“Charlie-Bear, nobody is taking you away from me. I promise.”
“What about Miss Laney?”
He shifted the car into Park, stepped out, and unbuckled his niece. “She had an accident, that’s all. She’s okay.”
He didn’t want her to get a better view of the damaged car, but Charlotte’s fear of the police, fear that they’d take her away, had him unclipping her from the car seat.
With Charlotte clinging to him, he approached the cluster of people, scanning the faces.
There she was. She stood beside a uniformed officer, clutching a blanket wrapped around her shoulders.
“Miss Wright?” He kept his voice gentle as he approached.
She turned, and her shoulders relaxed. “Thank God you’re here.”
That reaction did something wonky to his body, and suddenly, the urge to pull her into his arms had him keeping his distance. “Are you hurt?”
“Just shaken up. The airbag deployed.” She touched her sternum, the action defying her casual remark.
One of the cops shifted, and Noah realized it was Mason, Jasper’s old high school friend.
“It was probably just someone who wanted to make sure you were all right.” He must be continuing a conversation from before Noah arrived.
“Then why not get out and ask?” Her voice was low and tentative. “Why sit there and watch me?”
The cop seemed to consider that. “My guess, when you got out of the car, the driver realized you were okay and took off.”
“He didn’t take off, though. He sat there, and then…” Miss Wright sighed. “No, you’re probably right. I guess that makes sense.”
“No, it doesn’t.” Noah faced the cop. “Did another call come in about a wreck tonight?”
“Not as far as I know, but I can check.”
“You do that. And while you’re at it, check on Lena Monroe. She was outside my office this afternoon and made some…concerning remarks.”
“Like…?”
Noah shifted Charlotte in his arms, trying to convey everything he couldn’t say right now. “She drove by my house last night. She saw Miss Wright and me having a conversation on the porch swing.”
Mason’s eyebrows lifted, his gaze flicking from the nanny to him. “I didn’t realize you and Delaney were?—“
“We’re not anything,” Miss Wright said quickly. “I’m Charlotte’s nanny. Mr. Aylett and I were just talking. Sort of a normal thing to do.”
Noah was thankful for her quick explanation. “My point is, Lena was watching my house. And now”—he nodded to the car—“this freak accident. Too many coincidences.”
Mason’s expression shifted from skepticism to concern. “I’ll look into it. What kind of car does Ms. Monroe drive?”
“She used to drive a black SUV.” Noah glanced at Miss Wright. “Was it an SUV behind you?”
“I think so.” She tugged the blanket tighter. “I only saw the silhouette of it when it drove away, but it was too big to be a sedan, and it wasn’t a pickup.”
Charlotte’s fingers dug into Noah’s shoulder as she buried her face against his neck.
“It’s okay, Charlie-Bear.” He rubbed circles on her small back. “Miss Laney is safe, and so are we. We’re going to go home soon. All three of us.” His words seemed to soothe her a little.
A wrecker pulled up, and the police moved their cruisers so it could get close to the Toyota.
“Mr. Aylett?” Miss Wright’s voice came from right beside him. “Will you help me get the things I bought tonight?”
