Chapter 10
Bella staredat her phone where it sat on her desk. She’d given the guy her number only a few hours ago. Of course he wasn’t going to call her. Did she even want him to? That would mean that something was wrong.
What if he called because he wanted to talk?He could ask her out on a real date.
She pushed away from her desk and got to her feet, scowling at the phone. She didn’t want him asking her out—at least, that was what she kept telling herself. It wouldn’t make sense for them to start anything.
The investigation was more important than matters of the heart.
Her eyes darted up to the clock that was fixed to the wall above the door. It ticked incessantly, reminding her that she still had a full day of work to do. It didn’t matter that she’d already filled her time with reorganizing the files, charging all electronics, servicing her firearm, and cleaning out her patrol car.
Nothing she could think of to keep her mind busy and off Grant was helping. Worse still, she wasn’t obsessing over the case so much as she was obsessing over seeing a certain cowboy again.
Bella pressed her palms to her eyes. What was wrong with her? Grant was so not her type.
Her phone buzzed loudly against the wooden desk, dancing diagonally with each ring. She stared at it like it was a viper, ready to strike. From where she stood, she couldn’t see the number on the screen. It probably wasn’t even Grant and yet she hated how much she wanted it to be.
Lunging for the device, she grabbed it only to fumble with it so she could answer the call. “Officer Whitfield.”
“Bella…” the voice slurred.
“Grant?” She spun around as if doing so would help her see what was going on. Something was obviously wrong. “Grant, talk to me. What’s going on?”
“I don’t know,” he murmured. “Need… help.”
“Where are you?” she demanded. “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me where I can find you.” Bella hated how weak her voice sounded at the end of her statement. Worry plagued her. He didn’t sound good. “Grant,” she pleaded. “can you drop a pin? Send me your location?”
“Mmhmm.”
A second later, her phone vibrated again.
“Hang in there, Grant. I’m coming.”
* * *
It was easierto locate Grant than she’d thought it would be. Bella pulled up to the gate on the outside of the fence line, her lights still flashing. She darted through the wide opening of the metal bars and rushed to his side. “Grant,” she said breathlessly.
He didn’t respond.
“Grant!” she repeated louder, smacking his cheek gently. “Open your eyes. There’s a paramedic on the way.”
Just as the words left her mouth, the siren filled the air and a white ambulance pulled in behind her. Two men darted from the vehicle and charged forward.
“Grant!” she said again then turned to the paramedics. “He’s unresponsive.”
“Water,” Grant whispered hoarsely.
“You need a drink?” Bella asked, relief washing over her. She reached for the canteen. “Here, take it.”
Grant shook his head. “No, water,” he slurred again.
Her brows furrowed.
“Sir? My name is Jeffrey. Can you tell me what happened? Have you been drinking?” The first paramedic knelt down beside them, and Bella took a step back.
She watched, her anxiety growing as they looked him over. “Do you think he’s drunk?”
“Hard to say. He doesn’t smell like alcohol,” Jeffrey said. “But he definitely looks like he took something. We could tell the doctor to order a drug panel to see what he’s got in his system. I don’t see an ID in his pocket. Can you check his truck?”
Bella nodded and scrambled for Grant’s truck. She yanked open the door and hunted for a wallet or an ID of any kind. When she didn’t see it on the driver’s side, she headed to the passenger’s side, then the backseat. She pushed a bag aside to look beneath it and it clanked to the floor.
Her blood ran cold as she got a closer look and found several empty beer bottles and cans. Bella shoved the bag under the seat and continued her search but came up empty-handed.
“There’s nothing in his truck,” she said breathlessly. “Grant, have you taken anything? Anything these guys need to be aware of?”
Grant’s eyes fluttered open and he stared at her with a vacant expression.
“Without confirmation of meds he might be on, we can’t do anything but give him an IV.” Jeffrey looked apologetic.
“It’s fine. Just get him to the hospital and I’ll follow behind after I lock up his truck and close the gate.”
Jeffrey nodded and together with his partner, he took Grant away.
Bella glanced around the immediate area. There had to be a clue here somewhere. Nothing was adding up. She paced to the tree and her toe knocked against the canteen.
Crouching down, she reached for the item and opened the lid. It didn’t smell like anything, but that didn’t mean it hadn’t been tampered with. She needed to get it tested.
After she gathered up the tools, garbage from Grant’s lunch, and the canteen, she headed for the gate. Once it was locked, she was on her way. This time, she didn’t turn on her siren. She needed to clear her head, and speeding through town wasn’t going to help her do that.
Grant wouldn’t have dosed himself. He’d just become a father.
What did she know? He could’ve dosed himself. What if he’d had issues with drugs in his previous life?
Bella shook her head sharply. She might not have spent a ton of time with the man, but she knew enough to know he cared far too much about his kid to risk doing something this reckless.
And still a seed of doubt couldn’t be completely quashed. How well did she know the guy, really? He could be saying all the right things, but the only truth she could trust was that of the lab results.
When she arrived at the hospital, she headed straight to the lab and handed them the canteen. “I want this tested.”
The lab tech stared at her with a bored expression. “We don’t do that here.”
“What do you mean, you don’t do that here? I need it tested and you’re a lab.”
The tech rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry, but we only have certain tests. If you know what you want to test for, I might be able to look into it for you, but otherwise, you’d be better off sending it out to whoever oversees your testing at the station.”
Bella scowled. Of course, the woman was right. The test was only to ease her own state of mind. Still, she glowered at the woman. “Forget it.” Marching off toward the reception desk, she demanded, “I’m here for Grant Shaw. He came in by ambulance less than ten minutes ago.”
The woman stared at her computer screen, clicked her mouse a few times, then clacked on the keyboard. “He’s in emergency room number nine.” She glanced at Bella over the rims of her glasses. “Is he in trouble? Should I put a note on here that he might be dangerous?”
“What? No! I’m here to make sure he’s okay.” Bella shook her head. What was wrong with people? What happened to giving people the benefit of the doubt?
When she reached the room, all she could hear was the persistent beep of the machines. His heart rate appeared normal. His breathing was okay. But he had completely passed out.
Stepping quietly, she moved forward and stood by his side. Bella placed her hand over his, comforted that he didn’t feel clammy or too hot to the touch. Hopefully whatever tox screens the doctor had ordered would give them the answers they needed.
Grant moaned in his sleep, but that was all the reaction she could get from him.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. When she pulled it out, all she saw was a message from Eli. He needed to speak to her urgently.
Well, lucky for him, she had a few words she wanted to say as well.
* * *
Bella swungthe patrol car door shut and marched toward the house. Eli emerged, hurrying down the steps with Bo at his heels.
“I’m glad you’re here. Grant’s?—”
She held up a hand, glancing around. She wasn’t surprised to find that several cowboys had emerged from where they were working. “Do you have somewhere more private we can speak?”
Eli nodded, motioning toward the house.
“Alone?” Bella gave a pointed look toward Bo, who didn’t look pleased in the slightest.
Once again, Eli nodded. “That’s fine.”
They made it to his office, and he shut the door behind them.
“We found Grant’s truck abandoned?—”
“He’s in the hospital.”
Eli’s mouth hung open.
“I’m not sure what’s going on, but someone is definitely targeting him.”
“You can’t be sure—” Eli argued, but she stopped him.
“Nothing is certain. But I’m not going to rule out the possibility. I’m only here to let you know he won’t be returning to work for another day or so—the doctors might hold him overnight.”
“Whatever he needs,” Eli said. He seemed lost in thought, his eyes dropping to the floor.
“I was thinking I’d take Nick to the hospital since I’m on my way there. Do you know if he’s still at school?”
Eli glanced up at her. “I believe his grandmother picked him up when we heard about the truck being found.”
“Oh, okay. Do you know where he is?”
“If I had to guess?” Eli shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’d say the staffers’ kitchen. That’s where he usually does his homework if Grant isn’t around.”
“Thanks. I’ll let you know if I find out anything more.”
Eli didn’t respond. There was no nod, no gratitude for her offering. If anything, he looked a little lost. Worry lined his weathered features.
Bella let herself out of his office. It didn’t take long to find the kitchen Eli had mentioned and, just as he’d predicted, Nick was seated at the table with his homework.
“Officer Bella!” He hopped up from the table and Charlotte spun around from where she stood at the stove. Her eyes met Bella’s warily. Nick ran toward Bella and stopped short of throwing his arms around her. “What are you doing here? Are you here to see my dad?”
Bella glanced toward Charlotte, not knowing how much she should share about the hospital stay in front of the kid. “Actually, I came to see if you wanted to come with me to visit your dad. He’s not feeling well.”
Nick’s eyes widened fearfully. “Grandma said I might have to stay with her tonight. She said he was busy.” His accusatory tone made Bella flinch. Oops. She’d overstepped.
Except, if she knew Grant like she thought she did, he wouldn’t want his kid to go even one night not knowing where he was. “Your dad is perfectly fine. In fact, I’m sure he’d like to see you, too.”
“Can I stay with him?”
“Oh, Nick, sweetheart, I don’t think that’s a good—” Charlotte started, but Bella stopped her cold.
“I don’t see a problem with him visiting Grant. Things like this happen all the time. And if they don’t like it, I’ll bring him right back.”
Charlotte didn’t look convinced, but Nick’s excitement had made his worry all but vanish. “I’ll get my stuff.” He charged from the kitchen and out the door, leaving Bella to contend with his overprotective grandmother.
“I swear, if the hospital staff won’t let him stay, then he’ll be right back here and he can stay the night with you.”
“Do you mind telling me what happened? Surely you’ve been informed.”
“I’m not at liberty to say. There are all sorts of laws I’d be breaking.” Bella gave her an apologetic smile.
“I don’t like it,” Charlotte grabbed a hand towel and wrung it between her hands. “We don’t even know you. How can I trust you?”
“Charlotte,” Eli’s voice came from behind Bella, “just let her take him. The boy needs to be with his father.”
“But—” Charlotte argued.
Eli shook his head. “You heard the deputy. She’ll bring him back if there are any problems.
“I could take him just as easily,” she insisted.
Bella’s eyes ricocheted from the cook to her boss and back.
“You’ve got your own work to do. Officer Whitfield is on her way over there, anyway.”
Charlotte’s lips thinned and the lines around her eyes deepened. If looks could kill, this one would have done some real damage. “Fine. But I want any update you get. He’s my family, too.”
Bella lifted her brows. Hadn’t Grant said his relationship with Charlotte’s daughter had ended more than six years ago? Were they really that close? Something wasn’t adding up.
Who was Bella to judge? Just because her own familial relationships had been strained didn’t mean Grant’s were as well.
“I’m ready!” Nick practically shouted, causing them all to jump. He held up his backpack with pride. “My homework’s in here so I can finish it if my dad takes aa nap. Let’s go see him.”
Bella nodded to the other adults. “I’ll let you know if there are any updates that Grant would like me to share. Thanks for your help.”
She placed a hand on Nick’s shoulder and guided him toward the door. Hopefully, Grant would be awake by the time they got there.