“I’m all right.”
They were waiting for her discharge papers so they could go home.
“Johann?”Ethan asked.
“Arrested and charged with a bunch of crimes.He won’t see the outside of a prison cell in a while.”
Good.
Chelsea pulled out her phone.“I almost forgot.I recorded him talking about Aunt Maggie’s death.”She played back the recording, and Ethan clenched his hands.He almost wished Johann had been harder to take down.
“Send it to me,” Josh said.“Johann’s bosses reached out to me, and they want to speak with you.They deny any knowledge of what he did.”
“How did they know about it?”Ethan demanded.
“Johann’s wife gave my colleague their number.Said someone at work might know where Johann was.”
“I don’t want them knowing Chelsea’s name,” Ethan said.
Josh sighed.“They already do.Sounds as if they know all about Lilydale, but Johann had told them he had a signed contract and works were starting next month.”
“No wonder Johann was so desperate,” Chelsea said.“Did they say what they wanted?”
“To offer condolences and compensation.”
Ethan glanced at Chelsea.Compensation would help revive Lilydale, but was it wise to take money from a company associated with organised crime?
“They can call me,” Chelsea said.
Ethan opened his mouth to protest and Chelsea interrupted.“They already know who I am, Ethan, and the police know they know.There’s no point hiding from it.”
She was right, but he didn’t like it.He nodded.
Ethan held her hand as Josh asked his questions, and by the time the nurse returned with the discharge papers, Chelsea had also spoken with the CEO of the property development firm.
Ethan felt marginally better knowing Josh had heard the whole conversation and the CEO had known Josh was listening.
Josh smiled.“I’ll call you tomorrow with any updates.”
She hugged him.“Thanks.”
Ethan shook his hand.“Come over for a beer when you’re done.”
Josh nodded.“If it’s not too late.”
The guy looked exhausted with dark bags under his eyes.Ethan would make time for him in the next week.But right now, Chelsea was his priority.
He drove her home, and the late afternoon sun reflected off the first-floor windows of Lilydale Cottage.
Chelsea yawned as Ethan opened his door.“We never picked up the plants.”
Ethan shook his head.“We can do it tomorrow.”He helped her out of the car, hugging her close, unable to get enough of her to reassure himself she was safe.
“I’m exhausted,” Chelsea said.“Who knew being kidnapped would be so tiring?”
His gut clenched.He was pleased she could joke about it but, “I keep seeing the empty bathroom and not knowing where you were.”The horror and helplessness.
She squeezed him.“You were being a badass with Darren.”
