Chapter 18
“Grady and Hailey have been gone a long time. I’m going to check on them.”
“I don’t think…”
It was too late. Greg marched out of the Lilac Inn’s kitchen.
Moving at a quick pace, Morgan and Grace followed him down the long hall to the front parlor. As they drew closer, Morgan could hear Grady’s muffled voice.
“Hang on!” Grace rushed past Greg, blocking his entrance into the room. “I know you’re upset, but you need to remain calm.”
“I don’t appreciate Grady coming over here and interrogating my girlfriend.”
“How do you know Grady is interrogating her?” Grace hurried on. “There’s a reason for his visit. Something has happened, and it involves Hailey. Whatever it is, we can’t freak out until we have the entire story.”
Stop!Hailey’s shrill and frantic cry echoed from behind the closed door.
Greg shoved Grace out of the way. He flung the parlor door open and ran into the room.
Morgan was hot on his heels with Grace right behind, her breath catching in her throat at the sight of Grady restraining Hailey, keeping both arms pinned behind her. She panted heavily, her chest heaving. “Don’t touch me!” she screamed. “Get your hands off me!”
Greg shoved Grady, knocking him off balance.
The Easton Harbor officer, taken by surprise, loosened his grip on the woman. She broke free and ran from the room.
Greg clenched his fists and took a menacing step toward the officer. “You went too far, Grady. You should not have touched my girlfriend.”
“Hailey tried to hit me.” Grady put his hand on his holster. “Move away, Greg.”
Grace, realizing how serious the situation had become, rushed toward them. “You can’t assault an officer.”
“He started it.” Greg, not necessarily pushing, but nudging Grady, got right in his face. “And you can’t go around attacking people.”
“Hailey…”
Greg cut Grady off, ranting about police brutality and scaring Hailey half to death. His voice was so loud there was no way any of them stood a chance of reasoning with the man…including Grady.
In the blink of an eye, Grady unclipped his handcuffs and began cuffing Greg. “You went too far. I’m arresting you for assaulting and obstructing a law officer.”
Morgan clamped her hand over her mouth, stunned by the turn of events as Grady read Greg his rights. “Let’s go.” The officer, his expression unreadable, led Greg out of the room. Seconds later, the front door slammed shut with enough force to rattle the windows.
A moment of stunned silence ensued.
Finally, Grace spoke. “Where is Hailey?”
“I don’t know.” Morgan spun around. The woman was nowhere in sight. “She caused all this, and now she’s gone.”
Splitting up, the women searched every floor of the inn but found no sign of Hailey. They caught up in the kitchen. “Where do you think she went?”
“I don’t know.” Grace snapped her fingers. “Hang on. I have an idea. Follow me.”
The friends exited through the back door. Walking along the side of the garage, they stopped when they reached the employee breakroom, a four-season screened-in porch. There, curled up in a ball, was Hailey, her head down and her arms wrapped around her legs.
Grace tiptoed over and put a light hand on her shoulder. “It will be okay, Hailey.”
“No, it won’t.” She hiccupped loudly. “I’m going to jail.”
“I seriously doubt it unless you did something wrong.”
