Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Davin shifted uncomfortably as he studied Chloe and the sheriff in turn.
“I don’t think anyone would hurt me,” Chloe said, her voice small and her eyes filled with unease.
There was something wrong. Something she wasn’t admitting to. Was she scared to tell the sheriff or to have Davin overhear? She was comfortable with the good-looking and too-charming sheriff, so maybe it was Davin she was afraid of. That stung.
“You never know,” Bradley said.
Silence filled the room. Davin stressed if he could be the cause of Chloe’s ‘accident’ and head injury. Chloe seemed to retreat into her own mind.
“But I do have this odd … unease,” Chloe admitted, her gaze darting to Davin and away. “And I have since I woke up.”
Sheriff Bradley followed her gaze to Davin, his brows low. He focused on Davin but leaned closer to Chloe. “Any idea what might have caused it?”
“No,” she admitted. “I just feel uneasy. There’s this darkness in my mind. It makes me think that maybe something bad did happen.”
“That adds up.” He straightened. “Why did you look at Mr. Ambrose when you said you felt uneasy?”
Davin hated that the sheriff had seen what he’d seen.
“Not because of anything he’s done,” Chloe insisted.
The sheriff didn’t look convinced.
“Jaxon, I promise. You know me and I know Davin. He wouldn’t hurt me. He’s just usually there in the afternoon and he’s the one who found me.”
“How do you know he wouldn’t hurt you?”
“I just know.”
“Sorry. Not good enough.”
“I can swear to you that I would never injure Chloe,” Davin insisted. “But I also have an alibi.”
Sheriff Bradley smiled at his wording. “An alibi?”
“The reason I arrived at Chloe’s shop an hour later than usual was because I was having lunch with Robinette Valentine.”
“I’m going to text her and verify that.”
“Please do.”
The sheriff sent the text. An uneasy silence filled the room. Chloe shifted in the bed. She didn’t glance his direction but studied her heart rate monitor. Which was elevated. Again. What was making it spike now?
Sheriff Bradley studied his phone, and the response was blessedly quick. “I asked her what your most recent date was.” He shrugged and offered Davin an apologetic smile. Davin doubted any man would want to date such a brash woman.
“I figured that question would keep her from finding out about Chloe’s attack,” Bradley explained. “Robinette said you were with her looking at a house for sale from ten-thirty to noon and on a lunch date at the Mexican restaurant from noon to almost two.”
Davin nodded. He wanted to explain that they weren’t dating, but Chloe looked even more uncomfortable. He didn’t want to make this about him.
“Robinette’s name gives me an idea,” the sheriff added. “I’ll check into her brother, Dallas. The punk is always doing something he shouldn’t.”
Davin didn’t know Robinette’s brother but had heard from the town gossip Emmaline Parkinson that Robinette had a ‘rough’ family.
Sheriff Bradley focused on Chloe. “The doctor determined from the state of the wound, the coagulation of the blood in your hair, and your cognitive function when you were awakened that you were most likely injured between noon and one.”
“Thank you,” Davin murmured, to heaven or Jaxon, he wasn’t certain.
“I told you Davin wouldn’t hurt me. Not physically.” Chloe’s posture was stiff, and she didn’t share a warm look or any kind of exchange with Davin.
Not physically? What did that mean?
“Regardless, I’d better stay with you if you’re feeling something might be wrong. Or I’ll ask Eureka P.D. to send an officer over.”
“I’m fine, Jaxon,” Chloe said. “You get back to protecting the island.”
“I am chafing to investigate the scene,” Bradley admitted. “I came straight here with Davin. There could be clues that anyone else might miss.” He gave her a cocky smile.
“Since you’re the best sheriff of the century,” she teased.
“You said it.”
Davin wondered at the rapport between them. Were they more than friends?
“I can stay,” Davin spoke up.
“What?” Chloe blinked.
Sheriff Bradley looked between them, obviously wondering if Chloe was uncomfortable. “I appreciate that offer, Mr. Ambrose, but only if Chloe’s all right with it.”
Chloe shifted on the bed.
Davin tilted his chin down. Did the sheriff suspect how deeply his feelings ran for Chloe? It could be revealed on his face right now. He had reacted intensely when he’d found her and Sheriff Bradley had caught up with him waiting to board the ferry in his Audi Q5.
“Let me run a background check on you, Mr. Ambrose, and if Chloe’s all right with it, I’d appreciate you staying. I’ll alert hospital security to keep an eye out as well.”
“All right.” Davin nodded to him. He had nothing worrisome in his background.
Nothing that should show up on a police report, at least. Now if the sheriff called Agent Florence, his contact at the FBI …
Speaking of, he’d text Agent Florence and make certain Balam Garcia was still in prison.
If he wasn’t, he’d have to share the story and grotesque threats with Sheriff Bradley.
“Chloe?” The sheriff studied her. “Will you be all right with Davin watching over you? I can come back if not.”
Chloe swallowed. Her gaze darted to Davin and then away. “It’s fine.”
“If you need anything or feel at all uncomfortable, buzz the nurse. I’ll leave my number and instructions for her to stay in the room, at your request, until Eureka PD can get here.” He gave Davin a significant look. A warning. He’d run the background check, but he wasn’t leaving her defenseless.
“I’ll be fine,” Chloe said. She still sounded uncomfortable, but the sheriff was obviously chafing to get back to the crime scene and investigate.
“All right.” Sheriff Bradley stood. “Smith texted a bit ago that he’d landed. He’s coming to pick me up in his Robinson helicopter.”
“Smith?” Davin asked. What an intriguing name. He’d used his share of unique first and surnames for books and was always on the lookout for original ideas.
“Smith Johnson,” the sheriff clarified. “I don’t know if you’d have met him. He’s a rancher on the southwest side of the island who keeps to himself.”
Davin hid a smile. He had not met a ‘Smith Johnson’ on the island. Rancher, helicopter pilot, and recluse. An intriguing character, no doubt. He’d log that in his memory for later use. “The man has two last names?”
“He does.” Chloe smiled, and it was a relief to see a smile on her beautiful face.
She’d been much too serious while Sheriff Bradley questioned her and as they worked out who would stay with her.
“The cowboy has two of the most boring last names and the good sheriff here has two solid first names. Jaxon Bradley.”
“Inside joke,” Davin surmised, not liking being left out of any joke with Chloe.
“We all went to school together,” Jaxon explained.
Davin knew that. Chloe had told him.
The sheriff gave them both a charming smirk that Davin assumed made women ‘swoon’.
Maybe he needed to figure out how to write a bit of romance into his books so he could become more proficient himself and have a chance with Chloe.
Most books and movies had at least a subplot of romance.
His fans wouldn’t riot at a tastefully done romance angle.
Maybe. But he definitely couldn’t be using words like ‘swoon’.
“Are you all right staying the night with her?” the sheriff continued. “I only asked Chloe.”
“I’m planning on it,” Davin said, even as Chloe’s eyes widened. “I feel guilty enough for what happened.”
“Guilty?” The sheriff’s blue gaze became penetrating, and Davin was once again on trial.
“That I was late to the bookshop and could’ve prevented the tragedy,” Davin clarified. He wasn’t prepared to share with the good sheriff his connection to a Guatemalan inmate and drug lord.
“Oh.” Sheriff Bradley nodded. “Understood.”
“You don’t need to stay the night,” Chloe interjected. She plucked at the thin blanket. “I don’t want you to get an awful night’s sleep. Maybe I won’t even have to stay the night.”
Davin’s stomach tightened. She didn’t want him here.
“You do.” Sheriff Bradley splayed his hands.
“Since you were unconscious for so long, the doc wants to give the lab a couple hours to run extensive tests on your blood and urine and look over your CT scans before he lets you go in the morning. Even with a blow to the head, it’s not normal to be unconscious for hours. ”
Davin replayed those moments of searching for her and finding her lying on her back with blood pooled around her head.
He knew head injuries bled profusely, but that knowledge hardly helped when the women he was half in love with was bleeding.
Given his own aversion to blood, he was a certifiable mess in those moments.
“Since you don’t have any security cameras at your shop, everything is a guess.
” Bradley raised an eyebrow as if he’d already given her a hard time about no cameras and she hadn’t listened.
“I’ll go take some guesswork out by investigating as soon as I get home, and we’ll remedy the security camera problem tomorrow.
Tonight, they need to keep you for observation.
If you can go home in the morning, Mr. Ambrose can drive you in his Audi. ”
“Davin, please,” Davin requested.
“All right, Davin, then it’s Jaxon to you.
” The sheriff grinned. He was one of those men who easily appealed to everyone but especially to women.
Davin could surmise that truth, even with his lack of experience in the adult dating world.
He’d dated a sufficient amount in high school and college but lacked opportunities in the past ten years.
“Jaxon,” Davin repeated.
Jaxon nodded to him. “I talked with your folks,” he said to Chloe. “They’re concerned, of course, but I think I convinced your dad to stay home, given your mom’s condition is often worse at night.”
Condition? What was wrong with her mom? Davin hated that the sheriff had info he knew nothing about.
Was her mother’s illness why Chloe had a wall up between them?
Maybe it was hereditary and the unselfish Chloe had determined not to marry and bind a man to a woman with a genetic and incurable illness?
His mind spun through what kind of ‘condition’ it could be while his stomach twisted uncomfortably at the thought of Chloe making such a vow to herself.
The door flung open and an average sized, middle-aged brunette with wavy hair like Chloe’s but shorter tresses bounded into the room, followed closely by a taller, bald man.
“There she is,” the woman cried out. “My baby girl. What have they done to you, my lovey?”
“Mom.” Chloe’s voice was half adoration and half long-suffering.
Davin hid a smile as Chloe’s mom rushed to her bed and hugged her fiercely.
Chloe looked over her shoulder at her dad, who was smiling and frowning in concern at the same time. “Make her stop,” Chloe begged. “We’ve got guests.”
Chloe’s mom pulled back and whipped around.
“Oh my. Oh my, my, my, my. What have we here?” She patted her hair and straightened her shirt.
“Now we know our wonderful sheriff—thank you, Jaxon, for helping my girl.” She focused on Davin.
“I’ve seen you at church, handsome, but haven’t had the honor of meeting you yet. ”
Davin stepped forward and extended his hand to her dad, because he was closer and it seemed like the proper thing to do. “Davin Ambrose. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Nathan and Esther Vance,” Chloe’s dad introduced them, shaking Davin’s hand firmly.
Her mom stepped forward and brushed his hand aside, giving him a warm hug.
Pulling back, he saw her eyes were bright green, gray, and golden, similar to her daughter’s.
“Thank you for saving my girl. I heard you rescued her after she was beaten half to death and left to bleed out. If you hadn’t come, she’d be dead for sure. ”
“Beaten? Bleeding out? Esther, dear, that is not what Sheriff Jaxon told us,” Nathan said gently but firmly.
Jaxon grimaced. “Mrs. Vance, we haven’t seen any evidence of foul play.”
“Don’t you call me Mrs. Vance as if I didn’t change your diapers, you little punk.
” Esther puffed up and glared at the sheriff.
“You’ve checked the scene yourself, Jaxon?
Is that what you’re telling me? Because Cassie said that Emmaline called her when I didn’t answer and Obachan saw you get on the ferry and come straight here with Chloe.
When did you have time to check for ‘foul play’? ”
“Cassie?” Davin knew Obachan Kanzaki, the beloved eighty-something Japanese grandmother who made cookies for everyone on the island, and Emmaline the sweet and well-informed gossip, but who was Cassie?
He lagged more than a step behind, but he liked Chloe’s sassy mother. She reminded him of her daughter.
“Cassie is Chloe’s baby sister, a nurse in San Diego,” Esther bragged. “We’re so proud of our girls.” She focused back on Jaxon, obviously expecting answers. “Spit it out. What do you know?”
“I haven’t actually been able to investigate the scene,” Jaxon admitted. “That’s where I’m headed now. Nothing besides the length of Chloe’s unconscious state shows foul play. I’ll find out the truth.”
“You’d better,” Esther snipped. “I have a bad feeling about all of this. Except for you.” She batted her eyelashes at Davin and gave him a sweet grin.
His own mother didn’t give him looks that fond, as if he were the best thing since the typewriter was invented.
“No one would have found her in that back room if you hadn’t.
Thank you, Davin. You’re our hero, and we’ll never forget the debt we owe you. ”
“You’re welcome, Mrs. Vance.” His cheeks and neck burned with embarrassment, but he found he didn’t mind being a hero. Especially Chloe’s hero.
“It’s Esther to you, handsome.”
Davin smiled and nodded to her mom, then looked to Chloe. She wasn’t looking at him with hero worship. She was glaring at her mother, her cheeks as red as Davin’s felt.
“That’ll do, dear,” Chloe’s dad said, wrapping his arm around Esther’s waist. “Don’t embarrass these young ones.”
Davin’s smile grew. He really liked her parents. If only he could get their daughter to really like him.