Wow, she was unhinged and obviously had a thing for the commissioner.
Owen began trembling in my arms, and that wouldn’t do. “Get. The. Hell. Out.” I growled the words, and when they looked at me, their eyes widened. “Or you’ll find out just how much of a monster I really am.”
“Are you threatening us?” Mueller appeared a little nervous, but she was a tough lady and wouldn’t stand down.
“If he’s not, I am.” Gideon stepped into the room, Rita and Dean on his heels.
Rita came right over to Owen and tried to pick him up, but he was clinging to me.
“It’s okay, Owen. You go with Auntie Rita. Your dad’s here. Is it okay if he protects me for a bit while you play with Olivia and Matteo?”
He swallowed, squeezed me once more, and nodded. “Okay.”
No one dared utter a word while Rita stepped out of the room with the boy. Dean closed the door behind her and leaned against it.
“How did either of you get past my men?” Gideon moved closer to me and as soon as he was able, he took my hand.
“We’re detectives, Mr. Hendrix. But to answer your question, neither was there.” Hoss removed a small pad.
“Dean, find out where Toni and Danny went?”
He nodded and stepped out of the room, and then Gideon’s attention was back on the detectives.
“I’m sorry for upsetting the boy.” Hoss apologized, but before he could go on I interrupted.
“Why are you apologizing?” I glowered at Mueller. “She’s the one who should say she’s sorry—not just to me but to him, but I don’t think it would be good for her health to approach Owen.”
“More threats, Mr. Garrand. I could place you under arrest.” She took a step forward only to be stopped by Hoss.
“Let’s just get these questions over with, and we can all be on our way.”
“Fine.” I relaxed into the pillows, fighting off the stupid exhaustion my body was determined to annoy me with. “Ask your damn questions.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Gideon
I’d panickedfor a moment when my phone vibrated with a call from the nurse’s station. I’d been enjoying a delicious lunch Rita had brought to the hospital. Penn had been asleep, and Owen had wanted to stay behind to draw on his cast. Toni had told me he’d walk him down once he was done.
“Yes,” I answered.
“Mr. Hendrix, Mr. Garrand wanted me to contact you. He needs you in his room to get Owen. The police are here, and it’s upsetting him.”
Why hadn’t Danny or Toni informed me that they’d arrived? “I’ll be right there.”
“What’s going on?” Dean was already gathering our garbage.
“Cops are in Penn’s room.” It was all I needed to say before Rita and Dean were double-timing it. Matteo grabbed Olivia’s hand and made sure to keep up.
Upon reaching the floor, I asked Matteo to take Olivia to the playroom and advised them that Owen would be in shortly. He didn’t argue, just took Livy’s hand and did as he was instructed.
As I entered the room, I heard the tail end of the detective’s words. “Are you threatening us?”
I didn’t know what Penn had said, but when I saw Owen huddled against Penn, Penn’s arms protectively around him as he gave the female detective an acidic glare, it didn’t matter.
“If he’s not, I am.”
Once Owen was out of the room and Dean went to locate my guys, I wanted to get this over with, and so did Penn. His blinks were slow; he was tired.
