Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Owen
For fuck's sake.
Get yourself together, Swift.
I have to deliver bad news to citizens at work more often than I would like. I’ve delivered death notifications with our department chaplain on multiple occasions. But telling Daisy her date pushed her off a cliff is harder than any news I’ve ever given.
I could have told her last night, but her day had already been overwhelming, and she was exhausted.
Breakfast should have been the perfect time, but I couldn’t get the words out. Having her in my kitchen, feeding her. It was too perfect.
I almost told her in the tub, but seeing her body in the condition it was in. Knowing that I was lucky to have her alive and in my arms wasn’t the right time.
We were skin to skin.
The moment was beautiful, even if I was barely keeping my shit together.
Someone tried to kill her.
I won’t stop until I find the fucker. Unlike him, I’ll make sure the job is done.
I should have told her after her bath, but her eyes were heavy when Maui and I returned. When the puppy joined her on the bed and pressed against her side, she fell asleep within minutes.
But I’m out of excuses. She’s awake after a three-hour nap. I let the dog out. I’ve refreshed Daisy’s ice water. I’ve wasted enough time.
I’m sitting in a chair next to the bed, staring at her. She, in turn, is looking at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“Owen? You okay?”
She doesn’t need the dramatics, asshole. Tell her.
Clearing my throat, I scoot the chair closer and take her hand in mine. “Daisy, how much do you remember about your fall? Has anything come back to you?”
“What? No, I mean I’m clumsy. You know that. I was wearing Wesley’s pack, because he hurt his shoulder and I think I lost my balance because the damn thing was so heavy.”
Because it was weighted down on purpose.
“Sweetheart, I’ve been trying to find a way to tell you this, and there is no good way to say it, so I’m just going to spit it out.”
“You’re scaring me.”
I think I’m going to be sick.
“Dais, he pushed you off the trail. Wesley pushed you.”
Her eyes grow big, and her mouth falls open in shock. She gives her head a small shake. “No, it was the pack; I lost my balance or twisted my ankle.”
“There was a witness. The woman who held your hand… she saw everything. He pushed you, then ran down the trail, got in his car and drove to the airport. We have video of him leaving his car at the airport and getting on a plane. He pushed you and left you there.”
“What?” Her voice shakes. Her trembling hand not in mine, rubs her forehead in confusion.
My stomach turns as I watch her process what I’ve told her.
“He… But that would… He tried to kill me?”
I nod my confirmation. Not wanting to say the words out loud.
As the news sets in, her first tear slides down her cheek. The need to make this better for her is all-consuming. Yet, I have no idea how to.
I squeeze in next to her on the bed, pulling her against my chest. The lack of space for me on this side of the bed means one foot stays on the ground. All I want to do is wrap my body around her and shield her from the world.
“Shh. I got you, baby. I got you.”
She’s stiff in my arms. The feeling of helplessness is a physical pain in my chest. I would do anything for this woman. The frustration of knowing right now there is nothing I can do to make the reality of her situation better is nearly unbearable.
Shaking, she lifts her face from my tear-soaked shirt. “But… why? Why would he do that?”
“Obviously because he’s a sick piece of shit.”
“But you found him, right? Got his information from the dating site.”
“His profile is gone.” I do my best to keep my voice low and calm, but the more I tell her, the more her body shakes, no matter how tightly I hold on to her.
“Nobody with the name Wesley Barnes rented a car or took a flight out of the area. It was a fake profile. We got his description from the witness, so we were able to track him at the airport.”
“I was fucking catfished?”
“Well, when he left, he got on a flight that took him to Boston. I don’t think he was from Colorado.”
“So, I wasn’t just catfished. I was duped by a murdering psycho.”
Not knowing what to say, I stay quiet thinking through my next sentence. She’s right, but I don’t need to confirm it for her.
“Listen, we’re gonna find him. I’m in touch with the Feds and the Massachusetts State Police.
If you’re feeling up for it, tomorrow the Feds are going to come by with pictures of everyone from the flight manifesto for you to identify him.
They’re going to ask you questions, and you need to tell them everything you remember.
The smallest detail might help them find this guy. ”
She tries to push herself up, but her propped leg makes it a struggle, so I give her space and move back to the chair.
I take her hand in mine again, trying to prevent her from climbing out of the bed.
“I need to thank that woman, Owen. The witness. Is there any way to get her information? Do you know her name?”
“Her name is Kristel and I can ask, baby.”
Her body relaxes. “Thank you.”
“I know this is a lot, but you need to stay in bed and relax.”
“Someone tried to kill me, and you want me to relax?” she shouts, then winces in pain, looking at me as if I’ve lost my mind.
“Clover, you’re here with me. Nobody will get near you. I’ve got you.”
“I can’t stay here forever, Owen.”
“Besides the fact that I forbid anyone else to bathe you, you’re staying with me not only until you’re better but until you’re safe.”
Forever sounds about right.
“Are you sure?”
“God, you’re beautiful.”
She thanks me before asking more questions. And even though I can’t answer most of them, I do my best to give her what information I have. Then, I insist she call her family. And she counters with, “Tomorrow.”
As fucked up as it is, having her here, with me, and nobody knowing eases my mind.
I have a gut feeling that her date is connected to the East Coast douche from a few weeks ago. So, if some psychopath is trying to kill her, maybe it’s best her whereabouts are unknown.
I’ll keep her to myself, at least for one more night.