The paramedic checked Sissy’s vitals while her partner prepared the stretcher. “Okay, we’re going to get you to the hospital. You’re doing great.”
As they loaded Sissy onto the stretcher, she reached out and grabbed Naomi’s hand. “Please, I can’t do this alone.”
Naomi’s gaze tightened.
Caleb waited to see how Naomi would respond.
Then Naomi nodded as if she’d come to a determination. “Focus on staying calm. I’ll go with you.”
“You will? After everything I just said?”
“You need someone with you right now,” Naomi said. “We’ll talk about everything else later.”
“Thank you.” Tears rolled down Sissy’s cheeks.
Caleb felt the emotion welling in his chest. The grace Naomi had given Sissy was touching.
Would he be able to do the same? He’d like to say yes, but he wasn’t sure.
Sheriff Sutherland appeared in the doorway, drawn by the commotion. “What’s going on?”
“Sissy’s in labor,” Caleb said. “The ambulance is taking her to the hospital now.”
The sheriff’s gaze moved to the notebook and phone still clutched in Millie’s hands. “What’s that?”
“Evidence,” Caleb said. “We found them in Sissy’s room. She’s been documenting everything about the shelter. She’s pregnant with Richard’s baby.”
Sutherland’s expression darkened. “Do you want to press charges? Trespassing. Espionage. Conspiracy.”
Caleb’s jaw hardened.
A young woman, eight months pregnant, about to give birth.
Manipulated by a murderer. Used as a weapon.
But also complicit. Also guilty of sabotage that had put everyone at Refuge Cove in danger.
He thought about what Sarah would want in this situation.
“I don’t know,” Caleb admitted. “I need to think about it.”
“Understandable. But we’ll need to guard her at the hospital. Make sure she doesn’t run once the baby’s born.” Sutherlandpulled out his phone. “I’ll have a deputy posted outside her room.”
“Thank you.”
The ambulance pulled away, lights flashing, siren wailing into the night.
Caleb stood in the driveway, watching it disappear. The weight of the last few hours settled on his shoulders like concrete.
Beside him, Millie wrapped her arms around herself, shivering despite the blanket still draped over her shoulders.
Their eyes met.
Hers were filled with exhaustion, confusion, and a bone-deep weariness that matched his own. “What just happened?”
“I have no idea,” Caleb admitted.
In the span of several days, they’d dealt with: A private investigator’s death. A woman in witness protection. A murderous ex-husband. A pregnant spy working for a convicted killer. And an emergency childbirth. Not to mention the little sabotages here and there.
