“I love you, too, Devon. Lori says she loves you both, and we’ll see you in the morning. Good night.”
Yeah, his mood had improved. He wanted to find out if Chloe was still in the hospital since she’d never met Hailey while she was awake. He figured she’d already gone home, though, so he was content to watch something mindless on the TV he hadn't turned off.
The next morning, there were visitors again, some wanted and some unwanted. Devon decided not to leave her room; Don could handle his fellow reporters. Caleb and Lori came, followed by Vince and Anna.
“Devon, I was so happy when Lori said Hailey woke up last night.” Anna had made an effort to come a few times that week, both with and without Vince.
“It was over too fast, but it was nice to see her smile and talk to me,” he told her.
Vince gave Devon a one-armed hug. “It's good she was talking and everything.”
“It’s an enormous relief.” Devon sat in his chair and watched Hailey sleeping. “It worried me she’d have lingering issues we wouldn’t know about until she woke up. She doesn’t remember anything yet, but the doctors think it’ll come back to her with time.”
Lori sat, and Caleb stood behind her. “It’s a burden off your shoulders, I hope,” she said, rubbing circles over her swollen belly.
“It is. You know how worried I was that something was seriously wrong with her.”
“I hope we can find out who did this. Maybe she’ll remember who it was.” Caleb rested his hands on Lori’s shoulders and massaged them.
“I say it was Steven Chatsworth,” Devon muttered.
“Why do you think that?” Lori asked with a frown.
Devon scoffed as he glared over toward the door, remembering the way Simon Chatsworth had come in there talking about it. “The police found her on their property, but they wouldn't let us search at first.”
“But what reason would he have to be behind your property in the first place?” Lori pointed out. “Was he wandering around behind the shop for a reason?”
“It’s heavily wooded, so anyone could have come from the forest. I don’t know why he’d want to be back there, maybe he was just hiking and saw a little girl outside alone.”
Vince scrubbed at his eyes. “You’re talking about a police officer, Devon.”
“I think it was an unfortunate set of coincidences,” Caleb said. “Hailey walked outside, and the person who took her happened to be there and saw an opportunity.”
“An opportunity for what?” Devon said, his voice growing louder. “She’s five!”
Anna put a hand up. “Lower your voice before you wake her up. As much as you want her awake, I don’t think you want it to be because you're screaming about her kidnapper.”
Devon clamped his lips between his teeth to keep in the retort sitting on the tip of his tongue. The worst didn't happen, he reminded himself. Whatever the kidnapper wanted, they didn't get the chance to follow through on much. He took a deep breath and blew it out. “I still say Simon will cover it up to keep their reputation intact. We might as well be rivals since we both deal in woodworking.”
“I didn't get the impression the MPD would allow Steven Chatsworth on the case, Devon, so I believe it’s just a matter of time before they find out who it was.” Lori shifted before getting up to use the restroom.
“Well, I have to get to work,” Anna said. “We’ll be back this afternoon.” She and Vince said goodbye and left the room.
They heard the toilet flush, and Caleb leaned down to speak in his brother’s ear. “Are you still planning to . . . do something?”
Devon looked up at him. “If I hear who it was and get there first, you bet your ass.”
Caleb sighed and took the vacated chair, leaning his elbows on his knees to level his gaze at Devon. “You know I’ll always have your back, but neither of us can afford to go to jail.”
“You didn't hear Simon trying to kiss up and talk about how they would cooperate fully and he was so sure it wasn't one of his men. He’ll protect his son at all cost instead of letting the police do their job, and the guy will walk free.”
Lori opened the bathroom door, and Caleb stared at her while he answered. “I don’t know about that, Devon.”
“I guess we’ll see, won’t we?” He wouldn't expect Caleb to put his life on the line for this, but he wouldn't let it go, either. He couldn't.
