taken the dogs, so I had to take the debt too. I don't know anything about a debt.”
I do.
I know exactly what kind of debt, and exactly who it belongs to.
What I don’t know is why a man like that would come so soon. Men like Whittle don’t collect, they send thugs. They send messages.
He wasn't worried because his payments had stopped, he was worried because his dogs were on national television.
This wasn’t a collection.
This was a warning.
For now, my place is beside Noah, praising his bravery and playing ignorant to the rest.
I have to let the police figure that out on their own. My only role here is holding the hand of one very brave young man.
“Do you think Frank and Derek might have left to get away from this man?” Anderson questions.
“He said he'd threatened my parents. But I don't think Frank and Derek are the kind of men to get scared off… Maybe. I was pretty scared.” Noah gives a shrug. His eyes turn to me, seeking my approval for his words.
“Is there anything else you'd like to add to your statement at this time?” Anderson insists, regaining Noah’s wandering attention.
“I don't remember picking up the brick. I didn't mean to hurt him.” Noah turns to look at me again, wincing at the moment. “I could have easily hurt you. And you need those perfect teeth for the TV.“
“I think we have enough for now.” Anderson nods and steps out of the ambulance. The ambulance doors stay open for a moment after the detective steps away. I glance past him, across the car park.
My busy car park filled with police cars and ambulances.
But something else catches my eye.
A man leaning against a car further back. Just watching. Is it Whittle, maybe? Although why would he come here himself when he sent his thug?
I prize my hand free, and I’m out of the ambulance before I’ve decided to move. But as I look back, the man has gone.
“Everything okay, Mr. Calder?” Anderson's gaze follows mine.
“Do you need anything from me? I'd like to accompany Noah to the hospital.”
“No. Thank you. You've been very helpful. We know where you are if we need anything more.”
I nod and turn away from the car and the face that will haunt me until I can put a name and a headstone to it. I return to Noah, taking his hand again. Realization fills me with purpose. I don't want to be chasing ghosts.
I want to be here with him.
Staring into those half-dead eyes, smiling openly at the man who knows all my darkest secrets, and today, met me halfway.
“Sir, we’re going to need to move now,” the paramedic says.
Noah’s grip tightens instantly. “No…”
“It’s okay,” I cut in, placing my hand over his. “I’m right here.”
“You’re not coming in the back,” the paramedic adds. “That wasn’t a suggestion.”
I ease my hand free from Noah slowly. “I'm sorry. I will follow in the car as fast as legal speed limits allow.” Meaning, I'll snoop around here for my second mystery man, and then break every speed limit to get to him.
Noah doesn’t fight it. But his fingers hold on for a second too long.
“I’ll be right behind you,” I tell him. “I’ll follow you there. I promise.”
He nods, but his eyes don’t believe me. He knows me better than I do.
He knows.
He knows and even now, he understands.
I step out of the ambulance and close the distance to the detective.
“Why do I think you know more than you're telling me?” Anderson questions, turning his suspicion on me.
“Maybe I do.” I give a shrug. “I did my due diligence before welcoming Noah into my home, my practice, and my show. Full background on him and his previous employment. I'm sure you've done the same.”
“We have.”
“Then I'm sure you know Noah has had no registered income for eight years.”
He pauses at that.
“I don't know the business income, but I know that twenty-four dogs having two litters per year is a lot of puppies. 288 puppies if you assume an average litter of six. Spaniels sell for around ￡1200 each, which comes to a hell of a lot of money. I saw the farm. I saw the farmhouse. It did not look like a business turning over ￡350,000 annually. So when I heard about the debt, my mind made a logical conclusion.”
“You are a very smart man, Mr. Calder,” Anderson praises me coldly.
“As I said, nothing as impressive as your investigation. But if I become aware of anything useful, I will let you know.”
“Do you recognize the man from the barn?” he asks.
“No. Never seen him before.” I shrug. “Do we have a name?”
“No ID yet. We’ll run him.”
“There was someone outside the restaurant on Wednesday.” I should mention that; I'm sure Noah will when he gets questioned with a clear mind later. “It's probably nothing. People are allowed to stand outside public places in the dark. I thought nothing of it then, but now… after this…”
That gets a small reaction from Anderson.
“We’ll follow all leads.”
“You won’t find anything,” I hold his gaze. “Men like that don’t leave evidence.”
The detective studies me a little more carefully now.
“And you know that because?”
I smile. “Because I’m very good at spotting patterns.”
He pauses for a moment, then nods and steps away.
And I’m left standing in the quiet, watching the ambulance pull away.
Watching Noah leave.
I have to stay and look for the other man. I have to protect my practice, my staff and Noah’s dogs.
But none of that is a priority.
The police are doing a thorough sweep of the area. My staff are confident they are safe.
I want to be with Noah.
But I’m focused on the man who thought he could touch what’s mine and walk away.
That was his first mistake.
His second…
Will be not finishing the job.